Practicing Thankfulness

You'd think that being thankful would come easy as adults.We're taught from childhood to say it.

Receive a glass of milk. "Thank you."

Open a present. "Thank you."

Someone holds a door. "Thank you."

Why is it that a genuine heart of thankfulness isn't as easy to come by?

To practice thankfulness this year, I've started on a 365 day photo project. Each day, I'm on a hunt for something tangible I can be thankful for that I can snap a photo of and post on Facebook.

The items themselves aren't extraordinary, but the process of looking - every single day - is teaching my hard heart to be softened to God's daily gifts. His abundant blessings.

And that's the key. I'm not just thankful to a big world for all the fun things around me. I'm thankful because of the cross.

I've been forgiven by Jesus, so all of life's blessings are gravy on an already overly-blessed life. I deserved wrath, I've been given grace. I deserved eternal judgement, but I've been given eternal life.

As I capture things like my tooth brush and clean water, I'm giving an offering of thanksgiving to our Great God, the Gracious Giver.

It takes practice, and I'm hoping this little exercise will help me on the way.

What about you? Am I alone in allowing the days to pass in a blur without thanking Him for... everything?

 Day 9: I am His!

Day 14: God's Acrylic Painting in the Sky

Day 26: My Pop's incredible patience, 

as demonstrated in teaching little man to play ski ball.

 

Day 36: My toothbrush! 

If I was stuck on a deserted island 

and could only bring one thing, 

this would be it. I'm not awake until I've brushed my teeth.

 

Day 40: Green Smoothies. 

My son may not eat his vegetables, 

but he's learning to drink them.

 

Thanksgiving Journal

I created a Thankfulness Journal for my kids. I plan on having them write out one item per day. For the younger ones, I'll write it for them.

You can download a copy here: http://www.emerickhome.com/hsresources.php

Enjoy! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Cultivating a Heart of Thankfulness

This morning I read:

"And in their heart they put God to the test 

by asking food according to their desire." Ps 78:18

Great verse to teach the kids, right? Especially when you've served a new casserole that looks funny. Or the chicken is grilled a little darker than they like. Or that new vegetable isn't their favorite. Or the pizza has the wrong kind of sausage. Or they don't like the crust of this kind of bread. Or...

It should almost be put on a plaque and hung in the dining room over the hutch. Uppercase Living, the company that makes wall stickers, should catch on and turn this into a product. Wouldn't every mom order it?

As I read it this morning, it struck my own heart. "Asking for _____ according to their desire." What do I put in the blank there? I ask for: time to myself, more time with Lee, obedient kids, less time doing housework, a vacation, more time with friends... (Can you tell my love language is time?)

What, in your life, do you want to go more according to your desire? A different job? A different spouse? A different house? More kids or frustrated with the kids you have? More money, more things, more _______.

The Bible does say that we are to ask. However, what is our attitude supposed to be like? Are we to ask with a grumbling and complaining spirit, like the Israelites?

"Be anxious for nothing,  but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving  let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

With Thanksgiving

The rest of Psalm 78 rehearses all that the Lord has done for them!

"But He led forth His own people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock." (78:52)

We are in the wilderness, the time between the redemption with the blood of the Lamb and the promised land. He is guiding us as a shepherd guides His flock. Can life get any better than that? What do I have to complain about? I need to trust Him! I need to take His plan for my life each and every day and THANK HIM for it.

Wow, I needed this reminder. I hope it blesses your day too.

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Thankfulness Election of 2008

As a Conservative Christian, it comes as no surprise that the candidate I voted for yesterday did not win. And how are we to respond?Well, I’m responding with thankfulness. Not thankfulness for a loss… that is out of the question. But thankfulness for the freedoms I have been blessed to enjoy in this country.

I’m thankful for my right to vote! That at the end of the day, we get to choose. I was teaching my children about Germany this week, and Hitler came up. Though I oppose Obama in so many ways, he isn’t Hitler.

I’m thankful for peaceful voting. There will be no battle or war fought over who is the next leader of our country. The winner will rise to the top, and the one who lost will step back and let him lead. Wow, peaceful. And rare in the world’s history.

I’m thankful for the right to worship my God as I please, where I please, how I please.

I’m thankful for the right to teach my children at home with the values and educational standards I see fit.

I’m thankful for my right to pray! I remember Daniel – even that simple right – of silently praying to our God – his government tried to strip from him.

I’m thankful for my right to have freedom of speech. I can talk to others about my faith in Christ without fear of governmental persecution. I can blog about it. I could write a book about it. I could start a TV or Radio show about it. That is a freedom most people in our world do not have.

I’m thankful that I can have my own business in whatever I set my mind to do, and I don’t have to ask permission.

I’m also thankful that I can take measures to help the poor, give to widows, aid the sick, stop abortion, and overall do many good things without the government’s permission.

In the end, I have so much to be thankful for. Mostly, I’m thankful for something no governmental authority or ruler on earth can give – my Eternal Home, that God is preparing for me. I’m glad to be a part of His eternal kingdom.

I pray that regardless of what the government does to my money, our taxes, the environment, the economy, our freedoms, or my personal situation, I will remember that I am free in Christ, and I pray I will live a life personally worthy of the calling I have received from our great and mighty God, and serve Him faithfully until the end.

Philipians 1:27, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."