Overwhelmed

Lately I've been overwhelmed. You see, in recent years I get overwhelmed by chaos easily.  I just want to retreat to a quiet room alone.  And although I've been a little overwhelmed in the "I want lock myself in a room" way, I've also been overwhelmed by the grace of God and by all the blessing in my life. 

On my birthday I shared that I have a tendency to not see the joy in life.  To let the chaos overwhelm me.  I am constantly being reminded that I need to put my faith in God's perfect plan and to let the stress and anxiety leave.  I need to find the joy right here.  I'm so not good at that, it's a constant work in progress.  

As I've been covering prayer in my quiet time, I'm realizing that I'm pulling back from my prayer life and personal relationships.  Sometimes it feels like I don't know how to be filled with joy or a thankful heart.  Where do I start?  I don't want to just share about the "good" things that I'm doing {like schooling, running, etc.} but to let thankfulness overflow from my heart.  One of the things that I found really helpful was how 

1 Chronicles 16 outlines how we should praise God daily. Lets commit to trying to turn our moments of being overwhelmed into an overflow of thankfulness to our creator, our Father who cares so deeply for us.

{Below I am using the points given from shereadstruth to express my thankfulness for what the Lord has done} 

• Proclaim His name. Make known what He has done. {v. 8} Last week I did a lot of reflecting on life, since it was my birthday, but also on the gift that God gave us in His son.  As a mother I couldn't imagine putting my children through the pain and suffering Jesus endured.  It became a little more personal to me this year that it was for me.  I put Him there, my sins held Him there on that cross.  I can't help but be grateful.

• Sing to Him, tell of His wonderful acts. {v. 9} One of the songs that I often sing through out my day is Break Every Chain  or pretty much any song from Jesus Culture or Bethel Music.  No other song has brought me to tears the way singing:

There is power in the name of Jesus. 
There is power in the name of Jesus. 
There is power in the name of Jesus. 
There is power in the name of Jesus. 

To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

All sufficient sacrifice
So freely given 
Such a price
Bought our redemption
Heaven's gates swing wide

Such tears of joy and sorrow all rolled into one.  I'm so grateful so much amazing music we can have streaming through our house, creating an atmosphere of praise.  One of the most joyous moments as a mother was to hear my baby girl singing a worship song in the car with me.  Never before had she sung it, but I sure belt out my heart when she's with me and she hears it.  She's loves singing "Holy!"

• Seek His face always. {v. 11} This is hard for me. I'll be honest with you. Sometimes I feel like I don't know where to start, what to say, or I don't see change.  Yep, those are things that hinder me from seeking His face daily.  But You know what: the more we seek Him, the more we know him.  The more you know about Him, the more we'll be able to express our love for Him.  How do we know how to best love our husbands, kids, family, friends?  Because we know them.  We spend time with them.  We invest in them.

• Remember the wonders He has done and His miracles. {v. 12} God has worked so many miracles in my life personally.  So where to start? He has changed my heart and saved me.  He brought together my husband and I.  He wrecked up and restored us.  He blessed us with two amazing, miracle babies.  He provided a job for my husband, a roof over our head, a way for us both to go to college, an amazing church community, enough family and love to go around, friends to live life with, even an online network of friends.  It's amazing! And those are just the "basics."  Each and every day is a miracle that I take for granted at times.  

• Proclaim His salvation day after day. {v. 23} One of the things that has been revolutionary from Give Them Grace is that every single day we need to point our children to the cross.  What Jesus Christ did for us is huge.  Unless we remind our children of that and their need for a Savior, we're missing it.  Take that step further: we need to radiate God's goodness, grace, and salvation to those around us.  If we don't who else will?

• Declare His glory among all people. {v. 24} The verse that comes to mind is "they will know we are Christians by our love."  Our lives should radiate God goodness.  We should shout it from the rooftops.  Praise God that He has provided for me, healed my family, let the sun shine through, etc.  Thank you Lord that this isn't it.  That we have the promise to join you some day.  It makes these days here that are tear and sorrow filled at times bearable.  Knowing there is reason for it now, but that our future is full of joy and celebration.  

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs!"

 -Psalm 100:1-2