The Blue Plumbago sitting on our back porch reminds me of my dear Aunt Janie--and that is cause for gratitude to God. She loved Blue Plumbagos, so every spring I'm always on the hunt for these delicate purple/blue beauties for my sisters (and me!). Thank You Lord for the glory of Your creation and for Your grace in giving each of us "Janie's" who encourage and enrich and bless our lives in so many ways.
Thank You Lord for Moses sitting serenely and loyally at my feet.
Thank You for the gift of seeing 4 of our 5 children sitting together, sprawled out on sofa and chairs and watching a movie on Memorial Day weekend. These years are fleeting, and I am thankful for each moment of having them here... even with the laundry and mess and endless appointments and stresses. They are our most precious blessings--even when I momentarily forget. Help me to remember, Lord.
Thank You for dinner with dearly loved ones--at our favorite restaurant in Chapel Hill. Thank You for the gift of laughter and fellowship and family bonds that run deep and strong. And thank You for Mount Airy Chocolate Soufflé Cake! O my--blessing!
Thank You that You are our treasure. Our greatest, infinite, unshakeable, eternal, glorious treasure far far above all other treasures and blessings. In A.W. Tozer words: "The man who has God as his treasure has all things in one, and he has it purely, legitimately, and forever." Forgive me, Father, for how quickly I tend to place value in infinitely lesser and inferior "treasures." Those lesser treasures always disappoint and inevitably diminish our souls. But God as our treasure--that is true joy and soul satisfaction and peace that passes all understanding.
Thank You that our praise and thanksgiving need never--indeed, should never--depend upon our feelings and circumstances. Confession: I began this post in obedience, for I didn't feel thankful in the least. It has been a really tough day for one of our children who was struggling with disappointment in his athletics hopes and dreams. And as his mama, I felt sad for him, and sorrow for your children can surely snatch away your perspective and steal your joy like almost nothing else. We all love our children so much, don't we, that when they hurt, we grieve deeply, and sometimes approach God with impatience and even a bit of reproachfulness. Why, God? Are you listening, God? Do you care, God?
But praise and thankfulness reminds us of who He is and what He has done and what He can and will do. Praise reminds us that He is always good and gracious. And praise helps us to remember that even when we cannot always understand what His hand is doing, we can always always always trust His heart and His power to bring about our ultimate good and His greater glory.
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."(I Thess.5:18) You call us to give thanks--it's a command, not an option for when we "feel" like it. Dr. John Mitchell declared, "To give thanks when you don't feel like it is not hypocrisy; it's obedience." Might we obey, whether we feel like it or not, for You are infinitely, eternally worthy of all our praise. And Your blessings to us extravagantly flow into our flawed, undeserving lives. Blessings of family, of health, of food, of strength, of creation, of simple graces of everyday life... and of Blue Plumbagos reminding us of past blessings and future hope. For with You, there is always always always hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) Lord, I don't know the future. But I know the One who shapes and controls the future. And He is always the eternally present "I Am"--here and now, past, and future, and forever faithful.
Thank You Lord. Jesus, might Your Name be praised and lifted high. To God be the glory forever.
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