Try thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving...in Christ Jesus everyday!

There are no turkeys gobbling about my home, no pies baking, and no football on the TV. But we continue celebrating thanksgiving each and every day!

Have we tasted of the precious mercy of God? Do we enjoy sweet fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Do we benefit from the favor of the Lord via His divine provision and protection? These are amazing gifts that the greatest earthquake or storm will never be able to shake or destroy.

We live on an world filled with His glory—from the tiniest, one-celled animal, to the microscopic particles which make up the protons, neutrons and electrons of the atom, leading up to the most magnificent nebulae in the solar system. In all of these—His creative handiwork is undeniably evident.

If you have ever been to a museum and seen first-hand the works of the great masters, Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt, you are awed. Yet every morning the Master of all creation paints with love upon His heavenly canvas a brand new sunrise.

Father God's heavenly canvas of love

And when the sunrise reveals the manly features of one's husband as the breath swells in his chest—do we recognize the handiwork of a loving Father? There are wonderful benefits to be realized when we begin every day with thankfulness for each member of our family.

It is so easy to be grateful for the sweetness of a small infant, but can we see in the blemished faces of our young sons and daughters the promises of God? Do we look past their growing pains to the people God has intended them to be?

Thanking God for them, even their rough edges, can give us new hope and breathe new life and love into relationships that may be strained.

Rebekkah with her family

Even regarding the older children that have grown and moved away, giving thanks for them, just as they are and where they are, allows us to rest in God's peace and trust that He is working all things for the good in their lives. So that, when their names are brought up, joy and peace will come to our countenance, instead of the darkness that stems from a worried and fretful soul.

In its simplest form, fretting is sin. It can't be "gussied-up" to look any better than it is, no matter how we might try. We might call it "concern" or even "a matter of deep prayer"—but fretting is still fretting.

David with his new wife Julia

My husband's brother, William, runs a street mission in the Pacific Northwest and is the planter of an outdoor church for people society has all but forgotten. One of these folks is a man with legs that are useless to him—they hang limp as he struggles to get anywhere. Instead of using a wheelchair, he has chosen to use two shovel-handles (minus the shovel heads) to aid himself in walking. These are not easy to use, and take tremendous upper-body strength, but he always has a smile on his face wherever he goes.

Anna, Grace and Leah

If anyone could claim to be having a unpleasant life, it would be this man. And yet, he is one of the happiest and cheerful in my brother-in-laws entire group. William considers him to be a great blessing, simply because of his humble and thankful attitude!

Sarah, Tim and Joshua

It may seem at times as though life is rife with troubles and sorrows, and indeed there are times of great heartache, but many refuse to allow the sufferings in this life to steal their joy. They choose, as true overcomers, to be in a constant state of thanksgiving to the God who is so merciful, compassionate and full of love towards us, that He even desires to commune with us, and to forgive us by sending His only begotten Son, to make a place for us in heaven so that we may enjoy Him forever!

Nicole and Patience

When we have done everything that God has asked us to do, then we can cast our cares upon the Lord and rest the results in His capable hands—allowing the vehicle of thankfulness to usher us into His presence and train our emotions to walk in the joy of the Lord which is our strength.

Ryan

Lord, I thank You for the privilege of serving Your people right here in my home. I thank You for my dear husband, that in his manliness he has tried so hard to understand my womanliness. Thank You that he loves to be here with us each day. Thank you for the way we met, and for all of the things we are to each other. Thank You that we are celebrating 29 years together in a few weeks. I never knew someone could love me that much—but He does. 

Sarah

Thank You for each child. Thank You for the morning sickness and restless nights. Thank You for early nursing pain—knowing I was giving them love and life at the same time. Thank You for each cry, each soft bottom, each diaper change. Thank You for each tantrum, each quarrel, each cranky morning. Thank You for the times of watching and care with fevers deep into the night. 

Faith, Olivia and Eliana together!

Thank You for their oft wanderings and curious wonderings. Thank You for their many questions, and for their sweet humble acceptance of the answer. Thank You for the times that I lost sight of the important things, and instead sunk deeply into petty misunderstanding, and even then You spoke to them through this imperfect vessel. 

Lorilee

Now I can also thank You for new sons and daughters that are being added through my children's marriages—I wish they all knew that I love them, too. Thank You for the blessing of grandchildren that give us plenty of material for laughter as they grow. 

In all these things I see Your hand, as You have softened me and grown me up, but there is so much yet to be done!

Little Patience

Thank You that You are not giving up on me, not even for the bazillionth time. Your love is so great, and broad, and deep. 

I could never run out of ways to praise You, not even for an eternity! Amen!