Grateful and Thankful

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1 

Have you ever had someone tell you "Thank You!  I really appreciate You"?  How did you feel?  Let me ask you this, have you ever told someone how much you appreciate them?

It's simple to say "Thank You".  After all, it's only two words, but when expressed genuinely and sincerely have a HUGE impact!  Let's practice gratitude every single day.  And start with God, who has given to you everything!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Abba, 

Remind us of all You have done for us, that we will be grateful.

Remind us of all You will do for us, that we can be grateful.

Remind us of all the people You have brought into our lives, that we may be grateful.

Remind us that even the people You allow into our lives who challenge us, we are to be grateful because they help us remember that You are our protector.

Remind us to be thankful and grateful every day You give us life.

 

It's Time!

Have you ever taken a moment to consider what kind of world we would have if people simply took that extra second to be thankful?  Instead we expend and waste more energy and time moaning, groaning, and complaining.  What about the people we work with and encounter throughout our days, do we express gratitude to them and for them?  The more I ponder this, the bigger the bruises I am getting!

Guess what happens to us when are begin to develop a thankful and grateful spirit?  We become more encouraging; we become more caring; we become happier; we become more patient; we become more appreciative; We actually GROW!

I will be on vacation until Tuesday, November 27th.  During this time, I am going to spend time learning to be grateful and thankful.  Hopefully when I return, God will have made me into a better version of me. Join me?

When Should We Give Thanks?

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

 Have you ever found yourself in a rather sticky situation that you REALLY wish you didn't have to endure?  I have found, from experience, that pretty much all such situations in which I find myself are the result of my own actions, inactions, decisions, and just my own lack of thinking.  And when I am in the midst of such a situation, my first thought is to find a way out FAST!

 

It's not easy when we realize that we are the ones who messed up.  Honestly, even thought I KNOW God is fully aware of my situation, I have this habit of not talking with Him about it.  Why?  Because I am too stubborn, too embarrassed, too angry, too something other than thankful.  Consider this: How do we learn? Usually from experience...and Experience is a cruel teacher.  

 

Think about it...how did you discover that cookies right out of the oven were hot?  By grabbing one and feeling the heat.  How did you figure out that there's a difference between suntan and sunburn? By getting sunburned.  We learn usually by doing it wrong, but that is one of the things we should thank God for, He didn't have to give us a mind that is capable of learning.

 

But think about this: When we are grateful and thankful to God in EVERY situation we remind ourselves that God is in control and will work everything to our good and His glory when we learn to turn loose of it. 

Be Grateful And Thankful!

We've talked about this before, however, given that Christmas is upon us, I'd like to address it again: What are you Grateful and Thankful for this year?  

We tend to take so many things for granted every day and especially during the Christmas season.  God performs incredible miracles every day.  Don't believe me?  How about the air you breathe?  How about the face you had hot water to shower? How about the fact that all you had to do was turn the faucet on to get the hot water?  How about the clothes you have to wear?  How about the car you have to drive?  How about the food you get to enjoy?  How about the family you are part of?

Think about all the things we have to be grateful and thankful for and then thank God for them.

I Am Grateful....!

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be grateful.

Colossians 3:15 

 

Peace.....  That doesn't seem to be what we see a whole lot of in the world today.  Just look at the all that is happening around us.  Peace?  Hardly!

 

But remember what Jesus taught us about Peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage" - John 14:27.  Remember the Peace He gives us is NOT lack of trouble, rather the focus on Christ during troubling times!  And part of that Peace includes gratitude!

 

The Apostle writes, "And ALWAYS be grateful!"  Yes, grateful even in times of chaos.  Yes, even in times of struggle.  Yes, even in times of trials.  We are to ALWAYS be grateful.  I confess, that I have gotten caught up in all that is going on around me and have forgotten all I have to be grateful for.

 

When I am struggling, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I doubt, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am angry, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am frustrated, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I mess things up, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am happy and think it's all because of me, God is still in control and still loves me.

 

So what do I have to be Grateful for:

...those who care enough to pray for me and with me (in spite of myself).

...those who share a laugh with me.

...those who allow me to be part of their lives.

...those who let me pray with and for them.

...those who are willing to love and be loved.

...those who dare to reach out for help.

...those who reach out to help.

...I am grateful that God has allowed me to see another year (today's my birthday).

the list of reasons to be grateful is endless.

 

My challenge for all of us....focus on all we have to be grateful for...especially when we are tempted to let the world trample us.  Focus on the Peace of Christ and embrace it! 

From Our Beginning

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!

Psalm 139:13-16

 

When we were in our mother's womb, God had already had a plan in place for us.  When we were nothing more than a fertilized egg, God formed us and shaped us (and stop laughing at His handiwork with me).  God is truly amazing! Science has developed a method to imitate God's process, but God has been in the miracle business for a lot longer than any of us.  

 

We are the Masterpiece of THE MASTER! There is no other person who is exactly like you.  There is no other person who has the exact experiences as you.  There is no other person who can live the life given to you.  There is no other person who take you place.  Each of us is similar yet unique.  That is AMAZING and a little scary.  But God has a plan for each of us and no one else can fulfill that plan the way only you can.

 

Therefore, be grateful for your life.  Be grateful for your place in this world. Be grateful for your experiences.  Be grateful for being able to share yourself with others.  

 

 

Are you Thankful?

I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
    I will sing your praises before the gods.

Psalm 138:1 

 

 

This last few week has been hectic and draining.  And I took time over the weekend to think, and my mind tends to have ideas and memories popping up like prairie dogs, and when I try to hang on to one, it's gone again.  But I remembered one of the better memories.  

I remember talking with a family about the funeral service for their family member.  We opened with prayer and I asked God to shower us with His peace and Strength as we dealt with this painful situation.  Right before I said "Amen" the 9 year-old-granddaughter jumped right in and started praying.  I expected her to pray that God would take care of her Grandfather, and she did, but then the most amazing prayer I had heard came out of that child's heart.  

She told God that her heart hurt because her grandpa was not with her anymore, BUT she was grateful for every moment God allow them to spend together.  She thanked God for all the smiles they had shared.  She thanked God for the Pepsi with peanuts treat he has share with her.  She thanked God for the times he would teach her.  She thanked God for the times they went fishing and he made her put the squishy worm on the hook.  She thanked God for the times her grandpa snored so loud the whole house shook.  She went on like this for half an hour, and then closed with "But I know ya'll will get to have more good times together too now.  Thank you."

I would be lying if I denied being ashamed because my prayers had been piously asking for things, and this dear sweet child was telling God how much she appreciated Him and all He had shared with her through her grandfather.

My challenge for you this week is not to ask God for more than you are thankful for.  If you ask for 10 things, tell God how thankful you are for 10 things.
 

Who Are You Grateful For?

 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 1:3 

 

Have you ever stopped to think about all the people God has brought into or through your life?  I will be honest, there have been people God has brought through my life that I haven't been fond of, but the more I thought about it, God was teaching me through that person even though we may not have agreed on anything.

 

Yes, it is true that we may not like everyone.  And, yes, it's also true that some people are an "acquired taste."  You may not like them at first, but then they grow on you. God made each of us unique, yet similar.  We are drawn to people who think rather like we do and enjoy the same things we do.  

 

But think about the people who have been or are part of you life that you are grateful for.  Family and friends, of course.  But what about those who challenge us?  What about those who make us think?  

 

During this Presidential Election, I have seen all sorts of people expressing their views.  Some I agreed with, some made me think, and some I completely disagreed with.  But here's my point, I'm still grateful for those people!  

 

People!  Let's face it, we are on this planet together, Thank you for being here!

Grateful For Those Who Work Behind The Scenes

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, 

when you did it to one of the least of these 

my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25:40

 We see people in the forefront all the time, but how many times do we even give a thought to the people who work behind the scenes to make things happen.

I was told by a professor in college to make sure you know who helps you to be who you are.  He then shared the story of his own Ethics Professor who was in the middle of a conference in his office when the janitor came in to empty the trash.  The other professors in the conference ignored the janitor and gave him looks of disapproval for interrupting their esteemed colleague. Instead, this esteemed Department Head greeted the janitor by name, inquired about his family, even asking about the janitor's sick child by name.  The other professors were astounded and offended.  

After the janitor completed his task and had gone, the Department Head looked at the rest of the highly educated professors and said, "If you don't know the name of the person who empties your trash, you are overlooking the very people who make your life possible!  What would happen if George didn't come empty my trash twice a week?  What about the cooks and servers in the cafeteria?  You might think them to be beneath you, but if they did not do their jobs, where would you be?  Always be grateful to those who help you be who you are, for without them you would be nothing!"   

Think about the people Jesus took the time to get to know:
     * Tax Collectors
     * Prostitutes
     * Manual Laborers
     * Lepers
     * People with issues
     * And how about the criminal on the cross with Him?

Never forget to be grateful to the people who helped you get where you are and the ones who help you in the seemingly smallest of ways.      

Look for the Rainbows

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

Psalm 9:1 

 

I was sitting in my chair, ticked off and frustrated, because of some news we had gotten that blow a hole in our lives.  My prayer was "God, I don't understand why this happened, but I have to trust You because You love us."  That was all I could manage.  I won't lie to you and say that suddenly the doorbell rang and the Publisher's Clearinghouse representative handed us a giant check.  Actually, the situation did not change...but my attitude about the situation in that moment changed.  And believe it or not, as hokey as it may sound, the clouds outside drifted away and the sunlight was just what I needed.

 

The older I get, and you may stop laughing, the more God reveals things I have taken for granted that I should be thankful for.  There are mornings when I really don't want to get out of bed, yet God reminds me that He has people I need to meet.  There are times when I just don't want deal with anyone, and then comes that message that says "Thank you. Just want you to know you're appreciated."

 

I am beginning, at the age of over 50, to understand that when I praise God for the things He does, has done, and will do in my life, my perspective changes from All-About-Me to WOW!

There's an old hymn that says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face; and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim; in the light of his glory and grace."

 

Begin this journey toward gratitude with me.

Let's Start Developing An Attitude!

But if we have food and shelter, we will be grateful for that.

1 Timothy 6:8 

 

Attitude!  Two things come to mind when I hear that word: 1) the very proud and arrogant; 2) the grateful spirit I need to develop.  We see the first one all the time: "NO ONE can tell me I can't have that....it's my RIGHT!"  You've seen this attitude.  You may even know some who have developed this attitude to a razor sharp edge.  But that's not the quality I want us to think about right now.

 

Let's focus on developing a grateful spirit.  Now, understand, having a grateful spirit does not mean allow yourself to be taken advantage of or walked on.  Having a grateful spirit means you understand that God allows things to happen for your good, sometimes we like them and sometimes we don't.  A grateful spirit is one that lives simply.

 

One program my Beautiful Bride and I enjoy is called "Tiny House Hunting."  People decide to "scale down" from their 3000 sq ft. home to one that's less than 5oo sq ft.  In order to do that, they must learn to get rid of things they don't really need.  It's always interesting to me to see what people cling to....collections of trinkets, shoes, guitars, tools, things they like to look at and like to have but haven't used them in YEARS.....but they just can't live without them.

 

Look at the words of the Apostle Paul: "If we have FOOD and SHELTER, we will be GRATEFUL."  The simplest of the simple things.  Food and shelter, and some translations include clothing.  The basics!  Nothing fancy.  Nothing extravagant.  Just simplicity.

 

Let's spend the next few days looking at Developing grATTITUDE!

Why Be Grateful!

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
    I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
    I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

Psalm 77:11-12

It seems as though we are living in times where gratitude and thanks are long forgotten.  I hear it over and over when I talk with people:

 "But you just don't know what I've been through...how can I even THINK about being grateful?"

"You've got to be kidding me, right? Do you have any idea what my life I like?  Do you have any clue what I am going through?  And you tell me I have something to be grateful for?"

"I don't know what hit you on the head, but until you have worked for my boss (met my coworkers, lived with my spouse, put up with my kids, etc. Take your pick), don't tell me that I have something to be grateful for!"

The lists of excuses why we aren't grateful gets longer and longer and longer every day.  And, hang on to your seat, it's because it takes EFFORT to find things to be grateful for.  It takes effort to DECIDE to be grateful!  Two things we don't like to do!  We want everything to be happy and easy and gently float into our laps without our having to exert any sort of effort.

Newsflash!  God gives us lots of reasons to be grateful and we are being ungrateful if we choose not to see them!

1.  Did you wake up this morning?  Be Grateful!
2. Are you able to read this? Be Grateful!
3. Did you have something to eat? Be Grateful!
4. Are you able to move around? Be Grateful!
5. Are you able to think? Be Grateful!
6. Has God provided for you? Be Grateful!
7. Do you have friends? Be Grateful!
8. Dislike your job? Be Grateful that you have the choice to stay or go!
9. Don't have a job yet? Be Grateful that you have the ability to look for one!
10. Need to lose weight? Be Grateful that you have so much to eat.

You see, we make a HUGE mistake when we complain instead of being grateful.  The children of Israel spent their time in the desert complaining about EVERYTHING, and what happened? God let them wander in the desert, while He continued to provide for them, until that entire ungrateful generation had died.

Take a deep breath!  God let you do take that breath, so be grateful!  He who is grateful in the small things will soon realize that life is much better.



Today Is THE Day!

This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 

 If you are reading this, then welcome to TODAY!  You see, TODAY is THE day!  What day?  THE Day that you get to decide to make it worth remembering or just another day to endure.  Today is THE DAY you will never get to see again or live through again.  Today is THE DAY that God has made specifically for you!  This is His gift to you!  

Yesterday...we can never change anything that has already happened.  EVER!  

Tomorrow....we haven't gotten there yet, so we can only plan possibilities.

BUT TODAY IS THE DAY we live in now!  TODAY IS THE DAY which we are adding to our legacy!  TODAY IS THE DAY that God has given you and me!  Let's make it a day of rejoicing in spite of our circumstances!  Let's make it a day of celebrating the victories!  Let make it a day that God will be thankful He gave us!

TODAY is the day God has made...just for you!

Be Thankful!

Not only do I want to say "THANK YOU" to all of the Veterans of our Armed Forced, but also to all the First Responders!  Without YOUR Service, we would be lost!  Some were drafted, some volunteered, but when the call came, you were there!

THANK YOU!!

May God Bless You and Keep You!

Let's Talk About Gratitude, Shall We?

So God expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they’d been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life.

Genesis 3:23-24

We like to be appreciated.  We like for our efforts to be noticed.  We like to be rewarded for doing our best.  Let's face it, go to any restaurant and the servers who truly want to a good gratuity will prove themselves worthy.  What would happen if you were only paid a gratuity based on proving your gratitude?  Some days, I would rack up...but, sadly, there would be many days I would have nothing but pocket lint.

Here's a little equation that might be helpful (yeah, and here I thought Algebra was pointless):  g*h = r 

Think about it for a moment.  It's not that difficult, Gratitude times Honor equals Respect!  But we are an ungrateful lot!  We take things for granted constantly!  We seem to have the mindset that, for some reason, we are OWED simply for existing!  Look at today's passage.  Adam and Eve took the Garden of Eden for granted!  They had THE perfect life and could do whatever they wanted EXCEPT to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden.  Had they been grateful for all that had been provided for them (and no effort from them was required), and honored God by following His SINGLE rule, the Garden would still be their dwelling place.  But they chose to be ungrateful and take all God's provisions for them for granted. 

I cannot emphasize this enough: Gratitude, Honor and Respect are CONSCIOUS DECISIONS we make every day.  Now.....also keep in mind that the opposite is also true: Ingratitude, Dishonor and Disrespect are also CONSCIOUS DECISIONS we make.  

Our words can NOT hide what is in our hearts!  We can speak the right words and get what we want from others (abusing the relationships and trusts), but eventually our actions will reveal the true person we are!  Are you truly a grateful person who honors God by respecting others and you don't have to "fake it 'til you make it"?  Or are you full of manure and you're busy trying to hide the flies?

God Don't Play!  And He holds us accountable!  Disrespect, Dishonor and an Ungrateful person will not be a happy camper!

Let's Talk For A Moment

Always be joyful. 
Never stop praying. 
Be thankful in all circumstances, 
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Let's talk about the 800 pound gorilla in the room, shall we?  When we tell someone that we are praying for them, do we or are we just saying we will OR are we saying it because it's been so long since you actually talked with God that you have forgotten who He is?

Let's start at the top...Paul tells us to be "Joyful."  There is a HUGE difference between being "joyful" and being "happy" and we seem to have them confused.  You see "JOYFUL" is a conscious decision that we make because of, or even in spite of, our circumstances, predicaments, situations, or feelings.  On the other hand "Happy" is momentary, fleeting, situational, and is a feeling which is subject to change at a moment's notice.  Hmmmm......

Next Paul reminds us to "Never stop praying."  This does not mean you quit your job, wander off to some monastic facility in the mountains and live the rest of your life as a hermit talking only to God.  Let's say your best friend calls; you answer the phone without looking at the caller ID; how do you know it's your best friend? Because you know the voice!  And how did they become your best friend? Because you invested yourself into each other's lives, learning to trust each other and keep no secrets from each other...you can talk about anything and everything.  Hmmmm.... When we develop that kind of relationship with God, you have the best possible best friend EVER!  Have I achieved that status? No, but I'm still talking to Him and we have lots of conversations about....well, YOU!

Finally, Paul reminds us to "Be Thankful In ALL Circumstances."  Here's a little tidbit for the mind to chew on today: Circumstances change! Gratitude for who God is doesn't! We make the choice many times every single day: Either we determine to maintain our attitude of gratitude OR we let our circumstances decide for us if we are going to be grateful or ticked off.  

There's a lot going on in these few brief words of today's passage.  Talking with God and developing that relationship that is beyond description should cause us to be eternally grateful REGARDLESS of our circumstances.  But the 800 pound gorilla in the room is this: What will you decide and when are you going to start?