Practicing Thanksgiving

It's been over a year now with heart being held wide open with thankfulness. 

Started last year with eucharisteo - 1000 Gifts by A.V. The counting of God's blessings brings amazing comfort - makes praise so automatic... now also seeing thanksgiving repeated in devotions, readings - it opens access to God.  Opens the big doors, light shining all around the corners - saying 'open me.' Think 10 lepers healed by Jesus but only one came back to thank Him.. He was the only one who received Him, received access, received Salvation... 

We can give thanks abundantly when our hearts are grateful. It grows because when recognized, written down, recorded...as the list grows: 3, 6, 9...300, 600, 900 - the meer sight of it overwhelms us and the overflowing goodness of God overthrows anything we could possibly remember on our own. 

Practicing the memory of it. Releasing the good in all His goodness, so we can see it, touch it, and make it tangible. We try to see it... make it earthly, something we can hold onto when good seems so far lost, when aches are hurting and the eucharisteo is more forced than favored... we can grab the book, the journal of thanks and hold it in our hands....tears can  be thanks, we can yell the thanks, but the writing...that's where it gets real....that's where it's in black and white and when all else is worn, and tired...the words are bold and brilliant with His glory. 

Thank you for.....

a snowflake, a baby's smile, a healing miracle....all are glimpses of His glory and to be readily praised! There is nothing too small to be praised and nothing too big for Him to handle.

A never-ending song, a poem of profession, of Jesus-love spilling over into every area of your temporary life, making a praise-ladened path to your eternal life. A sweet bridge of thanksgiving and praise from earth to heaven.

When less is more

1 John 3:16

Hereby perceive we the love of God,
because he laid down his life for us:
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

It's so important to help each other out. I can't stop thinking about how much my Christian sisters have helped me in the past. A hug, a card, a sweet prayer...

When we give to others, we give them a piece of Jesus. And that piece grows for Him. It also grows in us. His ways are not our ways.... we lose a piece of Him yet with that loss He grows in us!

God is so good! Only our omnipotent God could make more of Himself out of less of us. In fact, that's the only way it works. It has to be less and less of us each day so we can receive more and more of Him.

If you are living with guilt or depression, try to remember that's of you. The more you are focused on you and your limits the more you are limited. Do not be a slave to your moods or "feelings" but move over and let Him fill you.

Less is always more with God.

Blessings my sweet sisters,
T

Just a little more....

I was reading Lysa TerKeurst's post today and was so caught up in her thoughts... She presented a very simple concept of "and then some..."

What if rather than doing "just enough" or getting all caught up in our pride about something.... we decide to do "just a little more"-- or -- "and then some"

-- such a simple concept - but then again that's what Jesus did. He took everything we "work" so hard at and made it simple.

Just like salvation - we make it complicated, not God. What could be easier than accepting a free gift. I'll take it -- thank you. It's that easy!


My small group is starting her study tonight "Made to Crave." It was not my intention to start on Lent but I guess it was God's... I will keep posting on the progress

Many blessings & prayers,
E

How do you get rid of a trash can?

I was just sitting here thinking - how do you get rid of an old trash can? You can't just leave it by the curb - people will either put trash in it or think you're a slob.

Even if you put it out on trash day - if there's trash in it they'll take the trash and leave the can. If you don't put trash in it - they'll still leave it - come on, it's a "trash can."

Do you go to all the trouble of bagging it up. Buy one of those super, HUGE bags tie it up and disguise it as - "trash". Odds are your trash man is on to you by now and will leave it there just to mess with you - I would:)

I would probably go a step further...unwrap the bag and put it into the can as a liner. Like the owner didn't know how to set it up correctly...LOL, I do like to do things like that to people...it usually makes them laugh, and we can all use a good laugh now and again.

So now that I've messed with you my dear reader you are probably asking yourself, "What does this have to do with "dailystuff"? "

Well, after I looked at it a bit longer I decided I couldn't throw that old trash can away after all. Sure it had dents and a couple holes. It was a little rusty in spots where it was bent out of shape, it sagged to one side, and it had lost all of it's original shine. I thought maybe this is a reflection of me on some days. Sure I've had my super mom-perfect wife-good church girl-loving friend - Jesus glowing days. But I've also had my: do it yourself-you don't love me-who's going to miss me-are you sure she loves Jesus? bent-up, rusty, dented, dull, sagged-to-one-side days too.

Days when I should have been left out for the trash, days when it was probably would have been easier to leave me than love me.

Those were the days when I needed it the most but deserved it the least--

Those were the days when I received the most Grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

His grace is always enough.
So, today I give grace to that old trash can. My gracious God has given me new life and I will return that today by finding new life even for my old trash can that no one else wanted.
I am glad the Lord did not leave me at the curb for someone else to take away. I am so glad He wanted me.

Many blessing to all today.--T

Know that God wants you dearly. He is waiting for you to accept His invitation. It's that easy.

In Praise

Let's Celebrate the National Day of Prayer today!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me --Revelation 3:20

We are so blessed to be in a free country where we can pray publicly and privately!

Thank you Jesus!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord will deliver him out of them all...Psalm 34:19

I am in such awe of my Father today! My mom has just received the news that her second battle with cancer has ended and she is once again a wonderful miracle of God. I can't even describe the awe and wonder I am feeling!

Thanks be to God.

I would love to pray for you today. If you have a concern or need guidance as to God's will please respond with a post comment and I will pray for you. Remember He WILL deliver you out of whatever you are facing. He who promises is faithful! God loves you and He is so faithful. Believe Him, trust Him, honor Him, pray...Also, if you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, today would be a really great day to do that! Just click on the big, red READY button- you'll be glad you did!

Lifting you up right now--E

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)