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Gratitude: Day 14

Day 14: Gratitude focus – A relative

Quality or name of God – Great

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“Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.” (Psalm 104:1, NIV)

How in the world does one even attempt to define the greatness of God? In reading and re-reading today’s verse, I finally decided to keep reading the rest of the chapter to see if I could gain some ideas for an illustration that might “bring it home” in our minds. Well, let me just tell you right here, right now that few chapters paint a better picture of the fact that God is great (powerful, mighty, magnified) than Psalm 104! I encourage you today to read this awesome chapter on the greatness of God!

If you use the dramatized audio version of Psalm 104 on BibleGateway.com, it will only take you three minutes and forty-two seconds to listen to this entire chapter. If you read it on your own, it will take even less time!

Doesn’t the Creator of the Universe, our great God, deserve at least three minutes and forty-two seconds of our time today…and everyday?

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

Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, 134

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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 through the years.

»$ – Send a letter to your recipient, and include a specific memory of something for which you are thankful.

$ – Purchase an inexpensive gift for the relative that you selected as your gratitude recipient. Surprise them with this “no-special-reason” act of kindness!

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

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” (Albert Schweitzer)

By Petals from the Basket | November 14, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Family, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 13

Day 13: Gratitude focus – A friend or missionary living in a foreign country

Quality or name of God – Compassionate

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[I apologize in advance for the lengthiness of this post, but I trust that after reading it, you will understand the heart behind it.]

Following the recent election in the US, much talk has been made over some of the issues that Christ-followers find opposed to the teachings of Scripture. In keeping with this month of gratitude, I will start by saying that I am grateful to live in a land where free discussion and varying views can be shared.

I think it is imperative for those of us who are Christ-followers to boldly uphold the free practice of our faith. However, I find it almost shocking when Christians seem surprised that the world around them does not agree with their beliefs. My friends, you cannot expect others to play by your team’s “playbook” when they are not even members of the team! Think of it this way: the Milwaukee Bucks do not expect me to wear their uniform nor do they expect me to know their plays…because I’m not on their team! [And for good reason, I might add. Picture me trying to make a jump shot!] Now imagine someone yelling and screaming at you for not following their rules. Most likely the last thing you would want to do after that would be to join their team!

I have been greatly saddened by the fact that some discussions are naming certain things in hateful and literally angry ways. Yes, I do personally believe that the murder of an unborn child goes against the teaching of Scripture, but so do pride, lying, malice, gossip, immorality, envy, etc. Before speaking angrily about those who are not on our “team,” we must look in the mirror, remove the big ol’ beam stickin’ out of our eye (Matthew 7:3-5), and then let our speech be given with grace (Colossians 4:6) as we share the love of Christ by the way in which we defend our causes.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103)

The Lord is compassionate when He looks at the sins I commit—all too often, I admit—and though He hates sin deeply, He takes compassion on me. The word used for ‘compassion’ in this Psalm can also be translated as ‘mercy’ or even ‘tender mercies.’ I don’t deserve it. I didn’t earn it. But He graciously gives it to me.

Yes, we must pray for our nation. Yes, we should seek to change, add, or remove laws so that they are in keeping with God’s laws. Yes, we must submit to the authority of those who have rule over us when their rule does not conflict with God’s laws. But in remembering the compassion that we daily receive from Him and in attempting to be like Him, we must demonstrate that same compassion for others. As the great missionary Amy Carmichael would have said, “Then, and only then, do we truly understand Calvary love!”

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

Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 133

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Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Send an email to thank your recipient for their willingness to live abroad for whatever reason they are there.

»$ – Send a letter to your friend, and share updates from “home.”

$ – Call your friend or Skype (free) with them, even if only for a few moments. Be mindful of their time zone, and be sure to say ‘thank you’ at least once!

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

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” (Henri Nouwen)

By Petals from the Basket | November 13, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Friends, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 12

Day 12: Gratitude focus – A store manager or clerk that has been especially helpful

Quality or name of God – My Savior

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“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior [‘the health of my countenance,’ KJV] and my God!” (Psalm 42:11, NLT)

Yesterday afternoon in Milwaukee it was rainy and unseasonably warm…on its way to getting colder and colder as the night wore on. By late evening, the cold winds and driving rain made it the ideal setting for writing. So I lit my favorite candles, grabbed my laptop, and prepared to write what I hoped would be an earth-changing sequence of words.

However, as I looked through a few books to gather my thoughts about the verse for today and about the impact of the name “Savior,” I ran across this section in The Treasury of David. I could write until I’m purple in the face and not be able to say it this well, so I’m taking advantage of this book in the public domain and sharing these thoughts from The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon. (I added bold print for the parts that popped out at me!)

“‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?’ In the rehearsal of his sorrow, he finds after all no sufficient ground for being disquieted. Looked in the face, his fears were not so overwhelming as they seemed when shrouded in obscurity. Hope thou in God. Let the anchor still keep its hold. God is faithful, God is love, therefore there is room and reason for hope.

‘Who is the health of my countenance [my Savior], and my God.’ This is the same hopeful expression as that contained in verse five, but the addition of ‘and my God’ shows that the writer was growing in confidence, and was able defiantly to reply to the question, ‘Where is thy God?’ Here, even here, he is, ready to deliver me. I am not ashamed to own him amid your sneers and taunts, for he will rescue me out of your hands. Thus faith closes the struggle, a victor in fact by anticipation, and in heart by firm reliance. The saddest countenance shall yet be made to shine, if there be a taking of God at his word and an expectation of his salvation.”

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

Psalm 12, 42, 72, 102, 132

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“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?'”  (William A. Ward)

Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Call or send an email to thank your recipient for their outstanding service and/or business practices. Be sure to state a specific example.

»$ – Send a card or letter to the business leader or service representative you have chosen to thank—and be sure to mail it soon!

$ – Give your gratitude recipient an inexpensive gift of thanks. Be sure to include your thanks for their business and its impact on you.

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

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How are you doing on these exercises of showing gratitude? Are there any specific encouragements you have received so far as a result of showing gratitude to others? Feel free to leave a comment!

By Petals from the Basket | November 12, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 11

Day 11: Gratitude focus – A Veteran

Quality or name of God – Sovereign Lord

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PLEASE thank a Veteran today! Rather than giving specific ideas this morning, I would like to use this space to say an extra-special thank you of my own:

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” (G. K. Chesterton)

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As with each Sunday this month, instead of posting a devotional thought this morning, I will simply share the verse that contains the name of God for today. Please take time today to worship the Lord with others around the teaching of God’s Word.

“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord [Lord God, KJV], my confidence since my youth.” (Psalm 71:5, NIV)

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

Psalm 11, 41, 71, 101, 131

By Petals from the Basket | November 11, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Family, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

Gratitude: Day 10

Day 10: Gratitude focus – A coach/club leader/co-worker that has been a good leader

Quality or name of God – My Deliverer

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“You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” (Psalm 40:17, NIV)

Palat, the Hebrew word for Deliverer, means “the one who brings me into security.” I love that the psalmist’s request earlier in the chapter (verse 13), before naming God as His Deliverer, is “deliver me”—meaning, “snatch me out of trouble.”

If you look at the author’s request in verse 13 and then at His acknowledgement of Who God is only a few verses later in verse 17, it paints the full picture. The writer cried out to the Lord to snatch Him out of the distress He was facing. But God, “who is rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), did much more—He became the Deliverer!

He leads us beside the still waters, restores our souls, and brings us into a place of security. He doesn’t just rescue us and then say, “Well, good luck! I hope all goes well.” No, he takes us to the place of security! (Even my laptop shouted a “Hallelujah” on that one!) Amazing, isn’t it? Our Deliverer is right there with us…from “snatching” to “security!”

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

Psalm 10, 40, 70, 100, 130

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Ideas for demonstrating gratitude to the person of focus today:

»  – Send an email to thank your recipient for being a good example. Be sure to state a specific area in which they are an example to you.

»$ – Send a card or letter to the friend you have chosen to thank, and be sure to mail it soon!

$ – Give your gratitude recipient an inexpensive gift of thanks. Be sure to include your thanks for their leadership and its impact on you.

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

 “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” (Marcel Proust)

By Petals from the Basket | November 10, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |