Learning Along The Way

What 3 Things are on Your Thankful List Today?

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Last week on Thursday I was with our son & family; going to the Library with our grand-daughter, playing and simply enjoying time as an extended family.

So thankful.

 

Today I’m back in the Bay Area, meeting a young friend for coffee and encouragement, and attending a writing/planning event for creative entrepreneurs, which I guess I am.

But in the in betweens? There have been thoughts of you, dear reader. I’ve thought about what your life is like today, what you’re able to pay attention to, what the time is revealing, if you’re feeling hurried and behind, or relaxed and care-free.

You see, I pray for you. Even if we haven’t met and I don’t know your face in a crowded room, God knows and sees and cares. I don’t need to know the details you want prayer for; God knows.

So I’m curious, what are three things on your Thankful List today?

Why 3? I love 3 because it reminds me of God who exists in 3: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Three is also a short list which is do-able right? I also know that once you slow to count three things or experiences or people that you are thankful for, the chances are you’ll go past three!

Let’s keep showing up each day; developing the habit of thankfulness and paying attention to the Presence that is eternally with us.

Back & Forth Living

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Some days are easier than others to live life joyfully.

Great things happen. A friend comes to visit. Lots of laughter & deep conversation. Lots of considering it all joy when we encounter various trials.

Wait! What?

ladder in front of 1312Yep. Consider it all joy.  ALL JOY.

This was my view in our front yard last year.

When I look back too longingly I can get mired in melancholy.  Woe is me don’t you feel sorry for me?

Well don’t.  And neither do I.  Yes this year has been a series of challenges that sometimes have challenged me just past what I thought I would ever be able to tolerate but I didn’t break.  Or shrivel up & die.  I certainly don’t want to be a tasteless pillar; immovable and unwilling to let go like Lot’s wife.  I didn’t quit moving forward.  And I’m here to tell you you can carry on too.

This life is hard.  So many things don’t go the way we planned.  There are disappointments. There are losses. And the very real pain that comes along with both.  I truly believe we benefit greatly by being real with our pain.  But even more important is that we get real with God and ask Him to use this pain for others’ good and His glory.

current ladderThis is my new view.  Same ladder.  It was my grandfather’s.  A connection with the past that I look back on with great joy and thankfulness in many ways.  It’s also a bridge into moving forward; gardening is something that I HAVE to do.  I must play in the dirt or I will shrivel up and die. (Not really but it sounds nice and dramatic. I’m the only girl around here…)

Moving forward, taking action, planting to grow are all symbolic of change.  There is really only One that doesn’t change.  All the rest of this existence changes.  So getting to spend time with Him in whatever Way helps you connect with Him best is vital for your soul to thrive.  Hanging out with God is vital for my soul too.  My time of deep connection is in the outdoors.  I am a Naturalist.

I still read the Word. Daily. I study and memorize passages.  I love to share with others what connections I see.  I am reminded of what I am passionate about: pouring into the lives of those who are younger than me.

That’s what back & forth living is really about for me.  Looking back at what God has done; through history and my history.  Looking forward to what He will do as He has promised. But also connecting the dots in the here and now while He is very present in our lives.

Back & Forth.  So good.  Join me?

Focus. Practice. Sacrifice.

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A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the grayness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving thanks has darkened their mindsIt’s Monday. Sometimes just saying ‘it’s Monday’ can bring a deep sigh; a ‘here we go again’ mindset about the daily grind. After a longer break from routine for most, this Monday may have more challenges than usual. This morning I read the day’s entry from the devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and was reminded of a few things.
* Giving thanks takes focus give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:18)

* Giving thanks takes practice … and be thankful; …with thankfulness in your hearts; …giving thanks to God (Col.3: 15,16,17)

* Giving thanks is a sacrifice Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. (Heb. 13:15)

Focus. Practice. Sacrifice.

These are words that are associated with training, with work; and work takes effort.

Many friends have made the effort and used social media this month to name what they are thankful for on a daily basis. I have been blessed and encouraged by their posts. You may be one of them. I am thankful to God for you as you live out …let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24)

So if today you’re focusing on the drudgery of your responsibilities, may I suggest a shift in focus? Look for things to be thankful for. Name them. Thank God for each one.

Practice thanking God for the little things. This work has a promise attached to it:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

And who among us couldn’t benefit from a peace that passes all understanding in the middle of our day?

Thankful for Meltdowns?

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Today’s blog post is being written in the back seat of a rental car hurtling through California eastward toward Utah. Gotta love technology!

Spent the morning working down my to do list. Getting things prepped for our trip and simultaneously battling the temptation to allow the ticking clock to ruin my focus on being thankful.

The battle really isn’t obvious (for the most part), but is internal; fought on the battlefield of the mind. That’s the place where I, where we, can make choices. Do we believe time controls us or do we believe the One who controls time? God invites us to be at peace in His abiding Presence at the same moment as the ticking clock tries to distract us.

I don’t always make the restful choice; for about 15 minutes today I had a meltdown. The issue was a missing wallet and a time obligation colliding. True confession: I have too many purses. Good thing for me I keep them all hanging on parallel racks on the back of the closet door so it’s easy to switch from one to another. Except when I don’t use a purse at all just to confuse things and keep me on my organizational toes. That was my recent mistake. So I didn’t know where I had put said wallet. Clock ticking. friend waiting. Peace slipping away.

I stood in my closet and cried. Out loud I apologized to the Lord; telling Him I was wrong to launch in to this hunt without asking Him first where that errant wallet was hiding. Sniffing, I went back downstairs, looking through my office where I had already hunted and come up empty. I knelt down to look through a basket, again, and saw the illusive wallet peaking out of the pocket of my briefcase.

Was it the position of bowing low and slowing down or the tearful acknowledgment of my control issues that helped me see? Either or both. Whatever it took for the Lord to get my attention was good. I smiled, thanked Him for directing my steps and moved ahead.

When you are thankful during this Thanksgiving week, who are you thankful to?

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