Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Whatever you do, don’t keep it to yourself!
Below are a handful of questions to prompt an attitude of gratitude within us all. I’ve started the ball rolling by sharing my own answers. If you’d like to copy the questions and post them on your blog site, that would be great!
With an attitude of gratefulness…
What is outside my window I haven’t noticed before?{Stars. Knowing that God chose to name each star [Psalm 147:4] makes me grateful that He is not an obtuse Father, but one who desires to know me—to know us— intimately.}
In this moment, I am grateful for:{Shelter in the rain, a toasty blanket, and my cup of Cafe Vienna topped off with a few marshmallows. Okay, more than a few.}
One person I thanked God for this week:{My husband. I am grateful how the Lord is growing each of us towards Him, naturally pulling us together as a couple.}
One way God is allowing me to use the gift(s) He is giving me for His glory: {Blogging! I‘ll explain more in the next post. :)}
One scripture verse I’m especially grateful for in this very moment and why: {Colossians 3:23-24. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Why: This truth sets our entire lives free, not only in our work/service life and blesses the entire family and those around us.}
One trial I’m currently walking through:{Upcoming surgery in November.}
How I’ve seen and sensed God’s love and presence during this trial:{God has worked out details in ways only He could. His presence has been evident through the love, care, and prayers from Brian, family/church family, and friends. So incredibly grateful!}
While reading Heather’s blog, Something Sew Beautiful, (a new fave!) one of her recent posts prompted the above idea. Thanks for the inspiration my California friend!
Sweet readers, I hope you’ll take a few moments tonight to pour a warm cup of coffee and slink down into a comfy chair. Allow the Holy Spirit time to lead your heart and mind as you consider each question. I also hope you’ll consider posting the questions on your blog to encourage others.
Ordinary is often the disguise of the divine. – Priscilla Shirer, Gideon
I love how Jesus [the angel of the LORD] met Gideon in the midst of his mundane task of beating out wheat. (Judges 6:11, 12)
Jesus didn’t meet me on the threshing floor (or in a wine press!) this past week, but He did encounter me in some ordinary ways:
A blanket of snow [the importance of stillness, Psalm 46:10]
Coffee with a friend [the blessings of friendship]
Spotting a cardinal atop a snow-laden branch while washing dishes [beauty]
Walking through my home [thankfulness]
Family time in the snow [sheer joy]
Smiles on my grandchildren’s faces [gifts from the Lord, Jas 1:17]
“Having your spiritual radar up in consistent anticipation of His presence—even in the midst of the joyful chaos and regular rhythms of your everyday living—is paramount in hearing God, because sometimes the place and manner you find Him is the least spectacular you’d expect.” -Priscilla Shirer
How have you encountered God in the midst of an ordinary day? I’d love to hear about it!
Today, let’s focus on Thanksgiving! We’ll turn our attention to Christmas on Monday.
Thankfulness: Write it down.
So, what better opportunity to write someone who has left an indelible impression on your life? Be as specific as possible when sharing why you’re thankful for them. Tell them how they made you feel or how God used them to draw you closer to Him. An email will do, but nothing trumps a handwritten note for the personal touch.
Another way to share the gift of thankfulness in the written form is to give thought as to why you’re thankful for those who will be seated around your Thanksgiving table. Purchase white place cards or make them yourself (very easy!) On the front, write the person’s name. Inside, begin with “Why I’m thankful for you” and then share one reason you’re thankful for them. Take turns reading the cards around the table, inviting others to share why they’re also thankful for each person.
One last idea is to begin, if you haven’t already, a gratitude journal. A great place to start is by reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I’m currently enjoying the devotional that goes along with the book. Inside, there’s space to jot down our own 1,000 gifts of gratitude.
Simple but oh so meaningful.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you
a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having
the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope
to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints…” Ephesians 1:16-18
com·mu·ni·ty: a group of people having common interests.
God designed us for community. Introverts, such as myself, sometimes struggle to spill over into other people’s lives, but my appreciation for community has been on the rise in recent weeks. What better time to show a little thankfulness?
Let’s get started…
Family – the first community, designed by God. As you can see from the picture above, baby Piper had many family members awaiting her arrival Monday night. Every “first” in the Word is significant. Family matters to God and should never be taken for granted.
Church – friendships birthed within God’s family are not perfect but the One in whom we share is, resulting in friendships that propel past church walls, denominations, or anything this world has to throw at them.
Community Bible Study group – last week, I received an email from a woman who attended the 2011 Winter Session. She shared how she and a few of her closest friends (two of which also attended the bible study) took a trip to the beach in March. It was a sweet time of fellowship as they shared with one another how the Lord had used the study to touch their lives. The woman said it was a weekend she would never forget. You see, one of the friends in attendance for both the study and the sistership weekend passed away unexpectantly in the Fall. She is now experiencing firsthand all God taught us during our time together. Truth anchors true community. (I hope to lead another community study in Jan/Feb 2012 – stay tuned!)
4 Corners – my writer’s small group consisting of four women who care more about the “being” than the “doing”.
Upstate Fellowship of Writers (soon to be Word Weavers) – my large community of writers where victories, set backs, and honest critiques (ouch!) are all shared under the umbrella of trust.
Light Brigade – my online writing community—encouragement stretching across the States into 26 different homes. For some, this is the only writing camaraderie they share. Talk to them about the importance of community.
What groups of people are you especially thankful for today?
“Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.” – Corrie ten Boom
Cathy Baker
A Subscriber Gift for You
Join the Creative Pauses Facebook Community
Vacation Devotional Guides
My Amazon Affiliation
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.comand affiliated sites.
Are you a member of the Creative Pauses community?
Sign up for Cathy's monthly newsletter to join our community and receive the latest seasonal gifts, posts, behind-the-scenes information, creative resources, and giveaways!
Unsubscribe at any time.
Welcome to the Creative Pauses community! Make yourself right at home.
