worship = thankfulness

Worship can manifest itself in many different ways.

When we lift our voices in praise to the Lord we worship.
When we study scripture and apply it to our lives in obedience to Him we worship.
When we serve one another we live a life of worship.

But I had never really thought about my thankfulness in response to His provision as worship.

As He provides all the ridiculously generous things I have I worship Him with thankfulness.

Can you imagine creating the entire universe and the very creatures you created assume their provisions are of their own doing and offer no thank-yous?

How sad He must be with me as I enjoy all that He's given me and He watches me lay my head down without even a word of thankfulness some days.  If a day goes by where no thankfulness is offered in worship to Him - I wonder whether that day has worth at all?

what I learned today

I have opportunity to dabble in some pretty important things from time to time.

Ministry is an eternal business, no room for error.  Constant attention and bringing your best required.  Believe me, that doesn't mean I don't make tons of mistakes!

Today I was reminded outside the complexity of people and eternal decisions I relish simplicity.  In fact I long for it.

This morning was simple and I feel more fulfilled than important things have made me feel recently.

I walked dogs.
Did laundry.
Hung clothes out to dry.
Put a roast in the oven to slowly cook all day.
Filled bird feeders.
Swept the deck.
Prepared potatoes to be added later.
Got ironing done and put away.
Re-arranged some things that have been annoying me.
Washed a few outside windows that have been sporting cobwebs for quite some time.

I hope it means my head and heart are in the right place when I can take so much satisfaction from regular stuff.

It is in simplicity that I found focus on thankfulness for God's provision and blessings this morning.  And I get to stay there the rest of today!

my day off

Today was such a blessing. Amazed once again how much can actually be accomplished with a full day at home! We cleaned, sorted, scrubbed and swept. It's never finished of course - but we gained quite a foothold!

The thing that helps me accomplish the most is when I am willing to throw old things away. Why do we think we need SO much? We pulled old clothes from closets preparing them to be dropped off - old worthless costume jewelry in the trash and now tackling the last pile of papers from the table.

The pace at which I live often makes my house feel only like a place to sleep. Today it felt like home - clean, organized with competing smells of Clorox and homemade vegetable soup and brewing tea. I breathed it all in and a deep thankfulness for God's goodness and provision filled me.

As the day moved toward darkness I took this picture of the fading day as it fought for attention one last time with brilliant pink streaks announcing the end to our day off...

resting tonight

Resting is such a blessing...

Tonight we rested. We don't sit still often enough.

Obviously God designed us to need rest. But the surprising thing that rest produces in me every single time I rest is...thankfulness.

When I hurry around I forget to notice what God has done for me. I don't thank him for anything and rush around oblivious to all that He provides.

Rest and thanks. One produces the other in my life.

competitive

We all have within us a tendency toward competitiveness.

We are motivated to work hard to get good grades, awards, position, and financial gain.

We look at what one another have to see if we have more or less.

We compare. Attractiveness, cars, clothing, homes, children, talents and levels of education.

Why are we so competitive? Why do we care what others around us have, or how they look, or what they are doing? Our sinful nature.

Even the disciples were competitive about their positions with Jesus. That had to break Jesus' heart.

I am very competitive. I turn this over to the Lord over and over.

It doesn't matter what others have, it matters that we show our thankfulness by being content and satisfied. I have so much to be thankful for - and I will try to thank Him daily not only verbally but with my contentedness.

true thankfulness

Billy Graham said, "the only true thankfulness comes when you cannot return the favor and all you can do is say, thanks."

That really stuck with me when I heard it, and I think it is really true! When I think of the times I was the most thankful, they truly are the times I couldn't pay it back to the giver.

There is a certain amount of arrogance involved I suppose when you refuse to except a gift from someone. I have had friends from time to time try to give me things or help me in some way when I know they didn't have the finances or the time to help me. They wanted to give and I refused their help or gifts. So was I the only loser in these cases? No. I also robbed them of the pleasure of giving.

Who knows through the years what my pride or independence toward others has cost me, and them. It is not right to be greedy and ask for what you don't need, but, I suppose it is equally wrong to rob others of what they would like to give...

So, from this point on I will except all gifts...JUST KIDDING...

I do hope to get over myself and my desire to 'do it myself' without others. I think I'll begin right now...I'm tired.

As we move toward Thanksgiving and are reminded of how ridiculously much we ALL have, be genuinely grateful and receive as well as give.