Thanks in all things


Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. 
–Melody Beattie


My pastor friend James lives in Chico, California, not far from Paradise. His church recently voted to close its doors, but in the wake of the horrific fires, their doors are open again. Members of surrounding communities have come together, bringing clothing and shoes and diapers and more. The clothes come by the truckload. People are offering new shirts, new jeans, socks, underwear—everything.

One day this past week, James filled the bed of his pickup truck with clothing and set off for a distribution center in another community. To get there, he hopped on the local toll road, realizing that it would cost him $5 to drive the toll road—but it was fastest, and these people who had lost so much deserved a break. So he set off, a man on a mission. A pastor with a purpose.

As James neared the end of his drive, he took the exit off the toll road and chose a gate without even thinking. Then this amazing thing happened, one of those “God moments” we so often miss.

The toll booth worker glanced at James’s truck and saw the clothing and supplies in the bed. He smiled and raised the gate. Go ahead, sir, he said. Your toll’s been paid. Taken by surprise, James asked who had paid his toll. The man simply smiled and said, Have a great day, sir. God bless you.

This, friends, is how God shows up in the world: in small, unexpected glimmers that take hold and grow, passing from one to another.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Strike a match. Set your world on fire with the Love of Christ.

Monday Gratitude begins close to home. Give thanks to God for those in your life who are like family, whether blood relatives or simply dear friends. Choose at least one, and tell them how you feel. 1 Chronicles 16:1-36

Tuesday Consider sending a note of appreciation and thanks to someone you seldom see or speak with. Give thanks. Exodus 14:13-14

Wednesday As you prepare for Thanksgiving, reach out to someone who perhaps does not have anyone with whom to share a meal. Consider inviting someone to join you, or make plans to assist at a dinner for those in need, such as at St. Malachi. Matthew 25:31-40

Thursday If you choose to shop today, make an extra effort to be kind and generous with those whom you encounter. Thank the public servants who cannot take a holiday. Ezra 3:10-13

Friday If you choose to participate in Black Friday shopping, consider picking up an item for a local mission. Give thanks for God’s generosity in your life. Psalm 119:89-96

Saturday Today is Small Business Saturday. If you choose to shop today, consider choosing a local merchant. Your business is a big “thank you.” Proverbs 21:3

Sunday Today is Christ the King Sunday. Advent begins next week. Spend some time in quiet stillness and reflect on the waiting that lies ahead. Matthew 2:1-18

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. 
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. 
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. --Tecumseh

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more