"Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasture lands" (Micah 7:14)
(Although they live apart in the wilderness, there is fertile land around them)
There are people who feel that life is a barren road leading nowhere.
Route 66 Sands Motel
They travel through a spiritual wilderness and monotony clouds their perception of the blessings and joys that give cause for thanksgiving and praise. The road ahead lacks adventure because they are convinced that it will be no different, and therefore they expect nothing new to happen in their lives.
The tragedy is that they are so busy complaining about what they think is wrong that they cannot see what is right. They live in a wilderness of their own creating, and cannot see the lovely things that are continually happening to those who have cultivated the art of appreciation.
An appreciative attitude is the key that opens the treasure house of God.
If, in recent days, you have been blind to the beauties of nature; spoken destructively instead of constructively and have been fighting life with such intensity that you are difficult to live with, it is time you started thankfully counting your blessings.
This is not a "pollyanna" approach to life. It is the adaptation of a principle that, if conscientiously applied, will transform your attitude,
and bring you joy and satisfaction. The basis of true appreciation is the
acknowledgment that God is good and is waiting to bless those who love Him and have opened their lives to His extraordinary generosity..
Teach me, O Lord, to recognize Your blessings and accept my appreciation of them.
Love,
Mimi
courtesy of faith for daily livingMimi
June, 1979 ; allposters
15 comments:
Great post, Mimi ~ We are to give thanks in all things and to think on whatsoever is lovely and pure.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18
What a nice reminder; God is always worthy of our thanks.
What a great reminder. I think people forget to look around them and give thanks for the things that are taken for granted. There are so many blessings around us. If one would only look, the road would never be boring!
Blessings
Mimi,
An awesome post. I am grateful for many things that I have, though others might think I have nothing at all. I don't judge my life in material things, but in the blessings of love, joy, happiness and the beauty of God's earth.
A grateful spirit will definitely be rewarded. Thanks so much for sharing.
Blessings,
Mary
What very important thoughts. A reminder I needed. I love the shot of Route 66 - my college was located right on Route 66 in Oklahoma. Remember the old t.v. show?
God's blessings are all around us every day! Today we had the most beautiful sunny day with the brightest blue sky! I have both the front door and back door open with just the screen door there and it is beautiful! We also saw a bald eagle flying over our home!
Happy weekend!
:0) Sharon
Beautiful post Mimi!I thank God for all his many Blessings.
Beautiful, bless you.
This was quite lovely Mimi. I have to be "comparatively" thankful some times. When things are bad, I ask myself "are there worse things that I could be going through?" Usually, the worse thing that I think of involves the health and welfare of my children. I then think, that if all is well with my family, that I would choose these problems to have. I praise Jesus that the trials in life that He SAID would come, are the ones that I have and not the ones that I don't EVER want to have. I also know that there is a greater grace for anything that comes my way.
Have a wonderful day. I will too, being thankful!
Jennifer
I love the scripture Jodi quoted in her comments. It is one the verses written on the tablet of my heart.
This is what came to my mind when reading your post.... Paul taught us to be thankful in whatever state we might find ourself ...... We just need to love life and the beauty will be there even in the wilderness...
Phl 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
Phl 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Good morning Mimi! I just wanted to answer your question....I only made a dent, but at least I did that much! The details are on my blog. Just getting them down and out of their boxes and spread out I think helped so much and to get me motivated!
We need to get ready for church, so I better get going. Have a great day today!
:0) Sharon
Thank you for this post!
We have Gods blessings, but we need to see them.
We have so much to be thankful for.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks.
Amen!
We have Jesus, we need to give thanks always.
Great post Mimi.
Thank you.
~blessings.
Excellent post Mimi! :0)Blessings~Sharon
You are so right...the attitude of gratitude....
WE have no reason to complain....
or murmur..
Deby
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