In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

1Thessalonians 5:18 

Giving thanks is a spiritual exercise. When you practice the act of giving thanks to God, it's like going to the gym and strengthening a muscle . And like the gym, it takes commitment and determination. We have to make up our minds to be thankful.

In today's crazy, tense, wound-up world, focusing on the negative comes too easy for most of us. But a step back to some basic truths of the Christian faith can help us exercise our muscle of thankfulness and put our focus back on the promises of God.

• God is Almighty - all knowing, all powerful, ever present, all loving (Psalm 91:1-2)
• Jesus is His son, our savior - in Him we are completely forgiven (John 14:6)
• The Holy Spirit abides with us to teach and guide us, sealing us as His redeemed(2 Corinth. 1:22)
• We are never forsaken (Hebrews 13:5)
• We will be resurrected (Romans 6:5-6)
• We will have everlasting life (John 5:24)

In light of these gifts, how can we be silent. Our hearts and lips must ring with thanksgiving! 

This month and throughout the rest of the year, let's exercise our thankful muscle, remembering that even when the world is upside down and backwards, God still provides everything His children need.

Dear Father,

Your gifts are too wonderful for me to even completely understand. Eternity and everlasting life are beyond my grasp. But I thank you for them. Guide me as I endeavor to practice thanksgiving not just this month but throughout the years to come. For everything you have given to me make me truly grateful.

In Jesus' name, amen. 

 

Wise Mama

Today, I found a hidden treasure, a small nest tucked in among some thorn bushes I was removing. The nest caught my attention because it was so tiny and fragile.

Then I thought how wise the mother bird had been to hide her nest in the thorns where her babies would be protected. It reminded me of the verse in Proverbs thirty.

Hyraxes (the rock badgers), they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks.

That’s exactly what the mother bird had done. She’d built her nest in the best possible place so her babies would be safe. Because she knew they would be helpless and unable to defend themselves.  

I’m like those baby birds. At times, I am helpless and unable to defend myself against the enemy, needing protection.

If only I would place myself in the safest of hands, those of my loving Father.

Dear Father,

Thank you for your protection. I know that even when I’m not looking for it, it is there. You have me in Your hands, nothing in my life is a surprise to you.

Help me to run to You in times of trouble and help me to point other to Your safe arms as well.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 Leave It

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

 

“Leave it,” commanded my husband, but our seven-month-old German shepherd pulled against the leash not wanting to relinquish the goodie he had found on the floor.

Then my husband did as the trainer in the class instructed. He gently tugged on the leash and took a step. When Kaiser followed my hubby, he received a hefty dose of praise and a yummy treat.

Training a dog to “leave it” is a bit like God training us to keep our minds out of the future. We so often borrow worry and stress from what might be and don’t give the events of today enough attention.

Leaving the future in the hands of God calls for faith, trust, and discipline. We must train ourselves to leave situations and their potential outcomes alone until God directs us to move. And that’s hard to do!

Often a dog owner will use this command to keep the dog from eating something harmful or to keep him out of a stinky mess.  Again, the Father too directs us to focus on the good of today to keep us from feeding our souls on the maybes and worries of tomorrow. Too many times, I’ve found myself in a stinky mess because I didn’t leave it and let God work in his timing.

 

Dear Father,

Forgive us when we find it hard to leave the future to you. May you strengthen our resolve to trust you wholeheartedly in all situations. Give us this day what is needed.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Permissible Pleasures

A friend of mine wrote a book titled Permissible Pleasures based on an old saying she'd heard. After giving it some thought, she decided that the Lord allows us many permissible pleasures and through personal stories and scriptures, she shares many of them in her book. 

This summer, I have discovered one of my life's permissible pleasures: ice cream in a cone. 

It'd been years since I'd indulged in ice cream in a cone. For one, I have a dairy allergy, so my ice cream isn't really ice cream. It's a concoction made by companies to help us poor unfortunates. So, whenever we were out and ice cream was mentioned I would simply decline. 

But in the middle of July on a whim, I purchased the old fashioned cake cones and a pint of Ben and Jerry's non-dairy concoction with caramel and chocolate and had myself a yummy little treat. 

Now, a couple of times a week, I'll grab the scoop and build myself a little cone of happiness. 

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him." Psalm 34:8

God is a giver of good gifts. Look around you today and see what permissible pleasures He has given to you in your life. And then, enjoy them with thanksgiving on your lip and maybe a little ice cream.

Father,

Thank you for all the good you infuse into our days and weeks. Help us to see your gifts and to enjoy them. Keep us from turning blessings into burdens.

In Jesus' name, amen.

 What kind of spiritual seeds are you planting?

There are six things the LORD hates – no, seven things he detests . . . a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

~ Proverbs 6: 16-19

The official first day of spring is here! Though outside the temperatures have hovered in the forties and are supposed to drop to below freezing tonight for the fourth night in a row, my sights are set on the coming of warmer weather, sunshine, and the planting of flower seeds.

I love planting flowers. I've had vegetable gardens, but none of them have brought me as much joy as the years I've planted flowers. The colors and smells sing to my soul. They display the grace and beauty found in God's glorious nature.

In our walk with God, we plant seeds all the time. In some situations, we plant the seeds of encouragement like when a child is having difficulty with homework and we cheer him on. Then there are times we sow the seeds of compassion or mercy like when someone has experienced a loss or has shared with us a need that we can meet.

But recently, I have found that the enemy also plants seeds, and unfortunately, sometimes he uses us to do it.  These seeds slip into our conversations as doubt or worry or fear causing us to look to ourselves for the answers to our problems instead of to God, the Father.

I'm not talking about ignoring your emotions. We all are worried or fearful or have doubts at times. But find a prayer buddy who will take it to the Father with you. Don't let those seeds grow.

 
The enemy also loves to plant the seeds of discord among families and especially the family of believers. A little grudge here, a few unmet expectations there and we voice our hurt to others planting seeds in them as well.   Oh, the enemy is tricky.

 
Be vigilant, both in your home and your heart. When you recognize the seeds of discord, pluck them out. Get rid of them, so your heart will be full of the love of God.

 
As a gardener, I know I have to keep the bad seeds out, so the good seeds can grow and take root. And as a believer, I must protect the good seeds of God's Word planted in my heart, so His Word can grow and take root.

Dear Father, 
Thank you for spring. It brings me such joy. Please as I plant the flowers and tend to the yard this year, show me any seeds that the enemy has planted in my heart and pull them out. Let Your Word, Father, take root in my life and may it grow and bloom bringing hope to others. In Jesus' name, amen.