And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Do you have a first memory of God? How old were you? One of my most treasured memories is when I must have been around two years old. I was walking through the basement halls of a Kansas Presbyterian church, holding my mother’s hand. She was taking me to my Sunday school room, while going to her room to teach Sunday school. As my mother was holding my hand then, God has held not just my hand, but all of me from the very beginning. As a 12-year-old, He held me while I loomed over her casket just 10 years after that precious walk through those church halls. He held me as I took my wedding vows, moved towns, cried, worked, loved our family, grieved, celebrated milestones, and walked through three cancer diagnosis’s. Hills and valleys are woven throughout our tapestries of life. They tend to wax and wane, although admittedly, some stay for a lifetime. I believe that hills and valleys are always both present at the same time, just one may paint thicker and heavier than the other at certain points in our tapestry. Romans 8:28 is one of His verses the Lord keeps close to my heart: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." At first, He showed me that we are to love Him, for He created us to love Him and love others. Next, He reminded me that He is working for our good, especially when we don’t think that, see it or feel it, because His ways are higher than our ways. But I truly felt the wholeness of this scripture when He showed me: “ALL THINGS.” 
A few years ago, I woke up on
Thanksgiving morning, just months after my second tongue cancer surgery, hearing His voice asking me to be thankful for ALL. For the first time in my life, I was! I could see the entire tapestry. I was thankful for everything…the good, the bad and the ugly of my life. I could see the bright, bold colors and the dark, dingy ones. I could see the parts of heavy paint and other parts of bright, flowing paints. It was liberating to see God’s goodness abound in every area in my life, no matter the heaviness or lightness. His mercy and grace love us beyond our finite thoughts. Just as He walked through those church halls with this 2-year-old and my mother, He walks with each of us every day. He creates our tapestry as part of His story. He gives us His Word to cherish, to study, to encourage, and to fight our battles with. God is our sun and our shield through our blessings and battlefields. Praise be to Him! Let’s pray: Father God, we praise You for who You are, our redeemer and our friend. You created the universe and everything in it. Your hand guides, provides and sustains us in every situation, every day. Forgive us as we struggle to make sense of events that rock our lives. Lead us to know You, to love You, to share You with others, and to understand that You are the author and painter of our lives. May we come humbly before You with a heart that understands our lives are Your precious tapestry. In Your mighty name we pray, Amen.
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Can Giving bring Gratitude? Simply put, Absolutely! Have you ever observed someone generously sharing their time, expertise, or wisdom with others, even though you are keenly aware they are going through a deep valley of their own? Think of Jesus’ time on earth. He was here only for a short time, approximately 33 years. Of that time, He spent only about three years spreading and sharing the Gospel, His Gospel, the Good News! He healed people, cared for others, and taught us all. During His sacred time here on earth Jesus was omniscient, which means He was all knowing. And what did He know? He knew that even with every step He took, with every prayer He prayed and even with every person He touched, He was going to die on a cross. He was going to be beaten and bruised. He was going to be crucified for all of us. “They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get” (Mark 15:22-24). While Christ Gave His all to us, He knew He would die for us. He knew His body would be broken to bless us. He Gave sacrificially. This is the ultimate Giving. Jesus Gave freely. In His despair where He cried out to God, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”, He Gave. It can take spiritual eyes to notice someone who Gives in the midst of their challenges. But when we are fortunate enough to see these special moments in life, let us pray for them and cheer them on for they have learned to be thankful for the little and big parts of their life, and therefore in all parts of their life, while they continue to think of others. This is where Giving and Gratitude also create the infinity symbol. Two continuous small circles, looped together, forever intwined, never ending. Giving and Gratitude flow gracefully, woven from one to another. They are a glorious path to walk and live. A specific step in Grabbing for Gratitude is Giving to others. It opens our hearts, minds and souls to reach beyond ourselves and touch another beautiful person. Giving requires us to transform our thoughts away from ourselves and to place them onto someone else. Giving helps us move from “You owe me” thoughts, to “How can I be there for you?” actions. Just as Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, He calls on us to do the same in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Don’t think you have anything to give? That can be challenging. We may want to be His hands and feet but simply don’t know how to give or with what can we give. Let’s remember His creative power and that we are made in His image. What ways has He made you, you? What do you enjoy? What are you good at? What needs do you see in the world? 
Prayerfully start with those questions,
asking God to reveal specific answers to ways you can give to others. Jesus Gave freely. He gave us His all. Then shouldn’t we also Give freely, without expecting anything in return? For in fact, that is exactly what Giving means, to release to someone else, fully. Giving to others is an active, visual way we can humbly lay our Gratitude at the feet of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Let’s Pray: Lord God, our God. Oh, how You give and gave to us! Your love, leading and healing know no bounds. You created our lives to walk in alignment with You. Lead us Father God to serve You, to serve others, to love You, and to love others through our giving. Remind us daily that every perfect gift comes from You and therefore, we can give freely. Compel us to be a light in the world, reflecting You. In Your gracious name we pray, Amen
The Word of the Lord. The Word of the Lord is our strength. The Word of the Lord is our refuge. The Word of the Lord is our guide. 
The Word of the Lord is our delight.
The Word of the Lord is our friend. The Word of the Lord is our healer. The Word of the Lord is our refiner. The Word of the Lord is our love. The Word of the Lord is our treasure. 
The Word of the Lord is our comforter. The Word of the Lord is our encouragement. 
May we always search for His Word. May we always carry it in our hearts and minds. What Word is He bringing you today? Father God, we praise you for who you are, the creator of sun and the oceans. Thank you for our lives. Help us to live in Your abundant Word. Amen. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 |