Jeremiah 29:11
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to bless you and not to harm you, to give you a future with hope!
It is the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend, and it is a time to reflect on all that we are thankful for. Sure there are the usual things that we do not have any trouble acknowledging and thanking the good Lord for, like family, home, shelter, jobs, security, a peaceful country that we live in, and so forth.
But.... there is always a but.......can you be thankful in ALL THINGS?
Can you be thankful for going through a broken relationship? For a chronic health condition that has no cure and no end other than death? Are you thankful for depression or financial difficulties? There are so many things that can rob us of our joy.........are we thankful for that?
Crazy I know, to even ponder to "consider it pure joy to suffer".
I know for a fact that I find it very difficult to be thankful in tough circumstances, BUT I have come to be thankful for my assurance that God cares about me and my "stuff" even when I don't understand why.
The Lord knows the plans He has for us.........to benefit us, to give us a future and a hope!
It took me until I was in my early thirties to really except that truth in this verse for myself.
May I encourage you today that you are able to except this truth for your own life, even when it is difficult to be thankful.
Philippians 4:6 says........Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present you request to God.
The next verse comes with a promise........
the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
I believe that as we pray we need to thank Him for the answer even before we see them .
So please allow me to pray for you.......
Lord.......I thank you for all that have come to this place. May they find the encouragement that they seek, regardless of their story, whether it be one of joy or sorrow, that they can come before you with a thankful heart, knowing that you love them enough, to have their circumstances planned out for them. With humble thanksgiving I thank you not only for my life and ALL the "stuff""that has been bestowed upon me, but the precious life of the one reading this now with all their "stuff", knowing with confidence that you have a plan for their life, one with a future and hope!
AMEN
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to bless you and not to harm you, to give you a future with hope!
It is the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend, and it is a time to reflect on all that we are thankful for. Sure there are the usual things that we do not have any trouble acknowledging and thanking the good Lord for, like family, home, shelter, jobs, security, a peaceful country that we live in, and so forth.
But.... there is always a but.......can you be thankful in ALL THINGS?
Can you be thankful for going through a broken relationship? For a chronic health condition that has no cure and no end other than death? Are you thankful for depression or financial difficulties? There are so many things that can rob us of our joy.........are we thankful for that?
Crazy I know, to even ponder to "consider it pure joy to suffer".
I know for a fact that I find it very difficult to be thankful in tough circumstances, BUT I have come to be thankful for my assurance that God cares about me and my "stuff" even when I don't understand why.
The Lord knows the plans He has for us.........to benefit us, to give us a future and a hope!
It took me until I was in my early thirties to really except that truth in this verse for myself.
May I encourage you today that you are able to except this truth for your own life, even when it is difficult to be thankful.
Philippians 4:6 says........Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present you request to God.
The next verse comes with a promise........
the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
I believe that as we pray we need to thank Him for the answer even before we see them .
So please allow me to pray for you.......
Lord.......I thank you for all that have come to this place. May they find the encouragement that they seek, regardless of their story, whether it be one of joy or sorrow, that they can come before you with a thankful heart, knowing that you love them enough, to have their circumstances planned out for them. With humble thanksgiving I thank you not only for my life and ALL the "stuff""that has been bestowed upon me, but the precious life of the one reading this now with all their "stuff", knowing with confidence that you have a plan for their life, one with a future and hope!
AMEN
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
Thank you Charlotte .. .I appreciate your prayer for me personally .. .and this post so much and I appreciate the special day that this is for you. May God Bless you richly Charlotte . ..and
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Thank you for the "Bread for the Journey" post.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your post this morning...there have been some difficulties in my life this past year and I really needed this this morning..Thank you for your prayer..we really do have a lot to be thankful for...Have a blessed Thanksgiving..
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this very thing this weekend...how hard it is to be thankful for the challenges of life. But just knowing that God is in control...that He sees the big picture...helps me to be able to give thanks in very situation.
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlotte...and have a wonderful birthday!
Thanks you Charlotte for this amazing encouragement this morning. I'm reading Phiippians with new eyes right now!
ReplyDeleteAnd - it's your birthday?!? Well, then I'm wishing you a wonderful day, filled with laughter, friends and family!! Happy Birthday!!
My eyes are filled with tears right now.This post is EXACTLY what I need to hear and accept.I know in my heart that God will work things out,but my mind cannot fathom how.Today I will choose to be thankful for the outcome,when ever it comes.Thanks and Hugs.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
Your post could not have more perfect timing. Thank you and bless all you do.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte, and Happy Birthday. I appreciate your prayer very much. Sending smiles.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to all in Canada!
ReplyDeleteGrace and Blessings Always~
Maria
Thank you for your words they encourage and challenge my walk.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Char!! How the years fly by and you will always remain youthful...
ReplyDeleteThat is one of my favorite verses.
Today this is my church...
Have a wonderful day.
That is one of my favorite verses. I just love it. I can rest easy knowing God always has a plan and purpose for me.
ReplyDeleteOnce again another month of prayer and hope came crashing down today. As I stood in the bathroom and sobbed I was reminded to be thankful for everything, that this too is part of Gods greater plan...
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday and thanksgiving as always great post and prayer....Barb
ReplyDeleteThank you for the devotional & the prayer.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Happy Birthday! May your new year be filled with God's rich blessing.
Birthday Blessings to you today Charlotte!! This year you have been a source of encouragement to me. Something I love about you is your ability to laugh at life, and help me see the lighter side of life...even in the tougher times. 'Consider it pure joy'...that is not an easy thing to say when we face difficult times, and so today I thank you for your post. This weekend I have had once specific prayer on my heart and this AM it was answered and I rejoiced this morning with a thankful heart. Kathy
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful prayer....my goodness...all so true.
ReplyDeleteNo matter is going on in our lives...it is His purpose for us.
You are such a special group of women to open this beautiful blog to all of us....such an inspiration.
Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless all of you.
Debbie from Vancouver Island
Charlotte, I forgot to mention...I love the picture you chose to go with your post today. Love the grown up shoes....and the purse and scarf...smiling! Kathy
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, for sharing this awesome post with others. God is Good...
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Mel
Jeremiah 29:11 is my favourite verse :)
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoy your weekend "Bread for the Journey" posts. They are always so uplifting.
ReplyDeleteEvery day of my life I am amazed at God's endless mercy and loving care for us....it truly astonishes me continually....I cannot imagine living without Him always picking me up and dusting me off in loving kindness when I get lost yet again in my willful impatience.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charlotte. Your thanksgiving message is a needed one. To learn to be thankful in all things is hard until you realize that God has gone before to prepare the way through with purpose.
ReplyDeletePS. the pic of you is soo cute!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and thank you for the beautiful prayer for all of us.
ReplyDelete