Friday, December 14, 2012

Day 44

So today, I had a major flashback... to the 1980s.  And not just to the '80s, but to the styles of the '80s.  Let me explain.  Tonight I was talking to a friend at a Christmas party and somehow we ended up discussing fashion trends of the 80s.  Let's see if you remember any of these styles... Guess jeans, Tretorn shoes, Bellini shoes, Davies Bags (remember the navy flat bottom bags with leather handles and you mailed off to get your initials?).  We were laughing at the expense and efforts we went through to fit in.  Now it seems kinda silly... but back in the day, it was so important.

My son doesn't have the flexibility to wear name brand clothes to school like I did.  He can wear two different colored pants and three different colored polo shirts.  That's it.  I must admit that this keeps his school clothes budget much more economical than those Guess jeans I used to wear...

Here's what I discovered about thankfulness tonight.  It's a command, not an option.  Much like wearing a uniform to school, we are told to wear a uniform of thanksgiving by this command in in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  

But 1 Thessalonians is not the only place we are commanded to give thanks.  Any guesses how many times we're told to give thanks in the Bible?  Are you ready for this?  Thirty-three times.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=give+thanks&t=NIV

Can you believe it? This thankfulness stuff is pretty important.  From 1 Chronicles 16:4 in the Old Testament:  He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, to Revelation 11:17 in the New Testament:  "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign," we are commanded to give thanks. 

Thanksgiving needs to become part of our DNA... we should be "overflowing with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:7).  And when we get to this point over time, it won't matter whether we wear name brand clothes or clothes from Goodwill, because our heart clothes will be radiant with thanksgiving.  Thanks for wearing thankfulness with me each day.  Who knows... maybe thanksgiving will become the new trend...  How cool would that be? 

Tonight, I am thankful for...

1.  Christmas shaped pretzels
2.  Pretzel appetizer and pretzel dessert
3.  A tried and true recipe... and a new recipe that turned out to be good
4.  Picking up my Christmas cards
5.  Receiving Christmas surprises in the mail
6.  Photo books that capture memories from the past
7.  Creating connections
8.  God orchestrating all the details for an upcoming retreat and being just in awe of how He's at work
9.  The blessing of my friend watching the boys tonight
10.   My three year old's opinion about the music we listen to on the radio
11.  My seven year old's love for other children
12.  Memories of vacations
13.  Wassail
14.  Holding hands
15.  Hugs

Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 5,167 to go...

8 comments:

  1. I am thankful for:
    Knowing that GOD hears all the prayers going up for the devastated families in Connecticut.
    Today's devotion in the "Jesus Calling" book - divine timing
    Oatmeal with pb2 and chocolate chips
    Bucket less mopping
    Gummy vitamins
    Cheap reading glasses

    Bonnie
    My hard working, easy going, husband.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am thankful for
    1.That I know where my children and their families are and
    that they are safe.
    2.Christmas shopping with my daughter and two of my grandkids.
    3.Eating lunch out with my daughter and grandkids.
    4.The kids being good shopping.
    5.My daughter in law picking up Atley early.
    6.Time to myself.
    7.Date night with just my husband.
    8.Eating pizza and going to Oxmoor with my husband.(Even
    though we didn't have any shopping to do.)
    9.Watching Christmas shows with my husband.
    10.Having time to read today.
    Gina

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. For Sugar Cookies
    2. For "The Grinch" Movie
    3.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Here we go again ok....
    3. For listening to my husband quote every line and laughing like it is the fist time he's heard it
    4. For God
    5. For the innocence of little children and their laughter

    LisaD

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am thankful for ...
    1) a good book to read
    2) a good night sleep
    3) Christmas shopping with the family
    4) Christian radio
    5) my Savior

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am thankful for...
    1. Wonderful nurses at KCMC
    2. A fast grocery store trip
    3. Being able to reschedule plans
    4. Being able to pray for others
    5. Pizza
    6. Popcorn
    7. Christmas movies
    8. Four kiddos reading books together in pajamas
    9. Awesome friends
    10. Parents who drive 4 hours after a long day of work to be able to have more time with my family over the weekend
    11. Prayer time
    12. God's word speaking to me in just the way needed
    13. Peace
    14. Hope
    15. Joy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thankful for:
    Vision that doesn't require glasses (yet)
    Internet shopping
    Christmas get-togethers
    Generous people
    Wife's beauty that just gets better each year

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1. No 5am shift
    2. air conditioning
    3. fun nights with good laughs
    4. walmart adventure with Bekah
    5. Cooking out with Bekah

    ReplyDelete