From To Dos into Ta-Das

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 166: Today, I am grateful for when "to dos" turn into "ta-das."

Don't you love Monday morning ambitions? A great list of things you want to accomplish is good, but a done list is better. Some things take more time than others. Simple acts can be gratifying. Big ones take time and energy, but are worth taking to completion. 

Some things are never "done" for long like cleaning the house, but they are still good in the moment and for the few days the house feels truly clean. 

Savor the small moment of success and celebrate the big ones. 

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

You've got this! 

Today, I am grateful for when "to dos" turn into "ta-das."

Seers

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 165: Today, I am grateful for seers. 

"The man who has been taught by the Holy Spirit will be a seer rather than a scholar. The difference is that the scholar sees and the seer sees through; and that is a mighty difference indeed. " -A.W. Tozer

Knowledge and wisdom are two very different things. Wisdom does not come from knowing God's word, it comes from being in it. To read it and absorb it is different from simply knowing the words. Being filled with His Spirit so that we feel the tug when we veer off the ancient way. 

Setting our eye on Him helps us to set our "true North" making it harder to get lost. 

"Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’" -Jeremiah 6:16

Disobedience is a decision that impacts every decision after it. The enemy of our souls longs to create a sea of shame with waves of regret that swallow us up. His grace is deep; His love is as wide as the East is from the West. 

Seek and you will find. You are seen and known. 

Today, I am grateful for seers. 

So Much More..

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 164: Today, I am grateful for so much more.

This quote grabbed my heart today:

"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others" -Oswald Chambers

Even when life is hard, our God is still good. I see it at every twist and turn that comes our way. We live a part of His much bigger story. No piece of a puzzle is insignificant. Some days you might feel like another "blue" piece in a puzzle full of water or sky, but each one is still unique. Each one is important or something is missing. 

Our struggles may be key in someone else's story. We have all been moved by the actions or testimonies of others who stay firm in trials and troubles. Our God is still moving the pieces. Our stories are not over... even after we are gone. 

Then this was my verse of the day: 

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” -Luke 11:13

It is always good to be reminded of the goodness of God. He is so much more than we ever imagine Him to be. 

Today, I am grateful for so much more.

Protection in the Storm

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 163: Today, I am grateful for protection in the storm.

Walker and Amber were hit the hardest with roof and gutter damage, but never lost power. Chase and Emma lost power, but no known damage. Our little pocket of the neighborhood lost branches an small trees in places, but the worst missed us.

Our dear friend (who has been like family for 35 years) was caught in the mess on 74. She sheltered at the Goodfield, IL, gas station by Busy Corner, but felt winds she had never felt. She was heading West, so she saw the massive semi truck and trailer accident on 74E. Good Samaritans were trying to help those in the trucks. She and many others were praying for those inside awaiting rescue workers who were struggling to get there in the storm.

The Crandalls lost nearly all of their trees but God spared the house and cars. Seriously, it was as if angels put the trees down safely so the house and cars were spared.

Todd and Sarah had some fence damage. The Leanders are good. Ryan headed out to help a friend whose home was hit.

The huge trees uprooted are in Idlewood park where we spend many Thursdays in the summer enjoying concerts. Tonight was obviously cancelled. (Some of the trees pictured are there.)

I am sure we will hear more today, but we are grateful for protection in the storm. We will hear more today about their declared status. The best status of all is safe.

Today, I am grateful for protection in the storm.

Things We Can Count On

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 162: Today, I am grateful for things we can count on. 

Sunrise. Sunset. We can count on them. We can precisely predict them because we have a great God who weaves order into time by His design. 

There is still a unique beauty in these daily events that keep us coming back for more. We know they will happen and they still take our breath away. 

My daily verse was another life verse I have clung to at every sunrise and sunset. 

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” -Psalm 46:10

"Be still" is a command followed by a comma indicating a pause. 
"And know" means without the shadow of a doubt. 
"That I am" reminds me of God telling Moses "I AM" sent  you. 
"God" ... we are not to misuse his name. 
"I will" ... there is no question.
"Be exalted" ... there is no denying His majesty.
"Among the nations." indicates all of the people of the earth.
" I will" ... now and in the future.
"Be exalted" ... meaning He will be lifted up, praised, and worshiped.
"In the earth."  including the breadth and depth of nature. 

Let there be no doubt! Add it to the list of things we can count on. 

Today, I am grateful for things we can count on. 

Grace in Forgetfulness

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 161: Today, I am grateful for grace in forgetfulness. 

This sums up some days in a nutshell:

"I had a thought... and then I had another thought. They bounced off each other and now I can't find either one." 

There are days that thoughts seem to pop in and out without really landing. Moving from one thing to the next, but never really getting to finish anything because of a missing piece can make for long days. Then, you forget what you started out to do. 

Forgetfulness comes with being human and increases with age. It teaches us to be intentional with the things we want to remember. Memorizing scripture is a good exercise for our brains. It was easier when we were young, but it is a good practice at any age. It writes His Word on our hearts so it is always with us.  

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,"-Psalm 130:2 

We are constantly bombarded with messages from an increasing number of sources. I am grateful for those who grant me grace in the moments of forgetfulness, and I need to remember to do the same for those around me. 

Today, I am grateful for grace in forgetfulness. 

Simple Reminders

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 160: Today, I am grateful for simple reminders. 

I love reminders. I do not see them as nagging. I set many alarms throughout the week so that I remember important things from appointments to plugging in devices to recharge that I only use once a month. Reminders help us avoid embarrassment and negative outcomes. I have documents that are nothing but reminders. 

Post-it notes offer visual reminders. I put them on my phone, on my computer monitors, and in my lunch bag. There are days I hang my lunch bag on my door handle as a simple reminder to take it home. 

The kids gave me a jar of color-coded scriptures that are simple reminders from His Word when I need it most. I keep that little jar close at hand. It is full of simple reminders. 

A simple reminder can be a game changer. 

My daily verse is a simple reminder about a big picture. This was today's:

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." -Matthew 7:13-14

It reminds me that we do not serve Santa Claus. We serve a mighty, just, and holy God. His ways are not always easy, but they are good. The world is full of illness, loss, and seasons that are discouraging and hard. On occasion, an old familiar passage hits me in a new way. Today is one of those days. 

"For the gate is narrow"  ... narrow but not "too" narrow. Narrow enough to give clear guidance, but not too wide so we get lost. 

"and the way is hard" ... hard, but not "too hard." We can do it. The Holy Spirit guides us. Jesus is our advocate before the Father. The Father longs to comfort, shield, and protect the ones He loves. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. We need simple reminders. 

Today, I am grateful for simple reminders.