of gratitude.

"Gratitude .. goes beyond the "mine" and "thine" and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of a gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy." ~Henri J.M. Nouwen

we follow along with a few different pastors, primarily online save for our home church in person. a sister church pastored by jack hibbs is teaching from the book of romans, which is no easy thing to teach much less to hear - heavy subject matter. in a recent message from that book he took time sharing about gratitude. of being thankful. regardless. the bible instructs us to be thankful in everything. i've long had difficulty with this concept based on a particularly upsetting decade long (so far) family situation. a seemingly impossible concept in my mind. but the more pastor hibbs shared the more my heart and mind paused to understand what the holy spirit meant to further do in my life. live life more abundant!

every morning since that message i woke early - with a praise song on my mind and intentional thankfulness on my heart. and a desire to grow ever closer to the One who loves me most. thankfulness for even the "ugly" and "destructive."  for from ashes come beauty. it is not for me to wonder why (though i do), or to lament (though i do), or to respond without first thinking it through (though i do that too). long ago a friend told me she thanks God for the terrible in her life. i thought she was bonkers. truly! but i'm getting it now.. that even in the terrible, God is there - and God is always good. always present. always loving. always kind. always ready to lead. the circumstances may not change but my response to the circumstances can very well alter that path on a personal level.

being honest here - depression has affected me from time to time this past decade. it's not a sin to be depressed. if the circumstances, severe as they are, found me unaffected that would be a concern. apathy has no place in crisis. with the love of key family members, the dearest of friends, and trusted support i find myself in a better place in which i am ultimately able to view the struggle with clarity and take steps forward. always steps .. sometimes itty bitty steps ..by my Lord's lamplight of mercy and grace, keeping in mind that in and of myself i have no strength. my strength comes from the Lord. utterly. completely. he is the lifter of my head. he is my rock. my fortress. my deliverer. my Savior.

from experience :::

over the years i've learned to be very careful who 

i share my heart of hearts with, thus refining my circle. 

some folks are drawn to personal dirt..

& itch to share {gossip} details with others.. 

some offer platitudes and pollyanna responses..

some invalidate your pain. some "one up".

still others piously proclaim, "well - you just don't have enough faith."

or, "well - if you had done A-B-C it wouldn't have happened."

i've learned that i need not be friends with everyone,

for everyone is not your friend in the truest sense.

has a friend or family member been "less than sincere?" 

purpose to forgive, for scripture

says to do so. but let them back in your lives? not necessarily.

protect your hearts. protect your life, and those you love.

and the others? 

those precious souls? 

they come alongside - encourage you, help you cry, walk with you, pray for you,

accept your low points without judgement - accept the journey as it's being walked,

for the journey is craggy, and they know who's leading me and who my heart seeks. 

they validate, not demean. they love - unconditionally. they realize the current

is everchanging and very personal teachable moments are plenty in this swirling mess. 

i love those folks. 

most recently that **precious soul** was my sister, shirley. 

going through my daughter's belongings - organizing them in the cedar

chest made by the hubs grandfather. it became too much .. and i became

overwhelmed with the raw emotion of it all. but my sweet sister read

beyond the text i sent her - then validated and encouraged me. 

it meant so much. she took a difficult moment and walked with me

to the point i was okay once again. that simple, kind, response...

i'm ever so thankful.

those of you walking a difficult (understatement, i know) path..

have you found this to be true as well? 

gathering a number of passages for you to glean..

let me know how i can best pray for you

in the comment section or in a private email..

my email is on the right hand column.

we're in this together..

pilgrims on this earth walking one another home.

i've got to say - i'm thankful this life is but a whisper

with the promise of eternity. blessed be his name.

I Chronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body

you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves too prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Psalm 7:17

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness;

I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him,

and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 34:1

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 106:1 & Psalm 107:1

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, 

and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

2 Corinthians 4:15-16

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Psalm 118:1-17

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” 5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.