Pre-Thanks-Giving #2

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

What is second on your “I’m thankful for…” list? I’m going to guess it’s PROVISION. When I picture our family’s “Thank you, Lord” poster, I recall drawings of houses, various aspects of nature, favorite foods, and perhaps a car, baseball bat, or new furnace.

As Provider, God is generous, attentive, and timely. Given our human nature, it’s difficult to imagine a benevolence that is not restrained or stingy. And it’s a challenge to comprehend blessings that encompass both present necessity and future provision. Such is the depth of God’s unreserved, extensive generosity to us.

In these pre-thanks-giving days let’s take particular note of those blessings that enrich our lives but are easily overlooked and taken for granted. I’ll start.

The deer in our backyard, a backyard, the home that comes with a backyard. A car that runs and passed inspection. Swivel rockers. A fireplace. Food in our cabinets. Cabinets. Soaring hawks. The birds that know when to take cover. Books. Reading glasses. Cataract surgery and every other life-improving, lifesaving effort. Churches. Biblical preaching. Worship and music. Games and puzzles, knitting and crocheting. The variety of trees, differing in type, shape, leaf, and hue. The cold of snow and the heat of sun.

What’s on your list?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Pre-Thanks-Giving #1

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

I believe top billing on most “I am thankful for…” lists is FAMILY. We just visited our son Corey and his three sons in Tennessee. I loved seeing our grandsons with my own eyes, appreciating their diverse personalities, and watching them on their home turf.

We raised five children and love the mates they’re chosen and the eleven grandchildren they’ve blessed us with. But we can add many sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews to our Thankful list and include friends past and present who have imprinted our hearts and impacted our lives.

People. They are part of God’s plan to enrich—and challenge—our lives. I invite you to start your list early. Every day before Thanksgiving, pray for one or two of the lives God has planted in your life. Give thanks for, and pray blessing on, those easy to love and those who stretch you. Each one has come your way by God’s design and for His purposes.

Give Me an E

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

This is it—the final of five posts shouting God’s praises. My faith has been markedly strengthened by meditating on His attributes, so much so that I intend to continue to the end of the alphabet in my personal God-time. I invite you to do the same. I hope your faith has also been built up. It was hard to choose only three E words, but here we go:

  • Entire. When something is labeled “entire,” we mean it is not incomplete. It is not lacking. Something or, in this case, Someone is not partial but whole. There is no lack, need, shortage. God is entire. He is and has all we need. He draws from a supply we know little of. He doesn’t have some wisdom, He has complete wisdom. Not some knowledge, but all knowledge. He extends to us all the love, forgiveness, grace we could ever need. I could write pages—please, take time and Selah this astounding truth about God.

 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

  • Empathetic. God understands, He cares, and He is sensitive to our weaknesses. He is not who I imagined when I was child—a judge with a heavy raised gavel, ready to fall. No. He records our sorrows and collects our tears (Ps. 56:8 NLB). He is our helper and comforter. He is always ready to help (Ps. 46:1) and invites us to find refuge in Him.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

  • Eminent. Chris Tomlin proclaims God as the Famous One in his song by that title. God’s name is great. He is exalted above the earth. There is none more prominent than Him. We run around trying to impress, extoling our minor accomplishments, striving for a position of excellence. He created the world, with a word, when no one was watching. He rules that world—and repairs the mess we make of it. No, little people, we are His and He is our God—eminently and eternally.

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” Revelation 19:6-7

You may also want to consider these words: Everlasting/Eternal. Energetic. Excellent. Exalted.

Give Me a D

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

I did not expect to continue this series but realized my schedule will not allow me to develop the theme I have in mind next. I will not apologize because nothing can do more for our hearts, minds, and spirits than dwelling on the attributes of God. These weeks of focusing on God’s strength, love, and presence have given me great peace when world events (and personal challenges) scream with distractions. These are three words that minister to me. I’m sure you can come up with more.

  • Dauntless. Wars and rumors of war, pain and dire diagnoses, a fluctuating economy, fracturing relationships—no threats cause God to look for a quick solution or an alternate strategy. He is never discouraged or dismayed. His plans are not threatened and cannot be circumvented. He does not retreat. From the fall of man until the day of our full redemption, God dauntlessly moves forward. Be comforted.
  • Dogged. God persistently and resolutely works for our blessing and growth. He is determined to reveal Himself to us and develop an intimate relationship. Our running and rebelling does not deter Him—He doggedly pursues us. He loves us that much.
  • Deliverer. Think of a delivery truck in your neighborhood. It’s probably UPS… or Amazon… or FedEx. Their job is take a package from point A to point B. There are other stops along the way, but your package is specifically addressed to your house. God moves us from point A to point B. Point A may be a place of despair, or a place that’s good but not good enough, or a comfortable deception we’re not even aware of. He will bring us out of there and deliver us to place of health, strength, wisdom—a place near to Him. He’s that good!

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

You may also want to consider these words: Dedicated. Devoted. Determined. Divine. Dominant.
 For Such a Time 11/9, 16