Learning to be Thankful

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Good Morning! I was just thinking about the importance of being thankful.

A lot of us say that we are thankful for this and that but then when something goes wrong or doesn't go our way, the complaints come pouring out and we forget all the wonderful reasons why we were thankful to begin with. God knows I have done it before and sometimes still do....but thank God He knows that I am a work in progress.  I once heard a minister say while preaching that complaints are like gas, no one wants to be around someone who is always complaining just like no one wants to be around someone who is constantly passing gas, LOL! As nasty as that sounds I can wholeheartedly agree that complaints can sometimes be offensive especially when it seems like the person complaining has it all yet can't see it. I am so glad that God knows all about it! He is the one that can see what is causing the discomfort and like the true friend that He is, He is the only one that can truly soothe your soul.

So how can we be real with one another without sharing the ups and downs of life? I mean sometimes you have to release! Naturally, if we don't pass gas or have a bowel movement we become backed up, irritable, miserable and unable to function. Spiritually if we don't release the tension, stress and cares we are carrying around we can become the same way. Many people have found different outlets of release, talking to a friend, exercise, poetry, writing, singing, dancing etc. but one thing that I have learned is that though those things help, only prayer and the "casting of burdens" at the Lord's feet is what will truly lighten the load and help you to be free and rid of those weights, those burdens.

The word of truth says these things:

· Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

· Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never permit the righteous to be moved.(Psalm 55:22)

These scriptures are a reminder that yes sometimes we do go through! There are times that things don't work out the way we wanted, visualized or planned it. There are times where we feel alone like no one can understand what we are going through or we become scared that they are going to judge us or our situation. There are times we are sick or lose a loved one or close friend. These are only but a few examples of the things that can weigh us down and even blind us to the fact that we are still blessed! You don't think so? You are still alive and reading this so you still have your life to be thankful for and get this, the word reminds us that you have someone to turn to that will help and the word is truth for the truth always stands on its own and never changes.  Give the above scriptures a shot the next time you feel weighed down and see what happens...

Today I want you to remember that you are SPECIAL! Sometimes the things that we go through cause us to forget that but I want to remind you today not to forget how special you are.   It is no coincidence that you are reading this now.  God made you before the beginning of time, He already planned for you to look the way you look, have the personality you have and be who you are and He even knows what you can and cannot handle. 

Check out what Psalm 139: 13-16 says:

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

There is only one you and no one, not even your twin if you have one, has your heart or your fingerprints. Truly there is something that God wants to extract solely from you for His glory. He wants a deeper relationship with us all.  We actually need Him even though we may not realize it at times or only at times of distress. The key to getting closer is GRATITUDE. When I give a gift to someone whether they like it or not, I would hope that they are thankful that I even thought of them enough to get them something and present it to them, not only is it nice but it also makes me want to give more when someone is thankful.  Today realize God has given you a gift....your life and he wants to give you more! Life is something that cannot be bought, when God says it is your time to go, then it is your time even if you have the best doctors in the world; he has the final say. The wonderful thing about God is that He knows that we don't want to die, so He made eternal life available to us by paying a price that no one else could afford to pay. That really is the only life that was able to be bought in that sense yet I can't stop here and sugar coat what that price was. It wasn't money, it wasn't status or jewels or anything materialistic like that. He shed His blood for us and not only was it shed but He took on the brutal punishment for our sins so that if we choose to we would have the option to have eternal life with him; so eternal life was purchased for us by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ. You can now have eternal life if you choose to.  I know I sound like some sort of track or something right now but I have to keep it real.  You only have to make up in your mind that you will accept the offer made available to you and if so then he will give you the greatest gift in the world, the Holy Ghost. It is with the Holy Ghost, God's spirit that you can overcome sin and death. We are not perfect but God is and with that gift, He will complete us to become all that we need to be in order to truly experience eternal life.

The command given to accept this gift is found in Acts 2:38:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There are so many things to be thankful for! Yes, things aren't always "perfect", they are not always what we would have them to be but thank God for a new day and also for a new opportunity to get closer to Him and get right. God is awesome! He loves each and every one of us, don't forget it! Learn to be thankful for every moment that you are alive and realize you have someone who loves you more than this whole world and His name is Jesus! 

God Bless, Peace & Love! ~ Limarie