Day 8, Part 2 Always Giving Thanks—Except, Thanks, and Romans 1:1-6

April 15, 2014, Tuesday,

ALWAYS GIVE THANKS, EXCEPT…

Let’s be real here and absolutely, painfully honest here. Isn’t this what we think?

We will always give thanks for anything good we can think of. The positive only bears thinking of and remembering, right? We do not want to get uncomfortable, after all. Thinking of the bad is bad—right? It makes us squirm and feel uneasy. We try to deny it and pretend it never happened. We also try to forget.

How foolish we are.

We forget how it’s the very challenges in life we grow the most. It’s also the difficulties that refine us and make us better, stronger people. But, these things only happen if… And, yep. You bet. There is the catch.

The challenges of life can be for the best—IF we let them. We have to choose to let these times grow us and not shrink us.

We will give thanks for all but the challenges in life and in doing so, we miss most of the sweetest blessings God offers us. If we choose to grab hold of the blessings of the life-changing-on-a-dime moments, the tough stuff, then our lives would be radically different and that much sweeter and more special. It’s these moments that make us cling to God and trust in Him in ways we never would have otherwise.

Never mind how it’s in the moments of the challenges of life that show us who we really are. Hence, we need to learn to make the choice of allowing God to turn the challenge into something great, or we can shrivel up, run away, buck, and miss the blessings God had in mind for us when He allowed the challenge to begin with. He allows the storms because He knows and sees the sunshine on the other side.

But, far too often, we run in circles in the storm, too scared, too angry, too frustrated, too worried to find our way through, with God’s help. Then, we miss the silver lining on the other side. Then, we miss the flowers He bloomed because of the rain and the lightning which fertilized these flowers.

We are our own worst enemies.

In not looking for the blessings in the storms, we miss the beauty all around. Even when it’s raining, there are blessings: the small of rain. The sound of the power of God in the thunder. How life stops for a while, or at least slows down, because of the storm.

We need to always give thanks—even in the storm. Especially in the storm and thereafter. The blessings are numerous, not few. We cannot allow ourselves to put blinders on our own faces because we cower in the storm, rather than look around for the beauty of the blessings.

Also, after the storm, even years later, we should continue to count the blessings. This is even more true when we start to feel anger, sadness, or despair about our past storms of life. If we were to count the blessings, instead of having those emotions, we would be far better off for it.

No more always give thanks except… The storms bring more blessings, if only we would stop and look—before, during, and after.

THANK YOU, LORD FOR…

145 My good health.

146 All of my limbs.

147 I’ve grown to focus on the blessings in the storms of life, rather than on impossibilities or the unknowns.

148 That I’ve learn to focus on what is known, not what is known.

149 Basking turtles

150 The knowledge that life is a lot more simple than we tend to make it.

151 Learning there are blessings all around, at all times, if only we look for them.

152 Taking the time to look for blessings.

153 Knowing, Lord, since I am a sinner, I deserve no blessing, but you shower me with them (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

154 The Passion Week

155 I can praise God through the storm (Psalm 40:3)

156 Gmail calendar to keep anniversaries, today in history reminders, and birthdays—plus my journaling

157 Colors of Spring

158 Spring storms

159 Good days

160 In-different days

161 Stormy days

162 Historic Jamestowne

163 Quiet days, particularly since they are so few

164 Quiet moments, because even in times of chaos, I cans teal a moment to count my blessings, which then becomes a quiet moment.

165 Today

166 That You, Lord, use my husband so mightily.

167 That B listens to You so well.

168 That not only does B listen to You, He does what You, immediately when You tell him to do so.

169 My new Bible

170 B and I will find out if B will get the promotion at work in two days. I thank You, Lord, regardless. After all, whatever happens means we are in the middle of Your will. You know what You’re doing.

171 Teaching me, Lord.

172 Guiding me, Lord.

173 What You did the Passion Week.

174 Cloud storage

175 Air Conditioning

176 Heat

177 Printers

178 Time with You.

179 Quiet.

180 Nothing planned today.

181 The thirst I have for the Word of God.

ROMANS 1:1-6

Romans 1:1-6 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

1 From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to spread the Good News of God.

2 (God had already promised this Good News through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 This Good News is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In his human nature he was a descendant of David. 4 In his spiritual, holy nature he was declared the Son of God. This was shown in a powerful way when he came back to life. 5 Through him we have received God’s kindness and the privilege of being apostles who bring people from every nation to the obedience that is associated with faith. This is for the honor of his name. 6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.)

-- GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Romans 1:1-6 defines for us the Good News, which is the Gospel. It’s also known as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, note how redemption, sanctification, and righteousness also go hand-in-hand with these concepts.

We also might want to take a look again at Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:17; and Mark 16:15-16 to help us get straight what the Gospel or Good News is, how it’s defined, and what it means.

I’m going to prayer journal and study about verses 1:1-6 for a while now.