What Are You Thankful For?

*Grabs Hot Chocolate*

Have a seat with the King....

 

This past Sunday I was working in Kid's Church and our lesson was about being thankful and the story of the Ten Lepers. Let's just say....I felt totally convicted after leaving out of KID'S CHURCH. As I was discussing with the children about being thankful I emphasized the following:

• When someone opens the door for you, you should say "Thank You."
• When someone picks up something that you dropped, you should say "Thank You."
• When someone gives you something that you really want, you should say "Thank You."
• We should tell the Lord "Thank You" everyday.

Okay so here's my question to you... HOW OFTEN DO YOU GIVE THANKS? I'm not talking about the usual "Thank You Lord for life, health, and strength." How often do you thank our Father above for the things that you really really really want and He gives it you? I'm guilty of being so caught up in the fact that I received what I wanted, that I often forget to tell Him "Thank You."

1 Thesselonians 5:16-18 states, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" [NKJV]. 

Hmmm...a thought to ponder right? "...IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!" After Kid's Church ended and I was driving home, I began questioning myself. I told the children to say "Thank You" for everything, but I don't say it enough. The good thing is that our Father in Heaven is not like us. He is not holding a grudge against me for not saying "Thank You." However, He simply opened my eyes to see that I need to begin saying it more often. It should become so natural to me to say "Thank You" for everything and not the usual things. Even when I'm caught up in excitement, I need to pause for a quick second and say "Thank You Lord." Realistically, without Him all of me is impossible and the least I can do is give Him thanks. 

My challenge to you is to evaluate how often you are thankful and if you find yourself guilty as I found myself, and begin a routine of thanks.

Take A Sip:

GIVE THANKS!

REJOICE ALWAYS!

Read:

-1 Thesselonians 5:16-18

-Luke 17:11-19 (Ten Lepers)

(Photo courtesy of versifylife.com)

FAITH THE SIZE OF A mustard seed.

                                                            

My dear coffee/tea/hot chocolate sippers,

It has been a while since I have last posted; however, after the situation I experienced within the past two days I feel that it is best to share HOW GREAT God is.

So here it goes....

As many of you know, I have taken my certification exam TWICE! It is such a tedious task to accomplish, and it determines so much of my future. The fact of the matter is that I did not pass. When I received my results yesterday I lost every ounce of faith. To be perfectly honest, I was angry at God. "Why didn't you let me pass this test Lord? You know how important it is for me to pass." I had been praying since the day of the exam that His "perfect will be done." Realistically, I didn't want His perfect will to be done as much as I wanted my "perfect" plan to be executed.

I was devastated to read English 020 -- "Did not pass"...English 021--"Did not pass"...Heartbroken I was. I choked up at the thought of reading those words. Here I am...I failed the most important test of my life. My self esteem (on a scale of 1-10) went from 10 to 0! "Am I not as smart as I think I am?" Yes! Those thoughts hit my mind. I didn't want to talk to the Lord because I believed that He failed me.

After going to sleep and waking up, I was refreshed. Why? I was refreshed because I WOKE UP, alive and healthy. My family was well and I did not receive any disturbing news overnight. What I thought was the end of the world, was simply a test of my faith. I was taking a shower and talking to the Lord. Driving to my observation site and talking to the Lord. As I was sitting in a quiet classroom overseeing a group of 7th grade students as they took an exam, and in the QUIETEST environment, the Lord spoke LOUD AND CLEAR. He said to me "You only need faith the size of a mustard seed. A mustard seed my child is so tiny which means that you only need the smallest amount of faith. Don't you understand that I will provide for you the things that you need." Hmmm... Lord that's some mighty fine words to speak to Your recently discouraged daughter. He instantly showed me what I need to do and why I need to do it. Six months before graduation and I am switching my major from English Education to English with a concentration in Literature. My last semester of undergrad I will be spending my time gaining more knowledge needed to pass this test. Those gaps that I'm missing on the exam are what I am to learn next semester and even in my grad program. I tell you, God is so awesome and He never fails to show us that He is awesome.

Take a sip:
All you need is FAITH!
Your plan isn't His plan!
His plan is PERFECT!

Read:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Matthew 7