Tag: GiveThanks

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Starting to Give Thanks

Traditionally, I focus on giving thanks with my November blog posts. This year will be no different.

I would like to encourage you to make a gratitude list, starting today. Write down at least one thing that you are grateful for, more than one is better. Making a list keeps our focus on the good things. It keeps us centered on the blessings that God has given us in the past, is currently doing and will do in our futures.

So, be thankful.

I’m thankful for things that don’t change. The last few days there have been continuous reminders to “fall back”. Now I have to remember what time it is in Houston where my brother lives, in Idaho where my friend is and in California where our son lives…

YUK!

Here in ARIZONA, we don’t change. We are the same in Spring or Fall.

But greater than all that is this:

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t be fooled by any kind of strange teachings.” Hebrews 13:8-9a

There are always New thoughts, New ideas. New doctrines and mantras BUT only one is infallible and perfect.

JESUS NEVER CHANGES!

Can I get a big Amen?

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Anticipation & Expectation

I hope you have been encouraged in your prayer life as we’ve studied the Bible verses on prayer the last few days.

Prayer is not a “genie in a bottle” experience. It’s not even Amazon delivery. It’s better!

Prayer is bigger than that. It is bringing our needs and our heart’s desires to the Father and leaving them in His capable hands. It’s allowing God to move on our behalf; inserting His power into our circumstances.

Sometimes we are tempted to give up or take things into our own hands, trying to make them work out how we think they should. Standing and believing God requires determination and fortitude. Expectation of God’s working; anticipation of how it’s all going to come to pass.

It’s hard to wait but that’s where the excitement of anticipation comes in.

Look at Abraham, he and Sarah waited 25 years to see God’s promise come to pass.

“ The Holy Writings say, ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ This promise is good because of Who God is. He makes the dead live again. He speaks, and something is made out of nothing. 18 Abraham believed he would be the father of many nations. He had no reason to hope for this, but he had been told, ‘Your children will become many nations.’ 19 Abraham was about one hundred years old. His body was about dead, but his faith in God was not weak when he thought of his body. His faith was not weak when he thought of his wife Sarah being past the age of having children. 20 Abraham did not doubt God’s promise. His faith in God was strong, and he gave thanks to God. 21 He was sure God was able to do what He had promised.” Romans 4:17-21 NLV

I can just imagine the excitement that Sarah felt when she first learned that God had said Abraham would be a father, she would be a mother. She had been barren. Did she start making baby clothes, did she have diapers folded neatly and waiting in a hamper? The anticipation of what God was going to do had to be thrilling.

Years passed and there was no child. Sarah thought she would help God out. Maybe the Lord meant that Abraham would be a father but not that she would be a mother. She did the customary thing, she found a surrogate, her handmaid.

As we stand, waiting to see the answer to our prayers we need double dogged determination not to waiver in our faith and stay focused on God’s infallible word.

When the handmaid gave birth to a son Sarah became jealous and bitter. God protected the handmaiden and her son, forgave Sarah for her intervention in His plan and He reaffirmed His promise.

“Because Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He promised. 12 Abraham was too old to have children. But from this one man came a family with as many in it as the stars in the sky and as many as the sand by the sea.” Hebrews 11:11-12 NLV

A good lesson for us all. God’s plan is better than ours.

The verses above from Romans say that Abraham was strong in faith and gave thanks to God.

A heart filled with thanksgiving is a wonderful booster to our faith. We get up each morning and say “Thank you Lord, I am one day closer to seeing the answer to my prayer.” Personally, I remember two specific instances when Dave and I had to wait over eight years to see the final answer to our prayers. Thanking God for working kept us strong.

“So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly. 36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.” Hebrews 10:35-36 ERV

Anticipate. Expect. Just don’t quit!

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Say Thank You

This morning, I was reflecting on God’s goodness and loving faithfulness.

You see eleven years ago this month I was hospitalized with some very serious health issues. God was so good, and I left the hospital seven days later – weak but with a clean bill of health. Lately, I had been experiencing a few of the early symptoms that I had back then. Yesterday, I went for an in-office procedure and was told that everything was clear and healthy.

Thank you, Lord!

We have so much to be thankful for – large and small.

Was it last night’s sunset? Maybe this morning’s sunrise; was it the smile on a child’s face or the tiny delicate fingers of your sleeping baby’s hands?

Maybe it was the blue gentle ripples on the lakes surface; the green of the forest trees; a hawk soaring on the breeze or a prairie flower in all its beauty?

Perhaps you saw love in the eyes of your spouse or child; did you hear joy in the words “you can go home tomorrow” or “it’s benign, nothing to worry about”?

Whatever it was or whatever it is, do you hear and see the love that the Lord has placed all around you? He did this just for you! He wanted you to be aware that He cares about you and His love is measureless, unconditional and free to all.

“Shout praises to the Lord! Shout the Lord’s praises in the highest heavens. 2 All of you angels, and all who serve him above, come and offer praise.

3 Sun and moon, and all of you bright stars, come and offer praise. 4 Highest heavens, and the water above the highest heavens, come and offer praise. 5 Let all things praise the name of the Lord, because they were created at his command. 6 He made them to last forever, and nothing can change what he has done. 7 All creatures on earth, you obey his commands, so come praise the Lord! 8 Sea monsters and the deep sea, fire and hail, snow and frost, and every stormy wind, come praise the Lord! 9 All mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, 10 every wild and tame animal, all reptiles and birds, come praise the Lord!

11 Every king and every ruler, all nations on earth, 12 every man and every woman, young people and old, come praise the Lord!

13 All creation, come praise the name of the Lord. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth. 14 Like a bull with mighty horns, the Lord protects his faithful nation Israel, because they belong to him.

Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 148 CEV

Enjoy what the Lord has done for you today and tell Him thank you!

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Consider the Lilies

One of my favorite extravagances is fresh cut flowers. If money were no object I would have a fresh bouquet every other week.

The colors, the fragrance, the individual beauty, the significance of each flower is a testimony of God’s goodness.

God’s goodness. As I wrote those words I had to stop for a moment, take pause and meditate.

God – Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, Creator of all, Lord of hosts, the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end). He is love, His mercy endures forever, His grace is sufficient, He is the provider and protector. There is no one like Him, He is above all else.

I call him Father. I depend upon Him for my very life. I draw each breath because of Him. I find shelter under His wings, in Him I find rest when I am weary, in His presence I find fullness of joy and at His throne I find help in my time of need.

My Father is Lord God Almighty!

Now, you ask me “what’s that got to do with a bouquet of flowers?”. I’m glad you asked.

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.” Luke 12:27-30 NLT

Flowers are a simple, daily reminder of God’s goodness, the Father’s love!

I mean so much more to Him than the beautiful flowers He created, each flower, each bouquet reminds me to trust.

Yes, consider the lilies of the field and thank your heavenly Father for his faithfulness and love.

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Never Far Away

This morning I was reading in Acts. The chapter I was in, told of Paul traveling to Athens and Corinth and teaching the Greeks.

It reminded me of our time in Greece. There were small chapels everywhere. Sometimes they were only half a mile apart. When we would walk the streets there would be a chapel in the center of the city square, one at the harbor only a few hundred yards away, one on the top of a small hill and then there were prayer chapels sandwiched in between the shops.

Always, there was a reminder of the presence of God. That IS my favorite memory from the Greek islands.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

7 Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NLT

So much to be grateful for! “Don’t be afraid – He will neither fail you nor abandon you”!

Have you ever felt abandoned? Lost and afraid? It’s a sinking feeling; almost a hopelessness. Our heavenly Father never wants us to experience that kind of desperation.

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do…I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalm 139:1-10 NLT

There is no place we will ever go or ever be that our loving, heavenly Father doesn’t go with us.

Jonah was in the belly of a fish; the three Hebrew children were in a fiery furnace, Paul was lost in the sea, the thief was hanging on the cross, the woman was in an adulterous affair and David was facing a giant. All the time, God was there.

We used to sing a song that went something like this: “The place where I worship is the wide, open spaces built by the hand of the Lord. The trees of the forest are like pipes of an organ and the breeze plays an amen chord…”

Like our friends in Greece, we need to take time to worship God no matter where we are.

In a hospital room, a court room, an empty home, a crowded office or a bustling interstate, God is there.

Anywhere we go can become a place of worship if we open our hearts and praise the One who has promised to never leave us alone or abandon us!

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Alleys & Graffiti

I know I mentioned in the last blog that it had been about five days since I had taken a picture of the sunset. That’s true.

While we were in Crete our hotel balcony faced an alleyway and we couldn’t see the sunset because of the angle of the building. But there’s more to it than that.

We had gone from enjoying the beautiful balcony in Naoussa, where we watched the waves roll in, to our balcony in Crete that faced the alley, the dumpsters and the graffiti. One of the high points of each day had been watching the sunset over the mountains across the bay and now we didn’t even want to open the curtains in Crete.

“ I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. 13 Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:11-13 CEV

Yesterday, we began to talk about our favorite parts of the trip and our least favorite, the hotel in Crete. The people there were very sweet; the food was good; our adventures of the cruise, the Church of Titus and the historical museums were wonderful. We determined that we would not let that one little circumstance taint our trip. Instead, we chose to let it be a reminder of how wonderful everything else is.

“God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” Philippians 2:13-14 CEV

When we begin to compare situations, circumstances, people, finances, even hotel rooms, one will rank at the bottom and another at the top. The one at the bottom will cause us to complain if we focus on it long enough and detract from all of the good of the others.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ve been staring at a graffiti covered alleyway. It could take the form of a co-worker, a living situation, the weather, health or a family member. Whatever it is, lift your head, look at the blessings.

“I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe. 5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.” Psalm 23:4-5 CEV

Enjoy the feast in the presence of your enemies. Follow the Shepherd’s lead, it’s an amazing adventure.

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…And Then Repeat

You ever have one of those mornings when you get up and wonder what the day will have in store? You’re wondering if you will have the strength to face it – will you have the answer for the day’s questions – in yourself you feel weak?

Here is the reality of our relationship with the Lord.

Each morning get up and thank the Father for His mighty acts; for His strength, peace, joy and His abundant wisdom. It’s not all about me – it’s about Him! My biggest challenge is to stay focused.

“Praise the Lord, because he is good! His faithful love will last forever! 2 Everyone the Lord has saved should repeat that word of thanks. Praise him, all who have been rescued from the enemy.” Psalm 107:1-2 ERV

Praise the Lord for His goodness and then repeat the praise.

“Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 9 He satisfies those who are thirsty. He fills those who are hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9 ERV

Thank the Lord for His love and all He does on our behalf and then repeat.

“He gave the command and healed them, so they were saved from the grave. 21 Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 22 Offer sacrifices of thanks to him. Sing with joy about all that he has done.” Psalm 107:20-22 ERV

“Whoever is wise will remember these things and begin to understand the Lord’s faithful love.” Psalm 107:43 ERV

Sing a song of joy for all He’s done and then repeat. Praise, thank, sing and then repeat!

Throughout the day take “Praise Breaks”. It will certainly be more helpful than a coffee break. Praise reminds us of the Lord’s faithful love!

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No One Like You!

Today is a day for giving thanks – across this nation there will be millions of people taking time to express gratitude and thankfulness. That is a wonderful thought!

Before your day gets too busy, before your home fills with loved ones or before you travel to them take this time, this quiet morning time, and give thanks. If you have nothing else to be thankful for, give thanks that Almighty God knows your name, He knows the very number of hairs on your head, He has known you since your conception and He loves you with an everlasting love.

“ Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. ” II Samuel 7:22 CEV

“You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, 5 and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. 6 I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me…You are the one
who put me together inside my mother’s body, 14 and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. 15 Nothing about me is hidden from you!” Psalm 139:3-5, 13-15 CEV

Remember a couple of days ago when I told you that our password into God’s presence is “Thank You”? When times are tough and almost overwhelming our praise brings God’s power into our situation. We release control to Him and He brings the victory.

Yesterday morning as I was making pies I was listening to Pandora and this is one of the songs I heard. It was published by Bethel Music in 2018, “Raise A Hallelujah”. As you go about the busyness of your day’s preparation let the words of this song minister to you as you tell the Lord thank you!

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies

I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief

I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody

I raise a hallelujah, Heaven comes to fight for me

Chorus

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes, hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive

Verse 2

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me

I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee

I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery

I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me

Father, today we say thank you! We lift our voices in praise and say Hallelujah! There is no one like You!

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A Joyful Noise

We are at NASCAR Championship week in Avondale, AZ. Last night there was a lot of joyful noise!

It was the parade of all the big trucks that haul the racecars to the track. Campers lined the streets to hoot and holler for their favorite driver and the truck drivers accommodated with blowing their air horns.

Lots of joyful noise – lots of celebration – lots of grateful people!

It’s a natural reaction to make noise when something makes you happy. People yell and cheer at sporting events, in fact, in all the years we attended rodeos the announcers would encourage us to “cheer ’em on, make some noise”, and that’s what we would do.

Little kids love to make noise. Each of my children and my grandchildren have sat on my kitchen floor with pots and pans between their legs, banging on them with spoons or spatulas and been the stars of their own one-man-band.

Why should it be any different for those of us who are God’s children? We should be making some noise and celebrating our relationship with our loving Father.

“Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth. 2 Be joyful and sing as you come in
to worship the Lord! 3 You know the Lord is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture. 4 Be thankful and praise the Lord as you enter his temple. 5 The Lord is good!  His love and faithfulness will last forever.” Psalm 100 CEV

Did you see that phrase, “He created us, we belong to Him, we are His people, His sheep”? Those are amazing words!

We belong to Him – we are His sheep! We know from reading Psalm 23 how He takes care of His sheep. He provides us with rest, food, water, protection from our enemies, and He sends goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our lives.

That kind of loving care is worth shouting about!

If someone carrying a football across the goal line or someone hitting a ball out of the park or someone driving their car across the finish line first is shout worthy, our Father and our God is certainly worthy of shouts of praise.

Come on family – let’s make some joyful noise!

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Get Ready – It’s Coming

I know that we have quite a few new readers of the morning blog so I need to give you fair warning.

It’s Coming!

What is it? It’s the month of praise and thanksgiving!

I like to give thanks all year long but in November I focus on Scriptures of gratitude and praise. Each day I will be choosing a few of my favorite verses and sharing them with you but I just couldn’t wait. This morning we’ll focus our minds on praise as well.

“I will always praise the Lord. 2 With all my heart, I will praise the Lord. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad. 3 Honor the Lord with me! Celebrate his great name.” Psalm 34:1-3 CEV

It’s time to praise and celebrate the great name of the Lord! Break out the confetti, or in Bible days, the palm branches and sing and dance because the Lord is good.

Several years ago I challenged myself to keep a “gratitude” journal for the month of November. I would write down three things each day I was grateful for.

I no longer do it just for November, I keep it all year long. In chapter 34 of Psalms, King David lists several things people should be grateful for. Let’s look at a few of them (I strongly encourage you to read the entire chapter).

“I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me  from all my troubles.” verse 6 CEV

I’m so thankful that God doesn’t limit His goodness and salvation to just the elite. His heart is open to all.

“Discover for yourself  that the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad.” verse 8 CEV

We need to take a few moments to focus on and be grateful for the Lord’s kindness and protection. Yesterday, did you have any close calls or near misses when it came to your safety? Be glad that the Lord was there for you – covering you with His protection.

“When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. 18 The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.” verses 17&18 CEV

I’m so thankful that the Lord isn’t deaf. He listens when we pray and He brings us out of our discouragement and hopeless. He replaces them with His peace and joy!

There you have it! Three things to be grateful for. Let God’s word create an attitude of gratitude all month long.

Are you ready?

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