Waving at Warm Weather - 30 Days of Thankfulness

Whoo! The Upper Midwest is enjoying a bit of a heat wave. OK, daily high temperatures are in the low fifties, but that’s warm for us at this time of the year. We’re celebrating!

Folks are enjoying outdoor activities longer than usual.

We’re hiking and biking. We’re stringing Christmas lights outside. We’re stopping to visit our neighbors on the sidewalk, while walking our dogs. We’re doing our holiday shopping without wearing cumbersome heavy coats.

We’re tossing up window sashes to let fresh air into our homes.

And we know we are living on borrowed time.

Maybe that’s what makes these days so special. This mild and pleasant spell is giving us much more than we deserve, geographically and meteorologically speaking.

These sweet days remind me of the gentle love of God.


He offers mercy, in place of judgment. He gives grace to the fallen. He reaches out with the promise of new life to us, even when we have cast His love aside.

We believe that we are all saved the same way, 

by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

(Acts 15:11, NLT)

What a wonderful God.

I’m thankful for unseasonably warm weather.

Yep, I’m enjoying these lovely days. Even more, however, I am grateful for the warm welcome of the Wonderful One.

December first will mark the start of Advent, when we celebrate the Lord’s birth. We will remember His coming into our world as the Babe in Bethlehem’s manger. And, even if the winter wind blows, our hearts will be warm, as we bask in the love of the Son.

 

For what are you thankful? 

Image/s:

Walking with Dogs

Stock.xchng Photos

Public Domain Artwork

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

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Viewing Veritable Values - 30 Days of Thankfulness

Are you still reeling from Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday? What a whirlwind week of holiday sales and bargain bonanzas. Did you find any wonderful deals?

Values count for plenty.

Smart shoppers know the value of good values. Aiming for frugality, we may look at labels and peek at price tags before buying the items we need or want. Yes, we look for values.

Of course, the best values have little to do with shopping or stuff. We get that. 

Genuine values are showcased in character, not on store counters. The highest prizes are personal, pointing to integrity and maturity and other key traits.

A person of real value gains the respect of all who know him.

He who loves purity of heart,

and whose speech is gracious,

will have the king as his friend.

(Proverbs 22:11, ESV)

I’m thankful for veritable values … that last.

In this month of thankfulness, I’m encouraged to consider those key people in my own life, who demonstrate personal values daily. By doing so, these folks offer tiny glimpses of godliness. If all their solid character qualities were melded into one individual, the rest of us would enjoy a clear mankind-clad version of the Divine.

 

That's virtue.

Veritable values are valuable. And I want more of them. It may not be on Santa’s list, but it’s on mine.

For what are you thankful?

Image/s:

Man on a Bench

 Stock.xchng Photos

Public Domain Artwork

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

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Unbelievable Upcounts - 30 Days of Thankfulness

I’m no mathematician. Heck, I was an English major. But I love the order of math. I adore the way the rules of numbers consistently hold true, and the patterns stay strong in all formulations.

What a wise God we serve.

He simply makes sense. God is the Lord of order, the mastermind of all creation, and the only Wise One.

For God is not the author of confusion,

but of peace,

as in all churches of the saints.

(1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV)

Take a look at this widely circulated YouTube video, titled “The Beauty of Mathematics.”

 .

 .

Isn’t that amazing? And, even as a non-mathematician, I think it’s fun to see how it all works out.

I’m thankful for God’s unbelievable upcounts.

But then, I’m a believer. I’m eternally grateful to be counted as His.

To the only wise God

be glory forever

through Jesus Christ!

Amen.

(Romans 16:27, NIV)

For what are you thankful? 

 

Image/s:

Counting on Fingers

 from a 15th Century work

by Meister Francke

Public Domain Artwork

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

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Truth Tellers - 30 Days of Thankfulness

It’s never fun to catch someone in an outright lie. In fact, it’s really quite sad, as it usually signals a relational breakdown. Still, we surely do, from time to time. In fact, I just did.

This one was a doozy, as her prevarication affected dozens of people. Interestingly, it wasn’t a creative or crafty lie, but an obvious untruth. And it seemed to show little purpose, except to deceive.

In the end, this individual’s mediocre mendacity cost her the trust and respect of many, who previously admired her. Sure, some of us may have forgiven her for her falsehood, but it’s tough to regain credibility, once it’s been compromised by craftiness and counterfeit concepts.

Why did she bother with this self-destructive double-dealing?

Deceit is hard work, and it harms those who practice pretenses.

This truth is found throughout Scriptures. Here’s an example.

Honesty guides good people;

dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

(Proverbs 11:3, NLT)

Why do we even suppose it’s worth it to try a lie?

And yet, we do. That’s why I appreciate straight shooters, who offer transparency, authenticity, and veritable verifiable information.

I’m thankful for truth tellers.

Maybe we are all grateful for such folks. Surely, God honors those who are honest as well. Take a look:

Whoever can be trusted with very little

can also be trusted with much,

and whoever is dishonest with very little

will also be dishonest with much.

(Luke 16:10, NIV)

Oh, Lord. Keep me truthful, even when it’s trying to be so. And please shore up that check in my spirit, so You can stop me in my tracks, if I'm tempted to deceive. Thank You for the truth tellers You've place in my life, who model soul-deep honesty through and through.

For what are you thankful? 

 

Image/s:

Shush!

Stock.xchng Photos

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

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