God has a way of placing things in your mind to ponder over that you at first think are just interesting thoughts. Then later you realize, whoa - I needed that reminder for this situation I'm facing right now! You can look at it as God having quite the sense of humor, or call it discernment.
Since Christmas I've been tinkering over thoughts about thankfulness. This was spurred on by Madam Blueberry who realized that a happy heart cannot be bought. Madam Blueberry is a sad blueberry who thought that having more stuff would make her happy. (This is the first Veggie Tale that my two year old has watched all the way through and he loves it!) She later realizes that "a thankful heart is a happy heart," and didn't let herself get carried away with having stuff.
On Tuesday I got gifts that really excited me. Aloe plants that I can use to create my hair sprays and pomades. A coffee table that was never high enough of on our list of needs purchase. I received and gave enough gifts to realize how privileged I am. Then I thought about our flood damaged basement and my mind wondered, why aren't you frustrated about this woebegone situation? Why are you excited about decorating your living room when part of it is crammed with your basement stuff? Shouldn't you be thinking about how to make money to buy stuff to fix this mess?
God was working in the background preparing the posture of my heart. Instead of feeling stressed, I was feeling thankful that God blessed me with a home to live in. I was thankful to be able to share Christmas with my in-laws and a new friend and her sweet daughters.
As my husband and I drove home, I wrote down my thoughts about thankfulness and my basement. God's sense of humor was on full display for me to see when I got home. Guess what was waiting for me when I entered the house? Water flooding my stripped basement! Now, I don't believe God is "doing this" or "allowing this" to happen to us. However, I do believe that He knew what was coming my way and was preparing the posture of my heart. How thankful am I really?
Psalm 50:12-15 says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
I just really liked this verse and how big and yet so intimate it makes God appear. He is so big and self-sustaining that He doesn't need us really. All these things, stuff, that we need to feel comfortable and taken care of, we cannot provide that to God. If He had a need, He could take care of it Himself! Yet at the same time, He does need our love and devotion and the best way of showing that is through thanksgiving and putting your money where your heart is.
It is not always easy to be thankful when you are swimming through tough storms. And I do not equate a flooded basement to a "tough storm." A tough storm is feeling lonely and trying to understand why your relationships keep sifting through your fingers. A tough storm is when you constantly feel like you're drawing the short straw, even though you try so hard. It's not easy to have a thankful heart, but there is deliverance for us when we do. Deliverance from our situation or, more importantly, deliverance for our soul.
Lord, give me a thankful heart. Help me to list and recall all the good you have done for me. From waking me in the morning, to giving me a place to lay my head and sleep. Help me to stay close enough to You to feel comfortable enough to ask for help in my days of trouble instead of entertaining thoughts of bitterness. Help us all to have happy hearts.
♬♬ The Thankfulness Song (VeggieTales)
Since Christmas I've been tinkering over thoughts about thankfulness. This was spurred on by Madam Blueberry who realized that a happy heart cannot be bought. Madam Blueberry is a sad blueberry who thought that having more stuff would make her happy. (This is the first Veggie Tale that my two year old has watched all the way through and he loves it!) She later realizes that "a thankful heart is a happy heart," and didn't let herself get carried away with having stuff.
On Tuesday I got gifts that really excited me. Aloe plants that I can use to create my hair sprays and pomades. A coffee table that was never high enough of on our list of needs purchase. I received and gave enough gifts to realize how privileged I am. Then I thought about our flood damaged basement and my mind wondered, why aren't you frustrated about this woebegone situation? Why are you excited about decorating your living room when part of it is crammed with your basement stuff? Shouldn't you be thinking about how to make money to buy stuff to fix this mess?
God was working in the background preparing the posture of my heart. Instead of feeling stressed, I was feeling thankful that God blessed me with a home to live in. I was thankful to be able to share Christmas with my in-laws and a new friend and her sweet daughters.
As my husband and I drove home, I wrote down my thoughts about thankfulness and my basement. God's sense of humor was on full display for me to see when I got home. Guess what was waiting for me when I entered the house? Water flooding my stripped basement! Now, I don't believe God is "doing this" or "allowing this" to happen to us. However, I do believe that He knew what was coming my way and was preparing the posture of my heart. How thankful am I really?
Psalm 50:12-15 says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
I just really liked this verse and how big and yet so intimate it makes God appear. He is so big and self-sustaining that He doesn't need us really. All these things, stuff, that we need to feel comfortable and taken care of, we cannot provide that to God. If He had a need, He could take care of it Himself! Yet at the same time, He does need our love and devotion and the best way of showing that is through thanksgiving and putting your money where your heart is.
It is not always easy to be thankful when you are swimming through tough storms. And I do not equate a flooded basement to a "tough storm." A tough storm is feeling lonely and trying to understand why your relationships keep sifting through your fingers. A tough storm is when you constantly feel like you're drawing the short straw, even though you try so hard. It's not easy to have a thankful heart, but there is deliverance for us when we do. Deliverance from our situation or, more importantly, deliverance for our soul.
Lord, give me a thankful heart. Help me to list and recall all the good you have done for me. From waking me in the morning, to giving me a place to lay my head and sleep. Help me to stay close enough to You to feel comfortable enough to ask for help in my days of trouble instead of entertaining thoughts of bitterness. Help us all to have happy hearts.
♬♬ The Thankfulness Song (VeggieTales)
Comments
Post a Comment
Please share your thoughts and reflections spurred on by this post. :)