In everything give thanks

Today at 11:35 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!   Well, how about our crazy weather!!  Lots of whining going on….Hot one day, raining the next, then down right cool, hot, rain, and don’t forget the wind!  Good grief what’s a person to do!  One day people are in tank tops and shorts, the next jackets and long pants, heck yesterday I saw a young lady with a stocking cap on!  Lots of, “I’m tired of all this rain,”  “the mud is driving me crazy,”  “Oh I have so much work to do outside and it’s too wet,”  “the wind is so cold, I want to wear shorts but it’s too cold,”  I’m tired of this weather,” “last night I had the air conditioner on and now today the heater,”  “this weather is crazy.”  Any of these sound familiar to you?  Well, the other morning while reading God’s word, snuggled under a blanket, listening to the pounding rain, I ran across a portion of God’s word, that just really hit me; oh boy…really made me think.  From Philippian’s 4:11-12, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (whether it’s cold and rainy or warm and sunny).  Seemed like it was pointed right at me lately…..so….if it’s cold…light a fire and put on a jacket.  If it’s raining….wear rubber boots and a rain coat…..If it’s hot turn on the air conditioner and put on your shorts….And if it’s all in one day….thank our Father that our lives are not boring!  Rejoice always (rain or shine); pray without ceasing; in EVERYTHING give thanks.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Today, I am giving thanks for the blue sky and sunshine!  Woo Hoo, thank you Father.  And last night, I sure enjoyed the fire in the wood stove and a delicious pot of soup, both prepared by my husband!  Thanks again Father and please forgive us when we whine….we don’t want to we are just weak….help us to give you glory with our words and actions.

 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  1 Timothy 6:6-8.  Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!

Love you all!

Giving Thanks Day

 

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His love, Wednesday!  Well, better late than never, Kathyrn and I finally finalized our plans for Thanksgiving last night….Not a big crowd, but still good to be organized right!  Everybody is talking about their plans, all the sale papers full of ads for turkey, ham, cranberries, pumpkin, stuffing, you know all the good traditional stuff….Thanksgiving…….I was thinking this morning that the name of the day needs to be changed to “Giving Thanks Day.”  Giving thanks….oh how slack I can be in that department…..This morning I was reading in the book of Acts, Paul was talking to the people of Ephesus about his work there and encouraging them to carry on in the faith when he leaves…..it was the words of our Savior, he quoted, that got me to thinking, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Acts 20:35.  Blessed to give….think about it….These are the words of the GRANDEST GIVER of all time!!!!  He gave HIS LIFE for us….HIS LIFE…..and says, “It is more blessed to GIVE than to receive”  That thought is almost incomprehensible to me……We received the gift of Eternal Life and He is blessed…..I feel, sad at my smallness, but energized to GIVE more….starting with THANKS…..I am blessed with so much and yet so often complain, envy, feel discontent……I am giving thanks that for that I am forgiven for each of those….thankful that I have a chance to do better……thankful for food, clothes, a warm home, car that starts, a good job….especially thankful for the love and support of family friends in this life……thankful that I have so much to give…..and thankful that my giving will be blessed through the love of our Heavenly Father.  Father, help me to always be a cheerful giver, I simply share what you have given me.  Thank you Father for the GREATEST GIFT.

 

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful give.  (what more motivation do we need).  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written; “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”  2 Corinthians 9:7-9.  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gate with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100.

Love you all!

Putting God's Teachings Into Practice: Philippinas 4:8

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  This morning my time in God’s word led me to Philippians 4:8, Paul’s words here really got me to thinking, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Wow, you might want to read that again….true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy…..simple words at first glance but Paul encourages us think about them, in verse 9 he says, “put into practice” all we have heard from him…..I have read that verse a hundred times I’m sure, but this morning the words really spoke to me…..I had to think of my actions…..gosh yesterday at church I snapped at a friend….plain rude…..nothing lovely or admirable for sure….As I finished reading and began my prayer time….I decided I was really going to work at having my thoughts and actions reflect Paul’s advice to us…..while sitting in the quiet of the morning, praying, it was easy….talking to God is the one time of day that my thoughts are right and pure….but then the morning began, time to get on the floor and do my exercises….I felt a grumble coming on….and not a lovely one…..a discussion with Kim about a problem we are having with neighbor caused thoughts that were definitely not noble….A call from Cooper warning me of the thick fog, strongly suggesting I leave early for work…..got me in a rush and my actions weren’t praiseworthy.  Getting into the car and heading out I could tell it was going to be a slow go….Immediately I felt grumpy and anxious…..irritated at the thick fog and the dangers it could present….Then I heard Him…..felt Him…..my thoughts…..that were not praiseworthy, or admirable or pure…..were slipping away…as I focused on our Father….His presence and love…my not so admirable thoughts changed…as I listened to HIM….leaned on Him…..talked to Him…..my thoughts could be right, pure…..lovely…..The praiseworthy….giving that one to our Heavenly Father!  He is the ONE holding me up, leading and guiding me….to HIM all glory and praise!!!!  Father, forgive us when our thoughts and actions are not a reflection of You……help us!

 

The Lord knows the thoughts of man;   Psalm 94:11a. Be kind and compassionate to one another.  Ephesians 4:32.  As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Colossians 3:12.  You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.  Psalm 16:11.  Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before Him with Thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all Gods.  Psalm 95:1-3. 

Love you all!