Oh Give Thanks!!

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!" (Psalm 105:1)


This Thanksgiving will be different for us. We won't be gathering around a platter of turkey. I won't be worn out from two days of food preparation. And our whole family won't be together. Yet I find so much to be thankful for, and feel even more gratitude in my heart than ever. Sometimes when the external things are stripped from us it causes us to dig even deeper to discover and celebrate the abundance we have been given.

I am thankful for my imperfect yet beautiful family, who in our imperfections give God even more opportunities to display His goodness and amazing grace!
I am thankful for new life, reminding me that we are all part of a much bigger story, a story which will continue to be told throughout time.

I am thankful for long time friends who have appreciated me, warts and all, and shown me that I do not have to be perfect to be loved.

I am thankful for new friends and discovering their beautiful stories of faith, and for developing even more relationships in which to grow.

I am thankful for difficult people who challenge me to exercise the abundant love and grace I have been given.
I am thankful that to God there are no difficult people, only kids who need His love.

I am thankful for death and passing on, and for every new member of the great cloud of witnesses who surround me and have gone before me.
 I am thankful for missed opportunities which remind me to grab hold of each opportunity that comes my way to prevent any more missed ones.

I am thankful laughter, good old gut cramping belly laughs that make me feel so alive.
I am thankful for tears, for grief and sorrow that cleanse my soul and allow the sweetness of God's comfort to be made real to me.

I am thankful that I know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is real.

I am thankful that I now also know for sure that God is good.

I am thankful for the trials which have all become catalysts for God's goodness to be revealed to me in greater measure.

I am thankful that He has shown me that His goodness can be relied upon every day in every situation.

I am thankful beyond words and beyond measure!!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."!!!!! (Psalm 28:7)  

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

Stand Up!!!

I had an interesting experience last week. I was working as a "temp" with some other also-temp people. I mostly listened to them as they were all quite talkative and full of stories about their lives. I love to listen and hear what makes people tick. Sadly, these people...one woman and a young girl in particular...seemed to be ticking off their illnesses constantly. I mean, between the two of them they had every illness every diagnosed and then some. They had strange accidents, broken bones, and the more I listened the more I realized that pretty much all they talked about were their afflictions. It was as if their "conditions" made them feel special. And that just plain made me sad.

I was reading in the book of John chapter 5 recently. We all know the story. The man who was waiting by the pool of Bethesda. Evidently angels would stir the waters from time to time, and if you happened to be blessed enough to be in the water at that moment, you would be healed.
The man was waiting there...every day...waiting, waiting, waiting for 38 years, for someone to carry him into the pool. I don't know the details of his condition, but evidently he was too sick, weak or maybe even paralyzed to walk himself into the pool. Now, I don't want to come across as heartless...but I imagine if that were me I would try rolling into the pool. Or maybe dragging myself in there. Hanging on to the guy next to me. Something...anything...to get by butt into that pool and get healed!
Jesus asks the man "Are you here hoping to be healed?" Is it self pity I hear in the man's response to Jesus? Or is he just a whiner by nature? The man answers Jesus by making excuses for himself. "I can't get to the pool...nobody will carry me...waa waa waa."
It is funny if you think about it. Jesus knew full well why the man was there and what he was hoping for. Yet he asks him "What do you want?" Now that is a loaded question! But really, maybe my take on this guy isn't so cruel and far fetched. What did he want? Did he want to be pitied? Felt sorry for? Commiserated with?

I confess I must ask myself these same questions at times. What do I want? Do I just give up and wait for someone else to carry me? Do I believe I cannot move? Do I want to be pitied and felt sorry for? Do I feel defeated?
Jesus doesn't give the man what he thinks he needs. He thinks he needs help. He thinks he needs carried to the pool. But Jesus didn't pick him up, He didn't coddle him at all. Jesus commanded him, (which sounds to me like stern talk), and said "Stand up, carry your mat, and walk."
Ouch. Get up you big baby! Get off your butt and carry your own mat, and get moving! No pity there!
And it is interesting that Jesus mentioned to him to carry his mat. Because it was the Sabbath and Jesus knows the rules, He knows the law. He knows that they were forbidden to carry anything or do anything that was considered "work" on the sabbath.
Jesus gives him specific instructions to disobey the law! Maybe because the law kills and Jesus was proving a point here. Rise up! Get out from under the law! WALK!
The man did just that. After 38 years, he stood up...no more weakness, no more pain, no more depression, and no more shame! FREEDOM!!

What is holding you down? Who has convinced you that you cannot do what Jesus is asking of you?
Maybe it's time for you to "Stand up and walk!!"
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