Faithchick

Give Thanks

I didn't glom onto Phillipians 4:6 because it was November and I was looking for verses about being thankful, the verse was mentioned in a Sunday sermon a few weeks ago and it was just what I needed for all the life circumstances I am facing. Here is my paraphrase of it, the one I have been carrying around in my head: Don't worry about anything, pray about everything, ask God for what you need and thank him for what he has done.

Thank him for what he has done.

Life is not without frustration or worry about the future, for my children, for our finances, for my hubby's health and for me I have felt spiritually numb for a long time. Not overwhelmed by some sin, not walking away from my faith,not engaged in some conflict with other believers,  just kind of stuck and feeling very blah when it comes to my relationship with Jesus and the body of Christ.  It's all there. It's easy to focus on that to the point where I forget what God has done in the past and the blessings I have before me.  

But I am thankful for:

Our new puppy. Bart is an energetic little border collie, but something about the way he follows me from room to room, the way he is so glad to see every member of the family, the way he sleeps when I sleep and wakes up when I wake up, I feel a little more alive and filled with hope because of him

I am so grateful that even with three teenagers in my house all of whom come with their unique package of teenage angst and confusion, we have not faced any major problems with them

I am grateful for my Ladies Bible study. They have given me such a safe place to share

I am grateful that despite a down economy, I have found work as a writer

And with some prayer help, I went two weeks without nagging or "making suggestions" to my 19 year old son with Aspergers that he had to make some kind of plan for his future. God told me I needed to back off, I was wringing my hands, losing clarity because of my worry and saying things to my son that I regretted.  I don't know how long the season of biting my tongue will last, God will give me the next steps when needed. ..and I am grateful for that too.

I am grateful that we have an abundance of Thanksgiving turkey this year. My husband's work gives a turkey to its employees and we earned a free turkey at the local grocery store for buying over $400 worth of groceries since they started the promotion in October. We will be able to donate one of those turkeys.   

 I am grateful that I have rediscovered C.S.  Lewis' non-fiction and when nothing else spoke to me, nothing else drew me to God, his words have given me hope.

I thought of this list as I was writing the post and I could go on from there. Something I will probably do in a journal later this week. I encourage you to do the same. I know things can be pretty bleak for many of you because of financial and marriage troubles because of difficulty with children or health problems. But as an exercise for spiritual breakthrough, brainstorm a list of what you are thankful for, dig deep beyond your troubles.

It might be something small like the pleasant conversation you had with the check out lady at the grocery store, the way you were able to help someone who was lost or carry packages to their car...or maybe someone did that for you. It might be that you are thankful for the warm sweater you found on sale or someone gave to you. Small moments and little things give us hope too. It builds up, it accumulates. If you ask God, he will show them to you.   

What are you thankful for. Let me know.

Sharon Dunn has a book coming out in December with Love Inspired Suspense called Night Prey. It's about a woman who rescues injuried birds of prey who finds herself in a little bit of danger. Read more about the book at www.sharondunnbooks.com.              

Representing the Name

When I was a kid, we lived in Frankfort, Kentucky, which even though it's the state capitol, is a pretty small town. My grandfather was an FBI agent, and in a political environment, that's a pretty big deal. He and my grandmother were prominent in Frankfort's society. They belonged to the country club, and went to parties at the governor's mansion. The name Tackett was well-known in town.

 

From a very early age, it was impressed upon my sister and me that we must always be on our best behavior, because whatever we did reflected upon my grandparents. When we went out in public we dressed like we were going to Sunday school, because you might run into someone important and you had to make a good impression. In restaurants we had to use our best manners, because it wouldn’t do to have the Tackett grandchildren acting like heathens. When we went to country club events, we must never fight with the other children, because a Tackett shows grace in every social situation. In other words, we represented the Tackett name. If we behaved, we honored our grandfather. And if we didn’t, we brought dishonor to his name and his reputation. So we learned what it means to represent the name of another.

 

As a Christian, I represent the Name of another – the Name of Jesus. This is a very serious responsibility that impacts every aspect of my life, public and private. Every action, every word, every thought reflects on him because I bear his Name.

 

I can’t forget my mother’s definition of a name: “A person’s name is so much more than the label they answer to. A name represents their very nature. Their name is who they are.”

 

My goal, then, is to live in such a way that my life clearly represents His Name – the Name of Jesus.

 

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Virginia Smith is the author of fourteen Christian novels including Third Time's a Charm and her latest,  Into the Deep. Find out more about Ginny and her books at www.VirginiaSmith.org

 

Psalm 91 on YOU!

My family uses Psalm 91 as a parting blessing. When someone is leaving to travel anywhere, we say, "Psalm 91 on you!" If you read Psalm 91, you'll immediately see why. These verses are filled with the promise of protection for those who place their trust in the Lord.

 

The first time my mom flew out to visit me in Utah, she was a little nervous about the long flight. We spoke on the phone before she left, and I said, "Psalm 91 on you!" She gave a nervous laugh and said, "I'd feel a lot better if the psalmist had referred specifically to protection while traveling in airplanes." I immediately responded, "Oh, but he does! It's in verse 5:"

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.

I told Mom, "That means you don't have to be afraid even if you are inside the flying arrow." She's a more seasoned air traveler these days, and doesn't mind flying at all. She told me the other day that she prays that verse every time she gets on a plane.

 

I memorized Psalm 91 several years ago, because it's one of those comforting, encouraging, powerful psalms that are appropriate to any uncomfortable situation. A few years ago I used to wake up in the middle of the night when my husband was traveling and lay there trembling, hearing every creak and bump in the house. But Psalm 91 promises that I will not fear the terror of night. I especially love verse 4:

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.

There's a powerful comfort in that promise. When I get to that verse, I close my eyes, curl up beneath the quilt, and picture myself nestled against my Father's side, covered by his feathers, and I'm not afraid.

 

Psalm 91 on YOU, my friend!

 

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Virginia Smith is the author of fourteen Christian novels including Third Time's a Charm and her latest,  Into the Deep. Find out more about Ginny and her books at www.VirginiaSmith.org