Embracing God's Grace
Traveling over the river and through the woods or staying close to home, give thanks for blessings large and small; with God we are never alone.
B Blessed!
Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16:8 NKJV
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 NKJV
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV
Living in the “Bible Belt,” I read many a church sign. Some of them are witty, and others are downright weird.
I did come across one that I did like. It read “A GRATEFUL MIND IS A GREAT MIND.”
As I reflected on that particular sign, I thought about my various “states of mind” on any given day.
Some days I am focused.
On others not so much.
On occasion, I can keep a clear train of thought and accomplish much in record time. Then there are days I’m left looking around having nothing substantial to show for my efforts.
Yet, when I focus on counting my blessings, I gain the clarity that at other times alludes me.
When I am grateful, it puts into perspective all the minor and petty things that don’t matter. Annoyances, headaches and temporary trials don’t compare to God’s great grace, mercy and favor.
If I did not continually count my blessings, I would become bogged down in nonsense, drama and mired in things that bear no fruit!
We must renew our minds daily to magnify our God instead of our problems.
When we make a habit to appreciate how good God is to us, we are compelled to offer mercy, compassion, and kindness as we have received it. The knowledge of what we have received from the Father should compel us to love our neighbor/brother enough to not just pray for him but actually “do” for him.
In this season of thanks, don’t settle for being grateful, do something great!
Allow gratitude to manage your attitude.
Be kind.
Be generous.
Be a blessing!
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:11-12 NKJV
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4 NKJV
Living in the “Bible Belt” I read many a church sign while driving. Some of them are rather witty and others are down right weird.
I did come across one that I liked a lot. It read, “A GRATEFUL MIND IS A GREAT MIND.”
As I reflected on that particular sign I thought about my various “states of mind.”
Some days I’m focused.
On other’s, not so much.
On occasion, I can keep a very clear train of thought that allows me to accomplish much in record time. Then there are days I’m left looking around having nothing to show for my efforts.
Yet, when I focus on counting my blessings, I gain clarity that at other times alludes me.
When I am grateful, it puts into perspective all the minor and petty annoyances that don’t really matter. Headaches and temporary trials don’t compare to God’s great grace, mercy and favor.
If I did not continually count my blessings, I would get bogged down in the nonsense of the day, other people’s drama and become mired down in things that aren’t any of my business.
We must renew our minds daily as not to magnify our problems instead of our God!
We are implored by Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
When we make a habit to appreciate how good God is to us, we are compelled to offer mercy, compassion and kindness as we have received it. The realization that we are not worthy, but God loves us anyway, should move us to love our neighbor/brother enough to not just pray for them but actually “do” for them.
Allowing our gratitude to spur us into action produces great deeds and great love, the kind Jesus would have us show toward one another.
In this season of thanks, don’t merely settle for being grateful, act grateful.
Allow your gratitude to motivate you to do something. Your random act of kindness may make a world of difference for someone else.
Stressed out by the holidays?
Allow gratitude to adjust your attitude!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
Psalm 30:4 NKJV
Living here in the “Bible Belt” I read many a church sign. Some of them are witty and others are down right weird.
I did come across one that I did like. It read “A GRATEFUL MIND IS A GREAT MIND.”
As I reflected on that particular sign I thought about my various “states of mind” on any given day.
Some days I am focused.
On other’s not so much.
On occasion I can keep a very clear train of thought and accomplish much in record time. Then there are days I’m left looking around having nothing substantial to show for my efforts.
Yet, when I focus on counting my blessings, I gain clarity that at other times alludes me.
When I am grateful it puts into perspective all the minor and petty things that don’t really matter. Annoyances, headaches and temporary trials don’t compare to God’s great grace, mercy and favor.
If I did not continually count my blessings, I would get bogged down in the nonsense of the day, other people’s drama and become mired down in things that aren’t any of my business!
We must renew our minds daily as not to magnify our problems instead of God!
When we make a habit to appreciate how good God is to us, we are compelled to offer mercy, compassion and kindness as we have received it. The realization that we are not worthy but God loves us anyway should move us to love our neighbor/brother enough to not just pray for them but actually “do” for them.
Allowing our gratitude to move us into action produces great deeds and great love, the kind Jesus would have us show toward one another.
In this season of thanks, don’t merely settle for being grateful, act grateful. Allow your gratitude to move you to do something for someone else. What you may consider a small gesture can make a world of difference for someone else!
Allow gratitude to adjust your attitude.
Be grateful and B Blessed!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16:8 NKJV
As we celebrate a long Memorial Day Weekend here in the States, let us be mindful of those whose sacrifices allow us the freedoms we have today. Take time to remember those who serve, have served and especially those who gave their lives that we may enjoy the blessings we so often take for granted.
“The memory of the righteous [is] blessed,” Proverbs 10:7 NKJV
“That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works,” Psalms 26:7 NKJV
In this new age of social media, Facebook, Instagram, Tumbler and all the other things I can’t keep up with or operate we are prodded and urged to post, update and communicate with the masses. Some people post photos of the food they eat, places they’ve gone, people they’ve met and so on but how many of us truly proclaim with thanksgiving what God has done in our lives?
We often talk or post some of every kind of thing, yet much of what we relay to others is actually insignificant in the large scheme of things. What difference could we make if we actually did what the many chapters of Psalms instruct us to do?
I’m not trying to sound like a religious fanatic, far from it, but have we ever thought that there is a reason we are implored again and again to make a joyful noise and come before the Lord with thanksgiving?
When we hear with our own voices what God has done, it makes us mindful of what really is important in life. Declaring His works with rejoicing, offering a praise of thanksgiving and magnifying Him with thanksgiving allow us to put things in their proper perspective. The words don’t just bless God our Father, they bless us!
Declaring what God has done each new day, the miracle of life, milestones He has allowed us to see and do, personal promises fulfilled, these things placed at the front of our consciousness keep us with an attitude of gratitude. This practice keeps us sane and allows us to hold on strong to Him when chaos breaks about around us.
Our words of gratitude are not just for our benefit, we are to testify to others. I’m not condoning hitting anyone on the head with a Bible, but I have found that when I have shared what God has done for me, it has often provided hope for someone else.
In this new era of possible “overshare” why not share something truly meaningful?
“Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing,” Psalms 107:22 NKJV”
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name,” Psalms 100:4 NKJV
In this season of Thanksgiving I am grateful for many things, far too many to detail here! However my families… immediate, extended and work are just a few of the things for which I give thanks!
This year I have been blessed with a new family of sorts, people who give me a glimpse into their thoughts and their lives, who inspire and encourage and some who just give me a laugh when I need it. Some are thought-provoking while others force me to take a hard look at myself.
I have been a member of this “blogging community” for less than six months. In this time I have interacted with some wonderful people, been embraced, supported and motivated beyond what I would have ever imagined.
Last week, I received a nomination for The Versatile Blogger Award from a very kind lady in the UK for my autism blog God, autism and me (more on that later).
Today Clayton Paul at Clayton Paul Better Ways for Better Days nominated me for The Imagine Award. I am grateful that my venture into this world of words has not only given me the opportunity to try to inspire others, but to be inspired as well. And per my award criteria…
Five reasons I enjoy Clayton Paul Better Ways for Better Days
You never know what he’s going to post. The topic matter is varied yet always informative. He is in fact a very Versatile Blogger!
His blogs always have a positive slant toward them. I am often encouraged or inspired.
True to his motto, Clayton does indeed encourage the reader to implement “better ways for better days” through thought, deed or action.
The information on his blog always leaves me feeling better after reading his blog than before I begin.
Finally, he’s a very nice guy! The comments he leaves in the blogosphere are constructive. His comments build others up, not tear them down. And I love that!
My nominees for the Imagine Award are the following:
A View from My Summerhouse kindred spirit
Simply Life, living your best life one day at a time makes me smile
Youth of A Nation…bent not broke powerful blog about mental illness and more
On Her Way to Perfection also makes me smile (I like to smile)
Devotions by Christ Hendrix helps me keep things in perspective
Sometimes God gives us people who will push us up when we feel like falling and prod us along when we feel like stalling.
THANK YOU to my READERS and fellow writers for doing that and so much more. Yet another thing to be grateful for.
B Is for Blessed! 