Practicing the Discipline of Thankfulness

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  

 (1 Thess. 5:18)

The mountains are a hundred shades of green. 

What if God had made our world black and white?

Thank you, Lord, for green.

And if green grows wearisome, He throws in a splash of color, just for contrast. . . 

 Thank you, Lord, for color.

Sometimes He sprinkles in something good to eat where you least expect it.

Thank you, Lord, for food.

What if eating was purely for the purpose of sustaining life, nothing more?

Thank you, Lord, for the ability to taste my food.

Where else but in the mountains can you harvest an armful of beauty and take it home, free of charge?

Thank you, Lord, for wildflowers.

Creativity is better shared.

 

Thank you, Lord, for friends.

 

 In the city, water either comes from the sky or the pipes.   Here it bubbles up out of the ground.

 Thank you, Lord, for water. 

Laughter bubbles up, too. 

 Thank you, Lord, for laughter. 

It is not good for a man to be alone, even in a beautiful garden.

 

Thank you,  Lord, for families.

I remember taking a bath in Granny’s claw-footed bathtub. 

She heated the water in a big pot on the kerosene stove.

Thank you, Lord, for hot running water.

 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.  (Pr. 3:24)

Thank you, Lord, for restful sleep and gentle awakenings.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-9

Thank you, Lord, that wherever I go, you are there.  I love you!



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Like God Today

 

 

I got to be like God today.

Whenever we visit the mountain house, one of my first priorities is to fill the many bird feeders that dangle from the wraparound porch. The winters are very cold at 4,000 feet, and thick snow often blankets the ground. It is difficult for small creatures to find enough to eat.

I love to haul the huge bucket of bird seed outside to the porch, dig out the scoop, and fill each feeder to the brim. For good measure, I also scatter some seed on the porch railings. Within minutes hungry birds begin to flock to the feeders. There is the occasional squabble over a particularly savory sunflower seed, but for the most part the steady stream of visitors comes and goes quietly. Their silent takeoffs and landings remind me of the times I’ve looked out from the observation deck at the airport and watched the planes come and go.

Psalm 145:15 states of God, “The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” As I provide food for my feathered friends, I identify with the Father heart of God. He knows our needs. Better still, He cares about them, and He is eager to meet all of our needs in due season. We don’t have to fear that His resources will ever run short, for His bucket is deep, and His scoop is large. His hand is generous, providing all that we need and then some. “Open your mouth wide,” God encourages us, “and I will fill it!”

I got to be like God today, and it made me smile.