A Good Recipe

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 128: Today, I am grateful for a good recipe. 

Who doesn't love a good recipe? Especially if it is simple and straightforward. The ones we can't mess up and can make from memory are often our favorites. Once the familiar recipe is committed to memory, it goes together instinctively. 

My verse today was this:

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." -Colossians 4:5-6

Colossians is a book full of instruction. It helps us see God more, live better, and love more.  

The recipe is excellent, tried, and true.

• Live wisely among non-believers, making the most of every opportunity.
• Let your conversations be full of grace, seasoned with salt.
• Be prepared to answer questions about your faith with clarity.
• Show kindness and respect in all interactions.
• Use your words to uplift and encourage others.
• Reflect Christ’s love in your daily conduct and speech.

Do these things as a testimony to the One who changed everything. His love, grace, and mercy are like the salt that is necessary for life and for making life "taste good." Not one part of the "recipe" is fancy. The very best recipes have all that we need on hand. 

Walk well. Live well. Laugh well. Act well. Speak well. Be Kind & Respectful. Love fiercely. 

Today, I am grateful for a good recipe. 

Guaranteed Giggles

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 127: Today, I am grateful for guaranteed giggles.

May is always one of the craziest months of the year. There is always a full calendar and a long list of things to accomplish. I have a friend who calls it "May"hem. I think it is a good description. 

In the crazy days ahead, do not forget to laugh. This image is one I think about often because it always makes me laugh. 

"My ducks are absolutely not in a row. I don't even know where some of them are... and I'm pretty sure one of them is a pigeon." 

It is the pigeon that cracks me up every time. Maybe it is because the "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" book comes to mind. Some seasons are not even controlled chaos, but we press on and get through them, one step at a time. Laughter helps. 

This scripture sums up May:

"There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."-Ecclesiastes 3:4 

There is a time for all of these things in May from Mother's Day through graduations, anniversaries, weddings, and Memorial Day. No wonder it goes so fast. 

Sometimes, a guaranteed laugh is the best way to start the day. 

Today, I am grateful for guaranteed giggles.

The Little Something Extras

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 126: Today, I am grateful for the little something extras.

"So many people need a hug, a forehead kiss, and a grilled cheese cut diagonal." 

This was on Pinterest. It made me smile. Oh the simple things that communicate warmth and caring. The first two are common acts of caring, but the last one was perfection. A grilled cheese cut diagonal is the extra step that makes it easier to eat. When the kids were little, flipping it to make it look like a butterfly was an easy way to serve it. 

What are the little something extras that cost nothing or next to nothing but show great love, compassion or kindness? 

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Cor 16:14

Today, I am grateful for the little something extras.

Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving.

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 125: Today, I am grateful for guidance "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving."

On my top ten list of books is "The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino. It is a short read and described as a parable by some. At the heart of it are the Ten Scrolls to Success. I would call few books outside of the Bible "life-changing" but that book is an exception. 

If you have not read it, grab it. I recommend taking a little time with it. Brew each chapter until it all makes sense. I need to re-read it, as it has been awhile. 

The last scroll aligns with this scripture passage well. It says "I will pray for guidance." 

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

To be prayerful and thankful in all things with supplication is the instruction. Supplication should not be deemed outdated and archaic. It is a practice that changes everything. Supplication is literally more begging than asking and it is paired with humility. Og Mandino sums it  up with "I will pray for guidance."

Thanksgiving is the bow on the offered prayer. A humble prayer offered with humility and thanksgiving stands out from the prayers that sound more like a letter to Santa than a request from the God of the Universe. Our souls long for the intimacy with our Lord that is unlocked when we kneel before him with humble prayers seeking His help and guidance with gratitude. 

Now, I am off to "Greet this day with love in my heart." (Scroll two is one of my favorites.) 

Today, I am grateful for guidance "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving."

Relationship Expectations

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 124: Today, I am grateful for relationship expectations. 

Part of choosing a spouse (or  a close friend) is knowing the relationship expectations. In dating, we learn if the relationship works. We all have our quirks, non-negotiables,  and priorities. In finding that person who is a good balance to our own quicks, but shares our same common priorities, we can work every day to honor and protect the relationship. They are the kind of relationships that last a lifetime. 

This scripture is a timeless reminder of who God is and his promise to those who seek His face. 

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14

The relationship has expectations. When we love someone deeply and truly, we work to change ways that are offensive and irritating to them. In a relationship with God, we must not forget who He is. He is still holy. 

Sin... especially the sin of arrogance, is like a peanut allergy. Dangerous and deadly. Areas must be scrubbed clean. His holiness cannot tolerate sin. It destroys our ability to be close to Him. 

To be in a constant relationship with someone who suffers a peanut allergy means we must change our grocery list and our diet. We have to change our cravings, too. As parents, we do it for our child out of fierce love and the need to protect. In relationships, we must decide what we can sacrifice to keep the person we love safe. It requires intentional decisions and changed behaviors. 

God sent his Son that we might be cleansed and healed, so that we can enter into His house and presence. We make changes out of love, not fear. He brings healing to our lives and wants to bring healing to our land. 

Today, I am grateful for relationship expectations. 

To Be

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 123: Today, I am grateful for reminders "to be."  

This was my verse of the day. 

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." -Romans 12:12

It landed on my soul like manna in the desert. That 40 years held a lot about learning to be content in your circumstances. The desert years were about learning trust, obedience, and patience. I, like the Israelites, often flunk the patience test. Never fear. There is always a "retake" test so that we can grow. 

In the morning worship we are currently studying Acts. That is a book I need to spend more time reading. It scared me as a kid. All I saw were the beatings and the hate for those who claimed victory through Jesus. I feared, as a child, that I could not withstand something so hard. 

As an adult, I see the miracles and the power of the Holy Spirit moving in every chapter. I see the community that insured those who were in prison, hungry, orphaned, or widowed were never alone. There was always enough. Perhaps not ample and plentiful, but there was enough. When the huge, heavy temple curtain ripped from the top down... think about that... everything changed. God's Spirit set free! 

 "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split." -Matthew 27:50-51a

We get "to be" in the presence of the Almighty God. Not just knowing he is omnipotent and omnipresent, but experiencing the daily ordinary walk with Him, or simply being in His presence. Remember when Moses asked God his name, so that he would be able to tell the Pharaoh (his Grandpa by adoption) who sent him? God replied, "Tell them "I AM" sent you. I AM is part of the "be" verbs. They are the first conjunctions we learn in any new language we are seeking to learn. 

The great "I AM" is living, moving, and present. Not past tense, but fully present. We get to celebrate in hope. We learn patience waiting on His direction. We can talk to Him constantly and he inhabits it. He left His Holy Spirit, so we would never BE alone. 

Hard times, bad days, and troubles are real. We are not exempt, but He never leaves or forsakes His children. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders "to be." 

To Be Heard

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 122: Today, I am grateful to be heard. 

Knowing we are heard is sometimes enough. We may not be able to change our situation, but we want to be heard and understood. We know that "according to His will" is not always in alignment with our desires. It is why Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done." 

For me, there is a comfort in knowing the prayers of His children are heard. What we think we want may not be what is best for us now. He sees the whole puzzle put together while we live out our little chapters and ordinary days. 

I love to get down on the level of small children and watch their little minds work as they figure out the world. They do not miss a beat and they use the vocabulary they have. "A headache in my stomach" is one that comes to mind. Sometimes, understanding is limited by our language or our perspective.  

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." -1 John 5:14-15

To be heard, to be held, and to be loved. It is all a part of being "known."  

Today, I am grateful to be heard. 

Making the Best

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 121: Today, I am grateful we can "make the best" of everything. 

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything." -unknown

This is the power of reframing. It is not rose-colored glasses. It is more than optimism. It is evaluating, re-evaluation, and recognizing there is a "worse than" scenario for most tough times, trials, and struggles. It matters who you take along on the ride. 

If you plant ten seeds and only three flowers grow, you still have fresh flowers to enjoy. Not every investment has the intended and expected return. 

Corrie Ten Boom, Victor Frankl, and even excerpts from Anne Frank's diary remind us of the power of what we tell ourselves about a situation. In the early part of my life, the concentration camp survivors often hid the tattoos on their arms. For some, it was a shame they should have never carried. For others there was still fear. For some, it was the past they could not change but they hated the daily reminder on their wrist. Honestly, some things are too horrific to tell the story again and again. They made their best of the days they had left.  They are the stories that show the power of making the best of what you have. 

Faith, hope, and love are the game changer. Greet the day with those three ingredients and the day will go better. 

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 

Today, I am grateful we can "make the best" of everything.

The Unique

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 120 Today, I am grateful for the unique. 

Isn't it incredible that each one of us is unique? Even identical twins have differences. We are originals... each one of us. It is something to celebrate. 

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” -Psalm 139:14-15

Fearfully and wonderfully made! Fearfully suggests a sense of awe and reverence for the work of God that happens in the womb. Wonderfully is a word we hear often that celebrates every nuance. The Lord delights in our uniqueness. 

None of us is perfect. There is something beautiful in learning to celebrate imperfection as part of our uniqueness. 

The Love-of-my-Life has a new show he is watching. We both enjoy it and it is okay if I fall asleep because it has not storyline. It is called "The Repair Shop" and master artisans repair broken things that have been worn out by use, life, or mishaps. Often the item needing repaired has been handed down from parents or grandparents. One of the questions they are clear about it if the owner wants the item restored to its full and former glory, or if they want to leave signs that it has been loved a long time. Most often, they choose to leave a little reminder of the past. They rarely choose perfect. Perfection would replace the uniqueness of the item. 

Embrace your uniqueness today. Sing, dance, draw, and dazzle a world that needs your special superpower... what ever it is. My little brother says my Mama's hugs were her superpower. I'd like to think it is one of the things she passed on to me. 

Unpack and celebrate your unique gifts and talents today. Honestly, the world needs you. 

Today, I am grateful for the unique. 

Each Good Day

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 119: Today, I am grateful each good day. 

"They were content with each good day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song." -JRR Tolkien

Yesterday, I was traveling alone and listened to a podcast reflecting on a visit to the "Anne Frank House" that was really atop the factory that Otto Frank owned before the war. What struck them was the "ordinary" in Anne's diary that made it all extraordinary. The power in her story is that she was a teenage girl who saw the world through teenage eyes. 

Man's inhumanity toward other men is woven into the pages of history at every turn. In those times... when humanity is behaving at its worst... people pause to take in the extraordinary in the ordinary moments. 

The Frank family and those hidden with them had to stay as silent. Even the normal life actives like a "potty break" could expose them, so they waited until they thought is was "safe." Can we even imagine it? They did not feel the sun on their skin for two years. 

A meal with loved ones or friends, sunshine, laughing, and taking a walk in the fresh air... these are simple things that are a part of a collection of simple things that are precious in every day. 

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17

Savor the good and perfect moments, even in the hard days. God's goodness is found most often in the simple things that matter most. 

Today, I am grateful each good day. 

Change the Ending

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 118: Today, I am grateful we can change the ending. 

Mistakes and failure are not final; each day comes with new opportunities to choose differently and to choose well. There are times we make unintended mistakes. I am grateful it does not end there. Every morning dawns a new day. Even a rough morning can improve by noon if we choose differently. 

Choice is the gift that God gave to man. It is our superpower and our curse at times. One of my favorite scriptures comes out of a Bible study long ago:

"He said, “Who told you that you were naked? -Genesis 3:11a

How long was the pause before God's second question? 

Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” -Genesis 3:11b

Adam and Eve could not press an undo button. Their disobedience had consequences. Still, God did not abandon them. They lost the garden, but they would live to have more good days... even great days. He would labor on the land. She would suffer pain in childbirth and then hold the wonder of a newborn in her arms. I think only God could come up with punishment that was also our reward. 

To work the land and see it bear a harvest that feeds your family creates a sense of wealth and success that only comes when you do the work with your own hands. Gardening is something many enjoy. Others appreciate knowing how their food is grown, so they garden. 

To be gifted with children to love and care for is a miracle every time. We fail as parents on many days, but children are forgiving. "I'm sorry." goes a long way on both sides of the relationship, just as it does in marriage. 

Real life does not have the undo button we have become accustomed to on our computers. It requires confession, humility, and making the effort to try and again. By God's grace and mercy, we can change the ending. 

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." -CS Lewis 

Today, I am grateful we can change the ending. 

Search & Rescue

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 117: Today, I am grateful for search and rescue. 

It has been a stormy spring. I am reminded that in every kind of weather, our first responders and military show up. Search and rescue teams put themselves at risk to save others. They arrive with a sense of calm and purpose. They don't ask, "How did you get yourself into this mess?" They comfort and guide the rescue. 

Honestly, a bad decision is sometimes obvious. Other times, misfortune steps into an ordinary day. It is not about the "how," it is about the "now" when help arrives. 

Some of the people Jesus encountered had lived difficult lives. Circumstance, illness, loss, and fear brought them to the place where they were ready to reach out for help and rescue. It is often in crisis or pain when God finally gets our attention. When things are going well, humans do not always recognize the need for a Savior. Pride goes before a fall. In the trials, we find ourselves seeking help. 

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” -Luke 19:10

He came to rescue us, but we can refuse to acknowledge Him. 

Today, I am grateful for search and rescue. 

The Time Given To Us...

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 115: Today, I am grateful for the time given to us.

JRR Tolkien was no stranger to loss. Neither was his close friend. CS Lewis. Their relationship was more of an "iron sharpens iron" when discussions turned to God. 

Both loved storytelling and digging deep into the wonder of knowing God and coming into a relationship with him. Tolkien came to faith early in life. Lewis wrestled with the decision. Tolkien walked with him as a friend. Tolkien was a devout Catholic; Lewis returned to the Anglican (Episcopalian) church he left as a teen. They were lifelong friends with many shared experiences. They were quite a pair. They had a passion to know God better and deeper. 

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -JRR Tolkien, from Gandalf to Frodo, "Fellowship of the Ring"

None of us knows the number of our days. We must choose carefully how to spend each one of them. It was a reality the friends had experienced way too early in life. It helped them ask some of the big questions about what really matters in life. They worshiped under different roofs, but they were brothers in Christ. Oh to have been a fly on the wall when they were pondering the aspects of the Holy Trinity. 

CS Lewis dedicated "The Screwtape Letters" to Tolkien. It is a reminder that the enemy is alive and well, calculating our demise. I am confident Tolkien laughed aloud at times, and perhaps he saw glimpses of conversations shared in the writings. Iron sharpens iron. 

Tolkein was at the graveside when Lewis was buried. How his heart must have ached at the loss of his dear friend. He knew that the separation was temporary. He knew he would have to decide what to do with the remaining time on his clock. He was grateful for the times shared and the deeper walk with the Lord each knew because of the other. 

They did friendship well. 

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." -Romans 12:15

Today, I am grateful for the time given to us.

Mixed Blessings

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 115: Today, I am grateful for the mixed blessings. 

Spring is a season that is full of many kinds of weather. The days can change quickly, and at times it takes us by surprise. This quote from Frances Hodgson Burnett's "Secret Garden" capture is well. 

"Is the spring coming? ... What is it like?" 

"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine..." 

 The passage is a wonderful capture of the wonder and the beauty of it all. Is the sun shining on the rain or is the rain falling on the sunshine? I think the simple answer is "yes" to both. 

Soon the baby birds will hatch and learn to fly. The lilacs and peonies are coming soon. The bunnies are everywhere. I do love spring. Without the rain there would be no flowers. The sunshine warms the soil so the seeds come to life and take root. Both are necessary. 

"He makes all things beautiful in His time."

Today, I am grateful for the mixed blessings. 

Simple Memories

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 114: Today, I am grateful for simple memories that make me smile. 

This is the kind of phone I grew up with. I remember getting a push button phone but these old, solid rotary phones were still around the house. They didn't fail. They worked long after the push button versions didn't. 

This is the phone that could ring on a party line so you knew if you should answer or let it ring on for the neighbors on your party line (the Corbin's and the Krueger's). 

This is the phone that might confuse youth today. It seems so obvious to those who know how it works. I wonder if these still work with today's technology? 

After yesterday's post, my first thought was how slow this technology would seem with today's modern devices. Of course, at that time we only used area codes for long distance calls. 4-2504 was Grandpa and Grandma. 4-2002 what Uncle Larry and Aunt Judy. 4-2607 was Aunt Mary and Uncle Mel. That was all we needed. So, it really didn't take long. 

Phone technology has changed so much over the past 30 years. Now, we carry it with us. I am not always sure that is a good thing. We are living out what only Star Trek dreamed of in the 1960's. 

What is easy is not always good. Technology, like many things, has its good and its bad features. We are the ones who choose if we use them or they use us.  

"“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." -Matthew 7:13

What are the simple memories that make you smile today? Where can you choose simple today? 

Today, I am grateful for simple memories that make me smile. 

Unhurried

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 113: Today, I am grateful for unhurried moments. 

This poem is beautiful: 

I WILL NOT HURRY
I will not hurry through this day!
Lord, I will listen by the way,
To humming bees and singing birds,
To speaking trees and friendly words;
And for the moments in between
Seek glimpses of Thy great Unseen.
I will not hurry through this day;
I will take time to think and pray;
I will look up into the sky,
Where fleecy clouds and swallows fly;
And somewhere in the day, maybe
I will catch whispers, Lord, from Thee! 

-Ralph Spaulding Cushman 1879-1960

The unhurried moments are where we find some of the best things in the day. The cool scent of the morning before the day heats up, the scent of fresh coffee, the sun peeking at daybreak before it fully rises to light and warm the day are just a few of the moments I do not want to hurry.

Hurrying too often distracts us from what is important. 

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

Today, I am grateful for unhurried moments. 

My Little Brother

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 112: Today, I am grateful for my little brother. 

My world changed on this day. It is the anniversary of  my baby brother's arrival. I was six years older and it was so fun to have a real baby of my own. Well, he wasn't exactly mine, but I bossed him around like a mom. We've often said it is a wonder he even likes me, let alone loves me. 

My side of the story is that it took all three of us... Mom, Dad, and me... to keep him alive. April was sometimes his keeper, and sometimes his partner in crime. We grew up running barefoot with plenty of sunshine. 

My first gray hairs likely came from him. I adore him! It is probably good that I was gone before his teen years. He walked at 7 months and climbed grain silos... alone... when he was two. 

He taught me to drive a stick shift when he was twelve and I was 17 after Dad tried and failed. Dad was mad. I was in tears. Matt said, "Let's go, Babe." It was not his usual name for me... but at that moment he was the big brother. 15 minutes later, I was on my way to perfecting the skill. 

I love his quick wit, common sense, and wisdom. I love that we laugh together and are touched by many of the same things. Who knew that he would grow up to be one of my best friends, too? I am grateful for the wife he chose and that she said yes. Laughing together is one of life's greatest pleasures. The time together is never long enough. Be it as two couples... or even better with all of our children (by birth and by blessing-in-love) ... it is always good to be together. 

He is a wonderful husband, dad, brother, uncle, and he loves the land just like Grandpa, Dad, and Uncle Mel. He is my brother, and I celebrate the gift of another year added to his count. 

“‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ -Numbers 6:24-26

Today, I am grateful for my little brother. 

The Right Key

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 111: Today, I am grateful for the right key.

When I was younger, I used to glance at the front pages of the celebrities on the gossip newspapers like the National Enquirer while waiting to pay for groceries. The drama was always big and much of it false, but, curiosity kept my eye glued to the cover. Now, I see them and all I feel is sad. Fame and fortune leaves many of the celebrities broken and sad. 

If you grew up in the country or small town, you have likely been teased for it. Not the good type of teasing that I enjoyed from my friends who lived in the city and the burbs (I enjoyed it all and especially bringing you to one lane roads with no yellow lines that made you panic.). It was the arrogant superiority that really looked down on those who live more simply. 

Dad always called it "the accident of birth" when he referred to where you lived, the color of your skin, the color of your eyes or hair, or who your parents happen to be. He was a Gideon and believed in getting Bibles into the hands of those who might not know the gospel near and far away. Jail was his favorite place to take Bibles. We used to joke that it was a captive audience. He carried the truth. Some found freedom behind bars. It fueled his soul. 

As far as I can tell, extreme wealth, fame, and fortune more often than not, suck the goodness from life as there seems to be an addiction that comes with chasing more. More money, more fame, and more power. Some... often at the birth of children or a crisis moment, step away from the limelight and look for a quiet, often rural, existence. They seek the simple and the true. 

Happiness chased is fleeting; deep, frequent gratitude sparks joy daily. In seeking Jesus we find truth; the truth sets us free from the shame, the blame, and the broken. Gratitude is the key. 

"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:32

The bars are left behind and the chains are broken. Unlocked by truth, grace, gratitude, and the cancelled sin debt paid by a guy who spent his first night on earth in a manger.  

Today, I am grateful for the right key.  

Favorite Verses

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 110: Today, I am grateful for my favorite verses. 

I have so many, but there are certainly some that make the top 10 list... and I might be able to do a top five if pressed. This has been one since my teen years. It was highlighted well in my Bible (NIV). Even then, I recognized the power grab. 

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 15:55-57

A great companion scripture is: 

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! -Philippians 1:20-22

There is so much encouragement in these verses. They declare death a door with no reason to fear. In fact, there is an element of excitement in Paul's letters. His biggest concern is that he will have the courage to face whatever painful death might be ahead of him. He is confident of his destination. The scripture rings with victory and purpose. 

This passage is definitely in my top five. If we follow this simple instruction, we will get many things right. 

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." -Romans 12:15

Celebrate the joys. Share in the sorrows. 

Today, I am grateful for my favorite verses. 

Strength in Weakness

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 109: Today, I am grateful for the perfect strength born in weakness. 

We had a beautiful message today from our former Pastor and dear friend, Doane Brubaker. The message God placed on his heart was one of those "right word and the right time" sermons. The message was from one of Paul's letters later in his life. 

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Pride, independence, and stubbornness can keep us from submitting to the will and authority of God. We want to do things our way and in our time. Sometimes, He has other plans. We can fight it, (and I have) but his way is truly the best way. Too often, it is through the brokenness and trials that we finally say "not my will, but thy will be done." He waits. 

A story in the sermon reminded me of a print I love by one of my favorite artists. Mary Engelbreit shows a cracked hanging pot that has obviously leaked because below it beautiful flowers are blooming. I could not find the print, but I found an image of a cracked pot that resulted in flowers growing at the bottom of the crack. I think it is even more beautiful than if the pot was perfect. 

Life has plot twists. We can choose to lean into God's strength and rest, so that beauty can bloom in the broken places. 

Today, I am grateful for the perfect strength born in weakness.

Freshly Turned Dirt

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 108: Today, I am grateful for the smell of freshly turned dirt. 

The scent I am referring to is not petrichor. Petrichor requires rain. The scent of farmers and gardeners turning the soil over after the long, cold rest of winter is unique. Petrichor is a scent I seek out; the scent of freshly turned dirt is different. 

The smell of the soil being turned is one that I associate with the hope and promise of things to come. It is spring telling us that summer's glories are on the way. Perhaps, it is the smell of hope. 

That a hard, lifeless seed can be brought back to life with soil and water will forever be a mystery to me. I see God in every seed that produces a harvest. I see reminders that we were instructed to care for the earth. Avid gardeners... and I am not one... often say that we are closest to God when we are in a garden. 

The kids gave me a hydroponic garden for Christmas. It is all the wonder without the dirt. (It is time to replant it.) We've enjoyed sharing the "Farm Reports" as the seeds sprouted and grew. The arugula was probably my favorite harvest. It requires plant food to be added to the water. For the outside garden, the dirt works its magic of feeding the seeds. 

Walker and Amber are our family gardeners. The rest of us have tomatoes and perhaps a few other plants. Now is the time to turn the dirt. The rain is part of bringing the soil back to life. I walked back to our small garden bed last night that showed signs of Randy's work. The scent made me smile. 

Black dirt freshly turned is special. 

"And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so." -Genesis 1:11

And, it was good!

Today, I am grateful for the smell of freshly turned dirt. 

Friday

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 107: Today, I am grateful for Friday! 

Other than Good Friday, I do not know that I have used "It's Friday." for a gratitude post. This has been the longest week so today, I am grateful the weekend is almost here. 

Focus and finish up what needs to be done and celebrate a chance to rest and restore. 

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

Even when our bodies grow weary, we can press on and into hope. Do the right thing. Show love where you can. Walk in grace. Delight in the end of the week. 

Today, I am grateful for Friday! 

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.

A Comfy Chair

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 99: Today, I am grateful for a comfy chair.

Do you have a favorite chair? The one that is cozy and fits just right? Perhaps, you have your "spot" on the sofa or loveseat. This image made me laugh because most of us have experienced that moment when we find our comfy chair and it takes us by surprise. 

Everyone has a different definition of what makes a chair cozy and comfortable. Our different opinions make the world more interesting. There is no true right and wrong. The perfect seat is very open to opinion. 

I do not know why I am still surprised when the thing that catches my eye relates to the "Verse of the Day." The scripture is about Jesus sitting down at the right hand of God after the crucifixion and resurrection. He returned to take His comfy seat. 

There is nothing like "coming home" where the cozy chair awaits. Jesus's suffering was complete and conquering sin and death finished. His spot waiting for Him with a celebratory return. His radiance and position restored. Human skin no longer binds him. Oh, what a homecoming! 

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," -Hebrews 1:3

Savor your comfy chair today and rejoice knowing that Jesus conquered the grave so we could join as joint heirs at the table in heaven. "We can only imagine"... as the song goes. 

Today, I am grateful for a comfy chair. 

Our Amber

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 98: Today, I am grateful for our Amber.

It is the anniversary of the day she was born and a wonderful reason to celebrate. 

She is the daughter Walker chose for us and it has been a joy to see them care for each other with such gentleness and compassion. They really like and encourage each other daily. 

She fits into our family of six just right. She loves color, crafting, cats, conversations, cozy couch moments, and Walker. Gardening and cooking together fills their days with the ordinary things that are truly extraordinary. She is intentional about walking in love. 

This was the scripture read at their wedding almost a year and a half ago. It is a popular passage, but for them it was perfect. 

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." -1 Corinthians 13:1-8

We are grateful for her birth, her heart, and the choice she makes every day to love well. Her name is perfect. Amber stone is a naturally occurring fossilized resin. It has long been valued by many cultures and is found in a variety of rich colors. Amber loves color! 

Amber, also, has been thought to have healing properties acting as an effective pain reliever for inflammatory, muscle, and chronic pains. Our Amber brought healing, too.  

Happy Birthday, Amber. We love you. 

Today, I am grateful for our Amber.