When I decided to do the Praise Project this year, I knew there would be weeks that would be more difficult which is specifically why I wanted to tackle it for a whole year and put it out there in the blogosphere. It would force me to concentrate on what God has done for me. It’s been a long week, and I will admit that I actually told my 15-year old that I had nothing to be thankful for. She was appalled, to say the least, and rattled off a list of things God had done for me in the last week that had been swept away in a cloud of exhaustion and self-pity. So, without further ado, this week I’m praising God:

1). That what I thought would turn out to be some over-the-top plumbing expense turned out to be nothing more than a piece of pipe needing replaced. Whew!

2). That I am made in God’s image and not the other way around. More on that in an upcoming blog post.

3). For the chance to share our space with a couple of great college students for the next few weeks.

4). For getting through my speaking gig over the weekend.

5). For the glimmer of hope that my writing dream is not dead.

6). That the birds are back and starting to build their summer home outside my door.

7). That God is intimately involved in EVERY aspect of my life!

This week I’m praising God for:

1). Snowblowers. Need I say more?

2). Answered prayer.

3). Watching my kids gleefully pass down their most valued toys to others rather than opting to sell them and make a quick buck.

4). My cat. I have to say it. His fuzzy goodness is almost too much sometimes.

5). Beth Moore’s study of James. Crazy insight!

6). Encouraging words from people I hardly know.

7). The opportunity to be a listening hear to people I hardly know.

This week I’m praising God for:

1). Friends with listening ears and honest words.

2). A Bible study teacher who doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. I love your vulnerability Tammie!

3). The rumor I heard that next week’s temps might hit 50 degrees! I’ll have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

4). For good health insurance. I only $60 on a $2,000 bill.

5). The fact that Jesus is freedom.

6). The reminder that Jesus does the heavy lifting in life. All He asks of me is obedience-words that continually swirl around in my brain.

7). Getting to spend 20 Valentine’s Days with my husband.

The other day I listened as Sam Brown gave a radio interview about his life as a wounded vet and his current run for State Representative in Texas. His story of survival, having been left to burn to death after his Humvee was hit by an IED, is inspiring to say the least. However, it was his answer to a question posed by the interviewer regarding his current political aspirations that grabbed my attention. Despite being politically conservative and claiming his need for God, the interviewer wanted to know how he  would avoid losing his soul in the cesspool of American politics. His answer: being prepared, knowing what you’re getting into.

It is this idea of preparedness and knowing what we’re getting into that I want to run with over the next several weeks. We spend copious amounts of time learning who our enemy is. We know that Satan is a liar, deceiver, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, one who masquerades as an angel of light, and the list goes on. We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood but is completely spiritual in nature. I imagine that if the spiritual blinders were removed what we would see would cause us to faint in complete fear.

We also spend time in personal Bible study learning who we are as believers, that is: redeemed, loved, called, heirs with Christ, protected, more than conquerors, and again an endless list. We know that God’s great love for us is the center of the story of human history and that each one of us has a role in telling the story.

Knowing who our enemy is and who we are in Christ are important, but there is one final piece to the equation necessary in rounding out the ultimate trifecta of hope and that is knowing our Advocate. We know that He is Jesus, but who is Jesus? What do we know about Him? Besides the all-important answers-Son of God, fully human and yet fully divine, sinless, Redeemer, Creator, etc.- how would you answer someone who asked you who He is?

In our church we have started a series entitled “Jesus is” that will continue through Easter. This is such a big deal that we have erected a sign at the top of one of our buildings that lights up the sky with “Jesus is.” No matter how you come into the city you will see this sign. The phrase runs through my head like a banner chasing a plane across the sky. Jesus is. Who is this Person I claim to follow?

This week I have been struck with a simple yet profound truth: Jesus is the last word. Chills run up and down my arms as I write these words. Do we even have any idea what that means? If Jesus is the last word, then nothing has dominion over us. It means He has the last word over our disease, sickness, fears, circumstances, broken relationships, worries, confusion, hopes and dreams. It means He has the last word over godless leaders imposing corrupt laws over us. It means that every person will bow whether they want to or not. It means we win.

When my husband and I have an animated discussion over something, the one thing we are both fighting for is the last word. It’s a toss-up to see who will have it and thereby win the argument. Having the last word is the ultimate victory because it silences the opposition and empowers the winner. Though completely sinful in the context of human relationships, this drive for the last word, to silence the opposition and win the fight, is exactly what we will experience some day because of who Jesus is.

“He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life’” (Revelation 21:6, NIV).

No battle in history ever started with the ending known. No matter which side a soldier was on, no matter what weapons he had at his disposal, every warrior involved went in blindly with the hopes of coming out on top but never being sure until the end when the winner was declared.

We fight our battle with the knowledge that the winner has been declared. There’s no hoping we’ve chosen the right side. It doesn’t matter how weak we are or inadequate of a fighter. We win because of who Jesus is and because Jesus is the last word. He said it, and so it is. End of story.

This week I’m praising God:

1). For friends who text prayers to me over things I’m struggling with.

2). That Jesus is the last word-more on that in my next post.

3). For God-given strength to go to work and plow through despite feeling sick.

4). For a husband who diligently keeps our driveway shoveled. I love to shovel about as much as I love to cook, pay bills and drive!

5). For kids who still publicly display their affection for me.

6). For the pleasure of taking someone else’s burden to Jesus when they just can’t at that moment. Is there a greater honor than that?

7). For music