Attitude of Gratitude

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

Recently I had the privilege of sleeping overnight in Chicago O'Hare Airport at the USO in a recliner. I was grateful for a place to go for free and try to rest. It took me a while to settle in and get comfortable. In this "quiet room" as it was called, several active duty service members snoozed away with no problem. In the morning I talked to a veteran who had served four combat tours and the luxury of a recliner was marvelous compared to sleeping conditions in war zones.

After hearing his story it made me feel bad for ever wishing for the comforts of a cushy mattress in a luxury hotel. It was time for a thanksgiving checkup. In your own life maybe a good assignment would be writing down one thing daily you are thankful for. Soon you will have an attitude of gratitude.

PRAYER: I am thankful first of all for being alive . Thank you for the good things and bad in life as through everything I learn and grow. In Jesus' name. Amen.

OVER THE HUMP

There is a familiar phrase in the business world called "over the hump" simply meaning "I am half way through my work week and the weekend is coming!" Most who work long hard hours can hardly wait till another familiar term "casual Friday" is here!

We believers here on Earth need to be always thanking God for our jobs or even volunteer work we perform. Jobs are a gift and blessing from God. Not everyone who wants a job is blessed with one, then others have one and just complain. Actually I have met people who love their jobs. For instance my two sons and daughter in law love theirs.

When you are doing work do it with integrity. No taking home company paper,ink pens, paper clips and other "souvenirs" as they do not belong to you. No copying your own personal things on the company computer such as Sunday school or Bible study material. This is sort of stealing from your employer if you think about it. If you have been guilty of this ask for forgiveness from your employer and God. Also sitting playing games on the Internet at work is a big NO as well.

Looking forward to being over the hump is not a bad thing but keep working hard till the end of the week. In Colossians 3:23(NIV) it says 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.'

Maybe if you do not like your job you really can't hardly wait to have two days off. Be thankful anyway and try to muster up a good attitude. If your "job" is that of a stay home mom, do not demean your status. I have told people that being a Stay Home mom was a true blessing and I was thankful to have the opportunity to do so all the way through their high school days. It has been my favorite job by far!

1 Thessalonians 5:18(NIV) says ' give thanks in ALL circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Are you thankful for work and for the paycheck it provides? Do you remember to give God a portion of that money back as a tithe? God is the one who gives us the ability to get work.

Are you as excited about getting over the "Saturday hump" too in order that you are excited to go worship the Lord on Sunday. One of Tony Campolos' famous sermons' is entitled "It's Friday but Sundays' coming!' If you are dreading church because of all the "religious" things associated with it and you feel dried out spiritually, perhaps you need to find a church where you do not dread having to go. If you have not yet asked Jesus to be Lord of your life and take control do that right now.

Remember the spiritual "over the hump" should be looked forward to with anticipation.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus sometimes just being closer to the weekend to relax is much anticipated. I thank you for where you have me in life. Forgive me for ever complaining. Help me shine my light for you where you have me in life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

THANKFUL ALWAYS

 Here in this part of the country it has now been two years yesterday since the devastating killer tornadoes that swept through leaving a path of destruction. It made me think of being thankful for "things". The most important thing I think the survivors of homes that were totally demolished was that they did not need all their "stuff". These individuals were just thankful to have made it out alive since these were F4 and F5 tornadoes. These storms did not pick and choose by age, ethnicity, religion or income level. I was fortunate to have escaped but was able to help some families in the weeks after, clean up their messes and search for photos and mementos and things like their drivers license or birth certificate. At one home I found an ultrasound of a soon to be born baby. What an awesome thing something like this is to the family. They could care less about their material possessions. Surviving a disaster makes people think of earthly treasures in a different light.

What are you thankful for? Food and the farmers who grow it? Maybe freedom? Do you have a car to drive? Give thanks! Perhaps the ability to read your Bible and not have armed guards arrest you for it. Recently I have realized I am very thankful for my mobility since my torn ACL and LCL occurred. Next I am thankful for friends as I have had friends not want to be friends anymore and that hurts lots. I am thankful for a mom who is still alive at age 88! I am very thankful for my husband, my two wonderful sons and my beautiful daughter in law. I also am thankful for her awesome family! I love my sister and brother and give thanks for them. I am thankful for eyes to see and ears to hear although I am not always the best listener.

Get yourself a piece of paper and start listing your blessings. This "exercise" will draw you closer to Godand the more you do it the less you complain. Start even looking outside at the beauty around you that God created for you to enjoy. Sure there is the majesty of the Grand Canyon or Rocky Mountains but everywhere has something beautiful. A few nights ago I gazed up in the vast night sky to see twinkling stars and a full moon. What a glorious sight to behold.

1 Corinthians 10:27(NIV) says 'For the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.' He created the Earth for man. Go back and read Genesis. He created male and female and said be fruitful. Psalm 89:11(NIV) reminds us 'The heavens are yours and yours also the Earth. You founded the world and all that is in it.' We are not to worship the Earth but the creator who made it. Just stop what you are doing and take a breath and get outside and look around you. Stop and ponder all your blessings. I am sure if you give some thought you can have a pretty substantial list.

Now go give thanks, why don"t you. Never take this life for granted as we are never promised tomorrow. Tell people around you that you love them as you never know when God might call you home.

PRAYER: Lord indeed I have much to be thankful for. Often when I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life I not only forget to be thankful but often take the people in my life for granted. Help me to not do that. You have blessed me with the gift of life first of all and for that I am grateful. In Jesus' name.Amen.


Click on link below and worship God in song:

http://youtu.be/eWYn2k4IaPY

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FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

A few days ago on WAY FM Christian radio the morning DJ's were discussing the Third  World nations and mission trips. They had said how once you go to a Third World nation on a mission trip your life is changed by what you saw and you become more grateful for what you have in your life. They referred to our minor problems as 'First World Problems'. I got to thinking about that and even though I have never been on a mission trip I am indeed grateful for many things. I am sure if I ever am blessed to get to go on one I will be even more appreciative of my blessings.

Later after I heard them discussing this I was at my local car dealer getting my car serviced when a gentleman in the waiting room struck up a conversation with me. A commercial came on TV for a Stryker knee and I nonchalantly made a comment I was glad I did not have a fake knee. He said "I have a fake leg" and proceeded to pull up his pant leg displaying a prosthesis decorated with Alabama memorabilia. It was then I felt very 'little' and ashamed of my comment. I apologized. He said not to worry. This got us in to talking about being grateful. It is funny how the Lord opens doors to chat with strangers.

 Do you ever stop and think of the many things you have to be thankful for? Even a poor person in the United States would be extremely blessed if compared to a resident of a Third World nation. Most of us have a place to sleep at night. Nearly all of us can have access to medical care. We are blessed with clean running water and flush toilets. Most Americans not living where there are subways own a car or truck or perhaps a motorcycle or bicycle. But even if we have no transportation we have shoes on our feet so we can walk places without damaging our feet.  There is food to eat and we do not have flies landing on us or any open sores to get infected by disease. We are blessed to have vaccines to help prevent life threatening illnesses. I could go on but you get the point.

 What are you thankful for today? Your friends, your family, a job, good health? Psalm 107:1 reminds us to "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His love endures forever." Will it take a visit to a poverty disease ridden Third World country to make you sing  out your praises to God? In the big scheme of things our minor inconveniences and complaints are nothing compared to what the individuals in far off lands go through on a regular basis. Our creature comforts are something they could not even imagine.

Start today waking up grateful for a mattress you slept on, a roof over your head, a car to take you places, a shower, money for gasoline, food to eat,friends to hang out with, employment, a family, clean water to drink and so much more. God is good!! Could you or would you still bless Him without all these things?  Philippians 4:11 says " I have learned whatever state I am into be content." 1 Timothy 6:8 says "But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that."

 We all probably know the story of Job and how he literally lost everything then later it was restored. Job 1:21 says "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart .The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

PRAYER: I am indeed grateful for each day of life and good health and each blessing in my life. Forgive me when I have complained about where I live, the food I have to eat, the traffic jams, the lines at a store or bank and so much more. In the big scheme of things life is pretty good. For that Lord I give you thanks and praise. In Jesus name. Amen

THANKSGIVING IS HERE AGAIN

I love this holiday. It holds lots of fond memories for me. It is not about being a glutton and going away from the table stuffed as much as the turkey is, but it is much more. Today it is a challenge to even find Christian symbols of this important holiday even, sometimes sad to say, in the Christian bookstore. By 'Christian symbols' I am referring to the Pilgrims. Those men and women who bravely made the voyage from England in 1620 seeking to worship God and have freedom from the rule of the king. In 1621 the Indians and the settlers had a feast to celebrate the harvest and to thank God for safely guiding them to the new world. It was not until 1863 that President Lincoln declared it a national holiday to be celebrated each November.

This day to many is nothing more than a huge family reunion,parade viewing, and a day of football followed by a day of Black Friday shopping. No thought of Christ is even mentioned to many.  Why not start a new tradition in your family and have each family member say one thing they are thankful for? It should be about family! This is one of the biggest family get together days during the year. Many miles separate families nowadays and I know being a military wife our extended family had always been our friends through the years who we shared the Thanksgiving feast with when we could not go home.Last years Thanksgiving was special meeting the family of my soon to be daughter in law. This day has always been a fun one. But the real meaning needs never to be forgotten. Merchants seem to rush to celebrate a secular Christmas before Thanksgiving is even over.

No matter what you are doing today stop and give thanks to God for living in freedom if you live in America. We all have something to be thankful for.  Below I have listed several verses from the Bible dealing with being thankful. Read them out loud or as part of your family celebration today. Even if you are reading this from a foreign country you can still pause and give thanks to God above for all good things.

Several verses of Thanksgiving follow:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 31:19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

Psalm 95:1-2 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;  let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:57  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 67:4  May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
Psalm 100:1  A Psalm for Thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalm 145:7  They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
1 Chronicles 16:34  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Colossians 3:17  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Timothy 4:4  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Go into this day with a heart full of thanksgiving! When you praise and thank God the enemy shudders and has to flee.

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for this day set aside to thank you for all you have provided for us. Help us not forget to thank you the other 364 days as well.Help me always have a grateful heart. In Jesus Name. Amen.
I have included a link from the History Channel website about Thanksgiving.It takes about 4 minutes to view.
http://youtu.be/wFDSobNnfQs

Also I have included a song of Thanksgiving. Click on link.
http://youtu.be/IBpv-ZzcQD8

THANK YOU LORD

We have so much to thank God for but how often do you really do it? Perhaps at meal time you utter a 'God is great prayer' and 'thank you for this food' but is that the only time you really say thank you to Jesus?

The Moms in Touch prayer ministry which I have been a part of for over 16 years now, has taught me the importance of thanking God for the answer to prayers. Each week we thank the Lord in our prayer time for the answers to our prayers. All of us need to get in the habit of making a list of sorts for all the wonderful things the Lord has done for you. Try it. Get a piece of paper and just start thinking of all the things the Lord has done for you. After a while it will be hard to stay in a pit if you have been feeling 'blue' and down in the dumps.


Here are some common examples you may overlook. Thank you for clean water that comes out of my faucet each day when in many countries they have contaminated water.Thank you for the access to health care we have in America and the wonderful doctors and nurses to care for us. Thank you for cars to drive to get us around, although many do not have cars even in America those who do are blessed. Your car may be a junk heap but if it gets you there praise God. Thank you for farmers who work hard to grow the food that is in the grocery stores for us to buy and eat. Thank you for sunshine and rain. Thank you for the four seasons we have to enjoy. Thank you for friends and family. Thank you for a bed to sleep in at night when in many places people do not have a bed, even in some places in America. Thank you for freedom. So you get the idea. Just sit quietly and think of all the wonderful things the Lord has done for you. And think of the ways he has answered your prayers as well.

1 Corinthians 15:57 says "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Proverbs 21:31 says "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD." Other verses about thanksgiving and thanking God abound in the pages of the Bible. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." That is right, it says in ALL things. Tall order perhaps but God says to do it. Sometimes things that seem bad at the time lead us to wonderful awesome breakthroughs in our life.

Are you thankful today? If not try doing this 'thanksgiving list' and do it daily. Do not wait til it is the Thanksgiving national holiday to be thankful for the Pilgrims, turkeys and pumpkin pie and the family you are gathered with and the friends around you. Make every day Thanksgiving Day.

PRAYER: Lord I am ever so grateful for the gift of life. I am thankful for the parents who gave me life and raised me. I am thankful for being able to freely wander about in my country. I am thankful to have money to spend to be able to buy things. I ask you Lord to forgive me when I have not said 'thanks' for all you have done for me and acted like a spoiled ungrateful brat. I want to make each day a day of thanks. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Note: Please take time to listen to the following praise song dealing with thanks to God! Click on link and turn up speakers.

http://youtu.be/JwN_2nO5B24

Also  here is a link to the Moms in Touch prayer ministry which has taught me so much about prayer. You do not need to be a mom to benefit from their 'four steps of prayer'. http://www.momsintouch.org/