Have a Grateful Heart!

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe”. Hebrews 12:28

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 

“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 4:6-7

I love reading these three verses Paul penned as he wrote to early Christians about how to live in the love of Christ. We have been given an unshakable foundation, unconditional and everlasting love and mercy. We should pray always with thanksgiving to God even as we petition Him for our ongoing needs and concerns.

It is by being grateful for all we have been given and by trusting God for guidance that we will experience true peace.  

At one point in time I was given a gratitude journal. It always surprised me how many entries I could come up with on any given day. The word gratitude itself is derived from the Latin word, gratus meaning pleasing, thankful. 

The journal is no longer a daily task and as I get older, I realize it is all about attitude. I choose my attitude daily and many times during any given day. I choose to have a grateful heart, count my blessings and thank God daily. It does not mean I do not get irritated that I had an unpleasant encounter with a loved one or that I am not annoyed that the microwave is broken. But I can move on and be thankful for all my many other blessings and bring a kind and generous attitude in my interactions with others. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the unshakable foundation you have given us and for your never-ending love and mercy. Guide us to have grateful, thankful hearts and fully embrace your love and pass it on to others.

Connie Barry

Old Coffee Cans

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16  

Around Memorial Day, I often have the remembrance of my family putting together garden flowers like lilacs, peonies, tulips, and snowballs, and arranging them in old coffee cans covered with aluminum foil. We would then put a little water in the cans and head out to the cemeteries and the relative’s graves. The cans of flowers were perfect to set up by the tombstones. Another coffee can was used to haul water from nearby spickets to finish the water supplies in the cans of flowers—that was my job. The coffee can served other multiple purposes in my home. My mother carefully packed cookies in a coffee can for my dad to take on his long haul trips as a truck driver. My dad used the cans to sort nails and tools at his work bench. He also kept rags and used paint brushes in the cans. My dad had started an earthworm business for fishermen, and I frequently packed a dozen big worms in a coffee can with moist dirt. Even the girl scouts used the coffee cans tied to trees to wash their hands.  I do not have a single coffee can in my house anymore as I don’t drink coffee, but the smell of coffee and the coffee can always give me warm feelings.

Similar feelings occur when I remember scriptures that I memorized in Bible school, Sunday School, and confirmation class. Scriptures like John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13, Psalms 100, and many others. I am so thankful to my church teachers for helping give me these gifts which are available anytime I need them. I smile whenever I hear “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer.” We ended every Sunday School class in the 5^th grade with those words. These scriptures remind me of my beliefs, the creator God I trust in, Jesus his son, and the promise of believers in grace, forgiveness, and life evermore.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for my pleasant memories of my family and their love. Thank you  for your Holy Spirit and your assuring words from the Bible. Remind us all that our lives have been a huge investment from other Christians in learning about you, believing in you, and accepting you as our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Nancy Hall (reprinted from 2020)

Wisdom

 

 Does not wisdom call out?

    Does not understanding raise her voice?

  At the highest point along the way,

    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

  beside the gate leading into the city,

    at the entrance, she cries aloud:

  “To you, O people, I call out;

    I raise my voice to all mankind.

  You who are simple, gain prudence;

    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

  Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

    I open my lips to speak what is right.

  My mouth speaks what is true,

    for my lips detest wickedness.

  All the words of my mouth are just;

    none of them is crooked or perverse.

  To the discerning all of them are right;

    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

  Choose my instruction instead of silver,

    knowledge rather than choice gold,

  for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

    and nothing you desire can compare with her. 

  “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

    I possess knowledge and discretion.

  To fear the Lord is to hate evil;

    I hate pride and arrogance,

    evil behavior and perverse speech.

  Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

    I have insight, I have power.

  By me kings reign

    and rulers issue decrees that are just;

  by me princes govern,

    and nobles—all who rule on earth.

  I love those who love me,

    and those who seek me find me.

  With me are riches and honor,

    enduring wealth and prosperity.

  My fruit is better than fine gold;

    what I yield surpasses choice silver.

  I walk in the way of righteousness,

    along the paths of justice,

  bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me

    and making their treasuries full. Proverbs 8: 1-21

Words from Corinthians

 

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

A Heart to Volunteer

"Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

My spirit is always wanting to volunteer and help! Whether it be at my kids’ schools, cheerleading, booster parent, or making a friend a meal. God has blessed me with the personality to put myself out there for others without being shy or embarrassed. Most days I do this with a joyful heart! However there are other days when I say out loud "Why did I sign up for this?" or grumble that I don't have the time to help.

I have learned through the years to only say yes or volunteer when I can be a blessing to others and humble myself to do the tasks with a happy heart. This only comes from asking God to help me serve others with a true joy in my heart!

Dear Lord, please help us to realize our strengths that you have bestowed upon us and use them wisely to be more Christ like. Help us to reflect, recharge, and reconnect where you need us. We want to glorify you and spread your word through our actions. In Your Name - Amen!  

 

Becky Rankin (reprinted from 2017 and 2021...a good devotion for all of us while gearing up for fall programming!)

 

From Bad Boy to Pastor

With all my heart I strive to find thee; let me not stray from thy commandments. I treasure thy promise in my heart, for fear that I might sin against thee. Psalm 110:10-11

I have a fondness for gospel music and old hymns. They touch my soul, they lift me up and make me happy that I am a Christian.   

I have always liked the hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” but I’ve loved it even more since it became the theme song for a series of Hallmark movies based on novels written by a favorite Christian author of mine, Janette Oke. The series is called “Love Comes Softly,” and the stories follow several generations of a family during the settling of the Canadian west. 

However, it’s the backstory to this hymn that is so interesting to me. The lyricist’s name is Robert Robinson. Robert grew up in a small town in England in the 1700s. His father died when he was a very young boy and Robert became a “street boy” always looking to skip school and make mischief with his gang of friends. 

When he was a teenager, his mother sent him to London to apprentice as a barber, but Robert wasn’t interested in becoming a barber. He joined up with a notorious gang of troublemakers and participated in drinking, stealing and many other unsavory activities. One night his gang decided to attend an open-air evangelistic meeting to disrupt the meeting and heckle the speaker who was a dynamic Methodist preacher named George Whitefield. Robert had no idea that he would hear something that night that would change his whole life. Before he left that meeting Robert had given his life to Jesus and began his journey to becoming a Methodist pastor, but after a few years of preaching, he decided that his personal theology was more in line with Baptist traditions, and he became a Baptist pastor.

He wrote inspiring sermons, theological papers, religious poetry and hymns. When he was only 23, he wrote the words that became the lyrics for “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The words focus on God’s never-ceasing mercy and grace. Robert was confessing that his heart is prone to wander away from God. The “old Robert” was never far from his memory. When he died at the age of fifty-four, he had no idea that his words would ring out centuries later in churches around the world giving Christians comfort and reassurance of God’s steadfast love.    

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You and we thank You for always waiting for us to repent when our wandering hearts cause us to stray from your commandments. Your grace and mercy give us reassurance that You are truly the God of second chances. Amen  

Judy Welch

Run 2 God

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

A business pickup truck was beside me. I don’t remember the business name, but I remember his license plate tag as he pulled ahead of me – Run2God – and I immediately liked it. I have thought about the plate name many times and wondered about the owner and why he picked that phrase. The word “run” is unique. I thought of going to God, praying to God, sitting with God, listening for God, and walking with God instead of running. Running is full action; not skipping or jogging. When we run, we are in a hurry and anxious to get there. I picture running to our Father’s waiting arms.

Prayer: Dear Father, we are thankful we can come to you in different ways and you meet us where we are. Help us run the race and not grow weary as we journey through life. Amen. 

Cathy Schapmann