Thankfulness

Do you ever have those times when you just feel desparate to hear God, but unable? I find myself there quite a bit. I'm not good at being still and waiting on the Lord. I still look for the flashing neon signs that say "MJ! Do this!" I'm beginning to think God doesn't work in Neon. But as I was driving along last night, I was thinking about a time God spoke to me just in the past few months. It was a little humbling, really. It wasn't a message of "I will never leave you or forsake you." It wasn't a "Be strong and corageous..." It wasn't even a "Cast all your anxieties upon me" message. I like those. This one was "Be thankful." And this word came in the form of a Bible passage. Luke 17:11-17 tells of 10 men who had leprosy. They cried out to Jesus to have mercy on them and in true fashion, Jesus did. He then sent them to show themselves to the priests as was custom at the time to be declared officially clean. But one man, returned to Jesus when he saw that he was healed, so he could thank him. He wasn't even one of God's "chosen people". He was a Samaritan. And he was the only one who thanked Jesus. Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal 10 men? Where are the other 9? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God? Stand up and go, your faith has made you well." I first heard this passage preached on a couple of months ago and thought it was a good sermon. Two weeks later, it just happened to be what I was scheduled to teach in children's church. I felt pretty prepared already because I had just listened to a sermon on it. But it wasn't until about 2 weeks after that when I was at a completely different church and what do you think the message was on? You guessed it - this exact same passage. I am admittedly a slow study. But by this point, I started sitting a little straiter and thinking "Okay! Okay! I hear you!" Again, it wasn't lost on me that this wasn't a "well done, good and faithful servant" message, but we all need some gentle reminding from our father once in awhile and I needed to be reminded that He has provided me with so much - my salvation if not another thing! My heart needs to be in a constant state of gratitude. I tend to take so much for granted. While I think I do appreciate a lot of things, I also get bogged down by a lot of things and forget to take note of all the good in my life. As I was driving last night, I started thinking of many of the things in my life that I have not given thanks for. Some members of a small group I used to lead came to mind and my heart was just filled with love for them. One in particular is a man with an amazing heart for God who just happens to have Downs Syndrome. Yesturday, at church, he gave me a huge hug, asked me to be a part of his group again and then just stood there smiling and looking at me. What struck me was that he had a look of such joy and excitement that he might just burst. His eyes were sparkling in a way I've never seen anyone's and he just stood there smiling - at me. Thinking about it last night just made me smile out loud (if that makes sense) and filled me with joy. I am thankful for these wonderful people from my old small group. I am thankful for broken roads that are tough to travel. I am thankful for new friends who meet me where I'm at and old friends renewed. I am thankful my children who try my patience and test my endurance, but who make my life so full and complete. I am thankful for my husband who to his last breath would do anything for his children and I. I am so thankful that I am able to start this new year with a focus on me - physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I am feeling so refreshed and so good and so incredibly grateful - and it is all just beginning. Most of all, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who is so faithful and true. His Word never changes or falters. His love is rock solid. His mercy is new every morning and His grace is available 24 hours a day. He carries me in the depths of my sorrow. He sticks around when I can't even call out His name for lack of energy or even "want to" and waits patiently to lift me up and provide a renewed spirit. How amazing is my God!



I would like to think that I have learned me lesson. Unfortunately, I will probably need to be reminded again. My focus fades, my attention wanders, my flesh becomes impatient. But I am grateful that I have a Father who is willing to gently remind me...again.