Thanksgiving \Thanks"giv'ing\, noun
1. The act of rending thanks, or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.
Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.
--1 Tim. iv. 4.
I love that definition. I love how smoothly it translates into life. I love that the secular website I "borrowed" it from included that Bible verse too. I love that when I logged on tonight to write about my thankfulness and gratitude I was greeted by a very similar blog update by a dear friend. I love true honest thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I'm all for the lovely, yummy turkey spreads. But, if you get down to the nitty gritty it's truly about so much more then a day. It's really a way of life. Are you living with a spirit of thanksgiving? Not just in good times, but in those really ugly dark times too? I know that's what I strive for.
I want to start and end my days in thanksgiving to my sweet Savior, for He paid my bill up front, before seeing the menu, before I even knew of Him, no questions asked- I have even been known to order an expensive bottle of wine or two along the way. He didn't care. He paid for it all. he gave His life that I may live....wow... even after all these years that still gives me goosebumps and warms my soul.
So tonight as I sit here typing I'm so thankful that my debt was paid. That God made the sacrifice I never could have and gave His Son. I'm thankful He took the mess I was, forgave and renewed me, and continues to do so to this day. I'm sooooOOOooo grateful he chose to bless me with my 3 beautiful children, my loving husband, all of my friends, and fellow believers. Lately I've been struggling to really truly give it all to Him, yet when I do I'm so thankful that he forgives my short comings and provides anyways.
So tomorrow may your plates and hearts be full as you dwell in all you are thankful for with the ones you love. Happy Thanksgiving, or Giving Thanks Happily, for you my friends.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A testimony to the small stuff....
I've really been working on giving it all to Him lately. That concept is sooOOOooo hard for me, yet I feel like I've been doing better with His help, and reassurance that if I do let go He WILL catch me. So today I'd like to share my victory in the very smallest of small stuff.
Let me start by saying I adore my sunglasses. Silly I know but they look stellar on me, they are polarized, and my prescription. I had always wanted the perfect pair of shades and now I had them. They make driving so much easier on my baby blues....anyways....you get the point that they are an essential item to my life.
Well I lost them. I couldn't find them anywhere after our trip to the city this weekend. I was crushed, again silly I know, but it's true. I looked high and low and began to fret.
I can't afford a new pair what am I going to do?
Then it hit me I'M going to do NOTHING. Nothing but give it to God. So I went to Him. I spent a good 3 minutes praying for guidance on finding a pair of sunglasses, I felt sorta silly but also relieved. This morning I had a brain storm of places to look, thinking this was His answer I checked them all....no luck. Then I did something strange for me I truly let it go. Before pulling out of my driveway for the day I thanked the Lord it was overcast. I saw that as a sign of His affection to me and my light sensitive eyes. Then I carried on with my day.
Well what do you know when I got home this afternoon before pulling into my garage I see a little black case on the floor right in my driving path (A floor I had searched with a flash light, a floor I had driven in and out of 4 times since loosing my sunglasses, a floor I NEVER scan well before pulling in if I was the last one to pull out.) There they were perfectly safe in their case. My heart squealed. I could feel nothing but blessed. God taught me such a great lesson in this tiny moment. I need to ask, be grateful, listen, and accept His will and HE will always be there- even in the very small stuff.
So long story short I have my wonderful sunglasses back, yet I am still so happily blinded by the way He works best in those still, small moments.
I've really been working on giving it all to Him lately. That concept is sooOOOooo hard for me, yet I feel like I've been doing better with His help, and reassurance that if I do let go He WILL catch me. So today I'd like to share my victory in the very smallest of small stuff.
Let me start by saying I adore my sunglasses. Silly I know but they look stellar on me, they are polarized, and my prescription. I had always wanted the perfect pair of shades and now I had them. They make driving so much easier on my baby blues....anyways....you get the point that they are an essential item to my life.
Well I lost them. I couldn't find them anywhere after our trip to the city this weekend. I was crushed, again silly I know, but it's true. I looked high and low and began to fret.
I can't afford a new pair what am I going to do?
Then it hit me I'M going to do NOTHING. Nothing but give it to God. So I went to Him. I spent a good 3 minutes praying for guidance on finding a pair of sunglasses, I felt sorta silly but also relieved. This morning I had a brain storm of places to look, thinking this was His answer I checked them all....no luck. Then I did something strange for me I truly let it go. Before pulling out of my driveway for the day I thanked the Lord it was overcast. I saw that as a sign of His affection to me and my light sensitive eyes. Then I carried on with my day.
Well what do you know when I got home this afternoon before pulling into my garage I see a little black case on the floor right in my driving path (A floor I had searched with a flash light, a floor I had driven in and out of 4 times since loosing my sunglasses, a floor I NEVER scan well before pulling in if I was the last one to pull out.) There they were perfectly safe in their case. My heart squealed. I could feel nothing but blessed. God taught me such a great lesson in this tiny moment. I need to ask, be grateful, listen, and accept His will and HE will always be there- even in the very small stuff.
So long story short I have my wonderful sunglasses back, yet I am still so happily blinded by the way He works best in those still, small moments.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Ok so this is a quick post to tell you to go read someone elses post LOL....but really if you are a mama, go.
I will be doing this for all three of my sweet children, you should too it'll be fun to watch His blessing flow down on them.
So visit: Angie Smiths AMAZING blog for the 7 prayer challenge. BTW if you've never read Audreys story you should. Just make sure you have an open heart, time, and plenty of tissues.
I will be doing this for all three of my sweet children, you should too it'll be fun to watch His blessing flow down on them.
So visit: Angie Smiths AMAZING blog for the 7 prayer challenge. BTW if you've never read Audreys story you should. Just make sure you have an open heart, time, and plenty of tissues.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)