YES to GOD study: ch. 11~Lift up praise the Lord, O my soul! (final chapter)

So glad that it's time for our

Yesterday after school Alivia played with the neighbor kids. I used this time to Spring clean her room or rather throw things away without the arguments of a 7 year old to why she should be able to keep what I consider trash. It was so nice and she didn't even miss what was tossed.

Don't we do that with God sometimes? He tries to get rid of something that is just clutter in our lives and we try to give Him our best argument with why we think it should stay. That's one thing I'm trying to different is trust God with my whole life. I'm such a controller that it is hard for me to let Him drive without trying to give Him the directions...and sigh in disgust when I think He's turned the wrong way.

Oh boy...I am definitely one of God's long term projects. ~smiles~

Okay...first things first the winner of Micca Campbell's book,

An Untroubled Heart is....KIM!!!

Congrats to you! E-mail me your address so that Micca can send you your book.

So glad you'll be joining the study with us!

Be blessed! Thanks Micca for donating your book!

Well ladies...here we are the final chapter of Jennifer Rothschild's book Let's get to it...

CHAPTER 11: LIFT UP: PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL

Remember words in blue are a quote from the book

Healthy hearts are centered on others, not on self. And a healthy heart is a happy heart.

The purposes that drive your life already fill your thought closet. You can track them by the space they take up on your calendar, by the phone log of your cell phone, by the outbox on your e-mail, by your Internet surfing history, by last month's credit card statement, or by your check register.

Ugghh!!! I think Lisa Whittle...you know the author who encourages us to be "real" must've been over Jen's should when she wrote this part of the chapter! I loved every part of that and am going to write it out on a note card and put it in my car so I can read it every day.

I have to remind myself...what or who is getting my loyalty? What or who is on my mind?

I loved how Jennifer taught us how to get the focus off of ourselves and on to others.

When we tell our souls to get the spotlight off our own preoccupations and onto the needs of others, we reopen the potential for joy in our lives--joy that we may have thought we'd never experience again.

For me this was huge because I can get so focused on Lelia. One of me and Alivia's memory verses will be

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.


Then Jennifer so wisely encouraged us to not only focus on others' needs but above all else, focus on Jesus Christ.

She quoted well known author, C.S. Lewis as saying, "As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you."

Jennifer also taught us that God loves our praises...When God calls us to praise Him, He is calling for us to enjoy Him and His benefits. As we center our souls on God, we lose ourselves in His wonder.

So we look to others' need instead of our own....

we look up to God instead of to ourselves...

and we shower our King with the praises He so rightfully deserves.

And like Jennifer said all is well with our soul.

Loved this book!! Jennifer...thank you so much for listening to God and writing what you have walked out before us. You are such a blessing to us and we love you!

If you have something to share on your blog please sign up under Mr. Linky below.

And come back tomorrow for another book drawing of Lysa TerKeurst's book

"What Happens When Women Say Yes to God"

Leave a comment today so I can have a name to draw out of the hat and tomorrow the winner will be announced! Thanks Lysa for donating your book for us!

Next Tuesday, March 24th...the discussion of the first chapter of Micca Campbell's book An Untroubled Heart! (See top of sidebar to join in!)

~Many Blessings~