Godsway Media LLC

Writer and speaker Emilie Barnes wrote the following:

The spirit of celebration finds a natural expression in parties and get-togethers, times of laughter and revelry. But the celebrating spirit need not limit itself to party time. The spirit of celebration is for all of our lives.

This means that celebration shows itself in little moments of grace as well as in rambunctious revelry. It smiles in a geranium on a sunlit windowsillas well as in a cookout at the beach. It sighs in satisfaction over a humble task done to God’s glory and exhiliarates over a creative task completed. Most of all, celebration shines in quiet gratitude that God has blessed our homes and our lives with the spirit of loveliness. We celebrate because our lives overflow with things to be thankful for, and because God gives us the eyes to see how incredibly we have been blessed.

There are so many was to celebrate God’s gifts of our lives and of our relationships — and of Himself. We celebrate when we take the time to nurture ourselves and our families. We celebrate through our willingness to share, to love each other, to grow. And we celebrate by opening our lives to the Lord and letting His Spirit fill our lives with loveliness.

Back to me now…….let’s be thankful this week for the big and little things of life. I Thessalonians says to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Paul told the church in Ephesus to always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Give thanks in everything, people…even in the quiet part of your day tomorrow.

God bless…and more later….

Shari

My devotional this morning is a great word for me, and probably for you as well:

“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
-Deuteronomy 28:2

When you walk in fellowship with God, you do not have to ask Him to bless you. He wants to bless you! Just as you enjoy surprising someone you love with unexpected gifts, God delights in giving you His gifts in times and ways that you might never expect. God’s blessings often come in the midst of your everyday life—an encouraging telephone call in the midst of a busy morning or a letter you receive at the end of a hard day. A friend may drop by to help when you are overwhelmed, or you may receive unexpected financial help at a time of need. Often, God’s blessings do not come in spectacular ways but in the ordinary busyness of your life. They come just when you most need an expression of God’s love.

Blessings come as a result of obedience. When you walk closely with the Lord, blessings will come, regardless of whether you seek them. Blessings from your obedience will also come to those around you—to your children and to your grandchildren. Solomon enjoyed vast wealth during his reign, but God’s blessing upon him came largely as a result of is father David’s obedience in the previous generation. God promised Abraham that his obedience would bring blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:2-3).

Do not take God’s gifts for granted. When you receive an unexpected blessing, thank God for His continuing love and be alert to recognize the next time His blessing overtakes you!

From: Experiencing God Day by Day
By: Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

Let’s not make our prayers “gimmegimme” prayers. Let’s just follow Jesus and let Him do the gifting…

Shari