un-thankful...

The sister called the spiritual discipline...
The Opposite of Gratitude...

Our focus for Bible study this week is thanksgiving...
one aspect of being devoted to prayer...

The challenge of the spiritual discipline...
recognize... take note of... all your complaints...
those spoken... and thought...
as a sign of ingratitude...

It's three days into the challenge... and...
like the Pharisee who wanted to know... Who is my neighbor...?
I'm wondering... What is complaining...?

I've noted way too much...
in thoughts and words...
looking suspiciously like complaints...
so I run to Webster's for justification...

complain... to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something... to say (something that expresses annoyance or unhappiness)

---Merriam-Webster Mobile App

I'm so busted...
so unjustified...
each eye roll...
each heavy sigh...
every... Well... that doesn't make me happy...
and every... How annoying...
all find themselves under the category of complaint...

And I would've told you I don't really complain...
and you could easily hear me say our culture makes complaining a national pastime...
and I apparently have to include myself in the mix...
(could someone help me with this log in my eye...?)

His Word says clearly...

Do everything without complaining or arguing...

Philippians 2:14 NIV

When considering complaining...

as a sign of ingratitude...

the opposite of gratitude...

you must consider it sin...

For... if God is Sovereign...

everything He allows in your life...

is purpose-full...

all for your good...

and His glory...

His Word says... don't complain...

be joy-full...

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind

come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance

has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your

endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect

and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4 NLT

Complaining...

an un-thankful sign...

a sign of very little faith...

in what He's up to in your life...

What about you...? when it comes to complaining...?

would you have to call yourself...? un-thankful...?

thank-full... for a full day...

A full day...
inspiration and words to write...
time to walk...
some tasks completed...
others turned to stumbling blocks...
things gone undone...
feeling tired...
grocery shopping to do...
home late...
power out...
unexpected turns...
power on...
remembered revelations shared...
turned into revelations about revelations...
dinner to cook... with some help...
words to write...
thanks to give...

Thank-full... for a full day...
a very full day...
one that's still not done...

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36 ESV

first day of the new year...

So far... the first day of the new year... a favorite...

A day spent doing what I really love best...
caving with my family...
all of us at home on a gray cool day...
fire going...
relaxed...
together...
no plan...
no expectations...
lots of good food...

A day of rest with loved ones...
a day... I think... Jesus would approve...

After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days

with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.

John 2:12 NLT

After a big event... a wedding feast... and a miracle...
He had a few days... to cave...
just to be...

After the big events of the last week...
I cherish this day...
the first of the year...

Yes... today... a favorite in my book...

Lord... thank You for this restful start to the new year...

just a day to be... with those I love...

Amen...

thank-full...

Thank-full... at the end of Thanksgiving day...
mostly for Him...
His salvation...
peace...
grace...
and forgiveness...

Thank-full... for relationships eternal...
friends...
family...
and those who are yet to be saved...

Thank-full... He is at work...
in the world...
in my life...
in my family...

Thank-full... His Word does not return void...
His purpose will be fulfilled...
His promises will all come to pass...

Thank-full... at the end of Thanksgiving day...

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1 ESV

giving thanks... at the end of a day...

At the end of a day...
feeling more a failure...
than a success...
in my walk with Him...
I find myself thankful for grace...

...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 ESV

thank... full...

Thank... full...
for a full day...
work done...
mistakes made...
grace...

Thank... full...
for challenging books...
testimonies of those whose walk is true...
friends who help...
laughter...

Thank... full...
for decaf coffee...
unsweet tea...
white cheddar popcorn...
sugar-free gum...

Thank... full...
for sunsets of orange... pink... blue..
blooming flowers...
falling rain...
booming thunder...

Thank... full...
for His Word...
His faithfulness...
His Peace...
His Love...

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1 ESV

What are you thank... full... for this week...?

thankful for His grace...

I've handled so many things badly in my life...

But today... as many came to mind... one leading to another... and another... and another...

I felt no shame... no condemnation... just grace... like a warm blanket... on a chilled soul...

There is therefore now no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1 ESV

And the recognition... of my ability to offer grace to others... who've also handled things badly in their lives... only because I received His grace...

Grace... a comforter to share... a source of peace...

For from his fullness we have all received,

grace upon grace.

John 1:16 ESV

the blessing of resting in Him...

The full to fuller of yesterday...
has proved Him faithful today...

By His grace...
what needed to get done... got done...
received encouragement... in more than one place...

Oh my...
too wonder-full for words...
just thanks and praise...
for the blessing of resting in Him...

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:1 ESV

thank-full... for love...

Thank-full... for the many ways... love expresses itself...
giving...
receiving...
mourning...
laughing...
listening...
speaking...
tears of joy...
tears of sadness...
prayer...
hugs...
songs...
joy...
caring...
sharing...
patience...
service...

The last few days...I've seen love... in many forms...
for which I am very... thank-full...

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.

1Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV

Where have you seen love today...?

thankful... for His working...

After a full day of working... weariness begins to set in...

Approaching Him for the evening offering... I appreciate that He is my rest... calls me to rest... in Him...

But as grateful as I am for His rest... I am thankful... for His working...

"My Father is working until now, and I am working." ---Jesus

John 5:17 ESV

Knowing He never tires... 

He does not faint or grow weary...

Isaiah 40:28 ESV

fills me with praise... for His working...

Especially for His work in me... working He will not leave left undone... as I did today...

And I am sure of this, 

that he who began a good work in you 

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

My own weariness... and need for rest... increase my wonder of His constant working...

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 ESV

Finding rest in Him... because He is working...

new... building confidence... exercising humility...

The first official day of new...

Accomplished some things on my own...
messed some things up on my own...

New provides opportunities...
to build confidence...
and exercise humility...

Certain there will be many more tomorrow...
and the next day...
and the next...

Thanking Him...
for many opportunities...
to grow in confidence...
and humility...
according to His will...

Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you

who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT 

a new journey...

new... adjective... 1: having recently come into existence: recent, modern 2 a (1): having been seen, used, or known for a short time: novel... (2): unfamiliar... b: being other than the former or old...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

The new opportunity... presented several weeks ago... became confirmed today...

A new door opened... a new door entered...

Different than anything I've done before... new... a business opportunity... half-owner of a small shop...

The new partner... she asked... Are you scared now...?

And I have to say... No... not really able to identify one primary emotion...

I suppose as with any new... there is anticipation... excitement... joy... trepidation... and maybe... Yes... a little fear... but also thanksgiving...

This opportunity... came unsought... and unexpected...

Seemingly... from Him... or so I believe so much... I acted on it... after testing... and prayer...

So here I stand... on the threshold of a new journey... recently come into existence... known for a short time... unfamiliar... being other than the former...

Trusting Him... to lead... guide... and provide...

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:7 ESV

Related fare...

the wonder of new... 

another day... of testing new...

thankful for a dead tree...

Today's sermon... inspired these words... and my heart...

Thankful for a dead tree...
the one that bore His body...
and my sin...

Thankful for life...
springing forth from a dead tree...
by the power of His Word...

Thankful for the reach...
of this dead tree...
into my life...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

He is into details...

The reading through of Exodus... brings me to His plans for the tabernacle... and the garb for the family of priests...

I wonder at the details...

And you shall make it according to all that I show you, 

the pattern of the tabernacle or dwelling 

and the pattern of all the furniture of it. 

Exodus 25:9 Amp

He gives plans for... the ark... the mercy seat... curtains... utensils... bowls... garments studded with stones... a turban with blue and a plate of gold... on... and... on... the materials to use... and the construction of each item...

A look at His creation... filled with tiny details... codes of DNA... defining all that grows... reveals this aspect of His character...

He is into details...

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

Romans 1:20 ESV

Pictures from the porch... reveal details of creation...

He has the capacity to care... for each sparrow that falls... and to know... the number of hairs on each head...

His capacity for grace... amazes... for He knows... each sin... from greatest to smallest... each causes offense... each creates a debt... yet each has been paid for... with the life of His Son...

Yes... He is into details... 

And I am thank-full... for His infinite love... care... and attention... to each one...

signs of growth...

Signs of growth... the opening of a blossom... bring joy... hope... and thanksgiving...

Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.

Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.

These events will bring great honor to the Lord's name;

they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.

Isaiah 55:13 NLT

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                  Exodus 21:33 - 23:9

Tuesday                  Exodus 23:10 - 24:18

Wednesday             Exodus 25

Thursday                 Exodus 26-27

Friday                     Exodus 28

taking root... reaching out...

A week of rest coming to an end...
loved ones off again...
on their own journeys...

Me... taking root in Him...
reaching out to them...
as they freely go on their way...

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him,

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7 NIV

Lord Jesus... thank You... for each one You've placed in my life to love... Guide me in living and loving... rooted and built up in You... strengthened in faith... overflowing with thanks...

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                     Genesis 39-40

Tuesday                     Genesis 41:1-36

Wednesday                Genesis 41:37 - 42:38

Thursday                    Genesis 43

Friday                        Genesis 44 

it's not my job...

The needed reminder of yesterday... led to Truth... today...

And I am sure of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

It's not my job... to complete what He began... it's His...

My job... trust... obey... persevere...

Let perseverance finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything.

James 1:4 NIV

His job... fulfill...

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Psalm 138:8 ESV

Thank-full... that it's His job... not mine...

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

Psalm 57:2 ESV

feeling His grace...

Feeling His grace...
in the beauty of a cardinal on a dark dreary day...
in the fragrance and warmth of black currant tea...
through inexplicable peace on a day with much still undone...
through conviction of a heart too hesitant to offer grace...

Undeserved... the full impact of grace...
leaves me feeling...
humbled...
thankful...
and undeserving...

...Christ has brought us to this place

of undeserved privilege where we now stand...

Romans 5:2 NLT