In Everything Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I am discovering that living a life of thanksgiving is truly life changing.  In fact, for the last several weeks I have been recording things I am thankful for each day in a thanksgiving journal.  The Lord sends me sweet surprises during the day whether it be a smile from an older woman at the grocery store, a hummingbird at my window or hearing my son, Samuel, offer godly counsel to a friend over the phone.  My heart is overflowing with thanksgiving.
After homeschooling our children for 15 years I am now a brand new substitute teacher in our county's public school system.  My dear friend, Ana, took me to three elementary schools to introduce me to school secretaries, principals and teachers. Amazingly my October calendar is completely filled with substitute jobs.  I was in the same classroom three days this week and have been so blessed by this precious group of students. A few have physical challenges (wheel chair, leg braces) and continue to smile. In fact, their smiles light up the classroom and greatly encourage my heart. I am so thankful that I have gotten to spend time with these students and look forward to several more days this month in their classroom.
Even when teaching, the Lord sends me sweet surprises.  The picture above is artwork a group of third grade girls did for me on Monday.  A cardinal sang for the longest time in the dogwood tree outside the classroom I was in today.  When we were walking to lunch a student noticed the moon still in the sky (they are studying the phases of the moon).  Butterflies flying, an encouraging word from the principal as she passed me in the hall, hugs upon hugs upon hugs from my students, hearing I love you Mrs. Doster... you are a great teacher (when I was a bit unsure), a boy being honest when I couldn't read his answer to a math problem, and my sweet husband's encouraging words all along the way in this new adventure.
If you are careful to watch closely you will SEE so many things to be thankful for throughout your days.  You only have to open your eyes, slow down and take notice.
I wrote this down in my quiet time journal recently.  I believe it is from Ann Voskamp:

          "The only real prayers are the ones mouthed with thankful lips.  Prayer, to be prayer, to have any
           power to change anything, must first speak thanks. "In everything, by prayer and supplication,
           with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4:6  Prayer without ceasing is
           Praying without ceasing is only possible in a life of continual thanks.

Won't you begin to give thanks during your days?  It truly will change your life and your perspective.  We all have so much to be thankful for.

Joyfully,
Julie

A Thousand Little Things to be Thankful For Today

A sweet song to remind us there a thousand little things to be thankful for every day!  Notice the little things as you go about your day and give thanks! God is so good!

Shamar

My life has been flowing rather smoothly since August 14th when I shared deep fears with my dear and very precious husband.  BUT yesterday I received news that "shook" my world a bit and I felt that all too familiar feeling of fear poke its head into my heart again.  I texted a sweet friend about it last night and she texted back, "Praying for peace to rule in your heart... you are free from fear.  He is in control!"  I went to sleep giving all over to the Lord and slept so peacefully.

I am going through Beth Moore's Bible Study Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent.  The study focuses on Psalms 120-134... the Psalms of Ascent.  This morning's study focused on Psalm 121; one of my favorite passages in the Bible.
Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

 He will not let your foot be moved;
    He who keeps you will not slumber.
 Behold, He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    He will keep your life.
 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

What a comfort this Psalm is to my heart.  Isn't it beautiful?  

The Lord will keep.  The Lord will protect. The Lord will guard.  Keep, protect and guard.  Each of these words comes from the root word transliterated shamar, meaning "to keep, guard... to preserve, protect; to watch." (from Webster's New World Hebrew Dictionary) 

What is happening in your life right now or is there a current need that you or a loved one has that is causing you great concern?  Let these words flow over you... The Lord is our protector!  The Lord will protect you from all harm!  The Lord will protect your life!  The Lord will protect your coming and going now and always!

On Tuesday I will get more answers on the news I received yesterday.  Whatever I learn, I know that the Lord already knows.  I can rest in Him who never falls asleep when things are going smoothly or is never jolted awake when the earth rumbles under my feet. He is in perfect attendance to my every step.

I will look to Him and rest in His keeping, guarding, protecting presence.  Shamar... a beautiful word to give thanks for today.

 

Giving Thanks

My husband, David, gave me a new book for my birthday.

We had no idea how the Lord would use this book to change my life.
Fear had taken root in my heart.  Fears that I kept to myself and didn't tell anyone about.  Fears that the enemy took and magnified into gigantic fears that consumed my heart.  Fears that the enemy used to keep me from being the person God meant for me to be.
Inside the book cover David wrote the following:  "Julie, I love you and I want you to enjoy this book. May it lift your heart!  David
As I began reading 1000 Gifts the tears began to flow.  Just as Ann experienced a loved one's death; I too have experienced the loss of dear ones.  First the death of my dad when I was 11, and then my mom's unexpected death six years ago.
Ann writes, "From my own beginning, my sister's death tears a hole in the canvas of the world.  Losses do that.  One life-loss can infect the whole of a life.  Like a rash that wears through our days, our sight becomes peppered with black voids. Now everywhere we look, we only see all that isn't: holes, lack, deficiency." She writes that she would have written this story differently.  I could so relate to this.  I would have written my story differently too as I would have loved for my dad to know David and our three children. I would have loved for them to know my dad. I would love to be able to call my mom to brag on her grandchildren or to help when I have a question that I need answers to.
Many times I came close to telling David my deepest fears, the fears that were consuming my heart; but the enemy would throw lies my way and cause me to be afraid of what David would say or make me think that he would stop loving me if he really knew.
I read my new book, I read and I read. I wept and I wept.  God was building up my courage to talk to David about my fears.  I read how Ann's life began to change as she began to live with an attitude of gratitude each day; whatever came her way.  She became fully alive and I desired the same.  I so wanted to live fully alive; not weighed down by my fears. I was living tired, afraid, anxious and weary just as Ann wrote in the early chapters of her book. I didn't want to live that way anymore.
Tuesday, August 14th, I spent the day reading. I wanted to share my fears with David that night.  I wrote out verses in my journal that afternoon. I read Matthew 6:25-34 over and over.
That night I sat by David and I shared my heart.  I told him all the fears I had let consume me.  He had great compassion and loved me still.  The enemy couldn't use my fears any more.  When we keep things hidden inside the enemy can really use them against us.  Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
I felt free!!!  God's Word began to come alive again to me.  I truly feel like a brand new creature.  I am no longer weighed down by my fears.  I am not living tired, anxious or weary.
We have just completed 15 years of homeschooling. Our youngest is now in college and our house is empty during the day.  Now it is just me and our sweet Millie dog at home during the day.  I am in the process of looking for a part time job but until I hear back from two interviews I am LOVING unhurried time in God's Word.  I am LOVING sitting at His feet, pouring out my heart of Thanksgiving for what He has done and is doing in my heart. Thanksgiving for delivering me from being fearful.
I knew that my 52 Weeks of Cakes blog wasn't the right place to pour my heart of thanksgiving out so I began this blog tonight.
I have started my own list of 1000 things I am thankful for.  Living with a heart of Thanksgiving really does change a life.
Ann writes, "The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything.  He who has learned this knows what it means to live... He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything."
On August 14th, 2012, I rededicated my life to Christ.  My fears were no longer secret.  The enemy could no longer use them to torment me.
On August 25th, David baptized me at our church picnic. Yes, me, the pastor's wife was baptized by my pastor husband.  It truly was a beautiful experience.  I felt God's presence in such a precious way and will always remember my baptism.  I was baptized when I was 11 but only because the pastor told me I had to be baptized if I wanted to see my daddy again.  I was baptized last Saturday for all of the right reasons.  I want to SHINE for Christ with no hindrances of fear.
I am His new creation and my heart overflows with Thanksgiving.
Julie