Be thankful along the way

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“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” –
1 Thessalonians 5:18.

I am calling you to a life of thankfulness. I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving –  (Jesus Calling).    Be thankful along the way (Copy)

Unfortunately, there are many examples where I failed to thank God for all my blessings. I find myself complaining about petty items.

The weather is too hot or too cold. We need more rain or there’s been too much rain. This meat is too spicy or too bland. They get more time off to do what they want to do. Or, their grandchildren live close by and mine don’t. She’s further ahead in her writing career, or he has more accepted magazine articles than I do.

Instead, I need to be thankful for:
* Sufficient food on the table
*  Employment opportunity
*  Grandchildren alive & well
*  The gift of writing
*  My own platform to proclaim my story

I am right where God intended me to be. He placed me in this family for a reason(s).

Dear God, forgive me for daydreaming and wondering what the grass on the other side might be like. 

“You may think the grass is greener on the other side. But if you take the time to water your own grass, it would be just as green” – unknown.

 

Thoughts after the Boston Marathon bombings

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How do we make sense of hate crimes such as the Boston bombings this week? Crimes that maim and even kill innocent people and alter lives forever?

My finite mind will never reason it out. There is no justification for senseless, needless killings. Humans have free-will choices. Many choose to use their choices to do good. Unfortunately, there will always be those who choose evil.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” — Jeremiah 17:9/NLT.

And what about those who wake up this morning with no son, daughter, sister, or brother? What about the injured with missing limbs, brain or head trauma?

How do we counsel them? What words could possibly ease their pain?     Comfort one another

Amidst this horrific situation, God stands ready to comfort, to extend his caring, loving arms. To wrap those arms around bleeding limbs & hearts. God’s love is deep and strong — able to shelter the worst storms. He extends his hands and says, “Come to me, my bruised child. I will ease your pain.”

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God … but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 9.

Share your story

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“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” — 2 Corinthians 4:7.

God gave each of us a message, a song, and a story in our hearts. He gave us this message to share. Not to keep it stored up inside.    Glory-gifts from God (Copy)

Your story is different than mine. Your story is yours. My story is mine. My story includes joy, pain, trials, defeat and victory — so does yours. Our stories involve different details, but similar characteristics. The Author-Creator of our stories remains the same God.

Isn’t it time to pen those words, so others can be blessed & encouraged? Ask God to fill you with his all-encompassing power. He will give you and me the courage to write that story burning deep inside!

Let me fill you with my Love, Joy, and Peace … Glory-gifts #JesusCalling.

 

 

Focus on what you do have

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When you focus on what you don’t have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened – #JesusCalling.

Rather, offer “the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord” –
Psalm 116:17 (NKJV).   Focus on what I do have (Copy)

 

 

Nothing is impossible with God

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“With Him, nothing is impossible” — (Luke 1:37).

I’m considering the words to the famous song written by Chris Tomlin, “How Great is Our God.” Only five one-syllable words, but packed with power and meaning. Let’s look at a few attributes of this great and awesome God:

Sunset over Lakeshore Yacht Harbor - Muskegon Lake

Sunset over Lakeshore Yacht Harbor – Muskegon Lake

*  Clothed in majesty (compared to my filthy rags)
*  He is Light (I sometimes hide in darkness, how about you?
*  King of all Kings (I am nothing without Him)

Yet when I humble myself and call on his matchless name, I am called a daughter of the King. God desires my fellowship and bids me to walk in the light as he is in the light. He truly is a great God — worthy of all my praise.

*  Have you thought about the hugeness of God, creator of the universe
*  Have you told him your worries (none of which are too big or too small for him to handle)?