A friend sent a card with a note encouraging us to keep giving thanks, something we’ve often mentioned here as absolutely essential for living victoriously.
So with that in mind, and today’s news fresh in mind, I’m thankful:
- My platelet transfusion went through successfully rafter a bad reaction Monday.
- My amazing wife remains always faithful and devoted to me.
- I have clean safe drinking water direct from my tap.
- I didn’t have to choose between food and medicine.
- Nobody I know was shot, raped, tortured, or mutilated today.
- No one bombed my town or house.
- I don’t have to worry about doping or other secrets coming out.
- My financial budget is strained like so many others, but it is in better shape than the Government’s because I don’t spend seven times what I make.
- Leukemia isn’t in charge of my life; Jesus is.
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If you want to be free of worry, GIVE thanks. Try making a list of specific things for which you are thankful, eg not just your friends, but what it IS they do or what characteristic you appreciate.
If you want to actually put this to action, then LIVE thanks. That is, DO something with it. Consider giving up a daily or weekly habit you don’t need and sponsor a child who needs your guidance and love. Invest in a family’s future by providing a clean drinking water filtration kit. Buy a milk goat to help a single mom support her family. The ideas are endless. Here are some companies with VERY high integrity that make such grants available as they reach out to those in deepest need to help them become more self sufficient:
CAMA Services www.camaservices.org
Compassion www.compassion.com
World Vision www.worldvision.org
Samaritan’s Purse www.samaritanspurse.org
LIVE SIMPLY SO OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:40
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I’ve ended up where I needed to be.” Bryan thought of your hospital ministry as I read above quote. Thankful you are where you needed to be.
Loving prayers with you both.
I am thankful that the Lord reveals His majesty through the beauty of His creation – I receive lovely sunrises and sunsets and cloud formations, etc as personal gifts. I thought of you this morning while reading Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased. It is so encouraging to others that you continue to bring a sacrifice of praise through your pain, when it doesn’t come as easily to be thankful.
What a great verse to remind us that giving thanks leads to living thanks by ministering to others, in deed or prayer, or both!