Petals from the Basket

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Gratitude: Day 24

Day 24: Gratitude focus – A manual laborer whose skills have blessed my life

Quality or name of God – King of Glory 

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I am grateful to be spending some extra time with family this weekend, so I will forego a personal devotional today. Instead, I ask that you please take a moment to read today’s verses and praise the King of Glory with a grateful heart!

8 “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

11 “Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.”

(Psalm 24: 8, 11, NIV)

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Additional reading (for reading through the Psalms in 30 days):

Psalm 24, 54, 84, 114, 144

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Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Send an email to thank your recipient for using their skills to help others.

»$ – Send a card with a note of thanks to your gratitude recipient.

$ – Purchase a small gift with which to say thank you to your person of focus.

 » = free      »$ = minimal cost     $ = cost involved

“Thank God every morning when you get up, that you have something to do that day which must be done, whether you like it or not.  Being forced to work and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle never know.” (Charles Kingsley)

 

By Petals from the Basket | November 24, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 23

Day 23: Gratitude focus – A friend from my church

Quality or name of God – My Shepherd 

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My friend from church, Amy, calls it “carpet-smelling prayer.” You know the kind. You literally bow the knee in prayer, and once you begin pouring your heart out to the Lord, you soon find yourself on your face before Him both in worship and in the process of emptying out the deepest desires and needs of your heart.

Not all that long ago, I was laying my burdens at His feet in a “face-in-the-carpet” time of prayer. There came a point when I knew it was time to stop talking to Him and start listening to Him. So I got up, headed to my chair, and began reading my scheduled portion of Scripture for that day—a few “assigned” verses from Psalm 119.

I began reading, and couldn’t stop. I was truly listening…and I was hearing what He was teaching me through His word! I came to the last verse of the chapter and read:

“I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands.” (Psalm 119:176, NLT)

That was it! That was exactly what I had been trying to say to Him: “I’m still here…come and find me!”

As my face once again hit the carpet, this time in adoration, I recalled the ever-familiar words of the 23rd Psalm and began to praise Him not only for finding me, but also for leading me beside still waters, making me rest in the quiet pastures of life, and restoring my soul! Though I may become distracted and wander off like a lost sheep, I can gratefully say with the writer of the familiar passage: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!”

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Additional reading (for reading through the Psalms in 30 days):

Psalm 23, 53, 83, 113, 143

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Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Send an email to thank your recipient for their impact on your life within the community of your church family.

»$ – Meet your friend for a cup of coffee or tea at a central location.

$ – Invite your friend from church to have dinner with you, as your guest, following church on Sunday. Be sure to thank them over dinner for their influence on your life.

 » = free      »$ = minimal cost     $ = cost involved

“A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love, and encourages you with hope.” (Unknown)

By Petals from the Basket | November 23, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Friends, God-and-I-Time, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 21

Day 21: Gratitude focus – A relative

Quality or name of God – Awesome

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“He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.” (Psalm 111:9, NIV)

In preparation for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I would like for you to write today’s post! I’d love to hear from some of you about how you’re doing on the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

What has been your greatest lesson or your greatest joy so far? Do you have any fun stories to share about surprising your gratitude recipients?

Please feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email.

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Additional reading (for reading through the Psalms in 30 days):

Psalm 21, 51, 81, 111, 141

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Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Send an email to thank your recipient for their impact on your life as a relative…and as a friend.

»$ – Call your out-of-town relative or meet a local relative for a cup of coffee or tea at a nearby location.

$ – Purchase an inexpensive gift for the relative that you selected as your gratitude recipient.

 » = free      »$ = minimal cost     $ = cost involved

“In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.” (Eva Burrows)

By Petals from the Basket | November 21, 2012 | Bible Reading, Family, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 20

Day 20: Gratitude focus – A child who works hard or is consistently respectful 

Quality or name of God – The Mighty One

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“The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken….” (Psalm 50:1, NLT)

The two elements of our Thirty Days of Gratitude for today seemed like worlds apart: gratitude for a young child and thoughts of our God as the Mighty One!

For some reason, my mind went immediately to an old song that children used to sing in Sunday School—and maybe they still do. It sums up God’s might with such simplicity that I decided to share it as the devotional thought today. How amazing is it that “There’s nothing (Wow – NOTHING!) my God cannot do!”

My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do
My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do!
 
The mountains are His
The valleys are His
The stars are His handiwork too
 
My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
There’s nothing my God cannot do!
 
—Traditional

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Additional reading (for reading through the Psalms in 30 days):

Psalm 20, 40, 80, 110, 140

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Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Call your recipient and say thank you for their hard work and/or consistent respect. Make sure the parent understands why you are calling.

»$ – Bake a plate of cookies for your recipient. Drop them by the child’s home before he or she gets home from school one day this week. Be sure to leave a little note of thanks!

$ – Prepare a little “goody bag” to give to the young child you chose as today’s gratitude recipient. These should be items such as hot chocolate packets, a fun pen or notepad, some cute pencils, etc.

 » = free      »$ = minimal cost     $ = cost involved

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” (Harry A. Ironside)

By Petals from the Basket | November 20, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |