Gratitude
Dollars, Pounds and Resolutions
Like many of you, I’ve been reflecting on the last year and setting my sights on the next, waxing philosophical about my life and how I can improve it and myself. Through resolve. Are any of these common new year’s resolutions on your mind?
Weigh less. Exercise more. Eat better.
Work less. Work harder. Achieve more.
Spend less. Pay off debt. Save more.
Some of them are on my list, too. And I love lists. To wrangle the chaos of life into neatly bulletized lineups gives me the perceived control that evades me in reality.
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Tied up with Strings: Getting, Giving and Gifts
It’s a line from a song in one of my favorite movies, The Sound of Music. Though it’s not the intended meaning, I can’t help thinking it aptly describes much of ‘giving’ that goes on at Christmas…
“Brown paper packages tied up with strings…”
When we turn the page on the calendar from November to December, we simultaneously shift from being thankful for all God has given us to setting out to acquire more. (Though we’re shopping to give to others, most of our purchases end up under our very own roofs, don’t they?) Read More
(gr)Attitude Adjustment
Last week I spent two hours in my car to accomplish merely two simple tasks:
I had to take my vehicle in for service and then attend a meeting. It took an hour and a half in traffic to get to and from the repair shop and another 30 minutes to get across town again to the meeting venue.
While I began grumbling as soon as the traffic congestion reared it’s ugly head, I was in a full tirade by the time I hit the 90 minute mark. Crabby because my car needed some expensive work done, I was on a verbal roll. (My car wasn’t going anywhere, but my mouth sure was.) Read More
Mundane or Miraculous?
Are we blinded to miracles by the consistency of them?
I’m enjoying a Priscilla Shirer study this summer, One in a Million. In it, we’ve been revisiting the Exodus and how God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, along with other deliverances from death by dehydration and starvation in their desert wanderings. Shirer has encouraged us to see the value of the wilderness as playing an important role in cultivating our on-going dependence on God — not just through miracles but day-to-day life. She’s asked us to reflect and record the many ways God has delivered and sustained us in our wilderness experiences. Read More
Offerings of Thanks
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Over the last two weeks, as your stories have slipped into my soul through your notes, I have found myself brought low with humility and tears at how readily you have extolled the Lord and His work in your lives through even the most devastating life circumstances. Likewise, I have soared with hope and gratitude because of the inspiration you have blessed me with through them.
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. –Psalm 34:1-3 NIV
How you have lived out this verse in rich fullness through sharing these stories!
Thank you. My prayer, as you read, is that you find yourself praising God, exalting and glorifying Him for the redemption of hardship and suffering. You join the chorus by simply reading along – whether you contributed or not – and God will be blessed. Feel free to use the comments section to add your voice in praise, as well.
With thanksgiving… for each of you,
—Kirsten
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Thanksgiving Offerings Final Writing Prompt
If you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time: just another day to send in your offering to our Thanksgiving project! Please take the short time it takes to jot a few brief sentences today so I can include it.
Consider what aspects of your faith and character would be different, less mature, were it not for the challenges you’ve faced. What were the circumstances that cultivated that growth? Has someone benefitted from your learning – you, your family, your friends, your church body?
Be blessed by what you discover in reflecting on it. Has someone else’s story benefitted you? Ask them to participate, too.
Thanksgiving Offerings Project→
Thanksgiving Offerings Writing Prompt #5
What unexpected blessing did God bring from a move to a new place that you found difficult? How did God work through loneliness you might have experienced during the transition? Did you see growth in your children that would not have otherwise occurred?
Your ability to recognize God’s handiwork in hard situations brings honor to Him and encourages the rest of us. Share your Thanksgiving Offering and invite others to do the same.
Thanksgiving Offerings Writing Prompt #4
How has your marriage been strengthened through the struggles in it? Are you and your spouse closer now than if you hadn’t experienced it? What did you learn from persevering that you wouldn’t know otherwise? Has it shaped the way you think about your relationship with God?
Return thanks to Him on this topic and bless others by sharing your story as part of the Thanksgiving Offerings Project. Inspire someone! Who inspired and encouraged you?
Ask them to participate, too.
Thanksgiving Offerings Writing Prompt #3
What have you learned through the loss of a job or other financial adversity? How have you seen God at work in those circumstances? How has it affected your view of God’s provision? Has it changed your perspective on giving and tithing?
Encourage others through this project; describe how God has brought good out of the circumstance in your life that wasn’t ‘good.’ If you’ve learned something by observing someone else endure this, please ask them to share their story, too!
Thanksgiving Offerings Writing Prompt #2
Have you suffered from an illness or disability? Your child, spouse or parent? How has God worked through those circumstances? Has He taught you something you wouldn’t otherwise know?
Share your story – in just a few sentences – with the rest of us as an offering of praise to God. Further explanation and a form to submit it on the Thanksgiving Offerings Project page. Do you know someone whose story has inspired you? Please send them the link!