Well, it’s Monday, and with Monday we are all concerned with some sort of problem or issue – more than likely! Well, just stop for 60 seconds and watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxyhfiCO_XQ
and remember all the blessing you have and how your problems just might not be problems at all.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
A few days ago, I stumbled upon on old post that I wrote about blessings. Well really the post just shared a video that brought the idea of blessings home. You should go back and watch it again. ( or here’s the link to the video itself).
Anyway, re-watching that video has made me take account of all the things I have to be thankful for, including, but not limited to ( and not in any particular order of thankfulness):
Water, Amy, my health, the boys, having a house, having stuff in my house, having tons of clothes to wear, friends( lots of them, or at least they tell me they are !), followers, knowledge, transportation, freedom, fingers, the ability to type….
The list just goes on and on.
It makes it hard to be negative or to be really unhappy with things with so many good things out there. ( that is not to say, there is not always things that can be made better or improved!) But really, take a moment today , count up those blessings and in your thankfulness – bless others.
15-17Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:15-17The Message (MSG)
This morning as I walked into work, I stopped by the break room and filled up my Tervis Tumbler with ice and water. As I stood there filling it, the water would not stop. My cup literally ran over with excess. How lucky!
It’s World Water Day – a day to spend thinking about water. I know this is an issue that keeps staying on the front of my mind. I often think about how much of an overlooked blessing it is to have running water at our fingertips everywhere we go! Its something we should not take lightly, because so many don’t have it.
Today grab a pint or 6 of clean, clear, bacteria free water and be thankful that you have it. It’s an incredible delight. You may also want to check out the so many organizations out there who are helping bring water to others, like water.org, or runforwater.net, or HHI, among a few.
Then consider your spirit? Are you also counting the blessing of having life-giving spiritual water so close to you and so accessible? Seriously! It’s right there waiting for you just like the tap water . Make sure you take a moment on this day to consider taking a big thirst quenching sip of that water as well.
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NIV
And remember so many don’t have it.
This weekend I heard of a remarkable story that I thought I would share with you. You may have seen this on the news already, but it’s still worth considering, and it quite inspiring.
There was a nine year old girl named Rachel who for her birthday this summer, decided to forgo presents to raise money for clean water projects in developing nations. She wanted to raise $300 and raised just a little over $200. That’s pretty cool!
But here is the rest of the story. A few weeks after her birthday, Rachel was traveling in her family vehicle on the interstate. Unfortunately, there was a fourteen car pileup that her family vehicle was caught up in and she was killed. That part really stinks.
Well, here is the real rest of the story. The word of this little girl’s birthday wish has traveled across the country and this weekend her birthday wish has raised over $1 Million dollars for water projects! That’s correct $1 Million!
I was watching the counter all weekend and have watched it increase $40K from Saturday morning to Monday. It’s quite an amazing outreach from people all over the country. It also teaches us that we don’t always understand the plans that are out there, nor what one little risky thing can do.
There are several lessons from this story I guess, I found this how situation inspiring and motivating on multiple fronts, I hope you do as well.
“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:8 NIV
Oh and be thankful for that running water that you will use today!
Hey, Take a few minutes to watch this video. I have a feeling that all of us have prayed this prayer before, and maybe are right now. If you can’t turn up the audio, the dude in the video prays “Lord, I am really struggling, show me what I have to be thankful for.” Then just watch, and consider your own blessed life.
I have mentioned before how blessed we are to have the simple things. Rejoice in those, treasure them, and then use them not for yourself, but to make others better.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5 16-18
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1 ESV