All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Value this ..........

It’s a New Day. how 'you going to live it?

Value each day in order to THRIVE

Listen to this podcast here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/28d9d62d/value-this-to-...;

Yesterday was the memorial service for my dear brother-in-law on the banks of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. The picture of health all of his life, great nutrition and fitness, then suddenly struck with brain cancer. Another scenario that makes no sense but reminds me once again that each. day. is. a. gift. Reminds me I do not want to just survive - no sir, I want to THRIVE!

Besides endeavoring to Trust God fully because he is able to handle whatever we bring to him, [and actually do more than all we ask or imagine!1] we become more and more aware of the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Reading God’s Word and meditating on it, we gain strength and wisdom, when by Intention we set aside time to spend with God each morning. Previous Morning Briefings on THRIVE can be seen at www.pastorwoman.net. And now we arrive at ‘V.’ Life is more meaningful, more tolerable, more joyful when we come to Value every day . . .

Life is a gift. I do not want to sleepwalk through a single day because of struggle--at least as much as it depends on me, Often the challenge comes in mindfulness - being present in the moments of the day.

How intentional was this writer? "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."2

This is the day, not tomorrow, not when something or another happens, but this day, I will be present for my life; this day I will recognize that

I am fully alive and be grateful to God.

I oft speak out that verse in the morning: “God made this day and I will rejoice and be glad in it!” and I just cannot keep a smile off my face. Besides assuming my rightful place, understanding that life itself flows from God, the statement is declaration, obedience, realization of a gift and gladness all rolled together like a spoonful of chocolate chip cookie dough. And chocolate chip cookie dough always serves up delight.

Being grateful is a good thing but being thankful is even better.

Being thankful is directed toward a person.

There’s an old preacher I love, George Buttrick3, who thanked God by praying specifically, “I thank thee, God, for __________, _________, __________. . .” naming people and things one by one, rather than just thanking God for our blessings en masse.

Have you ever thought about it – Gratitude is actually a pathway to God . . .

When we stop to think about how grateful we are for life, for instance, it leads us to the Source of life, and gives us the humble perspective of our place before God. As James wrote, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”4 And take a look at how the Amplified Bible states the same thing: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].

If we are to Value each day, we will choose to be thankful, whereby our minds will feed our hearts thankfulness. The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.5 Love that. [Could it be true that carrying a disposition of thanks toward God would also make us more present?]

So, to be present . . .

to be pleasant to be around . . .

to be more emotionally healthy . . .

grow your thankfulness muscle,

and you will learn to Value each day.

Start your day with your eyes cast heavenward, a smile on your face~ 'This is the day the Lord has made--I will rejoice and be glad in it!' Yessir.

And this is how I’ll "greet the day” Amy Grant, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q36w2TLqSHc

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Ephesians 3.20-21

2 - Psalm 118.24, NKJV

3 - George Buttrick - intriguing fellow to be sure: http://www.allaboutgod.net/profiles/blogs/a-simple-regimen-of-priva...; https://www.abingdonpress.com/authors/dr_george_a_buttrick/