Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Joshua 1:8 NLT
Father, You are good. You are good to encourage us with Your Word – good to guide us by It – to equip us and empower us with It. Blessed are we when we meditate in It day and night – that we may observe to do all that is written in It. For then will our way be made prosperous and we will, by It, have good success. – Yes Father God – You are good! 💜
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM ANN VOSKAMP’S ONE THOUSAND GIFTS
There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things. It is this: to give thanks in this one small thing.The moments will add up
If gratitude is an antidote for anxiety… and giving thanks is a real cure for stress— why relegate thanksgiving to a holiday *when giving thanks can revolutionize our whole lives?*
So I just keep doing this, recording the gifts, gather the moments of His grace like manna.
Because joy is always a function of gratitude — and gratitude is always a function of perspective. – And if we are going to change our lives, we’re going to have to change the way we see.
This recording our gratitudes, this looking for blessings everywhere, this counting of gifts — this is what changes what we are looking for. *This is what changes our perspective.*
Thanksgiving is the lens God means for us to see joy all year round.
Because Thanksgiving is more than holiday—
So wherever you are, count your blessings, collect gifts, count it all joy.
Because it’s the brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful, who give thanks for it & discover joy even in the here and now —- they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world.
YOUR TURN: WHAT GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE YOU FOCUSING ON TODAY? WHAT JOYS CAN YOU GIVE THANKS FOR AND BRING LIGHT TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU?
Regardless of how many times I read this – it is always a good and necessary reminder. Does regret of the past hinder you from something today or how about anxiety about the future? PRACTICE speaking words of GRATITUDE out loud, right there where you are and see if it doesn’t diminish the regret and anxiety. Make it a habit at night before – or even as – you fall asleep. Speak them when you wake, when you drive, or in any idle moments. You’ll be surprised how it truly does change your present!
YOUR TURN: WHAT WORDS OF GRATITUDE CAN YOU SHARE HERE AND/OR WITH SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?
Paul has laid out three distinct steps for the believers – rejoice, pray, and “in everything” give thanks. Don’t miss his conclusion though – this isn’t just a teaching that he thinks is important, he clarifies that this is God’s will for us [believers], in Christ Jesus.
YOUR TURN: (IF YOU MISSED YESTERDAY’S POST YOU WILL WANT TO GO BACK AND READ IT) – SO, IN LIGHT OF YESTERDAY’S POST, WHY DO YOU THINK PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDE REJOICING AND PRAYING BEFORE HE SAYS GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?
A simple but thought provoking definition of gratitude. Give it some thought – it will be useful with tomorrow’s post. Until then make it a blessing to someone today by expressing gratitude or kindness to them – It might just be the spark they need.
Totally dated/outdated song but still as true today as it was when we/I sang it in the 70s –
According to Paul, true thankfulness seems to overflow, not from the circumstances of our life, but from the FAITH we have been taught and placed in CHRIST. When we allow that faith to grow and deepen “into Him” then it becomes unshakable and thankfulness abounds in spite of life’s circumstances. –
MefromtheNsideout –
YOUR TURN: HOW CAN YOU LET THE ROOTS OF YOUR FAITH GROW DEEP INTO JESUS? I invite you to share your answer in the comment bar
“God is good!” We say it all the time, right? Well, we say it a lot – especially when things are going well – right? Admittedly, it is easier to say when things are going our way – but we may need to let the truth of this quote by Ann Voskamp sink in and stir our hearts to praise Him even when life doesn’t seem “good”. Here’s a recent example in my own life … as we waited for the ambulance to come the evening mom fell and broke her femur – in the midst of all the other thoughts going through my mind came this one thought – God thank you that she had her phone with her this time! It was a conversation she and I had had many times because she never kept it with her or knew where it was … but on this late afternoon, when I was out for the evening and most likely wouldn’t have checked on her until much later – she had it with her and I found myself saying over and over – in the midst of the trauma that was unfolding … in the middle of all the unknown that was ahead of us – God you are so good to have had her phone with her… and that one praise led to a host of others. You are so good to have given us friends/family that could get to her quicker than we could … You are so good to have kept her from hitting her head, just inches from a massive table leg that would have surely done damage … You are so good to have kept the spinal injury from being more serious … The ‘declaration’ became a saving grace as we waited out that long night in the ER …
YOUR TURN – HOW HAVE YOU SEEN HIS GOODNESS IN THE MIDST OF THE NOT SO GOOD? Feel free to share your response in the comment bar
When I got in the car after leaving mom in her room at the rehab center where she is recovering from her broken femur and spinal injury, I sat for a moment in the silence of the dark night sky. Tears beckoned to fall again, prayers of praise were whispered for how well the conversation went – considering I had just told my mother that she isn’t going to be able to come home yet. I sat staring, hurting for my mother and missing my father and brothers, trying to pray – yet no words came – so I started the car and began the drive home in silence. After a difficult day of information and emotions – I chose to turn music on to drown out the fiery darts that were beginning to assault my mind with fears and worry and sorrow. Typically, when I press play my Spotify opens and begins playing the mix where I left off, but this time another app, one that I never use any more, actually one I’m not sure I’ve even seen before, opened and started in the middle of Lauren Daigle’s, “Trust In You”. I started to change it but realized the song was exactly what I needed to hear, as were all that followed it and serenaded me for the 25-minute car ride home, a complete playlist centered on trusting God, clearly this was His doing, It was what He knew I needed to hear, just as the quiet office day, and Angela’s words of encouragement, and Barbara’s aptly timed phone call, and all of the other text or messages throughout the day were what He knew I needed. I drove in tears and surrender as Heaven came down and His presence and peace not only filled my car but every essence of my being. Check it out and tell me if you don’t think this was a music interlude from heaven – I know it was the sweetest I’ve ever heard.
The first song picked up in the middle of “Trust in you”, by Lauren Daigle, I confess I hit replay on this one at least twice and sang and cried along with it, surrendering all of my apprehensions to what I know to be His perfect and loving control.
Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings There’s not a day ahead You have not seen So in all things be my life and breath I want what You want, Lord, and nothing less
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through When You don’t give the answers As I cry out to You I will trust, I will trust I will trust in You I will trust in You
This was followed by “Amen”, by I Am They – The exact expression of my thoughts just moments before and so often over the past two weeks …
I have no words to say Don’t know what I should pray God, I need You God, I need You O Lord, my faith is tired And tears fill up my eyes But I will trust You, I will trust You
I know You go before me and I am not alone This mountain rises higher The way seems so unclear But I know that You go with me So I will never fear I will trust in You
I try to catch my breath It hasn’t happened yet I’m wide awake in the middle of the night scared to death So I prayed God, would You make this stop Father please hold on to me, You’re all I’ve got
Carry me, carry me, carry me now From my sinking sand to Your solid ground The only way I’m ever gonna make it out Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now God carry me, carry me, carry me now
Jesus calm my heart Come near me please Lord don’t let these worries get the best of me Oh I believe, that You’re still here with me Cause You meant what You said when You said You’d never leave
So carry me, carry me, carry me now From my sinking sand to Your solid ground The only way I’m ever gonna make it out Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now God carry me, carry me, carry me now
Beautiful, right? They may not have been on my Spotify playlist before but, I can promise you, they are at the top of it now. Whatever caused that app to open, whatever caused those particular songs to play in that order – they were without question a blessing from God to me. I pray they will be a blessing to you as well, for regardless of what fills your life right now – mountain top experiences or valley deep trenches – trusting God is the key to walking by faith and not by sight and trusting God is the key to being light in the darkness around us.
Father, You are good. You are Holy, righteous, and true – and You are my God! Your WORD is eternal, bringing life and health and peace to all who hear and believe. For those who have never heard, I pray they will hear and believe even today! For those who have heard BUT NEVER BELIEVED, I pray You will melt their hearts of stone – that they might believe and be saved. For those without a messenger will You open their eyes to Your creation – for Your Word makes clear that everything You’ve made displays Your invisible qualities – Your eternal power and divine nature – so that NO ONE has an excuse for not knowing You. Raise up messengers to go in Jesus’ Name and translators to translate in Word or print and supporters who will send and pray. All of this to Your eternal glory and the salvation of the lost. – … Father, for those who have both heard and believed but have turned away to the right or to the left and find themselves wandering in a wilderness, stuck in a pit, swallowed up by the world’s ways, or bound again by a yoke of slavery – will you please open the eyes and ears of their hearts Lord – to hear You, the One who is their faithful Shepherd, who has left the 99 to find them. Help them to reach out for Your rod and staff and to walk free of their chains and all that binds them and keeps them from You. – Again, all of this for Your eternal glory and the redemption of Your people. Amen in Jesus’ Name and Power!
God – My Father – YOU ARE GOOD! How sweet it is to wake to the knowledge of You … to the nearness of You … To the HOPE of all You have promised … and To KNOW that I AM YOURS!
This! Yes, THIS is LIFE and BREATH and JOY and PEACE and STRENGTH for each new day! – me, from the inside-out
Me From the Inside Out 