Joyful Jealousy - 30 Days of Thankfulness

Jesus is jealous, and I love Him for it.

Generally, when we call a person jealous, we consider that a fault. We point to the proverbial Green Monster and tag that individual as overly possessive, selfish, egotistical, and controlling.

Not so with our Lord.

The Redeemer has every right to be jealous.

In Deuteronomy 6:15, we read this: “the LORD your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God” (NLT). Our Creator, the God of the Universe, desires the full adoration and allegiance of His people. He will settle for nothing less.

And so does the Savior.

But the jealousy of the Divine is not mean or vindictive or self-centered, as human jealousy so often tends to be. His jealousy does not seek to trap us in our trespasses or bind us against our wills.

He simply craves our devotion and eternal delight, which rightly belongs only to Him. His jealousy is well-placed and appropriate. Still, in His great love and perfect justice, Jehovah God offers each of us a choice.

Whom will we worship? 

Will we choose to love God or another? He does not force our hands or our hearts, but He surely aches for us to aim our affections Heavenward.

Jesus said:

"Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, a

and anyone who isn't working with Me

is actually working against Me.

(Luke 11:23, NLT)

What a wonder. The Lord of all Creation loves me and you enough to set His heart on lovingly drawing our devotion.

When any of us catches the tiniest glimpse of His glory, we cannot help but worship Him. The Lord alone is worthy of all honor and praise.

I’m thankful for Jesus’ jealousy. In fact, it makes me joyful.

I'm in love with the Lover of my Soul, and I want to love Him more. I want to work with Him, not against Him. I want to adore what He adores and abhor what He abhors. Mostly, I want to aim for His heart, for that’s where Heaven may be found.

Oh, God. Direct my aim and my affections, and draw me in the right direction.

For what are you thankful?

Image/s:

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well

By Guercino

Circa 1640

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

Related Items:

• How Long? Rhyming Yet, Lest I Forget - Where have I been, when my Beloved has called me by name? How long has He waited for me?
• 9 Favorite Thanksgiving Hymns - Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting upon thankfulness, which points many hearts to God. Folks gather to worship God at Thanksgiving. What sacred and traditional hymns are most suitable for Thanksgiving?
• Not Shaken, but Stirred - a Rhyming Prayer for the Gardener's Care - Why does wickedness seem to win in our world? Tyrants and terrorists wreak their havoc. Peacemakers and promoters of positivity struggle, while evildoers seem to flourish. This poem, written in iambic pentameter, asks: Where may justice be found?

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

Share

Inviting Imagination - 30 Days of Thankfulness

The calendar says November, and that means NaNoWriMo is underway. National Novel Writing Month draws authors and aspiring novelists out of daily routines, as these intrepid individuals pound out full-length fictional works in 30 days.

NaNoWriMo participants: I’m not playing this year, but I salute you for your initiative and incomparable instincts. Mostly, I admire your imagination.

I’ve done NaNoWriMo before, and it nearly killed me. Writing thousands of words a day for an entire month, on top of ongoing news beats and feature article assignments almost did me in.

But I survived NaNoWriMo. I wrote the 50,000-word work. Then I reintroduced myself to my real-life family and friends and went on with life.

I’ll be back another year. Wanna know why?

Writers gotta write.

OK, that departure from diction was intentional. Call it poetic license, if you like.

Last spring (and the spring before that), I did NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Writing Month. And I had a blast. I love working with words and finding intriguing ways to communicate issues and idiosyncrasies of life. That’s my niche, and it oddly suits me.

(Maybe I can use that one.)

What’s your gift from God?

Are you a creative communicator? A skilled craftsman? An adept administrator? Whatever talents you received from the Almighty, you have likely experienced the joy of exercising them.

You may even have trudged through the discouragement of not using your God-given abilities for a time.

He alone decides

which gift

each person should have.

(1 Corinthians 12:11b, NLT)

God’s gifts grow when we use them.

Teachers thrive in teaching. Builders do best while building. Artists achieve greatness through applying their artistry. Athletes shine in their own fields or arenas.

Sure, we all may have spells of idleness. We may seem sidelined for a season. But a true gift glows somewhere in one’s spirit until it’s fanned into full flames again.

I’m thankful for inviting imagination.

I’m waiting for it … and excited to see where it will spring up next.

For what are you thankful?

Image/s:

3 Gifts

Stock.xchng Photos

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

Related Items:

• 10 nifty ways to wrap holiday presents without boxes or gift bags - Last-minute gift wrapping leaves Christmas shoppers a-whirl. Odd-shaped gifts are challenging to wrap without boxes or bags. What’s a gift wrapper to do? Here are 10 creative ways to package holiday gifts, often using items you may already have.
• A Poet's Plea - What greater source of creativity is there than the Great Creator? Poets, painters and all creative artists may seek inspiration from the Source. This poet pleads for truth and purpose from the One who offers His gifts freely, for He has paid the price.
• Gracious Gift Receiving - How to Receive a Gross Gift Gratefully - Gag gifts are one thing, but what if you get a gift that makes you gag? Here are some helpful tips, to get you through the initial shock and back to festive fellowship and holiday cheer.

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

Share

Hope in Heaviness - 30 Days of Thankfulness

I’m feeling a little heavy today, and it’s not just because I want to lose a few pounds before the holidays begin. This morning, I woke up to a jumble of mini-crises after a nearly sleepless night.

Have you ever found yourself feeling more tired in the morning than you were when you retired the night before? I surely have.

My mind was racing in the wee hours of the night. Yes, I shared each concern with my Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. Still, sleep eluded me for most of the night. Morning arrived all too fast for my own comfort.

My spirit seems somewhat sunken today. A thousand tiny hassles and hurts can tip the scales in time and drag us down. Maybe you know the feeling.

Daily, we mortals may choose to pour life or death into one another. We build each other up, and we break each other down. Often, we do a bit of both.

Toss in a few daily stresses and a nagging and progressively oppressive medical condition or two, and restfulness may try to make a break for it.

But I know the truth.

I’m thankful for hope in heaviness.

Even in down-times, the Lord does not leave His own. In fact, often it seems those are the moments when the voice of our Heavenly Father may be heard most clearly.

I am certain God’s plan is still intact – in my life, in my family, and worldwide. For He remains wakeful and watchful, even when His children do doze off for a while.

The King of Kings holds the winning hand, no matter how the game seems to be going today.

“But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
    the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden,
    putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
    never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
    bearing fresh fruit every season.”

(Jeremiah 17:7, MSG)

Sometimes we simply have to change the channel, directing our thoughts from our present fits to our future hope.

What’s playing in the background today?

Are you hearing harmonies or harm? A friend shared this song with me, and it helped to heal my heart a little. Maybe it will bless you as well.

God really wants to draw His children near to His own heart, whatever it takes. For only there can we find hope in heaviness. And only then can we look up and discover our burdens have been lifted.

For what are you thankful?

Image/s:

Father and Child

By Andrei Osipovich Karelin

Late 19th Century

4 Kings by Enoch Lau

Creative Commons Licensing

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

Related Items:

• Lead Me to the Rock of Heaven and Earth - A Prayer to the Rock of Heaven and Earth. "From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."(Psalm 61:2, NIV)
• My Top 25 Favorite Abraham Lincoln Quotes - Abraham Lincoln has been called Honest Abe, the Great Emancipator, the Rail-Splitter and the Father of Freedom. Abraham Lincoln may be the most popularly quoted American President in history. Here are my top 25 favorite Abraham Lincoln quotes.
• Amazing Rephrasing - A Rhymed Inspiration on Prayerful Translation - "Most confidantes deserve not trust; Self-centered friendship is unjust. But one Companion merits more, The One who knocks on my heart's door...."

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

Share

Going on with Gratitude - 30 Days of Thankfulness

Thank God the election is over, and we can get on with daily living.

Nope, I’m not gonna turn this post into a political diatribe, although I have pretty strong personal feelings about the outcome of yesterday’s voting. But I’m not planning to post any cheers or complaints about winners or losers.

I won’t post a cell phone photo of my ballot. I won’t even print how I voted. Let’s just say I’m going on with gratitude.

I know Who holds the future. And that did not depend upon blue or red states on a map.

Let’s pray and move on.

I am grateful that the sun came up this morning. I woke up breathing. My family is reasonably on schedule today.

I’m thankful for God’s grace and goodness.

God still reigns. And He is good. To Him be all the glory, whether or not we agree with the popular vote, the Electoral College, or even those who count the votes.

I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
  He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect.
    Everything He does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright He is!

(Deuteronomy 32:3-4, NLT)

 

God’s got this.

Now, can we work on being compatriots again?

For what are you thankful?

 

Image/s:

Crown Artwork

Creative Commons Licensing

Thankful at Thanksgiving

Adapted from public domain artwork

Related Items:

• 12 Famous and Festive Prayers for Thanksgiving - As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we ponder many blessings in our lives. May we thank the One from whom all our blessings come. Here are 12 of our favorite Thanksgiving prayers.
• Internet Intercession: Praying Online - Now that the world is at our fingertips, via the internet, a host of holy ones are no longer folding their hands to pray. Instead, folks are tapping their computer keyboards, as they pray for one another. How does this work?
• For What Am I Most Thankful This Year? - For what am I most thankful this year at Thanksgiving? The greatest blessings in my life may be found in this rhymed acrostic poem. Included is a plea for greater gratitude and a renewed attitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

Share