Tag Archives: Blessings

When Gratitude Becomes Worship

Leave a reply

Giving thanks for who God is, what He has done, and what He will continue to do for us should be as natural as breathing. Yet, if we’re honest, we often need reminders.

Every book on prayer I’ve ever read encourages believers to include thanksgiving in every prayer. More importantly, Scripture does the same. Passages such as Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 call us to live with grateful hearts and offer thanks in all circumstances.

During a past worship service, we shared what was called a “Wave of Thanks.” While it wasn’t the same kind of wave offering described in Exodus 29:24, the idea was similar. One by one, people offered words of gratitude before the Lord.

Many of the blessings mentioned were familiar and precious: family, new babies, new homes, faithful friends, our church family, and, of course, Jesus and the salvation He freely gives. Others spoke of God’s faithfulness through difficult seasons. We have witnessed cancer in some of its ugliest forms, yet we have also seen God intervene with His healing touch.

One expression of thanks, in particular, captured my attention: the miracle of life.

Within our church family, we have seen life-threatening traumatic brain injuries, including one that resulted in a coma. Humanly speaking, the outcomes could have been very different. Yet both men survived and are living life to the fullest today. What a testimony to God’s sustaining grace!

The words of an old hymn came to mind:

“Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the Creator triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who guideth us on to the end of our days.”

Even more amazing, our Creator has offered us more than physical life. Through Jesus Christ, He has made eternal life available to all who believe. The greatest miracle is not simply that we live today, but that we can live forever with Him.

Prayer

Lord God, Creator of Life, thank You for the gift of every breath and every day. Thank You for sustaining us through trials, healing us when we are broken, and reminding us of Your faithfulness. Most of all, thank You for the eternal life found in Jesus Christ.

Give us the desire and courage to live fully for You. Let us never lose our sense of wonder. Help us never to take Your blessings for granted, and never let us forget the greatest gift of all—the life we have through Your Son. Make it so in Jesus’ name!

The hymn “Let All Things Now Living” was written by Katherine K. Davis and set to the traditional Welsh melody “The Ash Grove.”

This is an edit of a post originally posted on 11.23.2011.

Threes

Have you noticed how many 3 word admonishments, commands, and connections there are in the Word?  Starting with the Father, Son, and Spirit before time began and ending with the Holy Threesome when time, as we know it, ends. Three wise men.  Noah had three sons.  Job had three daughters.  Daniel prayed three times a day.  Jesus answered satan’s three temptations by answering with three scriptures.  Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months.  Three witnessed the transfiguration.  Three heavens. Three crosses.  Jesus rose on the third day… and more.

The number three is significant because it represents completeness.  Not just the single number but all its multiples.  For example there 27 books in the New Testament which is represented mathematically as 3x3x3. God’s completeness is shown in many ways.  Time is shown through yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  God’s people are called, chosen, and elect. Man is body, soul, and spirit.  We serve God in thought, word, and deed.

God’s word is full of three phrase commands.  Take a look at these…

Micah 6:8 NIV tells us to live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.

In 2 Timothy 1:7(The Message) we are to be bold, loving, and sensible with what (gifts) God has given us.  In the same chapter, we are to not be afraid because the Spirit gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

How about Deuteronomy 30:16 NIV?  For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.  This one is a command with a promise…

Love. Obey. Keep.  =  Life.  Increase.  Blessings.

And just one more three to complete this post.  The only attribute of God that is mentioned in groups of three in the Word is Holy, Holy, Holy.

Blessings upon blessings to you and yours!

Marie

All quoted verses are connected to BibleGateway.com.  Check it out! It’s a great resource.

Thankful Thursday

I have much to be thankful for! I am blessed!

Jesus and what He did for me (and you)!

Spring rain and thunderstorms.

Good health.

Good teachers who taught me to read well.

Fur babies – Smokey, Salem, and Chewy.

The lawn covered in a gold blanket of dandelions.

The sweet scent of lilac blooms.

Dinner with friends.

Time to sit at the piano and play through some Bach and Mozart.

Ray, who is my lover, bestie, supporter, and all-time greatest husband ever.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Pray & Listen

For many years I have written my prayers.  I have notebooks and journals filled with them. Why? My mind likes to wander and I lose my primary focus – God. So, I write to keep my thoughts centered on the One I am speaking to.

Several years ago my pastor’s wife and still dear friend (They have since moved on.) suggested I use the acronym A.C.T.S.  Acclimation. Contrition. Thanks. Supplication. I still use it but have always sensed something was missing.

As I was reading the book for my next review (L.E.A.R.N. Evangelism Handbook by Dr. Marshall M. Windsor) I found the missing piece. I need to add LISTEN. (Of course, now I’ll have to change the letters of the acronym.) In all the years I’ve been talking with and listening for God’s voice I’ve never included a set aside time for listening in my prayers. Time in every prayer where I say, Holy Spirit speak into my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I do listen and expect answers, I just haven’t been specifically listening during prayer. So, When He speaks, and I know He will, I’ll intentionally listen, and write what He says in my prayer journal.

Will I act on His words? Will I share? In trusting Him and keeping the faith, I have learned if I don’t respond or follow through I lose the blessing He had planned for me.  Things like:

I did come up with a new acronym… G.R.O.W.L. Gratitude (Thanks). Requests. Offense (Forgiveness), Worship, Listen.  The word kind of fits as our prayers go up with ‘utterings and groanings’ before the Lord that might sound like growls if we heard them.

Here’s the bottom line. No matter what or how just keep on praying.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Friday Faves

Friday Faves

I’ve found some really great posts for you to check out this week.  I’ve been jetting all over the internet.  Can’t help myself.  There’s so much good writing out there! 🙂

10-Tips-to-Teach-True-Contentment-post-e1467123813358My word for the year is content and I was delighted to find this post at the Little Light On A Hill blog.  I’m very much a proponent of writing down my blessings, thanks to reading Ann Voskamp’s book “One Thousand Gifts”, and that’s just one of the 10 tips.

 

 

downloadRay and I have been hand holders from the day we met.  After many years of marriage, we still hold hands at every opportunity.  Sometimes it’s because we want to connect through touch, others it’s to show support.  This sweet article, HOLDING HANDS is a delightful story of a sweet couple who have been holding hands for many more years than we have!

 

 

 

 

4-640x823I came across this article in the Grace and Truth Link-Up at Like A Bubbling Brook.  I’m always looking for encouragement in my prayer life and this short article fits the bill perfectly.  From making time to choosing a journal it’s definitely worth the read.

 

 

My heart is breaking for the people of France.  Please lift a prayer with me…

Heavenly Father, it’s such a scary time we live in.  Give us strength and courage to move forward and share the Gospel of Peace.  For those who have lost loved ones, let them know Your Presence as the grieve.  For those who are injured, heal them completely.  Give the leaders of France and of other countries around the world wisdom and discernment in dealing with terrorism.  Soften the hearts of those who would harm the innocent.  Oh, LORD, You have promised to be always there for us and we know You are. Keep us safe in Your loving arms.  I lift this prayer in the Precious Name of Jesus.             Make it so!