Giving Thanks!

Father, this week is the "set" time for everyone to say what they're thankful for as we head into the Thanksgiving holidays. I want it to be so much more than that. Help my heart explode with thankfulness as I remember what was accomplished on my behalf on the cross. I want this to be the flavor of my life the other 51 weeks of the year too!!! How can thankfulness be a part of who I am ALL the time? Yes, when we have to start making another car payment-thankfulness; when the kids argue for the thousandth time in one hour-thankfulness; when i have to stay up an extra 30 minutes for one more load of laundry or school lunch to prepare-thankfulness; when it's freezing outside and I'm unloading groceries-thankfulness; when there's only sandwiches for dinner-thankfulness; when I feel left out of a conversation-thankfulness; when the alarm goes off again for a new day-thankfulness; when there's more whining about my motherly answer-thankfulness; when a conflict has to be resolved-thankfulness; when I've been misunderstood-thankfulness. Oh that my heart would sing of thanksgiving for Your blood shed for me, in my place, on my behalf!! JESUS, You are my thanksgiving! You are constant; You are forever; You are glorious; You are everything; and You are my thanksgiving!!! It all comes back to You, Your Work, and Your Glory!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE! 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 

present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-7

God, You are the source of all joy!! Regardless if I attribute every little detail of my day to Your doing You are in control and holding all things together. If I base thankfulness and joy on my circumstances and how well I'm measuring up to my own standards then they are definitely lacking. If I remember You and Your perfect goodness in all things then my joy goes beyond anything I could muster up on my own! You are near and Your nearness reminds me that I am nothing and You are everything and this fuels gentleness toward other people. I remember what I've been saved from and for and what's been extended to me; and with Your help I want to extend grace, mercy, and forgiveness to those around me. Those that don't know You, those that don't think like me, those that are difficult to love, and those that are easy to overlook. God, I want to be quick to approach Your gracious throne with the things that make me feel anxious. And in that moment to say thank-you for the reminder that I can't control things and I don't know best! I am not the center of the universe! Fearful and anxious thoughts are signs of me pretending that I am. Who am I to change things or even know what to do to change things? What good does it do if I contemplate over the details of my life? Forgive me, Father, for trying to "take it." Confessing my complete dependence on You and my need for Your mercy helps me be thankful. My eyes and focus are fixed on You and that stirs thankfulness!! And with all these things, Jesus, comes Your peace! Everlasting, Ever flowing peace!! 

Father, I want to know You and the power of Your resurrection. I want to encounter You on a deeper level every time I meet with You. I want to reflect Your beauty with every ounce of my being. I want Your Word to be ever on my lips. I want my heart to constantly be singing of Your praises. All of these are fulfilled because of the cross and because of the blood of Jesus. Tonight I am giving thanks for Jesus....more and more of Jesus!!!

Your Answer to Discontentment

You have once again been faithful, Jesus, to reveal to me the wickedness that I still fight in my own heart. It has been paid for by Your perfect sacrifice on the cross, but through this journey of sanctification I still fight the moments of being filled with self instead of You. What an uncomfortable encounter to realize my weakness and how much more in need I am of You, but how sweet to become aware of how incredibly You meet my needs and produce fruit in me for the sake of Your name and fame!! Thank You, Jesus, for Your ever perfect presence and help in this journey!
Discontentment - that is the sin that is crouching at the door of my heart. Father, You know better than I do how often I am looking to circumstances or those around me to provide contentment to my heart and mind. And the truth is...nothing on this earth will ever satisfy!! Forgive me, Lord, for the fussy heart that I went to bed with last night and got up with this morning. But, thank You, Lord, for the mercy that is found at the foot of the cross in Your presence to draw me closer to You than I was before! I do not like admitting my shortcomings but it is oh so sweet to remember Your strength and perfection in the place of my imperfect, fickle heart.
You slowly and gently wooed my heart back to You and away from myself and reminded me of all I have in Christ. You brought to my heart the verse in Hebrews 13 that speaks about contentment. The answer to being content is remembering the promise of Your forever presence. "You will never leave me; You will never forsake me!" What more or who else do I need??? You are enough!! Remembering the reality of Who You are changes the heart posture of thinking I am lacking anything. Help me recall and ponder all of Your promises that are YES in Jesus, and shower my heart and mind with the overflowing goodness of Your presence. May I only think of You and enjoy You forever!!!

Interceding...

O Father, I come before You tonight crying out for Your help and comfort to the people in the Philippines. Specifically in Tacloban. There is such destruction and devastation filling that place. May they know Your hope, peace, and comfort like never before. Will those that know You offer deep hope and joy in the gospel? There are real needs that need to be met and I pray that Your love and goodness would be shown by those that know You. And may they be bold in sharing Your truth and radical in the way the love and care for those around them. Provide for these people, Jesus!! They are hurting and You are the God of all comfort! They are lonely and You never leave them or forsake them! Their lives are in turmoil and You are a God of peace and comfort!
Father, I praise You for my brother's life and the miracle You have worked there! May You alone get all glory and honor and praise for his story! May he continually seek You and only find his joy and hope in You and Your work on the cross! Deepen his dependence on You in the everyday.
Lord, fill mom with Your peace as she anticipates Thursday. Let her know Your nearness and comfort. Thank You for it only being her wrist that she broke when she fell!! Help her see Your goodness in the little things and that that would cause her heart to sing!!
Jesus, thank You for my sister and our sweet time together this weekend. Father, thank You for her life and heart for You. I praise You for her faith and obedience. Continue growing her and making her more like You and using her to love on Huntington and spread Your name and fame!
Lord, I pray that You would continue to give Matt the endurance and perseverance in his classes online. You have been so faithful to keep him motivated and focused. May he finish well, not for the sake of himself, but because he wants to work as unto You!
The deepest desire of my heart toward my kids is for them to know and love You with everything that they are. Draw their hearts to You, Father. May I rest in the work and perfect timing of Your gracious hand. May their lives be used for Your honor and glory alone. I pray that the eyes of their hearts would be open to the gospel and You would fill them with Your presence!
Father, grow and deepen the passion and pursuit of You in the ladies of our community group. By Your grace and with Your help may this be the one desire of all of our hearts! Remind us daily of Your presence and the freedom and joy to can be found at Your feet!
Lord, I pray for Matt's mom that she would be confident in Your care for her physical and spiritual needs. Help her to know Your nearness and that Your nearness is her good!! Deepen her desire for You and Your Word! Refresh her with Your presence and supply her with every good and perfect gift that only comes from You!!
Lord, with a broken heart I lift up my sweet seminary friends that have lost a baby during mid-pregnancy. Thank You for their faith and trust in You and Your perfect plan and peace. What a testimony of Your grace and work in someone's life! Comfort them in the quiet moments and surround them with people that remind them of Your goodness and mercy! I know their greatest desire is for Your glory to be spread to the nations so use them and their story for You and Your name and fame!
I pray all these things in Your mighty and majestic name and with a heart that is fighting to know You more! AMEN!

Resting in YOUR Finished Work!

Lord, I am so exhausted from the journey my heart has been on the past few days. Tonight's words will be Yours and some simple reflection from my heart. You are amazing and forever faithful!! Thank You for not giving up on me and seeing things through til the end!!! May my hope, joy, and comfort come from You alone and the finished work on the cross!!

Hebrews 7:25-27

"Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.Such a high priest meets our need - One Who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins ONCE FOR ALL when He offered Himself."

Your sacrifice is perfect and final, Jesus!! There is nothing I can or should attempt to add, as if I have something to offer to a Holy, Blameless God! Forgive me for carrying guilt and shame when I don't think I'm good enough because ultimately that is questioning Your work of redemption on the cross. You are exalted above the heavens and in Your presence there is rest! There is no portion of this redeemed heart that You have not saved! Wow!!!

Hebrews 10:9-10

"'Here I am, I have come to do Your will.' He set aside the first (covenant) to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL."

YOU have made me holy, Lord!!! Let me not be found pretending that I bring anything to the table. I feast on Your goodness and faithfulness alone! I am found holy because of Your holiness! The reminder that I don't "measure up" is a gift because pretending that I do takes my gaze off of Your perfect work and puts it on my finite accomplishments. I measure up because I'm clothed in Your righteousness.

Hebrews 10:14

"Because by ONE SACRIFICE He has made perfect FOREVER those who are being made holy."

The tension of sanctification and glorification creates some struggle in my mind and heart, Lord. Help me to completely trust You and Your one sacrifice on the cross. I carry around such guilt and shame over my mistakes and short-comings and this is a result of unbelief in Your perfect once and for all sacrifice! I believe, Father, help my unbelief!! Your forever is forever!!! Praise You, Jesus.

Hebrews 10:19-23

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, HIS BODY, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

Jesus, Your body and blood is where my confidence, assurance, and cleansing are provided and perfected!!! I have nothing apart from Your grace and mercy! Because of You, I have breath! Because of You, I have life everlasting! Because of You, I have peace that surpasses all understanding! Because of You, there is hope beyond feelings and emotions! Because of You, I have You!!!!!!! Help me, Father, hold fast to You and not circumstances! Help me, Father, hold fast to You and not my fears! Help me, Father, hold fast to You and not the praise of others! You are good and Your love endures forever!!!

Hebrews 6:19

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm, and secure."

Thank You for supplying me and giving me a hope that I can hold fast to!! There is REST when we live at the foot of the cross and trust in Your complete accomplished work!!! IT IS FINISHED!!!!!