How to Have the Best Day Ever

“Gigi,” Lauren said, purple Popsicle juice dripping from her chin. “This is the best day ever.” 

 Her simple declaration made me smile. The best day ever. 

Thinking back over the events of her day, I found nothing that should have prompted such a statement. No great expenditure of money. No lavish displays of entertainment. No exotic travel or unusual events. Just sharing simple pleasures with someone she loved. 

I think King David had a heart like Lauren. 

“Praise is awaiting you, O God, in Zion,” he penned in Psalm 65. Then he listed what made his heart happy and full: 

God hears our prayers (v. 2). 

He atoned for our sins (v. 3). 

He chose us to have a relationship with him (v. 4). 

He allows us unlimited access to his presence (v. 4). 

He satisfies us with his goodness (v. 4). 

He answers when we call (v. 5) 

His ways are always right (v. 5). 

He is our confidence (v. 5). 

He is strong and powerful (v. 6). 

He provides our needs (v. 9-11). 

“You crown the year with Your goodness,” David declared, “and Your paths drip with abundance” (v. 11). 

David’s praise reminds me of a story I heard about an elderly man. Although he had little to boast of materially, he’d experienced the joy of walking with God all the days of his life. As he prepared to eat his meager breakfast of coarse bread and cool water, he paused and bowed his head. He prayed with a heart of gratitude, “Oh Lord, you have given me bread, and water, and Jesus, too?” 

Or, to borrow Lauren’s words, “Fun Fridays with Gigi and Popsicles, too?” 

Whether or not there’s a Popsicle in your freezer, today is a good day. If you know Christ as our Savior, you have much to be thankful for. It’s fitting, then, to take a moment and thank God for God’s goodness around us. 

I've discovered that praising and thanking God doesn’t change a thing about our circumstances, but it does make our hearts so full of gratitude they will overflow. This encourages not only us, but those around us. 

It may even prompt us to declare, like Lauren did, “This is the best day ever.” 

 

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Feeling Grateful on National Squirrel Day?

“Lori!” Vangie said, hurrying through the door, her eyes wide. “There’s an animal in the backyard. He’s grey, and has big eyes and a fluffy tail. And he runs like this. ” She moved her arm up and down like a roller coaster. “Does he bite?” 

My puzzled frown turned into a smile, and a laugh escaped before I could smother it. 

Vangie was from the Philippines and had been living with my husband and me for several weeks. Every day since her arrival, she’d found something new to marvel at. Today it was a squirrel. 

Since the furry rodents are indigenous to the United States, and this was Vangie’s first visit here, she’d never seen one before. Once I assured her they were harmless, she added squirrel to her never-ending list of funny American words and went back outside to study it further. 

Vangie found other aspects of everyday life in America equally fascinating. My oven, for example. Most Filipino homes don’t have ovens, so baking was quite mysterious to her. The day I let it slip that I knew how to bake bread from scratch elevated me to rock star status in her eyes. 

She’d never had a birthday cake, either, something I didn’t know until I’d whipped up a simple Betty Crocker mix for her 25th birthday. Her awe and delight made me ashamed for all the birthday cakes I’d taken for granted over the years. 

I didn’t realize she’d grown up without hot water until I came home one day to find all my dishes washed and half the bottle of dish detergent gone. “You cook, and I’ll clean,” she’d said to me earlier that day, eager to help around the house. 

When I watched her tidy the kitchen after dinner, I noticed she wet each dish individually, saturated the dishcloth with dish soap, scrubbed it clean, then rinsed the suds off with cold water. I asked her why she washed dishes this way.

“When you don’t have hot water, you have to use lots of soap,” she said. Showing her the left hand faucet revolutionized Vangie’s dishwashing. 

January 21 is National Squirrel Day, and as I watch the squirrels race across my back fence, they remind me of Vangie. I’ve never forgotten her child-like sense of wonder about simple things like birthday cakes and hot water. 

Her delight and enthusiasm made me think of all the things I take for granted. 

Clean water to drink, cook with, and bathe in. After two mission trips to Mexico, I should never take this for granted. 

The ability to sleep without fear. Not everyone in the world, or even in this country, rests peacefully with little concern for safety. 

Choices about what to eat. Many in the world are grateful simply to have food. My “leftovers” would be someone else’s feast. 

Washcloths. I’ll never forget the Operation Christmas Child story I heard about a little boy who received an OCC shoebox for Christmas. When someone asked him what his favorite item in the box was, he responded, “The washcloth. I’ve never had one of my own before.” 

Screens. I live in the Southern United States, where the insects are plentiful, and mosquitoes are vicious. I can’t imagine living without screens (or windows for that matter). More than 40 percent of the world’s population, however, lives in malaria-risk areas. Over one million people worldwide, mostly children, die from malaria each year, which is just one of the diseases transmitted by the insects. I should never take my screens for granted. 

The apostle Paul said, in his letter to the Philippians, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:12-13). 

Contentment and gratitude are beautiful things. They bring glory to God our father. May we never cease to be in awe of the good gifts he has given us. 

I’ve shared only a few of the things for which I am grateful. I’d love for you to add to my list by leaving a comment in the box below. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online, scroll to the bottom of the post, and leave a comment.

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Giving Thanks for Life, Even When It Stinks

Have you ever experienced what St. John of the Cross called “the dark night of the soul?” Or what the lead character, Pilgrim, in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress identified as “the slough of despond”? Regardless of what you call it, most of us have reached a point when we feel as though everything good has been stripped away, and there’s no reason to go on. It’s real, it’s deep, and it’s incredibly dark. 

The prophet Jeremiah experienced such a period of misery. He was so consumed with grief he wished he had never been born. Listen to his words: “Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, "A child is born to you-- a son!" (Jer. 20:14-15). 

Then he cried, “Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (Jer. 20:18). In the midst of the Babylonian captivity and exile, with his beloved Jerusalem looted and burning behind him and the pagan skyline of Egypt before him, he plunged into deep despair. 

Twenty-five chapters later, Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, experienced a similar grief. “Woe to me!” he cried. “The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest” (Jer. 45:3). If you’ve been where Jeremiah and Baruch were, you know that when you’re in this dark place, it’s hard to see any good in life. You can’t imagine you’ll ever laugh again, let alone feel any emotion other than the aching void where your heart used to beat. 

Years ago I was in a black hole like Jeremiah and Baruch. I had high expectations for my life, and none of them seemed to be coming true. Surely God had a better plan for me than the one that was unfolding before my teary eyes. I’d served him faithfully, loved him deeply, and committed my family and my future into his hands. 

One sad morning, because I’d developed the discipline of Bible reading and prayer, autopilot dragged me out of bed and to my quiet time chair. I’d learned to begin my time with praise and thanksgiving, but that morning, I was struggling to find anything praiseworthy for which to thank God. All I could come up with was, “Well, I’m still alive, although I’m not sure it’s a blessing right now.” That was it. From my grieving perspective, it was all I could come up with to be thankful for - my miserable, sorrowful life. 

God, through the prophet, Jeremiah, spoke to me: “’Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. . . .’ declares the LORD, ‘but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life’” (Jer. 45:5). 

I must confess, I expected a life free of sorrow, pain, sickness, and death. I wanted money in my bank account, a host of friends, and a joy-filled marriage. The only tears I wanted to shed were tears of joy. 

But that’s not realistic. 

“In this world,” Jesus said, “you will have tribulation.” Because we live in a sin-sick world, life is going to be hard. And some days, all we’ll have to be thankful for is our lives. 

This week I’m mourning the loss of a dear friend, praying outside an abortion clinic where babies are scheduled to die, and sending a meal to a neighbor with cancer. 

As I mourn, pray, and cook, I realize that life to these people isn’t something to be minimized or ungrateful for. It's a gift. A precious, holy gift that others barely cling to and will never take for granted.  “. . . wherever you go I will let you escape with your life,” God said through Jeremiah to Baruch, and he says it to us, too. 

If you’ve been given the gift of life, even if it’s the only gift you feel you have to thank God for, thank him anyway. Thank him in faith. Thank him because while there is breath, there is hope. 

Thank you, Father, for the precious gift of life. Many around us are fighting for that which we hold so lightly. Teach us to value every day we’ve been given and never take them for granted. Remind us that we’re still alive because you have a plan and a purpose for us. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Joining the Thanksgiving Choir

One of the most difficult commands in the Bible is this: 

“In every thing give thanks . . .” (1 Thes. 5:18). 

In everything? 

Really, Lord? Do you know what everything includes? 

Sickness 
Broken relationships 
Wayward children 
Unemployment 
Conflict 
Heartbreak 
Uncertainty 
Need 
Political and societal unrest 
Death 
Loss 
Grief 
Pain 
Disappointment 
Loneliness 
Fear 

In everything, Lord? 

I read something curious in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah that reminded me of the high value God puts on the spiritual discipline of thanksgiving. Nehemiah 12:8, identifies six Levites who were given the task of leading “the thanksgiving.” 

Later in the chapter, Nehemiah describes how he “appointed two large thanksgiving choirs” and instructed them to march and sing their way around the city. 

Listen to what happened when they marched around the city thanking God: “God had made them rejoice with great joy,” so that “the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off” (v. 43). 

This is the incredible power of thanksgiving. 

Even if we don’t feel joyful when we begin giving thanks, before long, our spirits begin to lift. Listing the things for which we’re thankful reminds us how good God has been to us, even in the midst of dark days. Thanksgiving turns our eyes away from our circumstances and lifts them to God, whose love is far greater than our circumstances. 

Then our spiritual act of worship through thanksgiving begins to reverberate. People around us notice our grateful attitudes. They marvel at our joy despite our trials. They scratch their heads and wonder how we can rejoice during suffering. They want to know more about the God who gives us this unexplainable joy. Before long, our joy is heard “afar off,” and our ability to witness for Christ is magnified. 

Our family has been riding the roller coaster of unemployment and job hunting. The morning I read this passage in Nehemiah, we were particularly discouraged. 

Our daily routine involves walking and praying around our neighborhood, but this morning we did something different. Instead of praying for our needs, we decided to join our voices in a “thanksgiving choir.” No requests, no intercession, just good old-fashioned thankfulness. Like a ping-pong match, we batted blessings back and forth. 

“Thank you, Lord, for fresh starts and new mercies.” 
“Thank you for family.” 
“Thank you for a safe neighborhood to live in.” 
“Thank you for meeting our needs according to your riches and glory.” 
“Thank you for hope.” 

And on and on it went. We walked for almost an hour and never ran out of blessings to be thankful for. 

As a bonus, we met a new neighbor. Within a few moments, we had discovered a mutual faith and love for Jesus. As I told a friend later, “We had church right there in the middle of the street.” 

Our discouraging day became a joyful day simply because we obeyed God’s command to give thanks in everything. 

If you’re struggling with discouragement today, I’m saving you a seat next to me in the thanksgiving choir. You’ll be surprised by how verbalizing your thanks will lift your spirits and fill your heart with a hopeful joy that can’t help but splash over onto someone else. 

If you’re already a thanksgiving choir member, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how gratitude has impacted your life. Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you’re reading by email, click here to visit Hungry for God online, scroll down to the bottom of the post, and leave a comment. I’d love to hear how God has used thanksgiving in your life.

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If you live within driving distance of Brookville, PA, I’d love for you to join me for A Wardrobe for All Seasons—Dressing for Spiritual Success, a one-day women’s conference on Saturday, September 17. I’ll share 3 workshop sessions: “Stepping Out, How Our Footwear Impacts Our Faith,” “Clean Out That Closet,” and “A Hat for All Seasons—Serving God In Every Stage of Life.” 

Cost is $35, which includes lunch, a t-shirt, and a copy of my book, Hungry for God…Starving for Time. For more information and to register (discount registration deadline August 10), contact Kathy Shaffer at flokat1990@gmail.com.

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When your heart is full--how to say "Thanks"

I’ve recently enjoyed spending time with a very special little person. 

Just over a year old, Lauren is a 24-pound bundle of curiosity, wonder, and fun. She reminds me how delightful it is to look at the world with new eyes. Everything’s an adventure. The most mundane objects (dog toys, light switches, and kitchen gadgets) are fascinating and worthy of exploration and investigation.

This isn't Lauren, but apparently she likes strawberries, too.

One fun aspect of hanging out with Lauren is watching her eat. I’m not surprised, really, after an exclusive diet of mommy’s milk for most of her life, that she finds food delightful. 

I love how she interacts with me about her food. If she’s hungry, she asks (as only a one-year-old can) for something to eat or drink. When we sit down to eat, she turns eager eyes toward me, confident that I will share whatever I have. If the steady supply of grapes or strawberries slows, she asks for more. Her trust that I will supply her need and her frequent requests for more fills my heart with happiness. I enjoy being her bountiful provider.

Psalm 116 reminds me God feels the same way.

It’s apparent that the psalmist’s heart was overwhelmed by God’s goodness when he penned this song of gratitude and praise. His thanks just bubbles out:

“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low and he saved me. . . You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling” (v. 8).

 

And because the psalmist is overwhelmed with gratitude, his natural response is to want to do something wonderful for God in return: 

“What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?” He asks. How can I bless God like he’s blessed me?

Listen to the unusual conclusion at which he arrives:

“I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord” (v. 13).

Lifting up (or celebrating) our salvation makes sense to me, but calling upon the name of the Lord? How does  praying to God express love and gratitude to him? Asking him for more seems like the opposite of thankfulness. 

If a stranger gave me a hundred dollars, I don’t know if he’d feel especially blessed if I said, “Thanks, now may I have another hundred?”

Except God isn’t a stranger. He’s a rich, loving, generous provider who DELIGHTS in giving good gifts to his children (Luke 11:13).

Just like I love sweet baby Lauren, God loves me. Because he loves me, it gives him great pleasure when I come to him in faith and trust to ask for what I need. It gives him even greater pleasure to pour out his provision on me and see me smile.

 

So the next time your heart bubbles up in gratitude because of how God has worked in your life and you want to bless him back, stop and pray. Talk with him about whatever your needs are and trust him to answer your prayers as only he can. 

It will bless him, and it will bless you.

For what are you thankful today? And what are you asking God to do for you in the future? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

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The 3 Best Things I Did in 2013 - Part II

It was such a small thing, really. It took all of 30 seconds to do, yet it was one of the most powerful parts of my day. It counteracted my natural tendency to focus on the negative, helped me walk in faith instead of fear, and caused me to fall in love with God more than ever before. 

In my last post, I shared how reading the Bible through in 2013 impacted my life in a powerful way. Today, I’d like to share something else I did in 2013—I counted 1,000 gifts. 

Several years ago Canadian author Ann Voskamp sparked the gratitude movement with her book, One Thousand Gifts. In it, she shares the story of how friend challenged to her to list 1,000 gifts before the year’s end. She accepted the assignment, and God transformed her life. 

I experienced a similarly powerful effect. 

Because James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights,” every time I listed a good gift in my life, I also acknowledged the source of those good gifts. 

As I moved through the year and the list got longer and longer, the evidence of God’s love and care toward me also became more and more overwhelming. Listing simple things like sunshine, a nuthatch at my bird feeder, or chocolate reminded me how well God knows me and how much he loves me. Like discovering a love note or a small gift on my pillow from my husband, these sweet gifts were evidence of God’s heart toward me. 

Listing page after page of gifts—a warm bed in which to sleep on a cold night, a long walk with a friend, a phone call from one of my daughters—humbled me. I was the recipient of 1,000 gifts. ONE THOUSAND GIFTS, and my list barely scratched the surface of my life. 

Imagine if you received 1,000 gifts from your boyfriend or husband over the course of a year. What would your conclusion be? He loves me. He LOVES me. HE LOVES ME! The evidence would be unmistakable. 

And so it is with God. 

Counting 1,000 gifts in 2013 affected me in another way—it helped me move further along on the path of spiritual maturity. 

First Thessalonians 5:18 commands us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Giving thanks involves an act of the will, not just a feeling. 

I’ll be honest with you. Some days, I didn’t feel like counting gifts. And I didn’t feel like giving thanks. There were some days in 2013 that I didn’t even want to get out of bed, let alone thank God. Some of the entries in my thankful journal looked like this: 

I’m thankful that yesterday is over. 

I’m thankful that today is a new day, and God’s mercies are new every morning. 

I’m thankful that broken hearts still beat. 

But gratitude, like love, is an act of the will, not of the heart. It’s choosing to be thankful even when I don’t feel thankful. It’s choosing to obey and trusting that the feelings will follow. 

Moreover, the simple act of acknowledging God’s hand of blessing in my life, whether I feel blessed or not, paves the way for other acts of obedience. Obeying in one spiritual discipline makes other acts of obedience easier. By exercising my spiritual muscles in one area, I noticed they grew stronger in others. Because I was thankful for God’s blessings, I found it easier to give to his work and his people. Grateful hearts are generous hearts. 

Because I had chronicled overwhelming evidence of God’s care toward me, it was easy to assure others of God’s care for them. Because I was convinced that God was intimately involved in my life, I was more likely to bring my cares to him in prayer. Counting 1,000 gifts affected almost every area of my life. 

Like reading my Bible every day, counting 1,000 gifts was one of the best things I did in 2013. On January 1, I began the count again. I’d like to challenge you to join me. You have little to lose and much to gain. Will you begin today? 

And if you've already counted 1,000 gifts, I'd love to hear how it has impacted your life. Leave a comment below and bless us  all. 

If you missed the first post in this series, CLICK HERE to read The 3 Best Things I Did in 2013 - Part I.

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