Thankfulness

Have been MIA for the last almost 6 months as life has been taken up by ... well, life.  And though there were many times when I thought, "I should post something," those times passed and ... nothing.  But this morning, I felt this urge to post something as I have been thinking a lot about being thankful.

Yesterday, I had one of those days where life just seems to require more energy than I've got and after my chiropractor appointment, I was reflecting on one aspect of our conversation where he was encouraging me to believe in myself and love myself more.  He is not a believer so I wouldn't count on taking his counsel in full but what the Lord did do was to use that to show me how I was carrying the posture of negativity.  It was not one of those lightning flash moments since I am quite stubborn and I was at my own pity party for the rest of the afternoon.  But the Lord did not give up on me and kept bringing that to my mind along with this verse...

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I have not been doing that.  On the contrary, I seemed to "grumble always, and complain in all circumstances."  And it is so easy to give in to complaining, especially when I think that life is not the way that I want it to be.  But the message that I am sending to others in my complaining is that the God that I proclaim to believe and find hope in is not all that good and that the things that He sees as good is not worth giving thanks for.  It was also interesting for me to reflect on how something that I was thankful for at one time (when I first got it) can slowly turn into something I complain about -- how sick is that?

In my battle to grow in thankfulness, I hope to be consciously finding things to be thankful for in my life's specific circumstances as that is often the area I am blinded to. 

• So, today, I am thankful for my job -- it is not stressful, my co-workers are kind and pleasant and to be able to work with Jason who has been patient and forbearing with me even in my moodiness and independence.  I am thankful that it is a job that is "self-contained"  and allows me to invest more in the life and ministry of the church -- as I was praying for.  It allows me to have lunches with people from church or elsewhere.  It allows me to live here financially and has helped me to think more carefully about my time and my money -- as it seems to have given me the flexibility of directing them more.

Here's a song that came to mind:

My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore my pain;
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again;
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness,
And clothed me with His light,
And wrote His law of righteousness
With power upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who walks beside;
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly;
Whose every promise is enough
For every step I take.
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who reigns above;
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose every thought is love.
For every day I have on earth
Is given by the King.
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow Him.

To love and follow Him.

Copyright ©2003 Thankyou Music