5000 Day Doxology

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 253: Today, I am grateful for 5000 days in gratitude.

What was the date 5000 days ago from today? January 1, 2013 is the answer. It was the first day of a personal challenge to post something I am grateful for every day for the month of January. The previous months had some tough stuff, and the winter was still ahead. I do not love winter. At the end of January, I decided to go another month, because I could feel the difference that the simple practice made in my daily life. 

January turned to February... and February into March. I realized by April the power of the simple act of recording thankfulness in the good times... and even more so when it was hard. 

Over the years, it has grown. I started adding favorite quotes, shared images from Pinterest and Facebook, and eventually a scripture on most days, because there always seemed to be a passage that fit the gratitude. His Word really does have something for every day. 

December 31, 2026, will mark the completion of 14 years (5112 days). I always have to make the decision to stop or press on with public sharing. I continue to learn from the daily practice, as it keeps me focused on His faithfulness in all seasons of life... weather seasons and good versus hard times. 

My earliest church memories were at the little Congregational Church in Clifton, IL. Grandpa Lindgren taught us quiet things to do with our hands as he fed us Brach's hard candies to keep us quiet. Mom was at the organ. Dad was often ushering. The service always ended with the traditional Doxology:

 "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A-men."

I think that might have been the first seed of thanksgiving that took root in my heart. It was a reminder for all that has breath to give thanks. 

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you." -Isaiah 46:4

Today, I am grateful for 5000 days in gratitude.

Lessons in Self Control

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 252: Today, I am grateful for lessons in self control. 

Titus 2:2 was my verse of the day. Paul's letters to Titus are full of good instructions for living well in all seasons of life. He speaks about living well in community. Today's verse addresses older men, but it has good lessons for everyone. 

"Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience." -Titus 2:2

One of Dad's favorite sayings was, "It takes a long time to screw an old man's head on a young man's body." In other words, maturity takes time, life lessons, mistakes, and experiences. You can read for wisdom and forget the instruction. Living the mistakes and victories makes them stick. 

Lessons in self control are even more challenging in a world with social media. Never have we lived in a world where it is more challenging to sort out truth from fiction and A.I. Things are said and done that cannot be unseen and undone. The internet has a long memory. Wise words are better than words spewed in anger. 

Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Does it show love and patience? Self control is an exercise every day that is worth practicing. If something needs to be spoken, let it brew, let it stew, and let His word lead the conversation. Not in bits and pieces, but in context with self control. 

Today, I am grateful for lessons in self control. 

Dress for the Day

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 251: Today, I am grateful we can "dress for the day."

A long time ago... in a galaxy far away... well, actually, it was forty years ago at Olivet Nazarene University, we had to "dress for the day." I remember friends who went to U of I and ISU talking about rolling into class in sweatpants. I couldn't even imagine it, nor could they imagine putting on actual, respectable clothing daily.

I've always preferred dresses to pants. I am truly my mother's daughter. We were allowed to wear dress pants, but it was never my first choice. Jeans weren't legally permitted until after 5 p.m. We had to wear dress clothes during the school week and on Sundays. Miraculously, we survived without physical injury and emerged at graduation with fully functional professional closets.

Even back then, the dress code rules seemed ridiculous and archaic to some. Science has since weighed in on the matter, with studies on classroom attire yielding mixed results. But let's be honest: how you show up matters. First impressions—whether in a job interview or on exam day—signal that you mean business and are actually prepared.

I love sparkle, glitter, and shine. (If it doesn't catch the light, is it even worth wearing?) Yet, I am reminded that it’s far more important to shine from the inside-out."

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." -1 Peter 3:3-4

The gals in this picture are ready for a Target run, a trip to Walmart, or coffee with friends. The only thing missing? Tiaras. Honestly, I find them inspiring.

So, dress for the day with your own sense of style. Be comfortable in your own skin. Be unapologetically yourself. Wear whatever helps you take on the world.

Today, I am grateful we can "dress for the day."

Grace in Breaking Camp

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 250: Today, I am grateful for the grace in "breaking camp." 

I read this passage today and it came alive in a different way than it ever has before. When God says it is time to move... we had better move. 

“When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough.  It is time to break camp and move on." -Deuteronomy 1:6-7a

I dug into the passage a little bit. It was where they were when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. It is where they felt some spiritual highs and lows. They literally had miracle manna every morning and no one went hungry or thirsty. They did get bored with the menu. 

God allows different spaces and places for us to learn to know him better. Whenever it is time to move on from what is comfortable, it is not easy. It does not mean that the next place will not be good or even better. It does not mean the journey will be a piece of manna. Still, when it is time to break camp, we have to trust His hand and His heart. 

Today, I am grateful for the grace in "breaking camp." 

Your "Yellow"

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 249: Today, I am grateful for the "yellows" in our days.

I love the color yellow. It makes me think of Jennifer, Lola (Sisters-in-Love), and Emma (Daughter-in-Love). My love for it has grown because of them. It is one of the happiest colors in the spectrum. It is a primary color, making it necessary for other blended colors. 

"Who is your yellow?" 

"Yellow is someone who brings sunshine into your life without even trying. They're your warmth on a bad day, your loudest laugh, your comfort in silence. They brighten even your darkest moments just by being there."

The "yellow" people are warm, constant and true. They show up when you need them most and they stay. 

"I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts," -Colossians 4:8 

I am grateful for those who bring the "yellow" to our days. 

Today, I am grateful for the "yellows" in our days. 

Reminders Not To Judge

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 248: Today, I am grateful for the reminder to not judge others. 

"We witness other people's storms from the shelter of our own perspectives. Let us be mindful that we don't add the cold rain of judgement to their already soaked spirits." -Liz Newman

The phrase "the cold rain of judgment" creates a powerful image. It holds no encouragement, comfort, or hope.  When people are hurting, a spirit of corrective-ness is not a "Fruit of the Spirit." 

Love lifts others up. Listening builds relationships. The storms do not last forever.  

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2

Today, I am grateful for the reminder to not judge others. 

Grand Adventures in Ordinary Days

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 247: Today, I am grateful for grand adventures in ordinary days. 

"Give them the kind of childhood that needs a bath afterward. Creek water on their shoes. Grass stains on their knees. Mud on their hands. And stories they can't wait to tell." 

This image took me back to my childhood. Mama put us out to play and we could come in for meals, the bathroom, and injuries. She did not referee sibling disagreements. She made us figure them out. If you ever said you were bored, Mama could fill our boredom with work. 

We played in the corn crib, climbed the walls of the old red barn, played with the Corbin grandchildren when they visited Case and Gladys, and filled our days with as many friends and cousins as we could. 

I have a theory about language and creeks. It seems to me any little stream was a creek, but when it was on  your property, it was a "crick." I do not know for sure. It might just be the more country term. I do know that we spent our days in the creek, chasing kittens, and creating pottery from the claylike mud. 

At the end of our long lane was a little house my Uncle Bobby made in shop class in high school when I was little. We used it for bus shelter during the school year. April and I loved that little getaway that was all our own. It sat near the mulberry tree that grew in the big ditch. We would race to beat the birds to the mulberries when they were ripe. We would sweep the dirt out, wash the one window, and play the days away. The "crick" provided plenty of wildlife, wild asparagus, and wildflowers to observe. 

"Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." -Genesis 1:11-12

It was very good!

Today, I am grateful for grand adventures in ordinary days. 

Lyrics

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 246: Today, I am grateful for the song lyrics that provide companionship through ordinary days. 

I am not sure we grasp the depth of companionship music provides. Each one of us has a soundtrack of our lives. From childhood through today's top ten hits, music is a constant companion and at times... a friend. 

What is the first movie soundtrack you remember? I remember the season of CB radio popularity that arrived with "truckers songs" that seemed abundant after "Smokey and the Bandit" became a hit movie. Musical scores from Disney had us all singing along. In time, some of the lines and phrasing is woven into our daily speech. 

There are times song lyrics come to mind before other thoughts get organized. It is why the kind of music and lyrics we choose matters. Lyrics can provide the right words at the right time. Christmas hymns reach back hundreds of years, keeping the past connected to the future. "Let Heaven and nature sing!"

"Country Roads... take me home" by John Denver has become a classic for people feeling a little homesick. Have you ever looked at your muddy paws pup and thought "You ain't nothing but a hound dog?" 

Lyrics are powerful. 

"Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart" ~ Ephesians 5:19

Today, I am grateful for the song lyrics that provide companionship through ordinary days. 

The Noticing Walk

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 245: Today, I am grateful for the "noticing walk."

"Go outside and take a ten-minute walk with one mission: notice three things you've never really looked at before. A window shape. A crack in the sidewalk. A bird call. When you return, say aloud, 'The world is wider than I remembered.'"

It is a simple challenge. Anyone can do it. There is a unique gift in opening our eyes to see what around us that goes unnoticed every day. We get so busy with the big picture, that we often neglect the delight in the details. 

The perfect flower bloom, a squirrel on a mission, a determined toddler investigating the world, or a certain shade of blue that makes your soul sing.  

Our God is in the details. He is a noticing God. This scripture has long been a favorite of mine: 

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing." -Isaiah 40:26

Today, I am grateful for the "noticing walk."

Thought Checks

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 244: Today, I am grateful for thought checks. 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." -Psalm 19:14

This passage is not just about watching our words, but remembering that our words flow from what is in our hearts. Reframing what we see so that our hearts are in tune with the heartbeat of Jesus. Talk about goal setting! 

King David spoke (or sang) it as a prayer. He knew victories and he knew struggles. He kept trying. 

Whatever the day brings, we can be prayerful about our thought checks as well as our mouth checks. 

Today, I am grateful for thought checks. 

Pumpkin Season

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 243: Today, I am grateful Pumpkin Season is upon us. 

We live in the Pumpkin Capital of the world and the harvest is in full swing. I love pumpkins! As August turns the page into November, we are only a few weeks from the Morton Pumpkin Festival which provides many pumpkin specialties. 

The hot days are not gone, but they are limited. The crisp temperatures and unique scents of fall begin to fill the air. All with the soundtrack of marching band practice and Friday night football. 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Today, I am grateful Pumpkin Season is upon us. 

Success

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 242: Today, I am grateful for a different perspective on success.

The world has a different measuring stick for success than God does. I loved this image that was posted on Pinterest. The wildflowers caught my eye before the quote. The quote is the perfect compliment to the wildflower bouquet. 

"Maybe success isn't having more. Maybe it's having peace, a porch to sit on, people to love, and God at the center of it all."

What more could we possibly want or need? 

There is a special contentment in this combination. Relationships can be complicated and messy, but they are precious, too. 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3

Today, I am grateful for a different perspective on success.

Gentle Reminders

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 241: Today, I am grateful for gentle reminders.

Tim Keller defines an idol as "anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you only what God can give." 

We all have that hole in our souls that only a relationship with God can fill. Without His Spirit in us, we get caught up in the desire for more money, more pleasure, more success, and more power. When we kneel in surrender and open our hearts to receive His grace and mercy... everything changes. 

“You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods." -Exodus 20:3-4

His commandment is clear. Everything changes when we seek Him first. My easily distracted condition needs reminders. 

Today, I am grateful for gentle reminders. 

 

Giggle In Your Wiggle

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 240: Today, I am grateful for the giggle in your wiggle. 

It is Friday! It comes every week, but it is always a reason to pause and give thanks. The weekend is here when the work day ends. 

"May your day begin with a giggle in your wiggle, and end with pep in your step." 

I love a good rhyme and this image hit all the right notes. 

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24

Now make a great choice to start the day. Put some giggle in your wiggle and take on the day. 

Today, I am grateful for the giggle in your wiggle. 

Quiet Healing

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 239: Today, I am grateful for the healing in quietness.

"There are seasons when we must learn that quiet is not emptiness. Sometimes... it is repair." -image from Pinterest

The beautiful art caught my eye before I read the quote. This is one of those simple thoughts that packs a big impact. We forget the healing power that comes in the quiet times.

“A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.” – Ecclesiastes 3:7 

Often when I read that scripture I think about quiet being the opposite of speaking up and speaking out, when it is the right thing to do. In this passage, I think it is so much more. 

Quietness has great value. It is not doing nothing. It is choosing to be still in the storm. It is choosing our response beyond our natural impulses. It is seeking His face in all things and embracing the powerful healing that comes in the quiet seasons. 

Today, I am grateful for the healing in quietness.

Cut Flowers

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 238: Today, I am grateful for cut flowers.

"Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass." -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Never underestimate the power of something beautiful. I love cut flowers in a vase. It does not have to be a huge arrangement, but those are beautiful, too. Sometimes I purchase the marked down bouquets at Kroger and rescue the blooms from the bunch that last a little longer. Fresh flowers smell wonderful and are beautiful wherever they land. 

There are times I hesitate cutting from the zinnia patch because I want to harvest the seeds for next year's garden. When I cut blooms, they are enjoyed for days.  

Simple glass containers... even jelly jars... make the perfect container to hold flowers. Fancy vases are lovely, but not necessary. 

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these!” – Matthew 6:28-29

Keeping beautiful things in sight adds joy to our days. 

Today, I am grateful for cut flowers.

Mixed Adjectives

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 237: Today, I am grateful we are mixed adjectives. 

"We are tender and fierce. We are soft and strong. We are fragile and courageous. Sometimes all in one day." 

Isn't it glorious that we are not defined and confined to on category or a short list of adjectives? The human experience is broad. Life is a great adventure, at times in the period of 24 hours. 

One of my favorite scriptures has always been God's reply to Moses from the burning bush when he is being sent to the Jewish people to explain  God's plan to lead them out of Egypt, after many years of slavery and abuse. 

"Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations." -Exodus 3:13-15

Reading the passage this morning, I realized Moses was just as anxious about speaking to his own people as he was about confronting Pharaoh. He was a mix of adjectives, but God promised "I will be with you." 

"'I AM' is a statement of pure being—a dynamic verb that encompasses all things. In both our struggles and our successes, we aren't confined to a single state of mind. Because He is 'I AM,' our potential is limitless. We can be tender yet fierce, soft yet strong, fragile yet courageous. We can face the Pharaohs and the family dynamics in our lives, knowing we are never limited by our own imaginations or skill sets."

Today, I am grateful we can embrace our mixed adjectives. 

A Grateful Soul

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 236: Today, I am grateful that a "grateful soul makes you whole." 

In this 14th year of gratitude, I do not think I have seen this little quote:

"A grateful soul will make you whole." Gratitude is such a powerful way to approach and problem or any day. It is not "rose colored glasses." It is a reality check. Gratitude is a  heavy hitter in the hard days and tough times. 

Feeling "whole" is a direct reflection of our relationship with the One who created it. When we offer prayers of gratitude, it does not change God. It changes us. That was my lesson in the first year of Daily Gratitude, and it continues to be my favorite. He delights in our expressions of gratitude, but he does not need it... we do! 

Are days are illuminated when we see them through the eyes of gratitude. We see more God... we see people better, too. Our hearts are more tender when we are looking for the hurts and struggles in people. Our compassion grows with our gratitude.  

Revelation (the last book of the Bible) declares that the persecution of the church will continue to grow. Are we ready? Recently, I find myself praying that the church will continue protections that allow it to be a vessel that helps it feed the hungry, clothe the needy, and shelter... especially for the sick, widows, and orphans. 

Our congregation just completed 1500 school kits that provide the most simple, but necessary school supplies. A mission team last winter was able to see them in use on a trip to Africa. It is a powerful reminder that the little things can go far.

We have church related and sponsored food banks in town that help feed people here at home and abroad. People of faith help stock the shelves and help pack the food that is sent out. People coming together in those moments are always joyful. Helping hands yield happy hearts.

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him." -Mark 12:30-32

I have to note, we have a little bar downtown that has a little food pantry out in the open by the door. Anyone in need at the moment can take from the shelves. That small business is loving its neighbors, too. Small towns have big hearts. 

When seasons come with challenges, the grateful soul response changes us from the inside out. 

Today, I am grateful that a "grateful soul makes you whole." 

Support & Consolation

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 235: Today, I am grateful for His support and consolation. 

No one likes the feeling of losing their footing. It is why we are fascinated with the animals that seem to navigate steep and rocky terrain almost flawlessly where humans would struggle. It is mesmerizing to watch them run, leap, and jump where we would fear a fall. 

Animals were designed to live in and adapt to their environment over time. It is a wonder and wonderful at the same time. 

Humans are different. We were designed for relationship and companionship with God. We need Him and each other. We can attempt to go it alone, but it is a road that leads to confusion and feeling lost. We need His support and consolation. 

This passage offers encouragement and perspective:

"When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." Psalm 94:18-19

I loved reading it in several translations. I am not sure which is my favorite. If we were always as surefooted as the elk or deer, would we forget that we need Him? When we slip or fall, we look for comfort from His hand. 

Natalie Grant's song, "Held,"  talks about the pain of loss and the companionship of grief. The hurt cuts deep and the emptiness is real. It is in those moments we know what it means to be held. Our God does not abandon His children. In His embrace, we can finally rest and breathe. 

Today, I am grateful for His support and consolation. 

The Same Waters

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 234: Today, I am grateful the same waters change when HE steps into the story. 

"He sent them back into the same waters that failed them,  just to show that nothing is truly empty when He steps into the story. " 

It is true. They fished all night but caught nothing. They were ready to call the night a failure, as they brought in the nets.

Some days, months, and seasons produce nothing more than discouragement. It can be hard to get out of bed and face the day when it seems the day holds little promise. We forget that He is the true agent of change. He is the one who brings goodness from the same waters that had only seem to produce disappointment. 

"Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” -Luke 6:5-6

Pastor Doane spoke from this passage years ago. It is still a favorite of mine. "Because you say so, I will" is an act of obedience, even when discouragement runs deep. When the nets come in the next time, they are bursting with fish. Obedience in this instance, came before trust. The result was a profound outcome. 

How many times do we miss His best for us, because we fight for control? For me, it might be a daily battle. We tend to live our days in "the same waters." We forget how powerful and life-changing His presence is in our ordinary moments in the regular days. 

He is always present. He is always good.  

Today, I am grateful the same waters change when HE steps into the story. 

Hope Goes Another Round

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 233: Today, I am grateful to go another round. 

"People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider webs. It's not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go."

The quote struck like a spring of freshwater in the desert. "Earworm" (the one singing the song stuck in your head) has been singing Emerson Day's song, "Get Behind Me" since yesterday. My favorite line is "In case you forgot, let me tell you the truth, you're stuck under my blood-bought boots." 

My verse of the day is: "By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life."-Psalm 42:8

Combine the two and I see hope wearing "blood-bought stiletto heeled boots" because if the enemy is getting stomped, why not? Since, I am confident I could not even walk... let alone stomp... in stiletto heeled boots, it makes the image more powerful for me. 

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." -Hebrews 11:1

Take on the day with confidence. Finger-comb your hair, get up, and go another round. You've got the boots for it! 

Today, I am grateful to go another round. 

Pray for Clarity

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 232: Today, I am grateful we can pray for clarity. 

Sometimes we misunderstand the question or the expectation. It happens to us all at one time or another. This image captures the potential embarrassment in those situations with humor. 

"At the interview, Steve is asked if he can perform under pressure. Steve is not 100% sure he knows all the lyrics... but he's about to try his best." 

Misunderstandings are a part of life. There are times we get our words wrong or we act unintentionally hurtful because of lack of clarity. Lack of clarity can lead to wasted energy and unproductive labor. Asking for clarity is an important life-skill that shows thoughtfulness and the desire to do something well. 

Clarification questions are game changers. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for clarity before going to the cross. His path did not change, but he was clear on the mission. 

This is a favorite scripture for many. It is a reminder to wholly trust God, even when things get rough. Submission changes our hearts and allows His work to unfold.     

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6

Today, I am grateful we can pray for clarity. 

The New Day's Promise

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 231: Today, I am grateful for the new day's promise.

"I hope you have the best day today. All the lights are green, random things make you smile, and everything goes your way." 

It sounds like the recipe for an excellent day. For the most part, it is. A new day is a chance to start over. Put down yesterday's weariness and struggles and start fresh. 

In that "best day" scenario, remember that a red light might mean that you notice the amazing flowers in a nearby pot, animals at play, and an encouraging message on a bumper sticker. Red lights are not all bad. 

Delight in the random things that we too often are too busy to see. The power of intentionality is real. Use the pause. 

I do need the reminder that "everything going my way" can mean leaving out the things God has planned. It is good to leave room for the unexpected movement of God's hand in our days. Embrace and dance in the "perfect days," but leave room for God to move. It can be frustrating at the moment, but His ways are better than our way. 

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24

Today, I am grateful for the new day's promise.

Humility's Measuring Stick

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 230: Today, I am grateful for humility as a measuring stick. 

"A discontented heart breeds critical words, but humility asks God for perspective."

The words that tumble out of our mouths are revealing at times. Criticism can crush the human spirit when it is delivered without love and a true sense of helping someone grow. All of us have things we can do better. To be covered in love and encouragement through the struggles can powerfully change outcomes at home, at work, and at play. 

It is so easy to let words fly. It is difficult to undo hurts that touch the soul. 

"But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person." -Matthew 15:18

Humility is a measuring stick. When the thoughts that want to puke out of our mouths come, do we pause in humility to seek God's mind, heart, and perspective? The lashes of a critical tongue cut deeply and heal slowly. Humility does not always need words. In fact, it most often shows up to work quietly side-by-side with the one who is struggling. 

Perhaps, the greatest act of humility ever observed was God taking on human skin, evidence of His opinion that we are worth saving. 

Today, I am grateful for humility as a measuring stick. 

Hand Off the Paintbrush

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 229: Today, I am grateful to hand off the paintbrush.

Mondays are a fresh canvas. It is a new week. Hopefully, the weekend provided some rest. 

I love this reminder to hand God the paintbrush, instead of struggling on my own. "Return to me" is His simple and clear statement, request, and command. 

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling," Isaiah 30:15

How many times am I unwilling to hand Him the paintbrush? I know He does a better job, yet I resist. The battle is a human one. I am grateful for the grace and mercy He pours generously as we figure it out. 

In quietness and trust, there is strength. 

Today, I am grateful to hand off the paintbrush.

 

Can't Bite Water

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 228: Today, I am grateful for the reminder that you can't bite water. 

This image caught my eye today:

"No matter how sharp your teeth are, you can't bite water."

It means that every problem comes with its own solution. There is often not a one size fits all solution. There is great wisdom in taking time to understand the situation before taking action. Knee-jerk reactions are often not the best solution and can make the problem worse. 

You can't bite water. Not in its natural state. If it is frozen, it is transformed to ice. Ice is made from water, but is different once frozen. Biting at water is wasted energy. 

We have spent the past month in the book of Acts. One of the things I have loved has been reading Paul's (formerly Saul) transformed nature. He learned patience and even tact. I always think of Paul as the one who had the passion, but was on the wrong team. Jesus saw something very special in a man who had persecuted him like few others. He saw his passion and commitment. He needed to grow his patience and his heart for the lost. He was so educated and arrogant, but changed from the inside out. 

His testimony was often being patient in prison, in chains, in storms, and even in a shipwreck. His knowledge of scripture was a gift that allowed him to help shape the early church with deep roots in the Old Testament while claiming Jesus as Lord. He certainly had learned that you can't bite water. 

“To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” – Proverbs 18:13

Today, I am grateful for the reminder that you can't bite water. 

Good Examples

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 227: Today, I am grateful for good examples. 

"The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." -Paulo Coelho

We can all benefit from good examples. They can come from unexpected places. Children and strangers can inspire us to do better and be better. We have mentors and coaches who guide us, too. Some good examples are found in books or in neighbors. Family members often provide us with some of our best examples for who to live.

How often are we intentional about being a good example? There are times doing the right thing or the best thing comes naturally. Other times, we have to fight back pride and the desire for control. Human nature can be beastly.

This has long been a favorite scripture passage:

"Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." -1 Peter 2:12

Live well. Act in love. Be patient, sincere, and generous. Scatter jot. Seek to leave people and places better than you found them.

Be an example, not an opinion. 

Today, I am grateful for good examples. 

Dumbfungled

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 226: Today, I am grateful for the right word... dumfungled.

Dumfungled is a rare, dialectal term, primarily rooted in 19th-century American and Scottish colloquialisms. There are times we want a different word than the one that comes to mind. Dumfungled is exhausted with a side of chaos on top. I think it is a great word for a Friday. 

Never underestimate the need for rest and restoration. 

"And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." -Genesis 2:2-3

God does not need the rest. He does not grow weary. But, we do. We have limited supplies of physical strength and mental energy. Embrace the need and plan for it. Some weeks seem longer than others. When you are feeling a little dumfungled, schedule time to rest. 

Today, I am grateful for the right word... dumfungled.

 

A Refillable Cup

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 225: Today, I am grateful for the gift of a refillable cup! 

After seeing sea turtles in the wild and too many videos of those harmed by carelessly discarded plastics in the ocean, I have made a few intentional choices. I try to reduce my personal plastic use with some intention. Glass cups are my favorite, but the metal ones are practical for travel. This makes my refillable cups priceless.

The "half full or half empty" test has been a measure of optimism in our language for as long as I can remember. 

 

"People who wonder whether the class is half empty or half full are missing the point. The glass is refillable."

I searched for the origins and found it at "Phase Finder." 

"The glass came before the optimism. The earliest known form of the idea is a piece of wordplay rather than a comment on character. In December 1908 a Minnesota newspaper printed a paradox credited to David Dodge of The New York World, in which a fictional Professor Nix observes: “You see this glass of mine is half full; yours is half empty, but both contain the same amount of water.” No optimists or pessimists in sight; just the observation that the two descriptions are interchangeable." -Phrase Finder

The same amount, but one person is more content, looking at the glass with optimism. I have honestly never thought about the big picture point... the glass is refillable! We talk about self-care and recharging... but "refilling the cup" is another way to look at the same scenario. 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." -Romans 15:13

We have a God who longs to fill our cups and bring us peace, hope, and joy. We all have a cup. What we fill and refill it with matters. 

Today, I am grateful for the gift of a refillable cup! 

Beginner's Grace

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 224: Today, I am grateful for the grace in being a beginner.  

"The expert in anything was once a beginner." 

How easily we forget that expertise takes time. Some things cannot be hurried. Others expertise requires working through failure. We often forget to give ourselves (and others) grace as they are learning. 

How many fur babies did it take for us to learn that kennel training is not unloving or unkind? How many second babies are "better sleepers" because parents are more experienced and do not jump at every sound. How many failed baking projects does it take to be able to whip up something amazing with ease? Excellence is a journey. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

Embrace the new experiences that keep us learning, growing, and problem-solving. 

Do not forget to savor the ones that are extraordinary like holding your baby for the first time knowing that you have no experience, no idea what you are doing, but you are still their favorite person. (Happy Birthday, Chase! B-day post on another day.)We find ourselves praying that God will protect them in spite of our inexperience. It is the perfect example of beginner's grace. Babies know the voice, the scent, and the heartbeat of their parents. 

If it is your first day of a new job, a new school year, or as a beginner navigating life after a loss... grant yourself grace, too. 

Today, I am grateful for the grace in being a beginner.  

Clear Thoughts

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 223: Today, I am grateful for clear thoughts. 

Some days our thoughts are clearer than others. This quote is great!

"I don't want to be in the loop or out of the loop. I want to be aware of the loop & it's contents, but free from any loop related responsibilities." -Unknown

Know what you want; know what you do not want. Make your intentions clear. Then, take on the day. 

The idioms dictionary says this about "in the loop:"

The phrase in the loop means that a certain group of people deal with important decisions or have specific knowledge of something. If you are in the loop, then you are one of this group and are party to the particular knowledge that the other group members have. A loop being something that goes around in a full circle.

It comes from military terminology, with officers in command needing to pass on orders to the soldiers. Keeping lines of communication open and regularly updated in a feedback loop, so all personnel are informed.

With knowledge comes responsibility. There are times it is okay to sit back and let things work out. A clear head will take you far. 

Today, I am grateful for clear thoughts. 

Laughter Diffuses

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 222: Today, I am grateful that laughter diffuses.

Electric bills are not funny. There are times that laughter helps us cope. Many are experiencing high electric bills after weeks of high temperatures, with only small breaks. 

Utility bills are one of those things that can quickly impact budgets. Humor does not make it go away, but it reminds us that many are in the same boat. 

"My electricity bill just came today and I believe I got charged for the Sunlight, Moonlight, Streetlight, the "Light of the Holy Spirit," and the "Light at the End of the Tunnel."

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

Creative coping through humor. 

Today, I am grateful that laughter diffuses.

Offers of Safety

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 221: Today, I am grateful for offers of safety. 

What a world we live in! It is a world in desperate need of random acts of kindness and unexpected gentleness. 

"Every creature is trying to survive a world growing louder, hotter, and less gentle. Be the reason one small life feels safe today." 

What if each one of us was intentional about pouring more gentleness and less of the "spirit of corrective-ness" into our days? By the way, that is not a "fruit of the Spirit." To be patient, gentle, and kind is much more Christlike, but it is not always an instant reaction. Unkind works cannot be regathered when we regret them. Too often, they echo, too. 

Offer encouragement and a place to rest for weary souls. It is part of fellowship and it is a part of ministry. 

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." -Luke 12:6-7 

And... do not forget the creatures of the earth. These hot, hot days are hard on them, too. 

Today, I am grateful for offers of safety.