Everyday Thankfulness

What does it mean to be thankful?

I know that is a question that we ask children, especially around Thanksgiving.  We spend all month naming things that we are thankful for and then we rush into Christmas.  Now, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHRISTMAS and celebrating Jesus’ birth. But I want to go back to thanksgiving, giving thanks without ceasing.

I always try to do the social media challenge to name something every day that I am thankful for.  It is easy at first, but I always seem to stop halfway through!  Silly, huh?  I should have a million things on my list! Boy, I am guilty of not voicing my gratefulness! 

Just recently, I volunteered my time to helping a colleague with a project.  I stayed up really late working on this project.  I e-mailed it and felt great.  Then, I didn’t get a response.  So I texted to make sure it was delivered.  Still nothing.  Hmmm.  Maybe they are just busy.  Some days later, I received a message saying, “I got it.” PERIOD.  END OF MESSAGE. W-H-A-T!!

I rolled away from my computer, mumbling, vowing to never help this person again.  But, then.  God captured my heart.  I was reminded of the times that He has poured His gifts on me.  I am guilty of not taking the time to thank Him.  Where would I be if God said, “You know what Angela, I am done helping you because you didn’t say, ‘Thank you’?” I would not be alive!  I would not be anywhere close to where I am today. 

 It was so easy for me to shake my finger at the other person.  But I began to realize that I had a pride issue.  Ouch!  I didn’t capture how God used my gifts to bless the other person, even when they didn’t say, “Thank you!” After all, I need to ask myself, “Whose glory are you shining?” If it’s mine, we are in really deep trouble!  In truth, I want Jesus’ glory to shine through me!

So, in life’s everyday adventures, I seek what God wants me to learn to be like Him.  In Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Jesus, thanks for using me, in the midst of my temper tantrum, to shine Your grace and love!

Your thankful daughter,

Angela

Beautifully Broken

You know I often write when I am on a mountain top.  When everything is going great and I can see how God is moving!

Well, this time is different.  I have been going through some difficult times and I kind of felt like God left me!  Now, I know He never does and He never will.  But do I really believe that?  Do I wake up every morning expecting God to be waiting for me to talk to Him?  I can’t say that I have been lately.  I am feeling very ashamed.  After all, I just spent the last year of my life testifying how God uses our weaknesses for His glory.  Come on, now, is not the time to have setbacks!  People may think it was an act or a cry for attention.

I had dreams that my public speaking career would take off.  And, well, that has not happened.  So, now is definitely not the time to experience hardships.  Who in their right mind is going to ask a woman who is not only is in a wheelchair, has a speech impairment, and now, is experiencing a dry season.  The world says, “ha, ha!  No one is going to want you.”

But this evening as we were driving home from church, I felt God tugging on my heart.  I heard Jesus ask, “Who do you say that I am?” Immediately, I thought, “Jesus, you’re my redeemer!  My hope.  My Salvation!  You’re mighty to save!”

Folks, we don’t have to have it all together all of the time.  We will experience hardships.  But the beautiful thing is God uses our weaknesses and our doubts to shine!  My cracked vessel allows his love to overflow to the world! Don’t let hard times rule your days.  Surround yourself with love.  Get in the Bible! Sing out from the depths of your soul! Talk to Him!

Beautifully broken,

Angela