A THANKSGIVING SNOW??? OKAY, SEEMS I GET TO VISIT YOU GOOD PEOPLE A LITTLE EARLY THIS YEAR! SO, LET ME WISH YOU SAFETY IN THE SNOW (especially if you have to be out on the roads, but be careful walking also) AND, LET ME WISH YOU A WONDERFUL, BRIGHT SNOWY NIGHT, AND A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING DAY! GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND
HERE IS A BIG FROSTY HUG
I was sent the article below from Proverbs 31 Ministries, they have many terrific articles..
I thought I would share this one and hopefully you will really enjoy it too.
Gratitude.
Eight times through the book of Philippians Paul uses the word "rejoice." Gratitude is seeking out and finding joy no matter our circumstances.
Can we do it alone? No. Even super-Apostle Paul follows today's key verse with, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13, NIV-1984).
It's difficult to be thankful in imperfect circumstances, but Jesus enables us through His power. Jesus gives us spiritual abundance even when there's lack in our reality.
As cornucopias, a symbol of abundance, fill the Pinterest boards and fall displays in the stores, memories of my grandma's garden come rushing back. The harvest from her garden that later filled her table didn't look like the perfect produce department in my local grocery store. Pumpkins from her garden were flat on one side, and the cabbage was often laced with insect holes. Fruit had bruises and vegetables showed signs of too much or too little rain. Life is like that too, yet an imperfect life can be a cornucopia of contentment when it's viewed through the lens of thankfulness.
A harvest of contentment springs from the soil of gratitude.
Even the flawed fruits of harvest in our lives can be nourishing"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4, NIV).
if we'll choose gratitude, joy and contentment. As we face the great joys and sure disappointments of the holiday season, I encourage all of us with these words from Paul,
Lord, even though our lives are imperfect, we pray You would give us strength to be thankful for Your faithful provision and abundance. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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The New Footprints
Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking along in the country together, in the beautiful pure white snow.
For much of the way the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying in the pace. But your prints are in a disorganized stream of zig zags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way it seems to go like this. But gradually, your footprints come in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends.
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens; your footprints that once etched the snow next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His large footprints is the smaller "snow print," safely enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one; this goes on for many miles.
But gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the larger footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one; again this goes on for a long time.
But then something awful happens. The second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse than before. Zig zags all over the place. Stop...start. Deep gashes in the snow. A veritable mess of prints. You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream.
Now you speak: "Lord, I understand the first scene with the zig zags, fits, starts, and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."
"That is correct," replied the Lord.
"Then, when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I was becoming more like You in every way."
"Precisely."
"But this is my question, Lord. Was there a regression of something? The footprints went back to two, and this time it was worse than the first, the snow showed big places of many steps, zig zags went all over the place, deep gashes in the snow? I don't understand Lord."
The Lord smiles, then laughs. "You didn't know?" He says, "That was when we danced. Yes, My child, we were enjoying each other so much, we were together in the snow, and in your life and our communication... that was when we danced!"
FOR HE WILL TURN YOUR MOURNING INTO DANCING! EVEN IN THE SNOW....
Praying today and daily for you and yours, that God will bless and comfort each of you.. Spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, physical blessings and of His great and merciful love, grace, guidance, forgiveness, happiness and something special for each of you that ONLY HE knows that you need! Praying for Jenna, Evan and Joann.. for health, and that God will wrap His loving, healing arms around each of you and that you will feel the miracles of His love and ability to heal! Praying for Keifer, Anna, Frances, Wanda and all the others that have just lost loved ones, that He will give you His special comfort and inner peace. Praying for everyone grieving.. that they will receive His comforting love. Praying for everyone with illnesses, of all kings, that they too will feel His loving arms and His ability to heal and comfort. Praying for everyone that has to be out on the road today and all the days that have bad road conditions that they will be safe. Praying for our soldiers and their families, that they will be safe and comforted and have inner peace. Praying for all that are away from home that they will soon return, safely and to abundant jobs. Praying for those abundant jobs for our soldiers and all who are in need of decent jobs. GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS, WITH LOVE, RESPECT, HONOR, PRAISE AND GLORY IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN.
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