Promise for Today - Choose to Acknowledge

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”
John 3:27 NLT

It’s time for a refresher course in an Attitude of Gratitude. In our flesh, it’s too easy to see the downside of life. A friend of mine sent a message a while back that clearly showed her CHOICE to look for something for which to give thanks.

She had been working mandatory overtime for several weeks. She was tired and wanted to whine about it, but that day she came home, her A/C had gone out… on one of the hottest days of the year. She CHOSE to thank God that she had the extra money on hand to pay for the repair. She had to put her uniforms in the dryer for work the next day (while the A/C was down); she CHOSE to thank God that she had a dryer AND that it worked! She also CHOSE to thank God that she was perspiring enough to cleanse her body from toxins (also God’s design).

How many times do we miss the opportunity to acknowledge God in ALL our ways? The old car/van/truck (with no car payment) that still runs faithfully. The flat tire that happened in the parking lot at work could just as easily have happened on the freeway while traveling at 70mph. You might say that NO flat tire would have been better. Let’s see, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven." Perhaps we needed an opportunity to practice an Attitude of Gratitude or to find a reason to choose to acknowledge God…

Prayer:

Father,
         We haven’t the words to properly praise You for all the ways You provide for us – spiritually and physically. Forgive us for the times we don’t acknowledge You. We love You, Lord. Help us to be more aware. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

What's your 20?

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

It seems like the older I get, the faster the years go by. And here we are - getting ready to head into a new year. So many times we hear people say, "I'm so ready for this year to be over!" You may have even said it yourself. 

As we make plans for the new year, perhaps listing resolutions, we have to ask ourselves this question: Where are we in life? Have we been sidelined by a physical illness or emotional injury? Did we decide to take a shortcut along the way and then miss our turn? Were we distracted from our directions and then had to detour?  Did we promote someone in our lives to traffic control who had no business blowing a whistle and telling us where to go? How about this - are we only focusing on the tough things that happened this past year?

Today's Promise is one of Paul's greatest teachings - I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead...  Let's not focus on what we've lost. Rather, let's thank God for what we had for as long as we had it. If you're going to look back, I challenge you to look for the good because there's plenty of it. Square one - God is still on His throne. You're still breathing. He still has a plan and purpose for your life - plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray this prayer from Guideposts, make our new year a happy one. Not by shielding us from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening us to bear it if it comes. Not by making our path easy, but by making us sturdy enough to tread any path. Not by taking hardship from us, but by taking all cowardice and fear from our hearts as we meet hardships. Not by granting us unbroken sunshine, but by keeping our face bright even in the shadows. Not by making our life always pleasant, but by showing us where men and His cause need us most and by making us zealous to be there and to help. God, make our year a happy one. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

REMINDER: Attitude of Gratitude

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”

John 3:27 NLT

Jumping the gun a little for November thankfulness, but this is a favorite of mine and it’s time for a refresher course in an Attitude of Gratitude. In our flesh, it’s too easy to see the down side of life. A friend of mine sent a message a while back that clearly showed her CHOICE to look for something for which to give thanks. 

She had been working mandatory overtime for several weeks. She was tired and wanted to whine about it, but that day she came home, her A/C had gone out… on one of the hottest days of the year. She chose to thank God that she had the extra money on hand to pay for the repair. She had to put her uniforms in the dryer for work the next day (while the A/C was down); she chose to thank God that she has a dryer AND that it works! She also chose to thank God that she was perspiring enough to cleanse her body from toxins (also God’s design). 

How many times do we miss the opportunity to acknowledge God in all our ways? The old car/van/truck – that still runs faithfully with no car payment. The flat tire that happened in the parking lot at work could just as easily have happened on the freeway at 70mph. You might say that NO flat tire would have been better. Let’s see, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” Perhaps you needed an opportunity to practice an Attitude of Gratitude or find a way to acknowledge God…

Prayer:

Father,

         We haven’t the words to properly praise You for all the ways You provide for us – spiritually and physically. Forgive us for the times we don’t acknowledge You. We love You, Lord. Help us to be more aware. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Acknowledging God

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”

John 3:27 NLT

It’s time for a refresher course in an Attitude of Gratitude. In our flesh, it’s too easy to see the down side of life. A friend of mine sent a message a while back that clearly showed her CHOICE to look for something for which to give thanks. 

She had been working mandatory overtime for several weeks. She was tired and wanted to whine about it, but that day she came home, her A/C had gone out… on one of the hottest days of the year. She chose to thank God that she had the extra money on hand to pay for the repair. She had to put her uniforms in the dryer for work the next day (while the A/C was down); she chose to thank God that she has a dryer AND that it works! She also chose to thank God that she was perspiring enough to cleanse her body from toxins (also God’s design). 

How many times do we miss the opportunity to acknowledge God in all our ways? The old car/van/truck – that still runs faithfully with no car payment. The flat tire that happened in the parking lot at work could just as easily have happened on the freeway at 70mph. You might say that NO flat tire would have been better. Let’s see, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” Perhaps you needed an opportunity to practice an Attitude of Gratitude or find a way to acknowledge God…

Prayer:

Father,

         We haven’t the words to properly praise You for all the ways You provide for us – spiritually and physically. Forgive us for the times we don’t acknowledge You. We love You, Lord. Help us to be more aware. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen