Exercising the Thanksgiving Muscle

I am learning that muscle memory is a good thing to have when I work out at the fitness center.  When I miss a few weeks of exercising, it seems like I have to start all over in training the muscles to do what they are intended to do.  After weeks and months of consistent exercise, I do not have to think through the process as much.  Even though it takes effort, it’s like it is second nature to complete the workout.

Especially around this time of the year, the Thanksgiving muscle comes into focus.  Just like my need to work out physically, I also need to exercise my gratefulness muscles.  The more intentional I am about looking for how God and people are blessing me, and others, the easier it is to be aware of their gifts.  When I am thankful, I acknowledge the gift and giver and realize once again that I am not on this journey alone.  Unlike physical exercise, the thanksgiving memory muscle is not limited by temperature, weather, time of the day or night, or location.

I’ve noticed that when the thanksgiving muscle memory is maximized, I don’t have to think twice before I:

* take time to notice and acknowledge my blessings

* express my gratitude through prayer

* speak a word of thanks and encouragement

* jot a note, send a card or write a letter

* make a telephone call to express my gratitude

* look for ways to bless someone else, too

It is important to exercise and train both the physical muscles and the thanksgiving muscles.  And since we are abundantly blessed, it is vital to keep the memory going on the thanksgiving muscle by exercising it every day of the year. 

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 95:2

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-3

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3

A Doctor in the Family

The call came at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2013.  Chad passed the oral defense of his final project at George W. Truett Theological Seminary and will graduate in December with a Doctor of Ministry degree.  Much has happened since Chad began the first semester of doctoral seminar classes three and one-half years ago.  During this time, he has continued his ministry at Sienna Ranch Baptist Church as the Pastor of Teaching and Missions.  He has led trips to Senegal, Africa, to work with the Mankanyan people.  Their church has sent a group four times a year for several years.  About a year and a half into the seminary program, Chad began dating Lori.  They dated, married, were blessed with the birth of Ryen, and Chad adopted David.  It has been amazing to watch Chad commit to what was best whether it was marriage, fatherhood, church or school.  He determined his priorities and managed them well.

I talked with Chad by phone about an hour before he was to defend his final project and reminded him that I would be praying for him the entire time he was meeting with the committee.  While praying, I pictured him sitting at the end of the table with the questioning professors around him.  The more I prayed the more obvious it was to me that he wasn’t there alone.  I knew that God was with him because He had promised He would be.  Then I “began at the very beginning a very good place to start” and thanked God for sparing and blessing Chad and Brad’s lives many years ago when they were born two months early.  And the thoughts continued to come as I remembered and was grateful for so many people who have ministered to, invested in and loved Chad through the years.  I thanked God specifically for people who have invested in Chad’s life…family, friends, the nursery and childcare workers at church, Sunday School teachers, pastors, choir teachers, RA leaders, preschool, children’s and youth ministers, camp sponsors, basketball coaches, school teachers/professors, roommates and friends at college and seminary…the churches who have offered him the opportunity to grow, minister and serve…Tallowood Baptist; First Baptist Lake City, Colorado; First Baptist Brownwood; Shiloh Baptist in Crawford; Trinity Baptist in Missouri City; and Sienna Ranch Baptist Church…and some of the events and experiences that have helped shape Chad’s life…sitting in the car with Larry, on the street by Grace Presbyterian while Scott was at baseball practice, and asking Jesus to be his Savior, having surgery on his eyes after fourth grade that allowed him to see in focus, Camp Tallowood, mission trips all over the world, the Sunday night at church after the conclusion of the World Youth Congress when he said “Yes” to Jesus’ call on his life to serve Him in ministry, choosing Howard Payne University for college and then George W. Truett Theological Seminary for his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees…being blessed by choosing Lori to be his wife and David to be his son, and then being blessed with the birth of Ryen.

So when Chad was sitting in that room, he was not there by himself.  He is a product of the people who have loved, taught and invested in him through the years, as well as the experiences, places and events that have been part of his life. 

“Lord, thank you for your love, faithfulness, provision, blessing on and presence in Chad’s life.  I’m grateful for the people, places, and experiences that continue to help shape him.”

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
    and patience is better than pride.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 

2 Timothy 2:15

I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

Well Worth the Read

 

On the shelf at Barnes and Noble

(Max Lucado, you are in great company)

Also available on Amazon

It’s in print and on the shelf in bookstores!  Kirk Lewis, my brother-in-law, has written a book, Put Away Childish Things, about 9 very familiar Old Testament Bible stories we heard, read about and remember from our childhood.  Too many times, we think of those as children’s Bible stories and miss out on the lessons, wisdom and blessings to be learned and applied as adults.  Written in a free-verse style of poetry, the choice and grouping of words lead you to picture the characters as real people.  The book depicts how time and time again God chooses ordinary people, who are willing to trust and obey Him, to do extraordinary tasks.  If you are like me, you will read the book as fast as you can all the way through.  Then you will go back and read one story at a time, taking it in detail by detail, and desiring to apply what you have learned.

Even more important that being in print, on the bookshelf, or in our hands to read is when we take to heart how great the Father loves us.  Today He desires to have that same kind of intimate relationship, trust and obedience as in Old Testament days.  As we put away childish things, may it be for the express purpose of knowing and loving God more and gracefully maturing in faith, hope and love so we can love and serve others well in the process.

 Kirk and Robin's precious grandsons

 Eli and Josiah, as you grow, may the Bible stories and

 lessons learned continue to grow along with you.

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

Pumpkins

There are definitely a plethora of pumpkins around town.  You can find them at farms, in pumpkin patches, at grocery stores, schools and churches.  Some are used for carving, while others are used in decorating and baking.  Pumpkins can even be a source of inspiration, encouragement and motivation.

 And because God has transformed my life, I want to:

* Keep the “dirt” off so I can be clean and useful.

* Make sure the “yucky stuff” is constantly scooped out so it doesn’t take up residence inside me.

* Have “clear eyes” to focus and see what God is doing, where He wants me to go and what He wants me to do.

* Have a “smiling mouth” that speaks the truth in love, encourages, and invites others to know Jesus.

* Choose each day for Christ’s light to “shine through me” so others will want to know, love, serve and praise Him, too.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

God Knew...and Provided

These past few weeks, I have been acutely aware of God’s provision from the past for the present.  Several experiences have come to mind that have been cause for much gratitude.

God knew that Brad and Chad were going to be born two months early.  The expense of a new compressor for the air conditioner was the reason we thought we needed to delay our trip to Albuquerque to visit my sister and brother-in-law.  That was the week the boys were born!  Since Chad and Brad stayed in the hospital 4 and 5 weeks, it was a blessing to be near home.

God knew when I took a study course on I Thessalonians, over 20 years ago, that when we were challenged to read all 5 chapters every day for 6 weeks that verses 16-18 in chapter 5 would become life verses for me.  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

God knew that I was going to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Precious friendships had already been established with Melinda and Kenny long before they were diagnosed with MS and many years before I was.  Because of them, I read everything I could about MS and was constantly on the lookout for anything that might be beneficial for them.  Their faith and trust in God’s provision continue to be an example and encouragement for me.

God knew that when I was diagnosed with MS that I would need to give up anything with caffeine.  He allowed me to give it up for the right reason two years before, when I decided to quit drinking cokes in order to pray for Brad and Chad their senior year in high school.  I used that as a reminder to pray and ask God to give Larry and me the privilege of teaching the boys whatever else was needed before they entered college.  I decided to still do that when they went off to school.  Because I had already chosen to give up caffeine, it wasn’t something I “had to do” when the doctor said, “No more caffeine.” 

God knew that I would not be able to carry a baby or care for them by myself when we began to have grandchildren, at least not yet.  But 21, 17, and 15 years ago a dear friend, Missy, invited me to come spend a few days with her when her babies were born.  Some friends and I were at the hospital with Missy and Steve when Rachel was born and then I was able to help out with Benjamin and Joshua when they went home.  Those are special treasured memories.  These days, I get to share the experience with our grandchildren in different ways with Larry helping.  What a blessing to have been able to experience both!

And because God knows, it is exciting and humbling to realize that He is using what happens today to prepare and provide for me in the days and years to come.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8