Thankfull living

Thankful.

Every Thanksgiving, we are reminded to celebrate all we have to be thankful for in our lives.

But God doesn’t want us to just be especially thankful once a year. He longs for us to be thank-full every day, in every situation, every time we can.

You recall that verse “Give thanks in all circumstances” we hear every year around Thanksgiving? There’s more to it….for it wasn’t meant to stand on its own!

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be cheerful no matter what.

Being of good cheer is part choice, and part based upon how we handle the emergencies and hard situations we face. Which links it to the next instruction in this verse:

Pray all the time.

All the time. Out loud, in your mind, or with your spirit, constantly bringing everything to Him in the moment.

And when we connect with Him as we do so?

(We can) Give thanks in all circumstances.

Only when all three occur together does the last part of this verse make complete sense:

This (cheerfully praying with thanks every step of all we encounter) is the way God wants His Beloved to live….

Choosing joy.
Connected with Him.
Celebrating with thanks.

This Thanksgiving season, take the time to look back on how God has been with you in every season, and what He walked you through.

Smile. (Laugh, twinkle your eyes or flash your dimple!) Because cheerful inside usually leads to a sign on the outside! 🙂

Pray. However you pray. Whether by speaking it. Thinking it. Writing it. Singing it. Drawing it. On your own. In two or three. At home. At work. Over coffee. While walking.

Thank-fully. We are so extra blessed when we are part of God’s family! We are loved beyond measure by our Father. We belong. We are inheritors of the Kingdom, made whole and clean in Jesus. We are free. We have access to resources surpassing our comprehension through Holy Spirit. We are never alone.

Because God is fully with us through all things, we can always, and in all ways, have a reason to be thank-full.

And then these verses, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, become as they were intended by God in our lives: Thanks-living as we express how thank-full we are to Him!

#thankfull #hopefortheharddays

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Sonday Psalm: worship

Today is a double celebration day.
I am celebrating my eldest child’s birthday, and singing as a part of two worship teams today.

But every day is meant to be a celebration for those who discover  who they are in Christ.

I want to encourage you too today to celebrate. 

Bake a cake.

Walk in the wonder of nature near by.

Read the Word.

Sing with abandon.

Shout for joy.

Craft a new song, poem or picture.

It’s Sunday.

The day Christians usually set aside to worship the Son.

I like to think of it as Sonday.

It’s time for a new psalm to arise from His Beloved.

It’s time for us to let Him know how thankful we are to be His.

Celebrate the blessings you have been gifted with today, whatever they are!

#Sondaypsalm

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lasting hope

I am hardwired to be optimistic.

It takes a lot to get me down… usually a combination of illness/injury, eating poorly & not sleeping enough.

But like you, every day something tries to undermine my hope:

I am married to a wonderful man, who tends to be more of an Eeyore in nature, mostly due to his having seen so much in his nursing career over the last two decades.

I have had random twitches joint pain which has still not been diagnosed, leaving me exhausted some nights, and make it hard to fall asleep on others.

I too have had unexpected expenses pop up.

The loss of a loved one.

The dishwasher conking out when it was full.

My order not show up.

Not enough work.

Too much work.

Our complaint lists can keep going and going like the Energizer bunny, if we keep feeding them.

I choose to feed my hope.

Not on fluffy catchy feel better quotes.

Not on physical food or drink.

With the hope that lasts…

God given hope which rests on Him as its sole source.

In a world seeking bargains and making our lives as ease filled as possible, it dumbfounds me to see people spend millions on make it all better in 10 day programs.

If it didn’t take 10 days to get there, it isn’t going to take 10 days to get back out….just saying.

Since my life has had a lot of knocks, whacks and pitfalls, I need a source of Hope that can take all the concerns and worries I have, and then some, for days to come, for the rest of my life.

God is my choice.

He even paid the cost, fellow bargain hunters, so we can come to Him without barrier.

He even invites us to come and find rest in the shelter He has to offer:

He himself is our peace (Eph 2:14)

Come to me,all who are weary and heavy laden (burdened) and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.
He will call on Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
 and show him my salvation.”
(Psalm 91:14-16).

God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”
(Jeremiah 31:3a)

This is just a glimpse of the treasured promises from God for you.

He knows you.

Despite anything you may have done or will ever do, He loves you dearly.

He made a way for you to come home and be with Him, your heavenly Father.

Jesus calls you sibling, friend, chosen, apple of His eye.

Holy Spirit is within you to guide you, help you in any way you need Him to.

God with us.

That is where I place my hope.
Not on shifting trends, things that pass away and don’t last.
On the foundation of Hope my God has laid down for me.

All my hope is in Him.

The path of hope is waiting for you as well.

Its a journey unlike no other, but with Him leading you, you will always have reason to be thankful, give praise and hope.

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(Repost from Sept 17, 2014 as I am out & about getting ready to celebrate one of my babies’ birthday today, and this is one of my fave posts!)

Thanksliving

Thankful.

Every Thanksgiving, we are reminded to celebrate all we have to be thankful for in our lives.

But God doesn’t want us to just be especially thankful once a year.

He longs for us to be thank-full every day, in every situation, every time we can.

You recall that verse “Give thanks in all circumstances” we hear every year around Thanksgiving?

There’s more to it….for it wasn’t meant to stand on its own!

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be cheerful no matter what.

Being of good cheer is part choice, and part based upon how we handle the emergencies and hard situations we face. Which links it to the next instruction in this verse:

Pray all the time.

All the time. Out loud, in your mind, or with your spirit, constantly bringing everything to Him in the moment.

And when we connect with Him as we do so?

(We can) Give thanks in all circumstances.

Only when all three occur together does the last part of this verse make complete sense:

This (cheerfully praying with thanks every step of all we encounter) is the way God wants His Beloved to live….

Choosing joy.
Connected with Him.
Celebrating with thanks.

This Thanksgiving season, take the time to look back on how God has been with you in every season, and what He walked you through.

Smile. (Laugh, twinkle your eyes or flash your dimple!)

Because cheerful inside usually leads to a sign on the outside! 🙂

Pray.

However you pray. Whether by speaking it. Thinking it. Writing it. Singing it. Drawing it. On your own. In two or three. At home. At work. Over coffee. While walking.

Thank-fully.

We are so extra blessed when we are part of God’s family!

We are loved beyond measure by our Father. We belong.

We are inheritors of the Kingdom, made whole and clean in Jesus. We are free.

We have access to resources surpassing our comprehension through Holy Spirit. We are never alone.

Because God is fully with us through all things, we can always, and in all ways, have a reason to be thank-full.

And then these verses, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, become as they were intended by God in our lives:

Thanksliving as we express how thank-full we are to Him!

Give Thanks

Today, I give thanks.

Throughout my day, these are the prayers I will be praying in thanks to the Giver of all good things.

May Your Bride continue to give You thanks for all You are, and all You do for her each & every day.

I thank You Lord for Your…

LOVE. Poured out for all the world to see in an incomparably extravagant display of Your heart for us, Your Beloved.

FORGIVENESS. Wiping my slate clean as far as the east is from the west. 70×7. 24/7. What a gift!

GRACE. The fact You always welcome me with open arms humbles me and fills me with awed amazement.

MERCY. Oh how often I have need of this gift, and You never fail to extend it to receptive hearts!

FAMILY. The precious ones You have gifted me with from birth, and those treasures which arrived later.

COMMUNITY. The Body we believers belong to, and those smaller heart knit ones You have blessed me with.

REST. For each night You recharge us anew with energy. For each moment we spend resting with and in You.

DREAMS. How You show wisdom and ignite hope in our hearts through the dreams and visions You bless us with.

PRESENCE. How You never leave, forsake, abandon, forget or uninvite Your Beloved. You Are always with us!

YOUR WORD, which never fails to instruct, teach and guide us as Holy Spirit awakens us to the Truth it holds.

#Thanksgiving2015
#thankfullprayers

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Sunday Psalm: Give Thanks

Everything I am
comes from You
Your hand shaped my being
my gifts
my freckles
my smile
my love for music & word
All I am? Made by Your hands

Everything I have
comes from You
my family
my friends
my cat
my home
my jobs
my health
all I have?
Provision from Your hands

Everything I can be
comes alive from Your love
my slumbering dreams come back to life
my wrongs are laid to rest at the foot of the cross
my gifts are ignited by Your passion for Kingdom yet to come
my love deepens & takes root on the Rock
my hunger & thirst are satisfied by & in You
All I can be? Comes to pass in You

This thankfulness which wells up within me cannot be quenched in the storms, for Your Presence & Provision will never stop for Your Beloved. 🙂

#SundayPsalm

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always something there to remind me

There is always something there to remind me.

Every day,
something reminds me of how much
I have to be thankful for.

Thank-full.
Full of thanks.

Most of us have moments we might otherwise pass by, and never notice the gift we were given in that very moment.

Friday I decided to juice fast until lunch for a few days.

Food- the simple chicken, snap peas and carrots- never tasted so good as it did when I got hungry.

Saturday, my kids and I had to walk somewhere unexpectedly due to a change in Hubby’s work day. One vehicle going in the opposite direction= 3 walkers. As a result, we saw a plant none of us have never seen before, and had some great conversations as we walked together- which we would have likely missed in a quick car ride.
We also amped up our walking for the day, and are thankful to be able to walk.

Today, I got a few compliments on how nice my children are. They are my best gifts yet, after my hubby, that God has chosen to bless me with.

I got to use my voice as part of a worship team this morning. I am so thankful to be able to sing for His joy and glory every day.

The weather today was just right for an outdoor BBQ this afternoon, having cooled perfectly for sitting outside by my garden and reading tonight.

Simple pleasures maybe to you.

Gifts I am thankful for
thank-full for as I count them
every day.

There is always, always, something to be thankful for.

Count your blessings
list the gifts
you have seen, received
each day.

Training ourselves to daily notice all we have to be thankful can help you through the harder days by reminding you He is the giver of all good things.

He even gave His son to show me just how much He loves me.

The best gift yet to be thankful for
because it will live on
in my heart
for all eternity!

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walk a thousand miles….

Tonight I enjoyed hearing some of my favorite songs reintroduced with a Celtic flair at a free local concert.

And I cannot get one of the songs off my mind, despite another CD playing here at home in the background.

“(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles” by the Proclaimers is resonating within me…but not just because its a great song.

There are only a few people I know who would give what they could if I was in need. There are several I would do what I could for in an emergency. Close friends & family.

Fewer still would I go to battle for.

The difference between supporting a friend and dying for one is love.

Love amplifies the value of the one we love.

Jesus showed us just how much He loved us by dying for us.

You don’t die for someone unless you love them.

The reality is most of us are way too selfish and protective of ourselves to think long and hard about how we would answer this question.

I would walk 500 miles, then i would walk 500 more to be the one who walked 1000 miles to fall down at your door?

Really?

The answer is once love begins to seep into the crevices of our hearts, the more likely it is for us to say yes.

For my hubby & kids, my best friends, I would go to the far corners of the earth and back.

For my God, I will lay down my life.

Yes, you read that right.

I would die for love.

The love that died for me deserves nothing less in response.

Love shows the one it loves its devotion.
Constantly.
Relentlessly.

Unstoppable love.

This is the kind of life changing love that can change the world.

In fact, it already has.

The road to the cross must have felt like 500 miles, maybe 1000 miles, yet Jesus’ love for us kept Him on that path, step after step, to lay it all down for us.

If you don’t know how much God loves you, crack open His story of love for us all, the Bible.

God has never stopped walking through human history trying to reach us with His love.

Knowing that kind of amazing love, I will walk anywhere He leads me to show Him just how grateful I am, and how much I love Him in return.

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mirror the joy

Joy is at the heart of God. Joy is a command. Joy is strength and its absence will create weakness. God is the happiest being in the universe. And God’s intent was that his creation would mirror his joy.

– John Ortberg

We were meant to mirror His joy.

Joy can be found no matter what your circumstance, because joy is a choice.

Choosing to accept God is for you, even if you can’t see it right now.

Because truth is not related to your perspective. It is solid, dependable and lives forever.

Truth is part of the heart of God.
As is His joy.

God delights in us as His.

And that fact alone should bring you joy.

And if we are being joyful, God is too.

For He loves when His kids appreciate His gifts.

The more we acknowledge and name the gifts He has given and is giving us, the more joy we will experience.

I don’t know about you, but I can use more joy on a daily basis.

If we are experiencing being loved, and keeping track of the blessings God is directing your way, the joy will begin to puddle up, pool together and flow beyond anything you can imagine.

Its time for immeasurable joy.

broken & foolish

I know that God is good, merciful & gracious because He uses broken & foolish vessels like us to proclaim His unending love.

Eugene Cho

God chooses to speak through people like you & I.

Some days, I am more dumbfounded by that statement than I can easily express.

I am not shocked God chooses to speak through you.

It is knowing He wants to use me and I am His choice that leaves me flummoxed.

I know I am not worthy.

But He chooses me, you, anyways.

We are the part of the proof He uses to share His heart for the world.

It is with wonder at His grace, love and mercy that I cannot help but write or sing of how good He has been to me.
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How He has always been with me.

Never failed me.

Loves me with an amazing, breathtakingly passionate love.

Speaks to me…words of love, direction, sometimes correction with affection & wisdom reminders when I need them.

The same God full of goodness, grace, love, mercy is waiting for you too.

His Word being spoken through His beloved to those He is calling home.

A privilege I don’t take lightly, as I know just how foolish I can be, and how broken I have been without His presence.

And I will never stop being thankful and proclaiming how grateful I am to be His.