THINK+++

I have 4 children, 3 of them are girls. The middle girl seems to enjoy being teased almost as much as I enjoy teasing her. She loves the game of tag and could play it for hours or a simple game of keep-away with a ball. Some of my other children tolerate being teased and others get bored by it but this girl will laugh just as hard as me when we chase each other in tag or wrestle for a ball. This is a highlight in my role as a father. I don’t want to overdo a good thing and hopefully I am wise enough to know when that is.

I am thankful today that I can provide for my family. I have a good job. I have hands and limbs that are fully functional. I am healthy. My family has all our needs filled plus we have some left over. I am so thankful for these gifts.

My heart feels and knows love, my heart can receive love and it can give it away. The interesting thing about love is that the more you give away the more you have. Is that why God has so much love? Because He gives so much away? The only reason I can feel and know love is because my God has taught me, He first loved me. I am so thankful.

Do you ever get weary of the fight against worry? Against fear? Against stress? Against depression? Are you tires of wearing your armour and sword in this fight? Today I choose to lay my armour and sword down and instead reach for the hand of Jesus. He can help me. This does not mean I will not fight but it means I will first ask my Saviour for help and then if He tells me to fight I will but I will first seek His face and mercy. It is a more positive way to fight stress when someone is fighting with me.

Do you feel the love of God? Has He recently spoken to you or done something for you? Has He inspired you with a song or a verse? I believe God loves to make us feel cherished. However, do not be discouraged even if you have not felt it recently but live in faith that He loves you. Simply ask Him to show His great love to you when he is ready to reveal it to you. And when He does this for you remember to thank Him and praise Him.

When our oldest daughter was 2.5 years old she was sent to the basement of our new house to sleep by herself since we were expecting twins soon. Many times I would lie with her till she fell asleep or sometimes I would sing to her but eventually I weaned her off of that. Nevertheless it was scary for her to sleep down there all by herself. One day I heard some noises from down there after she had been sent to bed so I crept down the stairs to listen. She was softly singing “Jesus loves me” to herself. Unless you have children of your own you will find it hard to imagine what it does to a poor Daddy’s heart to hear that. It happened more than once and I often crept downstairs to listen. It was so sweet.

My son has been complaining about a sore leg for a while but I can find nothing wrong. He limps but his joints seem normal and no bruises or anything. Lately I have been plagued by the thought that maybe he has bone cancer and it scares me almost to the point of incapacitating me. However when I bring my cares to the Lord he lifts my burden and makes it His and I can face the day with courage.

I was regretting the past today and I realized needed to change my thought pattern. However, later I found myself worrying about the future. It is scary to realize that my day can be dictated by my mind, it can be sunny outside but cloudy and dark in my mind. There are many things I can’t control or change but I can be a servant for God and others today. I want to embrace that and try my best today and not be distracted by yesterday or tomorrow.

I know Christmas is passed but I was reflecting on it today and I wondered what Christmas in Heaven will be like. Will there be snow? Will there be a manger scene? Surely the angels will sing the songs they sang to the shepherds. I would love to see a full and real re-enactment of that day so long ago. It is something to look forward to and hope for. Surely such a big event will be celebrated in heaven.

I am thankful that the Lord reminds and speaks to me. It is often hard for my flesh to take but I am just so thankful that my God loves me and wants a personal relationship with me. I want to be positive about the reminders He gives.

Our youngest daughter (who only says a few words yet) has taken to whispering sweet nothings when I rock her to sleep. It is so sweet and I am so blessed. She will sit on my lap with her teddy and while I sing she looks at my face and occasionally she will whisper nonsense to me. She likes to jabber nonsense but it is so cute to here whisper! May you be blessed with people who inspire you.

I am thankful today that I am healthy. So many suffer, even young people like me. I can work, I can play with my children. I have eyes, ears, nose, and fingers to enjoy the world around me. I want to remember to think positive thoughts and be thankful.

I was visiting with a friend recently and he left the thought that as Jesus walked this earth that the flowers kissed His feet in honor of His majesty. Can’t you see those flowers obeying the will of the Creator and glorifying Him and praising Him? Thank You Lord for the beautiful flowers.

I am thankful for the forgiveness of my children. So often I get frustrated with them, I get impatient, I get angry. Yet they keep coming back, they trust me when I fail them. I don’t know how I can repay them but this I know that I will try again today to let them know I love them.

Before I gave my life to God I lived in sin. I was not happy. I faced despair and depression. I let self rule. In all of this my Shepherd was patient, He was understanding, He kept calling on me, He cared. His name is Jesus and He is gentle. Thank You Lord for loving me so much!