God grew tired of us... Powerful documentary about the lost boys of Sudan. What horrors they endured at such a young age. They lost parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and endured it all together. What is miraculous is the attitudes of the 3 young men that were followed on their journey from a refugee camp to living in the United States.
I am grateful for community- those who love me and endure the good, the bad, and the ugly with me. Those who don't listen to other's opinions of me but know me for themselves and love me anyway. Those who I can laugh and cry with me. Those who really listen and really care- those that I listen to and care about.
On the other hand, I am also grateful for the bad and the ugly in life. Situations that hurt and the people who hurt me. Why you may ask? Frankly because those situations and people when viewed as coming from the sovereign hand of God produce perseverance and faith. They also give me perspective that I would not otherwise have. Appreciation for true friends and times of peace are greatly enhanced through enduring the bad and the ugly of life. Experiencing God and His great grace, mercy, and faithfulness deepens my relationship with Him in ways I could not have imagined.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
A Mirror With a View
Musings from my (ever so slowly) growing gratitude journal.
#36: Glorious golden sunsets in my rear view mirror....
What do you see in your rear view mirror? Do you see your children laughing? Do you see sunsets? Do you see mountains?
#42: Being slowed down whether I want to be or not....
What do you see in hind sight? God's providence? Perfect timing? Divine appointments? Mercy and grace?
It's amazing what the world will reveal about our Heavenly Father if we are willing to see. How many times do I miss it?
Things like:
Mercy
Laughter
Grace
Beauty
Providence
Joy
Ordered moments
Perseverance
Abiding love
What do you see?
#36: Glorious golden sunsets in my rear view mirror....
What do you see in your rear view mirror? Do you see your children laughing? Do you see sunsets? Do you see mountains?
#42: Being slowed down whether I want to be or not....
What do you see in hind sight? God's providence? Perfect timing? Divine appointments? Mercy and grace?
It's amazing what the world will reveal about our Heavenly Father if we are willing to see. How many times do I miss it?
Things like:
Mercy
Laughter
Grace
Beauty
Providence
Joy
Ordered moments
Perseverance
Abiding love
What do you see?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Count Your Blessings
"...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
I Thessalonians 5:18
Do you ever grumble or complain? Do you ever pity yourself for not having the life you dreamed you would have ? Do you ever wish for different circumstances?
I believe we all do.... but I also believe we must be careful what you wish for. Everything can change in an instant. Those things or people that may seem so displeasing to you today could be taken away suddenly.
I would wager that our attitudes (our hearts) are actually the issue and not the people or things that we are grumbling about. How can I make such a bold statement? Because I know the sinfulness of my own heart and how it discolors my world when I give way to it's deceptions.
Sometimes I play a little game when I am in a discolored state of mind. I stop and imagine the reality of life without that person. Stopping to take stock of all the little everyday ways my life is connected to theirs and how very different it would be with them. Things like laughter, the sound of a voice, a shared place or experience, just knowing they are in the world somewhere and you can call them.
This exercise may sound very self centered but it is really an attempt to change my mindframe from grumbling to gratitude in the here and now. To realize the blessings and gifts God has given me moment by moment especially in the little things.
An example might be cleaning the kitchen for the fifth time today and grumbling about the people who keep causing the mess...again! Count your blessings: you are not alone, your family is still here on this earth sharing life with you (whatever the state of cleanliness might be). Is there laughter and love in your home? Do you have food in your cupboards and a roof over your head? Be thankful you have a kitchen... Imagine losing your house to fire, you'd wish you had that dirty kitchen back.
To be thankful in the mess and irritations of life is to be aware that God's grace is in every moment of life if we would but just be willing to see it.
Help me Lord to see Your sovereign and gracious hand even in the messiness of life. Grant me the ability to be thankful in every circumstance, to be obedient to Your will. Amen.
I Thessalonians 5:18
Do you ever grumble or complain? Do you ever pity yourself for not having the life you dreamed you would have ? Do you ever wish for different circumstances?
I believe we all do.... but I also believe we must be careful what you wish for. Everything can change in an instant. Those things or people that may seem so displeasing to you today could be taken away suddenly.
I would wager that our attitudes (our hearts) are actually the issue and not the people or things that we are grumbling about. How can I make such a bold statement? Because I know the sinfulness of my own heart and how it discolors my world when I give way to it's deceptions.
Sometimes I play a little game when I am in a discolored state of mind. I stop and imagine the reality of life without that person. Stopping to take stock of all the little everyday ways my life is connected to theirs and how very different it would be with them. Things like laughter, the sound of a voice, a shared place or experience, just knowing they are in the world somewhere and you can call them.
This exercise may sound very self centered but it is really an attempt to change my mindframe from grumbling to gratitude in the here and now. To realize the blessings and gifts God has given me moment by moment especially in the little things.
An example might be cleaning the kitchen for the fifth time today and grumbling about the people who keep causing the mess...again! Count your blessings: you are not alone, your family is still here on this earth sharing life with you (whatever the state of cleanliness might be). Is there laughter and love in your home? Do you have food in your cupboards and a roof over your head? Be thankful you have a kitchen... Imagine losing your house to fire, you'd wish you had that dirty kitchen back.
To be thankful in the mess and irritations of life is to be aware that God's grace is in every moment of life if we would but just be willing to see it.
Help me Lord to see Your sovereign and gracious hand even in the messiness of life. Grant me the ability to be thankful in every circumstance, to be obedient to Your will. Amen.
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