Thanksmas!

     We have had our Thanksgiving Day feast and family time of being thankful and now moving on toward the Christmas Season.  Yet, Thanksgiving is not over.  We can and should continue to be thankful every day.  As I saw posted on face book, “Happy Thanksmas” is here! 
     Among the glitter, sparkle and shine, among the hustle and bustle of shopping, and among the merriment of wrapping gifts, we can be thankful for the baby born in a manger, a boy who grew up to be, in today’s worldly thinking, a homeless man; one who had no home to call his own and no bed to lay his head.  In today’s world, He was a man we might give a couple of dollars to for a bite of food or a cup of coffee .  We might say a prayer for this man, then pass on by.  We might look down on his shabby attire as we hurry to our nice warm homes and our cozy beds.   Yet, isn’t He the reason for the season? 
     As I think back to the man who was born in a stable filled with dusty hay and smelly animals, one who knew, as a boy, about the nails as he hammered beside his father, and one who knew about the cross as he healed the sick, I can’t help but be thankful for the wonder of His love. 
     In the devotional, Today In The Word, the writer uses the verse, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”   He goes on to explain “that we have an all powerful God of abundant riches. The riches of His glory are not just material; God’s riches include joy, peace, love, harmony, and faithfulness.”
     These are the gifts we need to seek and the gifts of which to be thankful. 
     So as we put up our trees filled with shiny lights and glittery Christmas cheer, I would like to say, “Merry Christmas and Happy Thanksmas!”

Thanksgiving Day

     When we think of Thanksgiving Day, most of us remember it as a national day of celebration first proclaimed by President, George Washington.   Yet, our thankfulness should be expressed every single day, and this was first proclaimed by the Almighty God.    Philippians 4:6 tells us “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”   We are also told in Colossians 4:2 to “Continue earnestly in pray, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”   
     All that we have and all that we ever will have comes from God.  Therefore, we need to do as Psalm 69:30 and Psalm 95:2 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”  “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”

     I believe when we thank God every morning for whatever is going to happen during the day, joy will fill our hearts and whatever occurs will be easier to handle. 
     Though members of my family or close friends may “step on my toes” from time to time, I am thankful for them.  Though there are changes at work I may not like, I am so very thankful for my job.  I am so thankful for the loving people I am privileged to work with.  I am so very thankful that God covers me with His love and walks beside me through it all. 
    When we dread going to work, it may be time to say, “Thank you God for my job.”  When we are going through what some would call a “pity party”, then it is time to say, “Thank you God for my blessings.”   When we are offended by others, it is time to say, “Thank you God that these same people can love me in spite of my own faults.”  
     Every day is truly a day of Thanksgiving as we remember the words in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks..."



Tranquility in the Woods

     I haven’t been deer hunting in a very long time, but my husband built me a stand not far from our house, which sits at the edge of the woods, so I decided to give it a try. I must admit that I have become quite lazy, and it was hard to pull myself out from underneath my cozy covers to be on that stand before the break of day. As most hunters do; however, it became mind over matter. What is a few hours of loss of sleep compared to the pending excitement of a buck, wearing a trophy set of horns, stepping out into the range of fire? Hunters do not want to miss those opportunities.
     At first, all was quiet and, of course, dark. Shortly, daylight appeared, and with that came the soft sound of dew dropping onto the forest floor. Next, the birds began to chirp. A noisy squirrel scampered beneath a nearby tree.  This was paradise! A perfect peace with no one around to disturb my tranquility, a perfect time to thank God for His works in action, to thank Him for how He takes the beauty of the summer foliage and turns them into a fiery array of colorful reds, oranges, and yellow, and to thank Him for the supply of acorns creating an abundant crop for the woodland creatures. I am reminded of Psalms 119:23-24, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
     In the midst of all this, my cell phone started to buzz with a text message. Did I just say there was no one around to disturb my tranquility? I was mistaken and very surprised. Never, would I have expected my daughter to be up this early, much less alert enough to text me. I quickly responded with a smiley face sign attached, "that I was wrong in thinking there was no one who would be bothering me this early in the morning, and I had just written that into my blog."  I quickly received a response along with her own unique sign that was so funny it had me almost laughing out loud. Immediately joy filled my heart. God had just sent me a rainbow of laughter at the least expected moment and in the least expected way. It was just another opportunity to thank Him for the love I share with those who touch my life, and no one touches my life any more than my daughter.  She strives to keep me young and fashionable, gives me laughter, and lets me feel cherished and needed. No matter how old our children get, they are always our children, and we want the best for them, so, on that count, she also keeps me on my knees before God thanking him for keeping her in the palm of his hand and praying for even more blessings upon her life.   
     Leaving my stand a few hours later I was still thankful for other special friends, and for my husband who lovingly constructed my own special place.  Even though I have to admit to a little disappointment in having only seen a few squirrels and a small doe, I felt refreshed.  I can truly say, “This is the day the Lord hath made…”   

(For some good hunting experiences, click on my book Guys In Camo  which is on Amazon as an ebook.

 

Staying Positive In A Negative World

     Have you ever gotten up in a really good mood only to go to work and be brought down by someone with a negative outlook? I mean, you smile and cheerfully say “hello,” only to be met with a grumpy unsmiling response. Suddenly, your mood has changed. Or you went to work and your co-worker started in on all the unpleasant changes taking place. Did that cause a change in your outlook or attitude about your job? Did your joy disappear?

     So just how do we stay positive and joyful in a negative world? How do we keep from being the grumpy person, ourselves, taking someone else’s joy away?
     First, we need to figure out what has created our grumpiness. Maybe, it is not being satisfied with what we have. We have not learned to be content. Maybe it is unforgiveness, financial problems, sickness, injury, or death of a loved one. The list could go on and on.
     Regardless of the reason, we all have choices on how we handle life’s events.
     Number one, I do not have to have a bad day just because someone else chooses to have one. I can be there for a friend, to listen and help, but as an on-going drama I do not have to get involved.
     Next, life is too short to let unforgiveness rob me of my joy. We have to realize that to harbor ill-will against someone else only hurts us. I firmly believe that unforgiveness prevents the Holy Spirit from working in our lives to give us complete joy. What is the loss of pride to make amends compared to the gain of a joyful heart?
     If the problem is financial, maybe we can manage to change our outlook on the way we choose to spend money and be willing to take some conservative measures.
     If the problem is changes at work, and those changes are out of our control, maybe it is time to be thankful we have a job, that is, if we truly enjoy the place where we work. If it is a job that we wake up every single morning and dread, it might be time to look for one that can provide a more rewarding experience. Again, life is too short not to enjoy what we do on a daily basis.
     Whatever the reason, I have to go back to “choices.” We have to choose to be joyful. We have to want to be cheerful. We have to want to wear a smile. We have to want to be friendly toward others. We should grasp every moment and strive to be positive and happy.
     When it comes right down to it, to stay positive in a negative world means we have to count our blessings. We will all have sorrow and trouble, but I believe how we choose to handle it will determine our joy. Proverbs 14:13 says, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” What keeps the laughter in my heart is faith and belief in God’s Word and His promises. Hebrews 13:5 gives us words to live by and a promise, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
     In my weak moments and times of trials, I strive to remember Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not be faint.”
     Knowing God is always with me gives me hope and joy! “…Be of good courage.” Strive to smile and laugh more. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”

Magnify God's Name

     It excites me when someone sends a comment to my blog site, even if it is anonymous.  It means someone is reading it.  I’m only a small, quiet voice in a big world, and I often wonder, “Why do you blog?”  The answer, today, is that it is a small way of praising God and sharing my faith in the hopes it will touch someone's life. 
     Our entire motivation, in life, should be to praise the Lord and express our gratitude to Him.  God listens to every plea for answers to our daily problems and every cry for healing when our health is failing, but God wants us to praise Him.  Yet, how can we praise God enough for all the blessings He bestows?  David gives us a humble expression of gratitude and praise in 2 Samuel 7:26 when he says to God, “And let thy name be magnified for ever…”    

                 Magnify God's Name 

 

Your name is wonderful!

The name of Jesus.

The Lamb of God dining among sinners-  
The One born with no crown or worldly fuss. 

 

No other name so great-

Our Saviour, the Almighty, the Omniscient!

The promised Messiah- 
The Father's own Son was sent.

Prince of Peace, the only One-
A Mighty King;

Our Lord, Maker, The Great Creator-

Coming humbly, salvation to bring.    

Yahweh, Jehovah,
The Way, the Truth, the Light; 
Shepherd and Protector-
Teaching, healing and giving sight.   

The Peacemaker, Comforter,
The great I Am, is your name.
The Redeemer, the Rock-
Giving hope through sorrow, pain, and shame.  
 

Christ, the Beginning and the End,
A rejected Messiah wearing a crown of thorns;
Immanuel, the Living Bread;
One spit on and scorned.

The Son! The Lamb!
In life He was slain,
King of the Jews, King of Kings;
Death, burial, and resurrection brought total gain.
                                                                                    Mary Crisp Jameson