Make the voice of thanksgiving heard...

In this sin-twisted world there are so many causes, so many injustices to be concerned about.  While, by nature, I am a person who despises conflict, I completely understand and have not shied away from speaking out on current events that I feel strongly about.  My concern, though, is for believers in Christ whose whole social media feed is filled with rage against the ills of our world with nary a mention to the One Who alone holds the answers to those ills nor any word of thanks for His sustaining faithfulness in their lives.  Ingratitude was one of the sins that kept the children of Israel from entering the promised land.  Their focus was on the challenges they faced.  They failed to recognize and respond in gratitude and faith for the protection and provision of God that surrounded them on their journey. ("Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of mind and heart in gratitude for the abundance of all with which He had blessed you." Deuteronomy 28:47)  Because of this for forty years they wandered in the desert and failed to live the abundant lift of victory that God had promised for them.

Our world is a messed up place.  It always has been and always will be until the King of kings Himself returns to make wrong things right.  Obviously, in the meanwhile, His church is to be salt and light, spreading the gospel, ministering to the needs of the broken and bringing God's hope to the hopeless.  Unfortunately, too many of us have become so overwhelmed with the ills and injustices of this world, that we've lost our joy and gratitude, we've failed to recognize, see, acknowledge and give thanks for God's love, faithfulness, provision and protection to us in the middle of this mess.  Instead, the mess has become our focus.  The world already sees the mess, what they need from God's people is some hope.  My fear is that the church itself has lost sight of the hope they have in Christ.  If that's you, ask God to open your eyes to His nearness, His faithfulness, His provision, His protection, His blessings in your life.  Begin to write down, to keep of record of, what He shows you.  Then, tell the world, at least your little corner of it, about His wondrous works.  Let's make the voice of thanksgiving heard in His church again.

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#9397-#9420

1-23-17-

-a beautiful day to get back to exercising!

-taking our youngest grandson for a treat

-groceries-how many don't have their pantry and freezer full of food?

-my red mixer

1-24-17-

-God's help to get what I need to do done on this busy day

-an open door to share the gospel with a neighbor

-praying together for our nation with our small group 

1-25-17-

-Nana school with my granddaughter

-taking a nice walk to the park with her

-tacos for dinner, her choice, before taking her home

1-26-17-

-abiding in His love

-a phone call with a friend

-prayer and worship night

1-27-17-

-a clean bill of health at my physical

-starting to pack for our upcoming trip to Ghana

-hellebore in bloom in our yard

-relaxing together on Friday date day

-apple nachos-yummy and healthy

1-28-17-

-pink sunrise

-lunch, laughter, shopping with friends

-texting with my girls about current events

1-29-17-

-a great message

-God's strength

-casting my cares on Him

still following,