Philippians 4 is my song today, and this chapter has always been a personal favorite of my heart. This morning as I put my baby Frank down for a nap, this chapter came to my mind and I had to run to my room and be fed by the truth of where we find our peace. Thanksgiving can often be a day of busy–running from home to home…not always peaceful and most all of us are with family…although many do not have peace with members in their family…and peace is not something we all feel in our hearts on this beautiful day of thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have sweet relationships with my family where we experience peace–but I know this isn’t the story for everyone so these verses will speak differently to all of us today. Some of us that have peace can get caught up in the “to dos” and the day is quickly gone before we had time to rest in the gift and transformation of true “thanks” giving.
This passage will speak differently to all of our hearts…but today may these verses fill you with thanksgiving reminding you of how blessed you truly are! And may these verses remind you today where our peace can be found and comes from. Philippians 4:4-9:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Read this again. Let those words from Paul to those he loved and longed for and held as a crown penetrate your heart as you go out this Thanksgiving. And feast on this in remembrance of how the Lord has grown your hearts…(Philippians 4:12-13, 19)
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength…my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
To live in need and to live in plenty—all of us in some ways have experienced both. Then I think about the orphans we serve in Zambia…their words of knowing and trusting in the Lord and their JOY in having Him and trusting in Him for daily bread–literally. I think of the baby that we will welcome home forever in 2010…Oh Lord how you have greatly provided for us…and it is YOU who has shined great mercy on us to give us just a portion of your heart in this!!! I think of my “other” Momma Judy–who is battled breast cancer and is spending this Thanksgiving doing chemo–yet even during chemo treatments she made me a Thanksgiving love basket to love on my heart with (She will also serve 50 some odd people in her home tonight with desserts, coffee and a annual visit from Santa! Help me Lord to serve like this…even when I have many excuses not to!)
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These stories have shown me that God will meet ALL needs according to His riches! Help us Lord to cling to this…BELIEVE this…and find our peace in You and be thankful this day. I feel like our family is now living in a time of plenty. Thank you Jesus! And I am so excited to open our hearts and home in our plenty to another babe. Oh that we would use all that the Lord has given and blessed us with for HIS glory!
And today to remember many things we are thankful for…we’ll be taking our leaves of thankgiving off of our Thanksgiving tree that we have thought about all month…
Putting them in this jar given from Judy in our Thankgiving basket…
And sharing them later…and throughout the year…to remember all the reasons we are thankful!
[One of the thankfuls that MUST be shared…Laney’s: “Mermaid Shout”. This is one of the reasons Laney (3) is thankful this year. Just in case you didn’t know–a mermaid shout is what a mermaid can do when she needs help…and for my 3 year old…this is truly something to be thankful for;)]
Happy Thanksgiving!
by admin
too cute…love it, kj
LOVE the thankful tree!!!
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