Give Thanks!
Halloween is gone and the Thanksgiving season is upon us! I love Thanksgiving! I love any excuse for a celebration that gathers people together. I also love the specific reminder that it gives us to think about all the big and little things God has done for us, and to thank him for them. Thanksgiving might look different for you and your family this year, but we still have so many things to truly thank God for. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
I’ve talked about it before, but I love the daily devotional New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp. One I read the other day reminded me of God’s grace and how he can show us His grace even in the little moments. His grace goes with us everyday, in every location, in every situation. We truly are so undeserving of all that He does for us, even in the little things he does for us like giving us flowers. Each beautiful detail is an expression of His great love for us.
Below is a section from the devotional on December 28th.
“He blesses us with these good and beautiful things every day. That means that on your very worst day and on your very best day, you are blessed with pleasures that come right from the hand of God. That tells you that you don’t get these pleasures because you’ve earned or deserved them, but because he is a God of grace. He graces you with good things because he is good, not because you are.”
As I reflect on this, I wanted to share with you some of the ways that I feel graced by God today.
-The beautiful colors of the fall leaves
-Warm, bright sunshine
-A cool light breeze
-Opportunities to laugh
-Opportunities to be helpful and to be helped
-A new bridge to drive over (yes it’s done people!)
-Ms. Frances’s kind smile and sincere questions
-Funny TikToks that Lucy shows me
-Being able to work outside
-Long phone calls with good friends
-Rocking chairs
-Coffee, warm slippers, and time with Jesus
It was also really good for me to read the verse at the end and be reminded of it’s truth. “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” Matthew 5:45.
No matter if you specifically think someone is in the wrong, or you disagree with them, we are all equal and sinners in God’s eyes. NONE of us deserve the grace that God gives us. Yet he does it anyway because HE is good.
Where is God gifting you specifically today and showing you grace? Where can you show grace as a response to the grace you undeservingly have received?
