Change

Thankful Challenge Day #10

I am thankful for change. 

But change is often very hard.  In fact, if I am completely honest, I don't always like it.  I don't like a new computer,  I don't like stores to move stuff around, (even though I do the same thing in my little store.  It's called marketing but it's really just changing stuff). 

Some change I really love.  I like to change my hair, (And yours!)  I like to change my clothing style.  I like to change the furniture around. (My man hates that!)

I don't care for the time change, but I do like the change in routine that it forces. 

I am certainly thankful for the change that Jesus has made in my life.  Those changes are a continuing process.  "...the God who started this great work in me will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."(Philippians 1:6 from The Message personalized by me)


I am even more thankful that God NEVER changes.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)

Hallelujah.

Teacher

Thankful Challenge Day #8

I am thankful for teachers.

I had several school teachers who made an incredible impact on me.  I had some who could explain things so clearly, then some who made no sense at all to me (Algebra). 

I have had the privilege of being taught by some fantastic hairdressers.  As an adult well into my late 20s, I discovered how I learn best, and why sometimes I just don't get it.  Some of us learn by seeing, or doing, others by hearing.  I was being taught how to teach adult learners so I could teach them about haircolor and hair products.  It was a very valuable thing to learn about myself in the process.

I am thankful for some good Bible scholars, most especially those who can communicate simply yet thoroughly.  It does little good to be dazzled with information if one can't grasp it, apply it, and remember it!

I am thankful for those who have taught me by example, how to be a good friend. 
I am even thankful to those who have taught me lessons from negative examples.  Those are the things I rarely forget.  I never want to make those mistakes that caused me hurt. 

I am thankful for the teachers who speak from the pages of scripture. 

I am most thankful for the Teacher whose words are written in red in scripture, "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am."(John 13:13 NASB)  He was called Teacher 60 times in scripture.  He taught while He walked on earth, He teaches us today. 

And He charges US to teach.   ".... He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation." (Mark 16:15 NKJV)


I am thankful for teachers, and I want to be obedient to our good Teacher Jesus in teaching others about His good news. 

Patience

Thankful Challenge Day #7


I am thankful for patience.  I don't have as much as I would like, but I have more than I had in the past, and certainly have more than some folks.

I had to be on the interstate today, every time I have to drive in that sort of traffic I am stunned by the impatience of people.  Cars zip around, weave in and out, only to be 5 seconds ahead of me when we reach the exit ramp. 

My man and I aren't in a vehicle together often, but most every single time we are, our discussion goes to the what might be the reason for the delays we experience.  More than once I have witnessed accidents that I might have been involved in had I not had to stop at two red lights. 

I confess that I am not always patient behind the wheel, and certainly not patient in every situation that arises in my life.  Right now, I am impatient with my health.  I want my life back to normal. 

I have been impatient many times in a long line waiting to get checked out. I have been impatient in restaurants, wondering if they had to go catch my chicken and clean it before they could serve me. 

I am not a perfectly patient person, but I am sure more patient than years past. 

I am content to put the cruise on a few miles under the speed limit, and let them pass me.
I am content to stop at the red light, even the yellow, and let other traffic go their way.
I am content to let the person with only a few items be checked out before me and my full buggy.
And I am trying to be content to wait until this heart heals so I can resume my normal routines. 

I am thankful for patience. The patience of friends who listen to my struggle. The patience of the husband who checks on me and does an extra load of every day chores.

Above all else, I am thankful for the patience of God. "The Lord is .....patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)


God is patient, even in the face of our disobedience and rebellion. God didn't have to 'learn' patience... He IS patience.  Oh how thankful I am for His patience.

I purpose in my heart to allow Him access that He might develop HIS patience within ME. 

Truth

Thankful Challenge Day #6


I am thankful for truth.  Not my truth.  Not your truth.  Absolute truth, God's truth.

The more I read scripture, where God's absolute truth is revealed, the more lies and deception I see in the world around me.

All people have a version.  All people make compromises of God's absolute truth. 

God created marriage between a man and a woman.  Humans perverted it.
God created a beautiful perfect world.  Humans misuse it.
God created relationships to be harmonious.  Humans hurt each other.


This morning as I thought about all I have to be thankful for, I realized what I allowed into my mind the hour before....scrolling social media, pausing to watch videos. Families displaying their problems publicly, for money or fame, or whatever reason.  It is like window peeping into other people's living room.  Why should I want to see what causes them pain, or worse....why do I find humor in the suffering?  Why is it funny to me to see someone openly living a lifestyle that God condemns? 


I am not hating.  My focus is on me...not them.  I am examining my own heart this morning. 


And I find myself thankful today for God's truth.  I purpose in my own heart to keep His truth in forefront of my life, both in my actions and my attitudes.  I purpose that the enemy will not allow me to be desensitized to God's holy and perfect truth. 

It may not be politically correct.
It may not be socially accepted.

But God is the One Who gets to say what is right.  His truth is the only truth. 

Choices

Thankful Challenge Day #5

I am thankful for choices. 

We don't always get to choose.  I have often told my sons,when they were criticizing each other's choices, "You don't get to pick."  We all have our own choices to make, good or bad, right or wrong. 

Even though I say I am thankful for them, too many choices is NOT good for me personally.  When choosing tile for my kitchen, I wouldn't let the salesman show me more choices.  I was looking at a box of a couple hundred samples.  Surely one will be good.  When looking at a food menu, I tend to scan for things familiar, not looking at every single item to decide.  (My sister on the other hand, is NOT like me in that regard!)

Eve made a bad choice.  She and Adam were given every freedom except one simple thing, and they chose to do it anyway.  They weren't starving, they didn't need the food.  They simply chose to do the one thing God had said "don't" about.  And so we have the continued problem of the knowledge of evil they chose that day.

I am thankful for the choices I am given.  Today, I chose what to cook for supper tonight.  I will choose what to wear, out of a closet full of enough garments to clothe a tribe.  I chose the vehicle that sits outside.  I could have had one of many others.  I chose the leather chair I am sitting in.  (I did not choose this poodle that lies here snoring beside me, but that's ok!)

I am thankful to have the choices on the ballot, the opportunity to make a choice and vote for the governing positions that are on that ballot.

I am thankful that God gave me the choice of choosing Christ Jesus over my paying my own penalty.  I am not perfect, I am not holy as HE is holy, and because I have sinned there IS a penalty.  A death penalty. 

I am thankful for that choice, and I purpose in my heart that I do not take it lightly.

I purpose to be mindful of every single choice presented, every moment of every day. I purpose to make my choices according to God's standard, what HE says is right.  I don't get to pick, I don't get to determine what is right.

HE does.

Period.

Peace

Thankful Day #4


I am thankful for peace. 

Never in my lifetime has there been war on the soil on which I live.  Though there is a lot of violence in a lot of places, I have not experienced it personally. 

There has been plenty conflict.  Disagreements. Arguments. Hurt. Betrayal.

Plenty.

But in the face of the worst of it, I can have peace. 

I can know that God is not surprised by one single thing.  Even our disobedience is not a surprise, it never was.  He had made provision for the rebellion in the garden.  That peaceful relationship with our holy God was broken when the fruit was chosen over simple obedience. 

Our enemy deceived Eve, and he still deceives us.

Sin disrupted the peace and harmony our ancestors enjoyed with God.  Adam and Eve had walked with Him in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3:8)  It disrupts us still today. 

 But even after choosing to know good AND evil by eating of that forbidden tree, God made a way for us to enjoy that peace once again.  "He shall bruise you on the head.." (Genesis 3:15 KJV) 

It was very costly because the result of disobedience is death.  But instead of me dying for my disobedience, Jesus died in my place. 


My peace with God is what I am thankful for above all else.  Because I have peace with Him, He teaches me and enables me to have peace in every other situation. My peace is granted to me thru faith and obedience to Christ Jesus. When I lack that peace...I can look for what might be hindering it.

What wrong attitude? 
What fear? 
What rebellion? 
What sin? 

Today, I am thankful for peace with God, peace with man, and peace in my own mind. Conflicts may again come, threats, or the hurts that often come from people. Because of my peace WITH God, He has given me the peace OF God. 

 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled.." (the words of Jesus as recorded in John 14:27 NASB)

If you do not know what it is to know His peace, make it your number one priority to learn. 

  "...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God..." (1 Peter 5:6 NASB)