November 2010 Archives
Thank You for the Roses
The last few days I’ve been listening to “Thank You for the Roses” by the Primitive Quartet. It’s especially fitting for this month so I thought I’d post it for your reflection as well. It speaks for itself as far as what’s on my heart this evening.
Thankful for God’s Love
I was reading the Psalms this evening and thinking how blessed I am to be a recipient of God’s unfailing love. How often the Psalmist mentions it and I have to say I love dwelling on it and reminding myself how much God loves me. I can’t grasp it or understand why in the world He does but I don’t doubt it. No matter what happens to me, I know my Father is there looking out for me and ready to fight anyone who hurts His little girl.
I feel sorry for those who haven’t experienced that love. No human love will ever measure close to the love the Father has for us. He created us to have fellowship with us and He desires our constant time and attention. Are you giving that to Him or have the cares of this world zapped the energy that you should be devoting to the One who loves you more than you could ever dare to ask or think?
I don’t know about you but I am so thankful for the way God loves me and I pray I am faithful to relay that love to the world. They need to feel that love too.
Thankful for Family
When I ask people what they are thankful for, it seems family is one of the top answers I receive next to God and salvation. I wonder, though, if most people stop to think what exactly their family means to them or if it just seems like the thing to say.
For myself, I am blessed to have a family who loves me. This does not mean that we agree on everything but, if I need a hug, there’s almost always a sister who’s ready to oblige. My family is also good at “speaking the truth.” I may not always appreciate that part 🙂 but I know that it’s those times of having to take a look at myself that has helped to form me into the person I am. As Gloria Gaither said, “I’m not what I want to be but thank God I’m not what I was.”
God has a reason that He put each of us in the family He did. No family is perfect but each family who knows the Lord serves a purpose. If your family does not know the Lord, He still has you in that family for a reason, and the greatest reason is more than likely so you can be a light and show them the way to the Father. Don’t get discouraged but ask God to show you what you have to be thankful for in your family. I’m sure He will do so.
Thankful for Sunshine
This time of year, I find myself noticing the sunshine a lot more. As the weather gets colder, it seems like the sun shines less and less. When it does, though, I spend more time admiring the beauty outdoors. This reality helps me to understand the truth that, if life were all roses, we wouldn’t fully appreciate them. It takes the gray days–the dark times–to create a greater gratitude for the presence of God and the joy He gives. I’m not at a place where I quickly thank God for trials that come but I’m learning to understand the words of Andrae Crouch: “If I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that God could solve them. I wouldn’t know what faith in God could do.”
It’s Never Too Early To Give Thanks
Today is officially November 1 which indicates less than a month before the day set aside for Thanksgiving. It’s never too early to start giving thanks though. Just thinking about the holiday coming up has me counting my blessings, striving to focus on God’s goodness instead of the issues that have been worrying me.
Regardless of how the elections turn out tomorrow, no matter how my body feels, I have so much to be thankful for. God has been so good to me and I don’t want to be ungrateful or short sighted. He deserves our praise. His mercies are still new every morning, and His love never ending. I for one am so grateful to Him for choosing me to be His child and proving His love over and over again.
As we start a new month, I want to take this time to say, “Father God, I love You so much. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your mercy. You have been so good to me. Help me to give You the continual praise and thanks that You deserve. I can’t tell you enough how much I love You!”
Tony Dykes of the Greesons Goes Home
Singing News’ website was the only place I saw that mentioned the recent Homegoing of Tony Dykes so I decided to veer off of my Thanksgiving focus to ask prayer for a group that I only recently found out about.
I don’t think I’d ever heard of the Greesons until a couple months ago at the National Quartet Convention. I heard their name a couple times during the week and then got to meet a couple of the members the last day of the event. Although a relatively brief meeting, they struck me as a group I really should get to know.
When I heard today of Tony’s passing, my heart went out to his family and I just thought I’d ask the Body of Christ to cover his wife, Lisa, and children, Jacob and Emily, as well as the Greesons and ask God to pour out the special grace they need during this time. Not only was Tony a husband and father but he was the lead singer and emcee of this group. As difficult as this is, I know God doesn’t make mistakes and I know that His purposes will be accomplished in those who are still here. The group plans to continue singing.