Philippians:4-7 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As Thanksgiving approaches this week, take a few moments to reflect on life. Many times I am getting so bogged down in details that I forget to be thankful for the experience and paying attention to what God wants me to learn. I am trying to do better at learning the first time so I do not need to keep being reminded that I'm doing "it" again....or still.
It seems that there is so much negativity (maybe it's because on the news that....like sex....is what sells....or gets watchers) on TV, etc. I've watched people who are becoming "famous"....just because of who they have been with while people that are doing really worthwhile things are overlooked. I try to limit my exposure to the news, and TV in general, because it is really easy for me to get dragged down. I am surprised at the new levels that some TV shows have sunk to.
SO, how to combat that? There is much talk about developing an "attitude of gratitude" which basically means finding things to be thankful for. I'm going to refer to it as ThanksLIVING. More than just giving thanks, I want to live a life of thanks. I want to rejoice!
There is a story in Luke 17 about 10 lepers. Jesus heals them. Only 1 comes back to give him thanks. Sometimes it is inconvenient to show thanks. I say the word "thanks" a lot. I want to get to a point of realizing there is more to it than just stating it. It is living like it makes a difference to me and others. Many times especially lately, I have come to realize that it is OK to be thankful for things that are NOT happening to us also. I can focus on the problem(s) or the Problem Solver.
In the verses above, I am reminded again to be anxious less and pray more.
I looked back at last year's post and I was thankful that my mom was coming home after a month in the hospital, etc. after her heart attack. Other than a few bumps, she is doing well!
Thank you to my family and friends who make life worth living!
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Giving Thanks!
Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
How timely! Not only because of Thanksgiving, which is a mere week away. I'm thankful, my mom is home! After a month in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility, she is home after her heart attack. I am thankful for the drs, nurses and the care she received. I am thankful for brothers and a sister that helped us get through this time of life. I appreciate the foundation of faith my parents gave me (even though I grumbled about going to church 2 x on Sunday GASP!....and occasionally missing the beginning of the Wonderful World of Disney...oh, I am so showing my age!) I am grateful that our mom is here for another Thanksgiving.
I just told a friend tonight we are all living on borrowed time. It is just that some of us get reminders that our time on this round sphere called Earth will end at some point in time.
Further on in Psalm 95, we are reminded that we are God's people, under his care. We are also reminded not to harden our hearts. We are living in difficult times. I struggle to remember to move closer TO God during those times. He has not moved, He waits for us to make a decision to let Him handle the good, the bad and the ugly in our lives.
Sometimes we don't get our way or the answer we want when we want it. That doesn't mean that God does not listen or is uncaring. Thank goodness we don't get everything we pray for! We don't always see the whole picture.
Psalm 95:6-8 (NIV)
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts......
Praying that you will find God during this season of life and Thanksgiving and moving into Christmas. We do not walk alone.....even when it feels like it.
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
How timely! Not only because of Thanksgiving, which is a mere week away. I'm thankful, my mom is home! After a month in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility, she is home after her heart attack. I am thankful for the drs, nurses and the care she received. I am thankful for brothers and a sister that helped us get through this time of life. I appreciate the foundation of faith my parents gave me (even though I grumbled about going to church 2 x on Sunday GASP!....and occasionally missing the beginning of the Wonderful World of Disney...oh, I am so showing my age!) I am grateful that our mom is here for another Thanksgiving.
I just told a friend tonight we are all living on borrowed time. It is just that some of us get reminders that our time on this round sphere called Earth will end at some point in time.
Further on in Psalm 95, we are reminded that we are God's people, under his care. We are also reminded not to harden our hearts. We are living in difficult times. I struggle to remember to move closer TO God during those times. He has not moved, He waits for us to make a decision to let Him handle the good, the bad and the ugly in our lives.
Sometimes we don't get our way or the answer we want when we want it. That doesn't mean that God does not listen or is uncaring. Thank goodness we don't get everything we pray for! We don't always see the whole picture.
Psalm 95:6-8 (NIV)
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts......
Praying that you will find God during this season of life and Thanksgiving and moving into Christmas. We do not walk alone.....even when it feels like it.
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