An Attitude of Gratitude...

I couldn't enter into the month of November, without my blog theme centering around some form of being thankful.  We ALL have SO much to be thankful for. If you are reading this- you:
#1 know HOW to read
#2 have access to a computer or smart phone
#3 have internet access
#4 have ELECTRICITY
You also,  most likely, have running water, an indoor plumbing, a car, a home with heat, clothing, possibly designer clothing, an education, ... and my list could continue.

If you live in the US, you have freedoms that others can only DREAM about! [Shout out to my readers in Germany, France, Canada, and Australia...you are blessed with many liberties, as well]

WE are SO BLESSED.

The reality is, though, there are more people living "without" than we think.

We can't escape the news media.  We can SEE and HEAR the terrible things that are happening in countries that don't have the freedoms that we do.

We see commercials with starving children, who don't know when they are going to get their first meal.

There are families right HERE in our country, who have lost their homes, lost their jobs, lost their families, lost EVERYTHING.


We, by showing true GRATITUDE for what we HAVE...can ultimately bless someone else.

Yes. you read that correctly.  If WE, express our pure GRATITUDE to our Lord, giving thanks for all that we HAVE, We have the ability to BLESS others.

You see, showing gratitude, or giving thanks, or being thankful, or saying thank-you is SO much more than a quick action.

Saying "thank you" is an action.  A verb. Something that is done quickly.  When I wake up in the morning, I open my journal to do my devotions and I write out all of the things that I am thankful for-all of my blessings. Then, I close my journal and go about my day.
Saying thank you is the first step to expressing gratitude, but it is not the ONLY step.

Gratitude,  as defined in the Webster's dictionary, is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

the QUALITY of being thankful, the READINESS to SHOW appreciation for and to return KINDNESS.

What is my definition of gratitude?

GRATITUDE: The readiness and ability to show kindness to all of God's creation.  To demonstrate a quality of life through the appreciation of others' actions and their NEEDS.

You see, we can not truly express gratitude by simply saying "thanks for helping me."  We don't show REAL gratitude for this life, until we are able to say, "Hey, is there anything that I can help YOU with?"

Hebrews 12:28 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Psalm 96: 1-3

1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,

   

Matthew 20:28  28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Ephesians 6:7  7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.

If we are truly expressing our thanks to our Lord, we must also then SERVE Him in the ways in which he instructed us to do so. He tells us to go out, share the gospel, share the truth, share the life of Christ.

ThanksGIVING.  

Let us all take this month of November. Make sure that we offer our thanks to the Lord for ALL of our blessings. But, also, let us go out and SERVE. What can YOU do to share the love of Christ? What does YOUR service look like? Do you have the heart for street ministry?  Do you have an extra hour each week to sit at the nursing home and read from the Word? Do you have a voice to share music?  Do you have the means to bless a family with winter coats? Do you have the means to travel to another continent and care for the sick and hungry? What ever YOUR abilities are, use them to SERVE. Not only our Lord, but EACH OTHER.

I think that we have A LOT to be thankful for. Amen?

{beBlessed} and have a GREAT day!

A season of busy is WAY better than a season of PANIC.

Goodness, I am starting to think that there should be a 5th season and just call it BUSY!


First of all, whoever came up with the cockamamie idea that "Homeschooled children are anti-social and have no friends" is a doofus. Can I get an Amen, homeschooling, Mamas? I don't stop running!  Between playdates, field trips, our community homeschool group, sports and play practice...my kids are WELL socialized, and so am I.  Praise GOD!;-) As busy as we are though, I am thankful...because I few short years ago...I didn't even leave my house.

One of the hardest things for me to adjust to, when I left the "real world" and became at SAHM (or WORK at home Mom, as I like to note) The thing I missed the most was my friends.At the time, the only interaction I had during the day was an 18 month old baby and I was 7 months pregnant...during Apple Harvest! I missed having SOMEONE to talk to. I would put the Dude down for a nap, watch marathons of Jon and Kate +8  and talk to the television! (don't judge)
 I was alone.  Isolated, not only by geographic location, but because of my belief in raising my OWN children versus remaining in the work force to raise OTHER people's children.

 After having a preemie, I became neurotic. I have NO shame admitting that.  My doctor seriously called me that.  It wasn't post partum depression, like everyone and their brother wanted to label me as,  It was pure and simple, PANIC.

When you spend days and days sitting at the bedside of this little life that you have been growing inside you, as he has a tube down his throat, eating through another tube in his stomach with a giant needle providing medicine in his head, your brain goes places. Its really hard to explain. You think about scenarios that NO ONE should have to think about, and few actually have to live. I would pray for solace. I would pray for peace in my heart.  I would pray for healing. And, then I would find myself bargaining with God.  Like...if you let him get better, and grow stronger, I PROMISE to...

The first time I got to hold Philip.  2 days old.

After we were home and beginning to have some semblance of normalcy, my brain would STILL go to that ugly place. I didn't do ANYTHING outside of the house without my husband or mother. I didn't trust myself. Seriously.
I did't sleep.
I was constantly up, staring at my baby.  Making sure that he was breathing.
Making sure that we had clear route out of the house in case of a fire.
Making sure that there was an alternate route in case the 1st route was obstructed.
 Making sure that my phone was charged in case I had to leave quickly.
Where was a weapon? Was it l ready in case someone broke in to our home and tried to steal my children?
Where are my car keys, ok, I have the spare set here next to the bed in case I need to leave during the night. Shoot, I wasn't going to be the one to drive anywhere...I was scared of that too!

 I had pants, shoes and my purse at my bedside in case....in case...

In case of WHAT?



Why?

I can 100% tell you why.

I was WAY to worried about the "things" that could hurt us, instead of putting my FAITH in the ONE that would protect us.

I was a Christian then...but I wasn't Christian.
Did you catch that?

I was A Christian, but I wasn't Christian.

Sure, I went to church, I prayed, I did a devotional...but I wasn't committing my BEING to Christ. I wasn't giving my thoughts to Him.   I hadn't totally dedicated my LIFE to Him.

Does that make sense?

God has a way of guiding you, through His word and prayer -that only happens when you LET GO and LET GOD.  I know that you have heard that saying before, right?  And it is TRUTH!



We don't have control.  We can't predict the future...and HE doesn't want us to.  What He wants us to do is to TRUST Him. THIS, my dear friends, has been the hardest task I have ever had to do. I had a professor, during my pastoral studies, that gave us all this assignment. He said to us, "Unless YOU have completely given yourself to Christ, you could never guide anyone else to follow His path" It was time to give up the WORLD and give in to the Creator of It All.

Know what?  It has been the BEST task that I have ever completed. Today, almost 5 years since the early birth of my middle man, Philip, I can say with 100% conviction, I am still HERE because I trusted God.

Are YOU ready to put your trust in Him?  I promise you, you won't regret it.

Great is His faithfulness. His mercies are new, EVERY morning.
lamentations 3:23




{beBlessed} and have a GREAT day!

Do you remember when...

This week, I spent a majority of my time remembering EXACTLY what I was doing when I went in to labor with The Dude, what I was doing at hour 10...hour 20...hour 28...His 1st cry...first snuggle...His smell. I remember it all. I LOVE that I can remember it. How could I ever forget? It has "only" been 6 years. (Only. Where have the years gone?) But, seriously, only 6 years. What will I remember at year 20? Year 40? Maybe I should write it all down?

This week is special for more reasons than just the anniversary of my first born coming into this crazy world.  It is Holy Week.

Do you remember? If not...it's written down! Right there in your Bible.

At sundown, I was imagining the disciples reclining around the table, our Savior washing their feet,  knowing one of them was to betray Him.

Now, at 9pm, do you think He had gone to the garden yet? Was the betrayal close?

I find myself thinking about these events, as if I were there watching. As if I could help Him somehow, as if they had happened merely...6 years ago...not over 2000 years.

This man, this Son of our God, has embarked on a journey to end all journeys.  The road to Calvary is the most significant journey of our world history, and yet, we, benefit from the outcome every single day our lives.

Do you remember? If not, pick up your Bible and travel back 2000 years. Absorb the text. Pray on its depth.  Be thankful.

Enjoy this video as you remember.

Were You There (feat. Russ Taff)~Selah: http://youtu.be/EfNlmefplsQ

{beBlessed} and have GREAT night.