Gratitude List

matterofprayer blog post for Saturday, January 4, 2014

Gratitude List

God, I haven’t intentionally written a gratitude list for some time. Several of my friends and acquaintances write gratitude lists on a regular basis. It’s definitely a worthwhile practice! However, I have never gotten into that particular habit.

Still, I have written them on occasion. A gratitude list came to my mind for some reason this evening. I will take advantage of my being at the computer. I’ll start writing my list.

I am grateful for good health—for me. Without that, life would be very different. I am grateful for my husband and family. My husband is a wonderful, interesting, intelligent, straight-forward person, and I thank God for him. My family—three lovely daughters and one good-looking son—is a joy and a blessing to me. (Even though the second two are still teens.) All are healthy, all inquisitive, all intelligent. I love my children and am so grateful for them.

I am grateful for friends, for acquaintances, even for people I see on an occasional basis but don’t know their names. These people are touchpoints and my foundation, and without them my life would be infinitely poorer. I am grateful for the varying places in my life, my community, my church, my workplace. These are all the scenery and backdrops for my life.

I am grateful for our snug condominium and the fascinating, diverse town where we live. I am grateful for the excellent public transportation system in our town (linking us to downtown Chicago—the big train is four blocks from our house, the Elevated train two blocks away, and a bus stops on the corner). I am grateful for employment—my husband full-time and me part-time. I am grateful for a working car and for money for gas and car expenses. I am grateful for computers (plural—we have several laptops).

I am grateful for food to eat, extra food in the cupboards, clothes and shoes to wear. I am grateful for enough. I am grateful for a piano (thank you, Grandpy!), for music—in general, and for the gift of being able to make and enjoy many different varieties of music. I am especially grateful for the endless inventive and creative nature God has given to humans so that they might compose music, write books and produce artwork of all kinds. I am grateful that I have the use of all of my limbs and my physical capabilities, and I show my gratitude by going to the gym on a regular basis. Sure, I have complaints. Gripes. Things may even be significantly wrong, or at least not to my liking. I wonder what God is doing, sometimes! But if I look at the big picture, my life is amazingly blessed.

Let’s pray. Thank You, God, for blessing me and my family with such abundance. Thank You for graciously providing for our needs, one day at a time. Forgive me for my gripes and complaints, even though You pour out your abundant blessings on us, new every morning. Thank You for the gift of Your grace and Your glory poured out upon us. I know I can never thank You enough, but I can try. Thank You again.

@chaplaineliza

Intimacy with God

matterofprayer blog post for Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Sometimes, God does not seem very close to me at all. I realize I often rely on my faulty feelings and errant emotions. But God, why is it that I don’t feel You by my side, especially when I really need You?

I did get sort-of-an-answer earlier this week, as I read my devotional book. (on prayer) Written by a Methodist elder, James Howell said, “What we bring to God is not great holiness and wisdom, but brokenness and profound need. . . . Our weakness is not something to be corrected, but becomes the very crucible in which intimacy with God is established.”

I sort-of understand where Howell is going, with this thought. My brokenness and my feelings of being dreadfully alone do not keep me from God. God holds arms open wide, no matter what. God wants intimacy with me. The humorous saying goes something like this: “If someone is far away from God, who moved?” Just so, I need to continue to come to God with whatever is going on in my life, and not shy away.

God intimately knows all about my various weaknesses. God’s strength can bear me up when I fall on my face, or get discouraged, or one or two of the most ridiculous words out of my mouth. It is in these times of dark despair that I am invited into God’s own presence. And the invitation is never withdrawn. Thanks be to God!

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for deep words that James Howell wrote. Whether a few days ago, or years in the past, it doesn’t matter to You. You love me anyway! Help me to celebrate my personal weakness, God. You can turn it around. You have the loving care to bring my wandering-minstrel-mind closer to You. Help me want to stay in Your arms. God in Your mercy, hear our prayers. Thanks!