Deb is a wife, mom, "gram," and busy blogger. Visit Counting My Blessings, where she "gazes with gratitude at God's amazing grace." You can also find her at HomeGoods Design Happy Blog and pick up tips and ideas for decorating on a budget. In 2010, she shared her personal happiness project in Woman's Day Magazine and WD Happiness Blog. Deb loves serving in ministry beside her husband, Blake, and invites you to visit their internet prayer ministry - Pray for You.
I’ve read Psalm 145 dozens of times, but the other day it grabbed my attention like never before.
King David – giant killer, warrior, adulterer, murderer . . . and “man after God’s own heart.”
Let’s take a closer look at his words:
I will exalt You, my God and King, and praise Your name forever and ever.
I will praise You every day; yes, I will praise You forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure His greatness.v.1-3
“I will” – not I’ll try, but I will. I promise.
“To extol” – the Hebrew word for extol here is ruwm.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?He is not here; He has risen!
My favorite part of The Princess Bride occurs near the beginning.
As you wish.
“As you wish” = “I love you.”
Do you ever question someone’s love when they continue to repeat behaviors that disappoint you or hurt your feelings?
As you wish really is a beautiful way to say, “I love you.”
Jesus spoke to His followers and to us about the priority of love when it comes to obedience.
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
My goal is to carefully add one area of life each week until I have added intentional gratitude to every part of my life.
Great idea, right?
Until January started with an attack on my mood and my attitude. I plodded through days marked with sad anniversaries. I was anxious about aches and pains, and well it’s January in the Midwest. Gray and cold. Yuck.
My state of mind definitely did not match my good intentions.
But intentional gratitude is not about my mood or emotions. My circumstances or memories.
Intentional gratitude is:
Thanking God in all things – not just the good and happy, but also the hard and sad.
Several years ago, I was inspired by my friend Mel,
@ Psycho with 6, to change our families gift giving traditions dramatically.
What?! Really?!
How do you get a family to change 20+ years of tradition without a major meltdown?
It was actually quite easy. Our children were grown and our grandchildren were young; so, it seemed like a perfect time for change. Now in its fourth year, this meaningful way of gifting has been embraced with even greater enthusiasm.
The Magi gave the Christ child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each represented a significant part of Jesus life and ministry:
Do you begin listening to Christmas music on a specific day each year?
Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Do you enjoy a real or artificial tree? With multi-color or white lights?
Do you chart the season with an Advent calendar or wreath?
So much of our celebrating of Christmas is wrapped up with the ribbon of traditions. They become a part of us. Some we cherish. Others we laugh at. Some we take into marriage. Others we leave behind.
One thing is certain . . . traditions are an important part of Christmas. It’s never too late to add a new ritual, because traditions are our memory makers.
It was Valentine’s Day weekend of my Junior year. The lanky basketball player, future preacher to whom I had given my heart dropped to one knee and officially asked me to spend my life by his side. Of course I said, “Yes.” And he slid the ring we had chosen together onto my left hand.
Fast forward a few days . . .
Back on my own campus I had hurried from class to my weekly ironing job. I walked a little more lightly that winter afternoon in Chicago as I began dreaming of wedding plans and married life.
I’ve read Psalm 145 dozens of times, but the other day it grabbed my attention like never before.
