by Cathy Baker | Ideas, Seasonal |
by Cathy Baker
There is a gratefulness often gone unspoken, relying only on assumptions between two people. Then it’s too late, and assumptions ripen into regrets never fulfilled this side of heaven.
It’s for this reason I decided to bundle six notes of gratitude together to slip into my hubby’s luggage for a recent trip to France. With our 25th wedding anniversary just around the corner {actually, it’s today!)}, it was the perfect opportunity to leave all assumptions behind.
So I purchased a pack of note cards and began writing one for each day he was to be away, spelling out why I’m grateful for him.
Sunday’s card shared what he could expect throughout the week. A Week of Gratefulness, if you will.
Monday focused on how grateful I am for his relationship with Christ, for it is from that relationship that all else flows.
Tuesday through Thursday were specific things I’m grateful for, character-wise, and I ended Friday’s note by sharing how grateful I am for how hard he works. I chose to end the week focused on work because it doesn’t define who he is…it’s simply what he does. And he does it well. He’s one of the hardest workers I know, and for that, I am very grateful.
Did anyone in particular come to mind as you read today’s post? Grab the phone or pen and paper…don’t hesitate another moment…let the gratitude flow.
You’ll never regret it.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Beginning Monday, February 2nd, we’ll explore all things pertaining to love. Every weekday I’ll share a snippet of something I love in hopes of stirring a spirit of gratefulness, especially for the little things within us both.
On Wednesdays, the focus shifts to the extravagant love of our heavenly Father, the One True Love.
So, why the topic of love five days a week for an entire month?
Because love surrenders a fragrance of delight in its wake.
Sometimes the release is minute, insignificant to others, but fragrant to our souls all the same. And isn’t that the sweetest fragrance of all?
I look forward to sharing this journey o’ love with you!
As we usher in this new series would you consider sharing one attribute you most love about Jesus, Love defined?
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Welcome, friend.
I hope
you’ll pull up a chair and make yourself comfy while I’ll pour us a
cuppa tea. Imaginary tea, after all, is always special.
I’m asking God to STIR us, awakening us to His Word that we might allow it to STEEP deeply into
our souls. As we take a moment to SIP on one word this week, my prayer is that it will move us to the point of action.
So, how was your holiday weekend?
Ours was great! Bucky’s BBQ, time with the family, and an opportunity to attend our former church, where Brian played drums for their patriotic music service. Old Glory surged through my veins, exposing a gap in gratefulness of the heart—both as a citizen of the United States and more importantly, a primary citizen of heaven.
Heavenly Father,
Open our eyes and stir our convictions as You reveal places of ungratefulness in our lives. Those places lacking honor for the sacrifices made on our behalf.
Places blinded by busyness, selfishness, and ignorance.
Amen.
Father, will you steep Your Word deeply into our soul?
Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good…Hebrews 13:16 The Message
Is there one particular word from the above scripture you feel
led to “sip” on, to meditate on, throughout this week?
———————————–
My word this week is “you.” This tells me it’s my responsibility to see—really see—people, things, and circumstances with fresh, appreciative eyes.
Before
we bring our time to a close, consider one tangible way to “pour”
out His truth in response to the word(s) we’ve chosen above.
Thanks for stopping by today at Sharing Life Together…One Sip At A Time. Would you consider joining in the conversation by leaving your “word” in the comment box? Blessings!
He
does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take
pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those
who wait for His lovingkindness. – See more at:
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Delight,-God-Expressing#sthash.MnlQbRF6.dpuf
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Somewhere along the line grumbling became all too easy for me.
Complaining a little here. A little there. It begins subtly but swiftly takes hold of the heart, choking thankfulness while liberating a murmur that may or may not be audible to others, but with all certainty, is discernible to our God.
Last year, God revealed how my grumbling – my lack of gratitude – not only displeased Him but also negatively affected my relationship with Him as well as my testimony to others.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be
blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a
crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I
may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16 ESV
Grumbling dims God’s brilliance in our lives. Gratefulness amplifies it.
This is one reason why I’ve added Ann Voskamp’s devotional One Thousand Gifts to my spiritual arsenal. Nothing battles the ease of complaining than the power of gratitude. Each day contains scripture, a brief devotional, and “grateful spaces”, numbered lines for listing those things for which I am thankful — both great and small.
Replacing the habit of grumbling with gratefulness is a journey. I have not arrived. But as I pen each praise, each morsel of gratitude, I sense God gaining much ground in my heart, and for this I am very thankful.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Matthew 12:34
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one
who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
Psalm 50:23
