Blessing 233 - Sacrifice of Praise

I noticed these cute little flowers growing freely all over my front lawn.

"Whatever is lovely..."

"If you praise the Lord through a minor hardship or a major trial, you are offering a sacrifice of praise. Such a sacrifice costs you plenty - your pride, your anger, your human logic, and the luxury of your complaining tongue. A sacrifice of praise costs you your will, your resentment, and even your desire to have your own way in a situation. And for whose sake do we give up these things? We do so for the sake of Christ and for His glory. Praise in those circumstances is painful. Nevertheless, it is logical, even if our logic argues that God has no idea what He's doing." - Joni Eareckson Tada

Just maybe, if I did offer God my sacrifice of praise, would I notice more of the little blessings, like these little blossoms, instead of the unlovely and the pain? And for whose sake would I give up "my issues"? For Christ's sake...

Hebrews 13:15

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Phil. 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.