Funerals put life in perspective.
They bring up close and personal the fact that you will someday be in that same place; a body, the spirit departed, flower arrangements placed around the room, people remembering, sharing, and talking about your life.
Now will be over. Eternity awaits.
I attended the funeral yesterday of a 59-year-old man who passed away suddenly at work Thursday afternoon. His life convicted me. I have a bad attitude when I am in a place I don't want to be. I fret and complain and wish I were somewhere else. Mr. Jackson's funeral reminded me that I have a lot to learn, and there is plenty of room for improvement.
That's why I count (1,000 Gifts); to keep my mind focused on the unrelenting goodness of God and His perfect plan. The definition of rejoice is to feel or show great joy or delight.
That's why I count (1,000 Gifts); to keep my mind focused on the unrelenting goodness of God and His perfect plan. The definition of rejoice is to feel or show great joy or delight.
Really? In all circumstances? How is that even possible?
I'm still working on it in my life. This I do know; seeking and noticing and counting God's gifts, even in the times and situations when it seems completely at odds with common sense to rejoice, does make a difference. It is as if the light pushes so strongly against the spiritual darkness, I can feel it. I can't really describe it, other than to say there is a noticeable shift. When I stop counting, whether due to forgetfulness or a bad attitude, the darkness and cynicism creep back in. Satan does not want me to count and rejoice. The father of lies wants me to despair, complain, whine, and, in general, ignore every good thing. He does not have to turn me into anything really bad in the eyes of society to have accomplished his mission; all he has to do is get me to ignore God.
And then the realization hit me; a life lived without gratitude is a life lived ignoring God.
The days prior to Mr. Jackson's funeral, I was in a bad mood---grumpy, snappish, and easily annoyed. I had stopped counting. I had stopped being grateful. I was ignoring God.
A funeral ripped my blinders off. This is it. There is no do-over. There won't be a rewind button to rejoice in the life God has granted.
Gratitude does not always take away, or even ease the pain, in this life. Instead, it casts light where there is darkness and boldly confronts the evil one's lie that this is all there is. The deceiver whispers, "Look around you. See all the destruction? It is my creation. This is all there is. There is no way out."
All those lies?
They do not stand a chance before gratitude to God; the life-giving decision to rejoice, falling face down saying, "Thy will be done in all things."
I pray for my life to be one of unceasing thankfulness.
As a side note, I love the last half of verse 25 in Acts 16. Paul and Silas were chained in a prison---a dirty, dark, damp, foul-smelling place, no doubt, that probably had rats running around and disease lurking in every corner; yet they were praying and singing to God. That's inspiring enough as it is, but the second half of the verse is what brings tears to my eyes; "...the prisoners were listening to them,". Gratitude is not isolated. It is impossible to contain. Paul and Silas' decision to rejoice blessed the lives of their fellow prisoners.
I'm still working on it in my life. This I do know; seeking and noticing and counting God's gifts, even in the times and situations when it seems completely at odds with common sense to rejoice, does make a difference. It is as if the light pushes so strongly against the spiritual darkness, I can feel it. I can't really describe it, other than to say there is a noticeable shift. When I stop counting, whether due to forgetfulness or a bad attitude, the darkness and cynicism creep back in. Satan does not want me to count and rejoice. The father of lies wants me to despair, complain, whine, and, in general, ignore every good thing. He does not have to turn me into anything really bad in the eyes of society to have accomplished his mission; all he has to do is get me to ignore God.
And then the realization hit me; a life lived without gratitude is a life lived ignoring God.
The days prior to Mr. Jackson's funeral, I was in a bad mood---grumpy, snappish, and easily annoyed. I had stopped counting. I had stopped being grateful. I was ignoring God.
A funeral ripped my blinders off. This is it. There is no do-over. There won't be a rewind button to rejoice in the life God has granted.
Gratitude does not always take away, or even ease the pain, in this life. Instead, it casts light where there is darkness and boldly confronts the evil one's lie that this is all there is. The deceiver whispers, "Look around you. See all the destruction? It is my creation. This is all there is. There is no way out."
All those lies?
They do not stand a chance before gratitude to God; the life-giving decision to rejoice, falling face down saying, "Thy will be done in all things."
I pray for my life to be one of unceasing thankfulness.
As a side note, I love the last half of verse 25 in Acts 16. Paul and Silas were chained in a prison---a dirty, dark, damp, foul-smelling place, no doubt, that probably had rats running around and disease lurking in every corner; yet they were praying and singing to God. That's inspiring enough as it is, but the second half of the verse is what brings tears to my eyes; "...the prisoners were listening to them,". Gratitude is not isolated. It is impossible to contain. Paul and Silas' decision to rejoice blessed the lives of their fellow prisoners.
About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
-Acts 16:25
-Acts 16:25
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