Giving Thanks / Acting Thanks

All week, along with most of America, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for. As I acknowledge the many blessings that God has given, it has not felt like "good enough" to just acknowledge them. It also has not felt "good enough" to simply thank God for them, and it has not seemed "good enough" to tell of the gratitude I feel for these people and things.

I am not totally sure what has caused this attitude. The Holy Spirit? The loss of people close to me this year? Simple growing up?

And even though I cannot point to the direct cause of my need to make more than a list of things I am grateful for, I know that "giving" thanks is not sufficient for me. Maybe because I am feeling that it is not sufficient for my God.

As I have spent time with Him, getting to know Him through His word, and allowing His spirit to convict, to lead, and to teach, He has caused my heart to realize that I must act in thanksgiving.

Rather than simply acknowledging my wonderful, caring husband, I need to love him and respect him. I am blessed with healthy, responsible kids. I am to care for them, to example my faith to them, to love them. I am grateful for my health. Do I take care of my body? My mind? My soul? I am thankful to have a job, especially at this time of national financial instability. I am called as a Christian to work with integrity as unto the Lord. The list goes on and on.......

How do I ACT with the many blessings that I have been blessed with?

The day will come, that I will stand before my Jesus, and will give an account of how I treated these blessings in my life. Did I love them? Was I a blessing back? Did I take it for granted? Honor God?

So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.

Luke 16:2

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:12

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Peter 4:5

Thanksgiving for me?

...your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

1 John 2:12

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

I Close My Eyes

Well, I did it. I took the writer's challenge at a blog that I have been lurking around for some time. I found this blog through Laura at Wellblog 's place and have been enthralled ever since. I have dabbled in poetry on and off. Written some invitations, cards, and even a few song lyrics (for fun) but have been hesitant to post any. (roaring lion? see below post ) With the encouragement of a friend, I decided to take the challenge on L.L.Barkat's blog, in a lesson on seeing. I chose a subject that is cherished, a memory that was real and something close to my heart. The beach. Many, many days were spent at the beach in the 12 years I lived on the Southern Virginia coast. The memories are real, and when.......... I close my eyes and I can still see the beach. The endless spans of water Sometimes blue, green, or gray. It moves Gently and Violently Bubbles rise and falling forward. On and on. I close my eyes and I can still hear the crash Of tidal movement As earth slowly spi...

Friday Fill Ins

1. I'm PMS-ing , I'm excited , I am feeling out of balance . 2. Why do I have short legs and not tall, thin ones ? 3. How does this surrender stuff really work , anyway? 4. Every morning, I put make-up on my face . 5. I consider myself lucky because I have God in my life . 6. One day we’ll see Jesus face to face! 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to meeting Lelia and Kelley in person , tomorrow my plans include Step Study Class, shopping with my daughter, worship service , and dinner with friends (and maybe seeing Lelia and Kelley again) and Sunday, I want to work in my yard a little bit! For More Fun Friday Fill Ins click here!

A Promise is a Promise (Grand Canyon)

Many years ago, I am guessing about 19 of them, our family visited the Grand Canyon for one day, on the way home from a trip to California to visit family. Our eldest son was around 11, our middle one around 9, and our baby was a little over a year old. Our boys wanted desperately to hike into the canyon, but our oldest one especially so. He pleaded and my husband and I held firm our "No" as our youngest was too young and we were not outfitted for such an adventure. I promised that we would return one day. A few months later we moved to the East Coast of Virginia. Not planned when we stood at the edge of the canyon and that promise was made. And the many times we planned vacation time to the beach, our son reminded me of that promise to go the the Grand Canyon. Time flew quickly and years later we had not returned to the Grand Canyon. But, we did move to Texas and as we looked at spending time as a family, our oldest son brought this promise bac...

Anonymous said…

Liz,

I was struggling with writing a Thanksgiving post. Although I have so many things that I am truly thankful for--it just didn't seem like enough to "list them". I felt as if it would just come out sounding kinda "generic". And here you have written what I so needed to hear. Actions...yes they speak so much louder than our words. I will take this post with me in heart over the next few days and work on my actions of thankfulness.

you are a blessing,
Kim
**oh and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Liz's Letters

Search This Blog