An Attitude Of Gratitude

Years ago, when I worked with toddlers in a local daycare, there was a little chorus that we would sing. I don't remember the words, only the title. It was called "An Attitude Of Gratitude". I must admit that an attitude of gratitude does not come easily for me; although I do feel that expressing gratitude is coming easier to me. For you see, it's not that I lack gratitude. I just have trouble expressing it at times.

God tells us to be thankful for everything. It took several years for me to understand that and, I have to admit sometimes it's still hard to be thankful in every situation. In fact, the reason most people have trouble being thankful in all things is because they are looking at the things and situations around them. I know it's true for me.

When you lose a job, a loved one, your home or your health where does the ability to give thanks come from? Psalm 118: 1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever."No matter what is happening in my life or in the world around me this truth remains. God is good and his love not only lasts forever but it never fails to be there for me at my point of need, no matter what the situation.

Because I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers; neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord, I can be thankful in everything always.

Father God, this Thanksgiving season, I want to thank you for forgiveness through your Son Jesus Christ and the companionship of the Holy Spirit, who walks with me through every situation I may encounter today and every day. Thank you for my family, friends and spiritual leaders under whose authority you have placed me. Thank you also for each person who you will lead to read this blog and bless them. Meet them each at their point of need and grant them peace.

Giving Glory

Father, the Psalmist tells us to give the Lord the glory due His name. Yet how can I as a mere human ever  hope to find the words to describe your glory. As I praise you there does not seem to be words adequate enough to express what I feel, think or know to be true about your glory and your grace. It seems almost impossible.

Thank you, Lord, that your Word also tells us that you inhabit the praises of your people. It doesn't matter if my words are perfect, if I stutter or am brought to tears by your glory. I am your Child and you long to hear my words of praise no matter how inadequate they may be.

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."- Psalm 27:4

Father, as my desire to focus on you grows, I will become more like you. Place within me your love and compassion for the lost. As the time grows closer to your return and the days to harvest are fading fast, help me to help others to know the splendor of your glory.

My Desires, His Desires

In the book of Psalms we are told to delight ourselves in the Lord and he will give us the desires of our heart. The secret to receiving the desires of our heart rest in whether or not we delight in the Lord. If we delight in the Lord we will seek out his presence daily, walking with him and talking with him,

In John 8:29, Jesus tells us the secret to dwelling in God's presence. He states, "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." Always doing what pleases God may have come naturally to Jesus; he is, after all, God. However, it's not that easy for me. Every day, in every decision, I must make a conscious choice to choose that thing which pleases God.

The book of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Pleasing God involves more that just believing that he is who he says he is. Pleasing God involves believing that he will provide for those who earnestly seek him.

As I spend time in God's presence, in praise and prayer, consciously seeking his will day by day and moment by moment for my life and the lives of those around me. I find my desires are no longer the same as they were before. Instead of desiring the things this world has to offer, I find the things I desire most are lining up with God's will and his desires for those he loves.

Contentment In Grief

It was three weeks ago, tonight at midnight, that my brother left this earth and joined his Savior in heaven. In the days following his death and during the visitation and funeral, I wept and grieved my brothers passing. Yet there is this underlying feeling that permeates my being and it feels so strange and out of place when I dwell on it. It is a feeling of contentment, contentment and joy.

When he suffered his stroke he was not a follower of Christ. After being awakened from his coma, he told me and others on more than one occasion that God had given him a second chance. A week before he passed from this world to the next he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and told his fiance and my father that he intended to walk again, work again and that he was going to live his life for God.

My heart questions just like others why God would take him now. According to the world, I should be anything but content with the way things turned out. And yet my brother was given the second chance that I asked God for and he accepted it. Because of the promises of God's Word I know that my brother is in heaven with God today.

Would I rather have had more time walking with my brother on this earth as he journeyed here with God? Yes! Would I want him to leave the splendor of where he is now to return to me and my family? Absolutely not!! Does this mean there will be no more tears? No, because I will still miss him, especially as the holidays come around and at different family functions.

Contentment comes from knowing I will see him again. Knowing where he is, brings the joy.