Make gratitude your new attitude.
The stars will shine brighter upon you.
All in your world will become lighter.
T.C. Salerno
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
*** THORNS ? ! ***
I take pleasure in infirmities, . . . in distresses, for Christ's sake. - 2 Corinthians 12:10
TO give thanks in every situation is sometimes very difficult. When your body is wracked with pain, or you have just learned that you have a physical problem for which there is no cure, or you have lost your job, or a cherished relationship has been broken, it's hard to feel grateful. But we can learn to thank God because He gives us strength when we feel weak.
That's why Paul could say, "I take pleasure in infirmities, . . . in distresses, for Christ's sake" (2 Corinthians 12:10). And as believers, we can be grateful that through such experiences God is accomplishing what is best for us. EVEN through our suffering. He is working for our good (Romans 8:28).
Scottish author and preacher George Matheson (1842-1906), who was blind, expressed this prayer: "I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn' . . . . Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn.' Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow."
As we surrender ourselves to the Lord and remember that He is working in everything to accomplish our ultimate good, we can thank Him even when we are pierced by "thorns." - Richard De Haan.
We can give thanks in everything
And say, "Your will be done,"
For God's at work in everything
To make us like His Son. - D. De Haan
It's easier to bear the burden of suffering when we carry it with gratitude.
TO give thanks in every situation is sometimes very difficult. When your body is wracked with pain, or you have just learned that you have a physical problem for which there is no cure, or you have lost your job, or a cherished relationship has been broken, it's hard to feel grateful. But we can learn to thank God because He gives us strength when we feel weak.
That's why Paul could say, "I take pleasure in infirmities, . . . in distresses, for Christ's sake" (2 Corinthians 12:10). And as believers, we can be grateful that through such experiences God is accomplishing what is best for us. EVEN through our suffering. He is working for our good (Romans 8:28).
Scottish author and preacher George Matheson (1842-1906), who was blind, expressed this prayer: "I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn' . . . . Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn.' Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow."
As we surrender ourselves to the Lord and remember that He is working in everything to accomplish our ultimate good, we can thank Him even when we are pierced by "thorns." - Richard De Haan.
We can give thanks in everything
And say, "Your will be done,"
For God's at work in everything
To make us like His Son. - D. De Haan
It's easier to bear the burden of suffering when we carry it with gratitude.
Friday, October 8, 2010
* LIFE IS A GIFT !!! *
"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition . . . As long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD" - 1 Samuel 1: 27-28.
"When I was 8 years old, a classmate died. At the funeral service I pictured him "safe in the arms of Jesus." This comforted me and made death less fearsome.
The same year, a 5-year-old neighbour boy died, and I became very aware of the grief of his parents. They were crushed and actually seemed angry. It was clear to me that they felt death had robbed them of what righfully belonged to them.
It's understandable that we go through a time of questioning and even anger when someone we love dies. But we need not stay there. Instead of viewing life as a posession, we need to view it as a gift.
Pastor John Claypool and his wife saw their 10-year-old daughter die from leukemia. He said they found peace when they saw that their daughter's life was "a gift - a pure, simple, sheer gift - to be received and handled with gratitude."
In our Bible reading for today, we learn that it was because Hannah viewed her son's life as a gracious gift that she was able to give him back to God (1 Sam. 1: 27-28).
We too would do well to make sure we view life as a gift, not a posession. That attitude will increase our appreciation for life and lessen our anger at death." HVL
Lord, "thank You" for the gift of life and all that You have given . . . Sper.
LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO BE GIVEN BACK TO GOD.
(* a piece of trivia - the spelling of the name Hannah - with an "aitch" at the end; is the same when spelt backwards.)
"When I was 8 years old, a classmate died. At the funeral service I pictured him "safe in the arms of Jesus." This comforted me and made death less fearsome.
The same year, a 5-year-old neighbour boy died, and I became very aware of the grief of his parents. They were crushed and actually seemed angry. It was clear to me that they felt death had robbed them of what righfully belonged to them.
It's understandable that we go through a time of questioning and even anger when someone we love dies. But we need not stay there. Instead of viewing life as a posession, we need to view it as a gift.
Pastor John Claypool and his wife saw their 10-year-old daughter die from leukemia. He said they found peace when they saw that their daughter's life was "a gift - a pure, simple, sheer gift - to be received and handled with gratitude."
In our Bible reading for today, we learn that it was because Hannah viewed her son's life as a gracious gift that she was able to give him back to God (1 Sam. 1: 27-28).
We too would do well to make sure we view life as a gift, not a posession. That attitude will increase our appreciation for life and lessen our anger at death." HVL
Lord, "thank You" for the gift of life and all that You have given . . . Sper.
LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO BE GIVEN BACK TO GOD.
(* a piece of trivia - the spelling of the name Hannah - with an "aitch" at the end; is the same when spelt backwards.)
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