ThanksLiving

Featured ~ dailypicsforlife ~ 2 Comments

2020 has been a hard and challenging year. If you’re like me, you may need an intentional reset in your mind and heart in order to know and believe that even the trouble of this year is not enough to negate the goodness and abundance of God.

I’m bringing back a PIC to refocus my mind and perspective on God’s truth-

This is good news- God’s bounty is not defined or confined by the circumstances of any given year!

I’m employing some simple strategies that I found in this beautiful passage from Psalm 92 as a guide for keeping a grateful heart and cultivating a spirit of joy-

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
Psalm 92:1-4 (ESV)

I’m calling it Instructions for ThanksLiving–

1- Spend time daily speaking praise to God; thank Him for His presence and be glad for his work (Psalm 113:2-3, Psalm 50:14-15, Psalm 91:14-16, Isaiah 46:4).
2- Begin and end the day in His presence- pray, pray, pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18).
3- Sing out loud a song of joy. (The old Thanksgiving hymns have made my heart glad, so I’m giving you a video link to help you get started- Let All Things Now Living.)

I pray you will find the practice of ThanksLiving is the best way to reset your perspective so that you believe and see the Bounty of the Lord in the land of the living as Psalm 27:13 promises-

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of living!

Happy ThanksLiving- I’m especially grateful for your presence here at Daily PICs- thanks for reading and praying along with me!
Jean

On The Way . . . With the Joy of the LORD

Featured ~ dailypicsforlife ~ 2 Comments

I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten at Waffle House, but every year as we get closer to Christmas, I think maybe this is the year I’ll stop in for some breakfast. My curiosity was piqued when I began to hear stories of eating at Waffle House as a much loved Christmas tradition- either Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

Being a breakfast lover, the stories of late night trips to a restaurant that’s always open intrigued me. Especially when I learned about the countless ways you can order another favorite of mine- hash browns.

Several years ago, I used my hash brown learnings to write a short devotional. Today I’m giving it a 2020 update and hoping it will encourage you as we close in on the end of what many people are describing as an unprecedented year. I’ll start with a simple question-

Has 2020 left you feeling like Waffle House hash browns? Continue reading “On The Way . . . With the Joy of the LORD” →

Something Has to Give

Featured ~ dailypicsforlife ~ 1 Comment

As it turns out, the post I wrote last week, No Matter What, has been harder for me to apply in my own life than I care to admit.

Living in this world as one of God’s chosen ones with the work assignment of Colossians 3:12-17 has been a challenge. Circumstances in the world and in my life are testing my patience, leaving me feeling more angry than kind, more critical than forgiving, and more grumbling than thankful.

I’m convicted this morning that if I’m going to make any progress toward Colossians 3 being real in my life, Something Has to Give–

And the something is me.

I’ve pulled out a PIC that I posted in the Journey in Joy series and updated it just a bit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is coming to the top of my prayer card stack.

I’ve also gotten a study off my shelf that I completed during another hard season 5-6 years ago called Fight Back With Joy by Margaret Feinberg. I highly recommend this one!

Both the scripture and the study will help me intentionally give my heart and mind to God as I-

Cultivate an attitude of joy;
Pray continually (as I go through the day);
Give thanks in all circumstances (even the challenging ones).

Then I’ll be aligned with God’s will for me in Christ Jesus.

No Matter What will you join me in this today?

No Matter What

Featured ~ dailypicsforlife ~ Leave a comment

Today seems the right time to share a key learning from my recent study with Jennifer Rothschild in Haggai. The book is short on verses but long on application and timeliness.

One of our first assignments was to read the book several times and highlight repeated words and phrases. “The LORD of hosts” popped up as the most recurring phrase- 14 times in 34 verses. God is making a point He wants his people to remember. It’s one they must know and believe if they are to continue on in obedience and finish the work they’ve begun. It’s a message for me today! Continue reading “No Matter What” →

In A Little While

Featured ~ dailypicsforlife ~ Leave a comment

My study in Haggai with Jennifer Rothschild has challenged my view of waiting on God. In his second sermon, Haggai is encouraging the people to be strong and work, knowing that God is with them. They are to finish rebuilding the temple even as they feel it in no way compares to the previous one that had been destroyed.

In verse 6 Haggai says,

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Haggai 2:6-9 (NIV)

This is a powerful word of encouragement to the people. God will bring together and provide all the resources needed to complete the work- after all, the resources and power are His! He promises to fill this temple with his glory and assures the people that it will be a greater glory than the splendor of the previous temple. In this place, He will give them peace.

While this is good news, a challenge comes with these brief words- “In a little while,” and it’s one all of us understand. God’s provision and promise will come in a little while, thus- a season of in the meantime and waiting! Continue reading “In A Little While” →