Today I include sections 22 and 23 of my Thanksgiving tributes. Life gets in the way, sometimes. If you’d like to read the intervening days, this book is available on Amazon.com. Just check on this website to see if it’s something you’d like to give to someone or have for your devotional use.
Day 22
Much prayer has filled our home; we have faithfully followed Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 where it says: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Does it get easier as the kids get older? Heavens no! I know now, in retrospect, that His hand was assuring our safety and protection as well as my sanity. I sometimes forgot to live with an attitude of gratitude, but in His grace and mercy, the children made it through with few physical and psychological and theological scars, and our marriage survived and thrived.
Today’s Scripture: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Prayer: Lord, God, I thank You that Your grace is sufficient for each day, that Your love is new every morning, that You provide the strength and health to face each moment, and that when my own strength fails, I can call on You to renew me, keep me in Your will, and direct my path. Help me to be faithful to read Your Word, to avail myself of the means of grace, to actively pursue study, and to pray continuously with adoration, intercession, and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 22 Scripture references for remaining in the Word, following holiness in my life and in my family’s life.
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in all.” (Ephesians 4: 1-6)
Day 22 Thanksliving Album: Items, pictures, sketches, photos of aids to my pursuing holiness, a legacy of memories, a place I’ll return when I need reminders of evidence of His love for me in every situation.
Day 22 Thanksliving Journal: for pursuing holiness.
“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” (Proverbs 21: 21)
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Day 23
There are empty chairs around our family holiday tables. We’ve had decades of medical emergencies and dealing with elderly parents. The sandwich generation: balancing the needs of children with aging relatives, of career cross-country moves, deaths of those near and dear, and thoughts of how they had blessed, and stressed, our lives. It is indeed difficult to have an attitude of gratitude when grieving; however, even those times are teachable moments. By walking through these experiences, I have been blessed to counsel others who face death in the face of eternal consequences.
In retrospect, each difficult circumstance produced faith. Just when it seemed strength was waning, difficulties were swelling to immense proportions, the prayers of others for us, and our personal reliance on God’s mercy and tenderness towards us, made molehills out of mountains, level plains out of valleys, and calm streams out of raging waters.
Today’s Scripture: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me .” Psalm 23)
Prayer: Loving Lord, even though it seems I now write more sympathy cards than birthday cards, and though I grieve loss of parents, a brother, numerous friends, I know that I can commit them to You, and that You promise a wonderful reunion one day in Your eternal presence. Because of Jesus, I have hope. In Him. Amen.
Day 23 Scripture references for remaining in the Word when suffering loss.
“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.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:16-18)
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116: 15)
Day 23 Thanksliving Album: Items, pictures, sketches, photos of those who used to celebrate holidays and life with us, a legacy of memories, a place I’ll return when I need reminders of evidence of His love for me in every situation.
Day 23 Thanksliving Journal: for dealing with death.
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death. . . So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (I Corinthians, chapter 15)
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Day 23
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