Recently, the girls on the team and I have been studying complaining and contentment, and I have been convicted of how often I complain. Therefore, during this Thanksgiving season, I don’t want to stop at merely mentioning the readily apparent gifts for which it is so easy to be grateful (family, friends, the love of God, comforts, etc), but, rather, examine some areas where I could be tempted to complain and then thank God for even those things!
November 1: I thank God that He allows us to forget and heal from painful experiences. The pain is not always as acute, though it may still be there. (Two big things that I am thinking of specifically are physical pain, as from my surgeries a couple of years ago, as well as the emotional pain and fear from the earthquake in Mexico City a month and a half ago.)
November 2: I thank God for circumstances that try my patience, because I know that each one is an opportunity to trust Him and to grow in Christ-likeness!
November 3: I thank God for my tiny house, because it is so easy to clean!
November 4: I thank God when things break, because it reveals where my treasure lies. As when Jonah’s plant wilted and he threw a hissy fit, I see myself doing the same thing, so often. My heart is tied to earthly things, but when they break, it sheds light on my inordinate affections and gives me a chance to look to the things that really matter!
November 5: I thank God that the church is sometimes kinda messy, this side of Heaven. It reminds me that I fit right in, and that you don’t need to be perfect to come to God or be a part of His Bride. It is also, in a sense, a vehicle of sanctification, as the faults and weaknesses of others so often bring out our own faults and weaknesses and give us the perfect opportunity to surrender them to the Lord. I thank God that, working through hard seasons in the church makes the seasons of peace and unity that much sweeter.
November 6: I thank God when people are so different from me that I can barely understand them (...and sometimes they rub me the wrong way). It reminds me that I am not the plumb-line of the universe, and that people aren’t obligated to be like me. It humbles me to realize that their very differences are often what qualify them to do amazing things that I never could. That God’s Body -- and His world, in general -- work best when there is diversity. It is also helpful to remember that diversity doesn't undermine the concept of unity!
November 7: I thank God for how tired our bodies get at night, because it reminds me that, while He is infinite, I am finite. And I am reminded that He keeps the world running even when I sleep. ;-) And, I love how He gives us rest which renews us.
November 8: I am thankful for people in my life who complain and grumble all the time, because they motivated me to dive into the study and pursuit of thankfulness! (Which was a real reality check to me to admit how BAD at this I really am, myself!)
November 9: I thank God that, even on the days when I am ungrateful, He is still gracious!! I recently heard a quote that went something like: "If your comforts tomorrow depended on your gratitude today, how much would you have left tomorrow?" What a convicting word!
Still, I praise God that my standing in Him depends entirely on Christ’s finished work, not my ability (or inability!!) to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel! Everything that I have is by His grace, not my merit!
November 10: I thank God for circumstances that “make me late” because it is a reminder that, in most cases, I am late because I didn’t plan well, not because fate conspired against me. ;-) It is a reality check for me that I need to take responsibility for my actions, not blame others who were simply stand-still bystanders. It's also a reminder to check my attitude and see others as human beings with a vast array of life circumstances ... rather than obstacles in my way!
November 9: I thank God that, even on the days when I am ungrateful, He is still gracious!! I recently heard a quote that went something like: "If your comforts tomorrow depended on your gratitude today, how much would you have left tomorrow?" What a convicting word!
Still, I praise God that my standing in Him depends entirely on Christ’s finished work, not my ability (or inability!!) to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel! Everything that I have is by His grace, not my merit!
November 10: I thank God for circumstances that “make me late” because it is a reminder that, in most cases, I am late because I didn’t plan well, not because fate conspired against me. ;-) It is a reality check for me that I need to take responsibility for my actions, not blame others who were simply stand-still bystanders. It's also a reminder to check my attitude and see others as human beings with a vast array of life circumstances ... rather than obstacles in my way!
*These posts originally appeared on my Facebook, so if they seem familiar, maybe that is why! ;-)
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