Daisy

 Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 174: Today, I am grateful for the Daisy.

This summer, I am working my way through the garden with gratitude. Today, it is the daisy. Gerbera Daisies are my favorites, but the traditional white flower with the yellow button center always evokes a sense of cheer. 

Pooh said it was 'hard to be uncheered by a balloon". I feel the same about the daisy.

"The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air." -Song of Solomon 2:12

Keeping it simple. Savor the sunshine of the season. Don't forget to savor the daisies.

Today, I am grateful for the Daisy.

Creative Spaces

Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 173: Today, I am grateful for those who create, encourage (and support) creative spaces.

One of the ways the Love-of-my-Life melts my heart is his patience and ultimate support of my need for creative spaces. We both like a tidy house. He needs neat spaces more than I do. He is a whiz at taking a mess and tidying it up. There is nothing like a clean space to make deep breaths come easier. 

That said, I can't be neat and creative. My cleaning of my artistic spaces easily turns into "micro-cleaning" and organizing. When it is done, it is fabulous, but it always seems to be a work in progress. 

I can only imagine what it must have been like for our God to literally speak the heavens into order out of nothingness. Because He is not bound by time and space as we know it, I truly cannot imagine what it looked like. I do get to enjoy the beauty of the heavens, the waters, the flatland fields and the mountains. Each landscape has its own magic and sense of wonder. Heaven and nature do sing together the glory of His majesty found in creation. 

I love the Thomas Edison quote: "There ain't no rules around here, we're trying to accomplish something."

Nature has some rules, but it also is full of mystery and creativity. Even those who do not believe in God are often in awe of nature. Seriously, the Midwestern landscape when the leaves are so many shades of red, green, yellow, gold and brown... it is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and we get to witness it annually. 

"I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles."-Psalm 145:5

Don't forget to nurture the creative spirit within you. Build a deck, sing a song, dance, write a poem, build a deck, bake a cake, paint a picture, play an instrument, sew a quilt, knit a hat, design a garden, make a card or take a picture...let your spirit run free. 

Today, I am grateful for those who create, encourage (and support) creative spaces.

Extended Warranty

Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 172: Today, I am grateful for our extended warranty.

Somedays, you just need to laugh. There is something about the absurd that makes us giggle. There are different kinds of laughter. A giggle... to me... is that unexpected, effervescent laugh that lightens the heart. It can burst into a full blown belly laugh when the situation warrants a fuller response, but I love a good giggle.

Memes are an endless source of giggles. They are funny. They usually make us think of specific people in our lives. This one is for anyone who has ever had a car. The robocalls are endless. 

I was going for the verse about a merry heart, but this turned out to be my verse of the day. Again, the Spirit provides a better verse than the one I was going to get:

"The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. -Psalm 121:7-8

Instead of focusing on the laughter in this meme, I am reminded our God is the provider of our "extended warranty". He keeps watch over our comings and goings... now and forever. We don't have to obsess about this old human body all that much. We should take care of it, but it is temporary housing... a starter vehicle. Our souls are forever in His care and He's got us covered by his blood. Better than any extended car warranty. 

It gives me great peace knowing that we don't have to worry about expiration dates when He is our Lord and Savior. We receive  a new model... fully restored... when our souls return to the one who gave us His breath and His life. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Today, I am grateful for our extended warranty.

Good Fathers

Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 171: Today, I am grateful for good Fathers. 

Earworm is singing Chris Tomlin's Good Good Father. 

"Oh, I've heard a thousand stories, of what they think you're like But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night. And You tell me that you're pleased and that I'm never alone. You're a good, good Father. That's who you are... and I'm loved by you." 

It is a song that makes us smile. Randy always told Walker they could use it for the Father-Son dance when he got married. Walker might be slightly relieved that a "Covid Wedding" changed dancing plans.  Whenever we hear the song, we can't help but smile. 

The Love-of-my-Life is the best of Fathers. Chase and Walker have always known their Dad would show up in good times and in the hard ones, too. He doesn't like to be the center of attention, but every once in a while, I have to sing his praises, because he is a blessing every day. He has taught them so much about being good men. He showed them Christian values by example... caught more than taught. His patience in teaching new skills always makes me smile. 

Today, my heart hurts for those who have not known a father for one reason or another. I know some good and Godly men have stepped into the gap. 

"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy."-Psalm 68:5-6

When our Fathers are no longer with us, we feel the emptiness of that loss on this day. Still, for those who have been loved, sheltered and protected... the memories live on in our hearts. Someday, we will sit together in the sweetest reunions. 

The Bible gives clear instructions about being Fathers to the Fatherless, so don't forget the widows and orphans on this day. I have several close to us feeling that loss today for the first time.  

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."  -James 1:27

Today, I am grateful for good Fathers. 

Integrity Tests

Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 170: Today, I am grateful for integrity tests.

They say a true test of a man's character is how he   behaves when no one is looking. Truth, right?  Integrity matters.

"There is no better test of a man's integrity than his behavior when he is wrong."- Marvin Williams

Human nature is naturally prideful. God does not tolerate pride and arrogance, well. Most of us really feel our character tested at times... especially... When we are wrong. And, we are all wrongs sometimes. 

These words of instruction are clear. 

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." -Proverbs 16:18

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” -James 4:6

There are several other passages that relate to pride. It is more important to be kind than to be right. In quietness and gentleness, God can use us. It goes back to submitting our whole selves... body, mind and soul... to His service. (Romans 12:1)

He always clears things up with His truth. 

Today, I am grateful for integrity tests... and His infallible truth.

84,400 Seconds

  

Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 169: Today, I am grateful for 84,400 seconds a day. 

It sounds like an abundance of seconds, but we have usually spent quite a few before we ever roll out of bed.

Focusing on the tick of the second hand can create anxiety for some and a sense of peaceful rhythm for others. We are all unique in our ways and how we put together our days. Each one of us, chooses daily, how we spend our 84,400 seconds.

"God gave you a gift of 84,400 seconds. Have you used one of them to say thank you? - William Arthur Wand

Offering gratitude lifts our spirits and delights our God. It really is a win-win. Gratitude helps us manage all of our other emotions. If you are having a rough day, write down five things you are grateful for today. The gratitude attitude can set the tone for any day or help get a rough one back on track. 

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." -Psalm 90:12

Today, I am grateful for 84,400 seconds a day. 

A Place to Sing

 Daily Gratitude Year 9-Day 168: Today, I am grateful for a place to sing.

There is something about singing that is soul deep. It resonates with something God wove into each one of us. Something powerfully different from most other human experiences. 

I am reminded the night Jesus was born, the angels sang to the human shepherds. There is something about music that is deeply rooted in the heavens. I can't explain it. I don't have to, thank goodness.

 David knew it and wrote song after song. The New Testament speaks of spiritual songs that bring hope and encouragement. Spiritual songs that lift our hearts and help us pour out our gratitude to our Heavenly Father.

"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." -Colossians 3:16 

Do we let our spirits respond to Him in song? Songs help us learn scriptures and truths from the Bible. The first one we learn as a child is "Jesus loves me, this I know." I've loved singing that old song with people in nursing homes in the last chapter of their earthly tour. I've seen it bring tears to their eyes for the deep seeded truth of a God that has never abandoned them, even in troubles and trials. 

With God as our helper, Jesus as our champion and the Holy Spirit as our comforter, how can we not sing for joy. Talk about a dream team! 

"for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy." - Psalm 63:7

When He is our help and our salvation, we can hum a merry tune in the shadow of his wings. It does create quite an image, doesn't it? 

Today, I am grateful for a place to sing.