Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I know some people may be in places and circumstances that seem like anything but a place to give thanks for.  We may be in a hard situation, maybe it's of our own making, or maybe its not...but God's word calls for us to give thanks.  So my challenge, to you and to me is to find five things to be thankful for today and focus on them.  Can't think of five, then try three! And tomorrow, do the same.  I once heard or read something that said, every morning when you wake up, think of three things to be thankful for that day.  It's a good way to begin the day....with gratitude.

The idea is to make gratefulness a habit.  I just read yesterday in "Jesus Calling":  "When you mind is occupied with thanking Me, you have no time for worrying or complaining.  If you practice thankfulness consistently, negative thought patterns will gradually grow weaker and weaker."  I know that is what I want in my life.

No matter our situation, God is good.  No matter how we feel, God is good.  No matter what we see going on in the world around us,  God is good.  He is holy, He is sovereign and He is on His throne. He loves us unconditionally, He saves us fully, He cares for us tenderly.

Psalm 34:1  I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 106:1  Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.  

1 Thessalonians 5:18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Thankfulness is the way of obedience.  It's not an emotion, it's not optional...it's God's design and desire for us.  We may not feel it, but we do it in faith, and in obedience to God's command.

So today Lord, I thank You.  A couple of days ago I made a short list of things I am grateful for.  I could sit forever and never come to the end of Your blessings to be thankful for Lord.  Lord, make thankfulness a habit in our lives.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DEAR FRIENDS 

Walk By Faith

Last week I wrote about how the Lord keeps a fog over the path and illuminates just the steps right in front of us.  We walk by faith not by sight.  The Lord gave me an illustration of this as I drove to work a few days ago.  I turned onto the parkway and all ahead was hidden in a rainy mist.  I couldn't see except a short distant before me.  The Lord used this sight to reinforce His teaching from the other day.  How cool is that !!  I love when our Father takes a teaching and makes a clear picture out of it.

Thank You Lord for the way You teach and lead and guide.  Keep us close to You so we don't loose our way in the shadowy world we live in.

List

Salvation, God's love, Holy Spirit, The Bible, compassion, family, good friends, freedom, my church, sunsets, color, roof over my head, hands to hold, hugs, snow covered everything, sunshine, the ocean, cloud striped skies at night, getting home safely, coffee with friends, sleeping in, cats purring, hearing a favorite song at just the right time,  flip flops, soft light coming through the curtains in the morning, peace and quiet of time with the Lord, cupcakes, tail wagging dogs greeting you at the door, God's little lessons every day, His touch on my life, the weekend, Christmas decorations, getting closer to the Lord....

On and on it goes, the list of things I am grateful for.  This week of giving thanks stirs in my heart the reflection of God's goodness.  Lord, teach me to be more grateful.  Let thanksgiving be my "go to" in every moment of my day, especially when I am getting frustrated or upset.  Let me remember to be thankful in all things.  Your blessing, my thankfulness, neither depends on my feelings.

Why not try making your own list today.

This Week's Little Victories

Little victory, big results.  God's word promises His Word will not return void.  It will yield fruit.  So when a few nights this week I remembered to look at my Scripture cards, I knew it is God working to create a new heart and new attitude in me.

For years I've carried around little index cards with Scripture on them.  You know, we've all read Christian books and heard teaching on writing out index cards with Scriptures that speak to us, or to an area where we are struggling or want to grow in.  And I do it.   I write them out, put them in my bag and promptly forget about them.  A pocketbook gets old and worn, out they come with everything else and into the new pocketbook they go, once again relegated to the "junk" in my bag status.

But this week.....yaaay, I've actually been reading them.  Put my hand in, grab a card and read away! It's a miracle!  Okay, maybe not quite miracle status, but pretty good nonetheless.  I am happy that I am actually using them!   And I have about 20 or so cards!!  LOL

I am so glad for this prompting of the Holy Spirit to start focusing on these cards.  One of the things that the Lord spoke to me about during Sunday's sermon was being a disciple, and sharing the light of Jesus.  I don't know if my Pastor intends his sermons to teach some of the stuff that I end up learning, (I'm thinking I go off on a whole different track sometimes!) but God sure does use what He is saying to spark and inspire my heart.

So the verse John 8:31-32 came up.  "Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, 'You are truly my disciples if you obey my teachings.  And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.'" (hey, punctuation people, how do I "punctuate" this ?!? LOL).Our Pastor has explained to us that a person who desired to be a disciple of a certain teacher would go and spend all his time with the teacher, living with them, learning from them constantly.   So the thought came to me, "what keeps me from being a disciple?"  Of course the obvious answers came, pride, selfishness....But then I heard the Lord speak about remaining in Him.  John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from Me, you can do nothing.  

And so as we meander down these stepping stones of the Lord's leading, we come to the Scripture cards and actually using them.  This is how I remain in Jesus.  I remain in His Word.  Looking at the cards brings my focus back to Him.  I am blessed to have access and freedom to the Bible and it's my responsibility to use it.  I love the God visits that string together like lights on our path, each one illuminating the next step in His teaching.  I look forward to the victory and fruit His Word will produce in me.

Isaiah 55:10  The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grown, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.  It is the same with my word, I send it out and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to and it will prosper everywhere I send it.  


Lord, keep me at this.  Help me to keep Your Word and Your presence in the forefront of my mind.

Fog

Yesterday's "Jesus Calling" really resonated with me.  It's something I've been trying to become proficient at for the last couple of years, with varying degrees of success.  Staying in the moment.

I have a tendency to look ahead....not way into the future, but just for the day's "to do" list.  "I have to do this; I need to get this done," statements run round and round in my head (I believe there is a very well worn rut in my brain for these words).   I've already done it this morning...waking up making the list in my head (actually, that started last night)...many times I even write it down.  I don't consider that last part a bad thing, it does help me to remember what's on the agenda for the day....anyone who knows me knows I have no memory!!  LOL  But, it's the stressing over it, the "I gotta...I gotta..." attitude that creates discord, havoc and stress in my heart, day and mind.  It steals my peace.

So when I read the words in the devotional yesterday morning, I was once again reminded (we just mentioned my bad memory) that I needed to stay in the moment and focus on Jesus.  "As you look at the day before you, you see a twisted, complicated path....You wonder how you can possibly find your way through that maze."  Sarah Young then reminds us that we are to recall the promises of the Lord for guidance and His presence with us.  "As you look again at the path ahead, you notice that a peaceful fog has settled over it, obscuring your view.  You can see only a few steps in front of you, so you turn your attention more fully to Me and begin to enjoy My presence."  All I am required to do is look to the Lord, then take the next step in my day.  In that way, task by task, encounter by encounter, moment by moment the day will unfold under His leadership and in His glory and plan.

"To do" lists aren't a bad thing.  They help us remember, keep us on track. I need them desperately! But I think it's releasing them into the hands of Jesus and going with the flow, His flow, that is the key to keeping the day peaceful, joyful and fruitful.

Lord, keep me focused on You, one step at a time.  Thank You for this reminder once again.  I think I will put it on my "to do" list.  LOL

Victory in Jesus...Theme for the Week!!

John 8:31-32   Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

That Song Stuck In My Head

Job 1:21b  ...The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

This verse has been playing over and over  in my  head for the last few weeks.  It's a great verse.  It reminds me that the Lord is to be blessed no matter what is actually going on around me, in my life, or what I feel or see.  This is a lesson I seem to need reminding of time and time again.  And I'm okay with that.  I want praise and honor of the Lord to become the "go to" attitude in my life, so ingrained in my being, that my first reaction is always to bless and praise God whatever the circumstance or happening.

The Lord also has included a song running around my brain as well...and it runs along the same theme as the verse.

1 Thessalonians 5:18   Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Most times, when things get frustrating or don't go my way, people won't cooperate with my idea of how life should work, traffic lights seem to all be red, the clock moves faster than I would like.....my first reaction has always been to complain, gripe and many times to blame God.  But now, this verse, or more accurately, this part Job 1;21 is coming into my head when life doesn't behave the way I desire.  And I am loving it !!  I love that the Holy Spirit is creating a new habit in me.  It's has been my prayer for so long to break free from a complaining spirit...and I still have a ways to go...but I know, know, know that I am on the path to recovery from this addiction!!  Yaaay.  Thank You Lord.

Lord, thank You for this ongoing God visit.  This wonderful work in progress.  I pray that You will encourage people, through this entry that we are all works in progress, masterpieces being painted by You...the process is sometimes long and arduous, but You are at work.  Help us to never give up, because You never give up.

Good and Bad

Last week I prayed to the Lord for adoptions at the kitten shelter I volunteer at.  And yippee!  We had 5 kittens and 1 adult go to their "furever" homes!!  So very very exciting and happy.   And I got to share that it was God who deserved the credit!!  That's icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.

Fast forward to this week.  A friend is in need of placement for 5 kittens.  The area they are in is not great, not safe and I am feeling pressured into acting, when I don't feel comfortable with the whole situation.

Last week I felt like I was on top of the world.  This week I feel sick to the very pit of my stomach. Up-down, up-down....smooth-bumpy, smooth-bumpy....the road of life.  I get it!!  LOL.  A couple of days ago the devotional in "Jesus Calling" advised, "Learn to appreciate difficult days."  Hmmmm...tough to do.  And I really get frustrated with the seemingly trivial, not so trivial and some downright difficult dilemmas, problems and circumstances.   But the Lord says in James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,"  

So over the last few weeks, I've read about bringing difficult days, events, people, emotions....all of it to Jesus.  And I know we are to praise Him in all circumstances.  All these God visits, all this teaching from Him is what keeps me going right now.  And how awesome is that.  He knows what we need even before we get to the place where we need it!  LOL     What a mighty, wonderful God we serve.

Thank You Lord that You are there, You are in control, on the mountains and in the valleys.  I need not fear, nor fret...but bring all to You and place my moments and days in You capable, loving hands. I praise You for all things.  I am blessed to be Your child.

I AM

Exodus 3:14a  I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS

John 4:26  Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!"

Revelation 22:12-13  See I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

A Different View

God sees so much differently than I do.  I look at my days and see little if any progress in the deeper areas of my walk with Him.  One of my greatest desires is to become aware of His presence in all things.  Somehow it usually gets lost in the shuffles of the day.  My focus becomes more earthly as I move away from my "God time" in the morning.  I'm sure I am not alone in this, so I'm sure I am not alone in needing a little pick me up from the Lord to remind me we're on the right track, and He is looking at us, not with a disappointed frown, but a loving smile.

"Jesus Calling", November 1.  "Don't be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me, I know that your heart's desire is to be aware of My Presence continually.....I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me through your life."

God is so good.  He tells us in Zechariah 4:10  Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand,  For these seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world."

Jesus rejoices in our smallest of beginnings.  A spark in our hearts He can turn into a warm, glowing flame.  Our tiniest of desires to please Him into an all consuming passion for His Presence and will in our lives.  God sees our desire, looking at them aligning with His and He works with it.

I can remember many years ago, as I worshiped in church one Sunday, being so frustrated in the fact that I couldn't keep my mind on the Lord during this time.  Ugh!!  I thought to myself.  But the Lord gave me a picture in my head of a young child handing their parents a drawing.  The parents don't look at it and critique  the fact that the child made the people purple and the sky green.  They don't point out that there is crayon outside the lines or that you can't tell what the picture is actually supposed to be.  No, they look at it and exclaim their delight.  They see it for what it is, a gift of love from their child. And they adore it, displaying it proudly on the refrigerator or a wall.    And this is how God sees our smallest of efforts, our "tries and fails" are so much more important than our "never try at alls".  The love behind the effort, the desire to please is what He is looking at.

Last night, again, I felt the Lord saying to me, "Celebrate the victories, the moments of success." And I do!!  I love that I remember to seek Him, to open myself up to His nearness a few more times today than I did yesterday.   The Lord is celebrating too!!

Zephaniah 3:17  For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With His love, He will calm all your fears.  He will exult over you by singing a happy song.

Lord, thank You that You see so much differently than I do.  And thank You for reminding me of that truth.

Relax

Friday was, as usual, a busy day.  Busy before work.  Busy at work.  Busy Busy Busy.  I've learned no matter how crazy my day is going to be I need at least a few minutes with the Lord before the race starts.  And Friday morning I had a nice visit with the Lord, so I was all set for my crazy day to begin.

As the day wore on and I wore out, I kind of forgot about that peace of the morning.  Nothing earth shaking, just caught up in the face paced routine of the day.  So I sat down in my car at break.  I love doing that....all of a sudden, it's quiet.  The noise of  Steward Ave traffic fades into the background, and the chaos of my work area Just a little bubble of tranquility for half an hour.

I play Candy Crush Soda on my phone.  It's a relaxing, turn off the mind and veg kind of thing.  So I decided to play for a while as I sat in my bubble.  Ahhhhhhh.  And then the guilt starts niggling through my brain.  "What a waste of time."  "You should be studying the Bible."   "Maybe some prayer would be nice."  Ugh!!  Can I get a moments peace???  Can I have a break???   So what does this kind of thinking produce, besides guilt?  Anger.  Anger at the Lord.  And it's in that emotion provoking instant that I know this guilt and these suggestions are not from God.  So I sat and felt the Lord lead me in His peace...this wasn't Him putting me on the treadmill of doing.  The Lord is content to sit with us even when we need mind resting, silly games to distract us from the busy and bustle of the day.  It's resting in Him that is important,  no matter what I am doing.  Enjoying the moment, and bringing Him into it.

So to back up this conversation with God, I turn on the radio and He plays me one of my favorite songs, Waterfall, by Chris Tomlin.  God is so good.  It's like He just wanted the whole atmosphere to be one of peacefulness and His presence.  What a wonderful God visit this was.  And yes, I was still playing my game!!

Lord, I ask for You to be in every moment of my day.  Those dedicated to time with You, in study or in prayer, those filled with work and chores and errands...and the down times, the times of silly or what some would see as "non-productive."  Be in all of them with me.  And I give them all to You. Let each minute of my day serve Your purpose.  Thank You for filling my life with You.  

                                      

Sunday Songs