Gratitude Challenge

Devotions
Jan 242011

One sermon tagline I remember with clarity from my childhood is: thankfulness = happiness. It was simple, it was catchy, and I still remember it. My pastor explained that you must be thankful to be happy, and you must have gratitude to find joy. We must count our blessings to know that we are blessed. During November of 2009, I was challenged to make my social network status say something I was thankful for every single day. The Thanksgiving themed challenge was called “30 days of Thankful.” It was a particular test for me because on the 13th on November my dear husband was scheduled to deploy. So for the 2 weeks leading up to his departure and the 2 weeks after he left, I was forced to come up with at least one thing per day that I was thankful for. It really helped. It made me focus on my blessings instead of my hardships.

Some folks keep a gratitude journal. I’m not very good about being diligent in keeping journals. But I can remember to say thank you to God for at least one thing every time I pray. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father (James 1:17), so we should be continually thanking Him. I also remember that my mom remembers those who give her thank you notes and those who do not. She is more likely to give additional gifts to those who have sent her prompt thank you notes. Surely God knows when I am truly thankful for something He has given me and when I forget to give Him credit for that wonderful thing that just happened to me, be it huge or small.

So here is my challenge for the women of PWOC: be grateful daily, be thankful even when things are not going well, find and count your blessings, and give credit to the One who loves to bless you. If you make a list, you might be surprised by how long it is each day. God loves us so much. We need to recognize the multitudinous ways He shows us His love and love Him more in return.

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

Psalm 100:4

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thes 5:18

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Joy to the World

Seasonal teaching
Dec 222010

Submitted by: Donna Castle

Fumbling in the dark to find a light, I grasp my travel alarm and hold it up to the glow from a nearby desk.  It’s 3:30 am and my heart is singing “Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!”  Why am I filled with joy at 3:30 am?  My Savior REIGNS and I have much for which to be thankful during this Advent season .

At the top of my “Be Thankful” list is that our entire family will be “home” for Christmas.  During the fall of 2008, one son and my husband deployed.  As we waited expectantly for their return, the Lord used Isaiah 41:31 to encourage us.  It reads, “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”  There were times when I had to let God carry me high above the situation and give me His perspective.  By God’s grace and mercy both have returned safely, yet I am very mindful of those who will not be celebrating Christ’s birth with their loved ones.  My heart goes out to you as I pray that you may be comforted by the love and strength of our Lord in this season.

We have a Christmas tradition of hanging twenty-five “count-down” stockings filled with treats.   As each day passes by, the stockings are a reminder that there are only a few days left before the children and grandchildren arrive.  As I busily prepare for their coming, the season of Advent reminds me that it is more important to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ child.   We can look to the lyrics of the carol “Joy to the World” and receive some guidance.  “Let every heart prepare Him room.”  Make time daily, personally and as a family, with Jesus.  Search your heart and “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground.”  Make your heart clean before the Lord and each other so that nothing would interfere as “He comes to make His blessings flow.”  Take heart. ”He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love.”

With your hearts prepared, may you loudly sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!  Let earth receive her King.”

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Prayer Points November 8-14

Prayer Points
Nov 112009

Hebrews 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is consuming fire.

Father, We are thankful for the unshakeable kingdom we are receiving.  As the economy shakes, as the nations shake, as systems and rulers shake, God we gratefully turn to you in awe and reverence.  Thank you that you are God and you do not change like the shifting shadows.  (James 1:17)  You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) We worship you for your goodness, your kindness, and your unchanging love.  We worship you, Our Consuming Fire!  Burn off the emotional baggage, the thought patterns, and the willfulness.  We submit ourselves to you.  We repent so that our sins may be blotted out and times of refreshing can come. (Acts 3:19)   We welcome the holy fire of your love.  We love you so much.  In Jesus Name,

Amen

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