about praise

As I sit here this morning, I realize that it's unusually quiet.  I'm sometimes starved for the quietness, other times I'd rather not feel the eerie silence.  But when it's quiet, I long to hear the soft sounds of sandaled feet.  I don't often sense that Godly presence, but I welcome it like a good friend.  I'm thankful that He shows me Himself in the quietness of my own heart.  I often miss those times, I'm too busy to listen, too busy to hear His voice.  But isn't that what God longs to do.  He speaks to us in various ways.  I know He longs to develop in me a heart of praise.  So today I welcome a heart of praise even in the midst of struggle and heartache.  I'm reminded that He inhabits the praises of His people. I want to be able to praise Him in the storm.  He reminds me that He instills peace and joy.  Ive been listening to a CD of a Haitian man who experienced horror during the recent hurricane that hit and destroyed so much in his country.   He writes and sings a song about praise....."what can stop me from praising Jesus." It inspires my heart to just praise. 

Psalm 66 ~ (vs 6) Praise our God, O people let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. (vs 12) But you brought us to a place of abundance.  (vs16) Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.