Loving, Wise Stewards

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 106: Today, I am grateful for reminders to be loving and wise stewards. 

I love elephants. They are one of my favorite animals for so many reasons. They take care of their family. They can be so gentle and kind. They make me feel tiny. What is not to love? 

Elephants are known to remember kindness and mistreatment for decades. They are truly amazing. 

As our sins are tossed "as far as the East is from the West" when we confess, believe, and receive His grace and mercy, is it not our job to forgive, too? The weight of unforgiveness is a heavy load to bear. I love that scriptures often remind us how to live our daily lives. The instructions are simple, but they can be life changing. 

This was my verse of the day:

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." -Romans 13:8

Live as close to debt free as you can. Love generously. Love well. Love in the wisdom of the 10 Commandments. Life will not always be perfect, but a moral compass and a very present God will get us through any storms. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders to be loving and wise stewards. 

Casting Our Cares

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 105: Today, I am grateful we can cast our cares. 

This is my verse for today:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5:6-8

Many of the disciples were fishermen. It was a common trade on the sea. It was not always easy work, but if they cast their nets, eventually they would fill. They had to not give in to discouragement. They could not give up. Not every day is a big fish day. 

We often quote this passage for the comfort of knowing we have a God who cares for us. It really is awesome to consider that He looks with love upon our good days and in the middle of our messes. His faithfulness is truly awesome. 

We can cast our cares like a fisherman throws out a net or a line. We are reminded to come humbly before His throne and to be sober minded and watchful as the enemy of our souls is an ultimate predator seeking to devour and destroy. Our God is bigger, stronger, and loves restoration projects. We can trust His hand with the net, the rod, and the reel. 

Today, I am grateful we can our cares. 

Zoom Out

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 103: Today, I am grateful we can zoom out. 

The temptation to zoom in on today's fears or struggles is real. It can lead to anxiety and discouragement. 

My dear friend, Kelly, shared this image. It is a perfect reminder of all that we have in a world that constantly bombards us with images that can leave us wanting more. We even buy storage units to put it in when our homes and garages are filled. 

Consumerism can steal the joy in our ordinary days. 

We have so many ordinary luxuries. Clean water, reliable electricity, a safe place to sleep, and plenty to eat. These things are extraordinary. Savor them more. 

I am more of a glamper than a camper, but think about how many good memories are made around a campfire with family and friends. It is all so simple. The same can be said for a beach, if you live close to the water. Zoom out and enjoy the things that are most important.  

"And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." -2 Corinthians 9:8

All that we need for this day is truly an extraordinary thing. 

Today, I am grateful we can zoom out.

Justification

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 102: Today, I am grateful for justification. 

The starfish is at the edge of the sea, but it needs to make it into the water to live. Will the sea lap the shore and carry it to safety? 

In our human, sinful state, we could not get over the finish line by simply being told to obey the rules. Arrogance, pride, selfishness, and moods get in our way. As we read the Old Testament there is record after record of God reaching out to pull those who loved Him over the finish line. 

Not everyone was perfect. Even the best of the best failed at times. The cross would change everything, but it was many years coming. God is holy; sin is offensive to Him. Through faith in Jesus Christ that individuals are justified (Romans 3:28). God created a way and accepted the sacrifice. 

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" -Romans 3:23-24

Like the person who needs a gluten free kitchen or a peanut free zone, our souls must be justified and clean before God. Heaven is a sin-free zone. Jesus came so that we might be redeemed, cleaned, and justified. 

We are Easter people. Jesus, like the water lapping up the starfish, reached out to pull us to safety for those who are willing to confess, believe, and receive the gift. 

Today, I am grateful for justification. 

Priorities

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 102: Today, I am grateful for reminders to choose our priorities.

Oh those pesky "to do" lists. They seem endless, but they are great tools for helping us conquer the day... and the week. What tasks are important? Which are necessary? Which can wait, if time gets short. 

My friend, Stephanie, reminds us to "be where your feet are." It is a reminder to be fully present in the moment you are currently living. It is a great way to walk through the day. Priorities show what we value by how we spend our days. 

This scripture is all about priorities:

"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." -Luke 9:23-24

The idea of taking up our cross to follow Jesus implies that not every day will be sunshine and roses. There are great days ahead, but there will be hard days, too. We can trust Him to be our life preserver and our restorer when we seek His face and with our whole hearts. When we present our lives as a living sacrifice, there is no losing. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders to choose our priorities.

Early Spring Blooms

 Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 101: Today, I am grateful for early spring blooms. 

The day has been full, so this post is short. Everywhere I looked today there were blooms and promises of flowers to come. As the earth comes back to life, the birds sweet songs provide a soundtrack for the rebirth. 

Again, the perfect chorus of “let heaven and nature sing” comes to mind  

 Today, I am grateful for early spring blooms. 

Timers

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 100: Today, I am grateful for timers.

My oven timer has been broken for more years than it worked. For years I carried hand held timers while doing laundry or other tasks so that dinner or a baked item wasn't burned. 

I've set timers to not forget the laundry and to put things in the oven to have them done on time. Timers are a game changer.  

With cell phones and watches with timers, I rarely need the one I used to carry around. Timers help us stay on task. While Kermit the Frog masters procrastination, I like to set multiple timers to keep me moving. 

Solomon was right. There is a time for everything. 

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" -Ecclesiastes 3:1

My timer says I need to get out the door to work. 

Today, I am grateful for timers.