Thanking God for His Goodness

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Today begins my birthday week.  Every day that I awake, I have a reason to be thankful.  With each breath taken, with or without difficulty, I am grateful.  In the grand scheme of things, God cares about me so much that He touches and wakes me up everyday, for these 50+ years.

Grateful I am to serve in His vineyard, delighted to do as He bids. With joy, I thank God for this hour, this day and this week in which He gave me life!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Back to Work

English: Man Made in the Image of God, as in Genesis 1:26 to 2:3, illustration from a Bible card published 1906 by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Genesis 2:15 (NIV)

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Reading the above text, it struck me that God is highly in favor of work!  Not only is He in favor of it, He put Adam in the garden to “work and take care” of it.  In other words God told Adam to “Get to work!”

This holiday break has been an absolute blessing but it is over and now and time to go back to work.  Time to be about completing and undertaking tasks purposed by God for me.  These periods of respite away from the daily grind have a way of providing more than just physical and emotional rest.  Ok, so maybe I did a bit more knitting than actual resting, but those long uninterrupted periods of knitting provided quiet moments of reflection and contemplation.

Rested, ready, reliable and responsive,  let us go into the next phase of our tasks, whatever work we do, give glory to God while working!  Be grateful to be employed and understand that God employs us to be emissaries on behalf of the Kingdom!  Now, it is time to get back to work!  

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Proper Documenation

 

 

Ephesians 2:19  (KJ21)

19 Now therefore, ye are strangers and foreigners no more, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

English: First_Japanese_passport_1866 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On any given day, we carry at least several forms of  identification proving who we are. Driver’s licenses provided by various states acknowledging a rudimentary ability to operate vehicles on the dangerous roads.

Individuals proud of their new countries, or those required by governing agencies, carry passports everywhere signifying their rights of citizenship.

Fingers encircled by rings of gold, platinum, silver or stainless steel given by loved ones as  tangible witness of eternal fidelity and love.  To belong and be loved, honored and cherished.  These unions produce children who are able to claim all rights and privileges family membership affords.

This snap-shot view does not include many dropped into fractured, dysfunctional or toxic familial relationships.  Cast adrift battered and bouncing through life unaffiliated and unloved.

Reading Ephesians 2:19-22 (MSG) I got excited because by faith and believing the truth is that you are not alone!  19-22  “That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”

Every family member has assigned duties and purposes!  Christian’s this is not our permanent home and we are to be about our Father’s business and welcoming our brothers and sisters!  Let there be no doubt, your birth certificate and how-to for life is the Holy Bible!  Within those pages are found the rich stories of our heritage, history and legacies as promised by God, Our Father.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

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Checkin the Tude

Stained glass window of the sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in the former Mosque (Cathedral) of Cordoba, Spain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”        1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG

It seems that several times this week I seriously failed in this challenge.   Even yesterday, I felt the downward tug of my lips and the mantle of cheerfulness sliding slowly like a silk shawl from my right shoulder to the floor.  At that time I acknowledge that I did not have the energy or desire to grab for and pull it back straight.

Oh for the days when being disgustingly cheerful was so easy and effortless.  To again be able to alternate between annoying and brightening the lives of other people.  In these less than star reaching moments I miss being one of those people who was always cheerful.  It is in those times that I find it necessary to constantly call on Jesus.  He, who conquered death has more than enough strength to remove the dark clouds hovering over head, to inject the joy back into my spirit.

When the day seems darkest, I reflect on the goodness of the Lord and the clouds part and the Son is able to shine through.  Praising God again for His faithfulness to me through all storms and difficulties!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Opening the Door for Joy

⁷ The LORD is my strength and shield.
      I trust him with all my heart.
   He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
      I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.   Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  This song sung in childhood made us smile and squirm with glee at the prospect of being occupied by Jesus. http://youtu.be/t9wc8IFparU

As I have gotten older I realize that joy, given a chance –  spills out!  Especially when we are filled to capacity, that joy oozes and spills out for all the world to see. Sometimes my joy is obvious.  It manifests in the brightness of the colors I wear or the excited giddy tone and melodical musical notes of my prise songs.  The Holy Spirit translated notes not the off ones. The joy of Jesus makes me happy. Receiving grace and mercy are reasons to smile! Knowing I am abundantly and unconditionally loved by God makes my eyes dance. Daily I open the door of my heart to welcome the life affirming resident!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Image by freestone via Flickr

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Thankful thankful

Image by Steve-h via Flickr

“[Thanksgiving] I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—” 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 NIV

What a truly wonderful day! Though the sun is not glowing and the cloud awash with gray, the day is shining brilliantly with light and promise. Can you see it? Can you see anything? The pile of clothes needing to be washed or folded. The dishes showing evidence of a meal prepared or eaten? The ache of muscles because of exercise or clearing those now falling leave? Breaths taken by rote, the flexing and tapping of fingers and across keyboard or stubbing of toe on bed frame.  Each and every one are reasons to rejoice. Thank you Father for opening my eyes to see the possibilities in this day. For providing the provisions to sustain this vessel. Thank you for a voice to sing your praise. With a truly grateful heart I greet this day!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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