Blessing and thanking God in ALL things---yep, all things

Whew…pain scale of 9 today, now down to about a 7…migraine, fibro flare up, muscle spasms.  As I cry out to my God, I do not ask why. I praise Him and thank him for my pain, my infirmities, my suffering, because it brings me closer to Him.  It weakens me so much that I have no choice but to depend on Him, to let the Holy Spirit comfort me. Don't get me wrong…I am in no way saying it is easy to be thankful for pain and suffering. But scripture does tell us to be thankful in ALL things. Not just for what the world is talking about when they say "Oh I am so blessed!"  Not just for jobs and money and food and health and healthy children.  Also give thanks for unemployment, hunger, pain, loss, grief. Is it easy? Heck no.  But the more I lean on Him, and praise Him for the plan He has for my life (which is really His life to begin with anyway), the easier it becomes.  

Billy Graham writes on his blog:

  

"Think of it: Always giving thanks for everything—no matter the circumstances! Thanksgiving for the Apostle Paul was not a once-a-year celebration, but a daily reality that changed his life and made him a joyful person in every situation. Thanksgiving—the giving of thanks—to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ. We must not allow a spirit of ingratitude to harden our heart and chill our relationship with God and with others…."

"...When the prophet Daniel learned that evil men were plotting against him to destroy him, “he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10, NIV). The Bible commands, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). Paul declared, “You will even be able to thank God in the midst of pain and distress because you are privileged to share the lot of those who are living in the light” (Colossians 1:12, Phillips)."

We just celebrated Thanksgiving…and to many (or I hazard to guess, MOST of the country), it denotes turkey, stuffing, cranberries, football, family, and cute decorations made by little children. Memories are made, certainly, and traditions are followed. But how many of us were truly thankful, and giving thanks to the One from whom ALL blessings flow? How many of us realize that Thanksgiving is not a day or a meal--it is a lifestyle, a commitment, to praise Him for all things.  

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. " (Romans 5:3-4)

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be joy revealed in us. "(Romans 8:18)

Thank you, Lord, for the migraines, the pain, the aches, and even the frustrations that accompany all that when it takes me ten minutes to walk from the living room to the upstairs.   

Keeping busy to be busy

We just celebrated thanksgiving here in our beautiful log home in North Carolina; some family was here, and a new friend. Some family was missing, but our days were full and blessed with laughter, joy, good food and fellowship.  Now I am all alone, waiting to leave tomorrow, and I find myself yearning to have something to do. To keep busy.  Bemoaning that I have no car here to "go do something".  No tv.  No wifi. No Starbucks.  

I have music and books. And God's beauty all around me. But I don't feel good today. I am achy and have yet another migraine.  I start to feel sorry for myself.  Stupid disease.  Horrible migraines. A mother who hates me. Sisters who are distant. A daughter living thousands of miles away. Being misunderstood the other night over something I said. Woe is me. Poor poor pitiful me. Then I recall the words of James:  "consider it all joy, brethren, when you encounter various trials for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 

And the prayer of Hezekiah, king of Judah, after a recovery from a long illness:  

"Like a swallow I utter shrill cries, I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak, gazing heavenward. O lord, I am in straits; be my surety!  What am I to say or tell him? He has done it!  I shall go through all my years despite the bitterness of my soul. Those live whom The Lord protects; yours the life if my spirit. You have given me health and life, thus is my bitterness transformed into peace. You have preserved my life from the pit of destruction, when you cast behind your back all my sins. For it is not the nether world that gives you thanks, nor death that praises You, neither do those who go down into the pit await your kindness. The living.The living give you thanks, as I do today."

And so I give God thanks. For all things. For pain.For sorrow. For life's trials and tribulations. And I pray God delivers me for myself. From the need to be "busy".  For "busy" is another word for "me". In this pseudo busy world of technology and (anti)-social media. Lord teach me to rest. To rest in you. My current favorite artist, Audrey Assad, captures my thoughts in one if her new songs:

From the love of my own comfort

From the fear of having nothing

From the life of worldly passions

Deliver me, Oh God

From the need to be understood

From the need to be accepted

From the fear of being lonely

Deliver me, Oh God

I shall not want, I shall not want,

When I taste your goodness, I shall not want

From the fear of serving others

From the fear of death or trial

From the fear of humility

Deliver me, Oh God"

Deliver me God.  Into your blissful peace.