My awesome wife came up with this great idea for Thanksgiving. She got a cool looking mason jar, which of course are plentiful in Lancaster county, and tied a autumn colored bow on it with a card that said "Thankful Jar". Each night throughout November after dinner the members of our family would write down what we were thankful for, pray a prayer of thanks to God, and put it in the jar.
It has helped me to be thankful. To remember what abundance I have and to recognize the source of that abundance: God. All good and perfect things come from the Father above (James 1:17).
I believe most if not all of us, take for granted the abundance with which we live. We have hobbies and entertainment. We have food and clothes. We spend more on hobbies than most people earn. We throw out more food than some people eat. We have a great abundance of "things" around us. Many of those who are "poorer" in the United States still have more than most in the world. Yet God doesn't count us by our "things". You and I are on the same playing field with God as every other person on this earth.
For that I am thankful. Truly thankful.
It's because of who God is and what he has done for us that levels the playing field. He sees us as we really are. Not by the things around us. Not by some status given by men. Not by what our situation in life dictates. He sees through all of that and sees us. People. Lives.
I'm thankful for that. Why? As a result of him seeing the real me, past the earthly abundance of life, he sees my real need. He sees my brokenness and brings peace to me through Christ. And now the peace of Christ rules in my heart (Colossians 3:15). This is what ALL of my thankfulness boils down to. I am very grateful for everything God has given, but for the peace of Christ I am beyond words of thanks.
This abundance of peace, abundance of Jesus, surpasses any other abundance.
The playing field is even. For me. For you. For everyone. God gives everyone equal access to him through Jesus. No matter our failings. No matter our earnings. No matter our status with others. He sees through the earthly abundance. To provide me with an abundance which will last forever.
For that I am truly thankful.
worship Him 24/7...
scott
It has helped me to be thankful. To remember what abundance I have and to recognize the source of that abundance: God. All good and perfect things come from the Father above (James 1:17).
I believe most if not all of us, take for granted the abundance with which we live. We have hobbies and entertainment. We have food and clothes. We spend more on hobbies than most people earn. We throw out more food than some people eat. We have a great abundance of "things" around us. Many of those who are "poorer" in the United States still have more than most in the world. Yet God doesn't count us by our "things". You and I are on the same playing field with God as every other person on this earth.
For that I am thankful. Truly thankful.
It's because of who God is and what he has done for us that levels the playing field. He sees us as we really are. Not by the things around us. Not by some status given by men. Not by what our situation in life dictates. He sees through all of that and sees us. People. Lives.
I'm thankful for that. Why? As a result of him seeing the real me, past the earthly abundance of life, he sees my real need. He sees my brokenness and brings peace to me through Christ. And now the peace of Christ rules in my heart (Colossians 3:15). This is what ALL of my thankfulness boils down to. I am very grateful for everything God has given, but for the peace of Christ I am beyond words of thanks.
This abundance of peace, abundance of Jesus, surpasses any other abundance.
The playing field is even. For me. For you. For everyone. God gives everyone equal access to him through Jesus. No matter our failings. No matter our earnings. No matter our status with others. He sees through the earthly abundance. To provide me with an abundance which will last forever.
For that I am truly thankful.
worship Him 24/7...
scott