There are all kinds of anniversaries, both pleasant and not so much. There are wedding anniversaries, some people celebrate job anniversaries. Then there are other anniversaries, some that bring up both pleasant and not so pleasant feelings. Today marks exactly one month since my dog passed away. Even though I miss scratching behind his ears and hearing his own unique bark, I know that he is no longer suffering. I know that he is in the presence of the Lord being rewarded for all that he did for me during his twelve years on earth. Yet, even though I miss him, I have peace knowing that God is taking care of him. I have joy knowing that it was not a goodbye forever, it was more of a, “I’ll see you a little later buddy”. I just wanted to remind everyone that even when a loved one passes, God can give you peace. When hard times come, God will bring you through it, and He will help you to yet again feel the joy only He can give. He will give you His grace that is sufficient. Even in the rough times we can be thankful. God has given us so many reasons to be thankful, even in the hard times we can thank Him because we know that He will work things out for our good, and so that He can receive glory. In the trials we should seek to give God glory, it can be difficult at first, but when we praise God and thank Him when we are hurting, that is when we can receive His healing. When we are open to Him is when we can feel His Spirit move within us and give us unspeakable peace and joy. It is my desire that I always praise God, even in the hard times, that way I can feel His Spirit, He can receive glory, and maybe, just maybe someone else will either be encouraged, or a seed will be sown for the glory of the King. It is good for us to praise God, both for the happy anniversaries, and the ones that we have to choose to look at the positive side. “Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.” Psalm 150:1 NIV. God Bless!
