Thanksgiving: The Ultimate Eucharisteo

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT)

If you are a new reader to my blog, I'll back up a bit to explain Eucharisteo and why it is all over my entries, tweets, and Facebook posts.  

Last year, I saw God bless me in ways more than I could imagine. I also saw God tell me no in ways I didn't want to hear. God placed Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts in my life at the right time. I began to count the good gifts and tell God thank you. I began to count the hard times and the no's as gifts and tell God thank you. My heart began to change to live in the present. In fact, one of my words to focus on in my spiritual journey was Eucharisteo-Thanksgiving.

As we (hopefully) are celebrating thanksgiving to God today, I had to stop and reflect on the impact intentional thanksgiving has had on my life this year. I remember one day back in Feburary that was tough. It seemed like everything was not going well. I was ready to complain, to settle for negativity, but remembered to stop and give thanks to God for three things. When I did that, a few more flowed and I viewed the day with a better perspective. I remember the day The Nurse got married. I could have been filled with negativity and self pity. Instead, I was quietly counting gifts and being filled with joy. Thankful for her sweet letter to me. Thankful for how beautiful she looked. Thankful for how happy her and the bro-in-law are. I remember the day this summer I was so stressed out from tutoring and all I wanted was a Cherry Coke and I walked into Wal-Mart and there was a 20oz in the check-out cooler. Thankfulness. I think back to starting school again and feeling like I couldn't finish everything before meet the teacher day. God prompted me to ask my friends for help and they were there and together we finished it all.  So very thankful. I remember feeling alone and asking God to bless me with some solid friendships and I'm thankful because I've gotten closer to do life with some awesome women. I'm thankful my pastor's wife is getting more involved with human trafficking, a darkness that permeates OKC. I've been praying for some wise and Godly people to rise up and take a stand. I'm even thankfulful God told me no in my dating life. It just means that His good and perfect (for me, Mr. Right will not be perfect, as I'm not either) gift is up ahead.

All of this, is as Ecclesiastes says, is accepting a gift from God. I've enjoyed my life and I've become content. Have I done this through focusing on myself? Nope. It was done by returning the thanks of the gifts back to the gift giver, God. I love the way the last verse reads, "God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. (Ecclesiastes 5:20 NLT)". It is so true. When I take my eyes off God, I can easily slide down into self pity or traveling down the what-if lane. But when I stay present, counting gifts, I am enjoying life. Most importantly, I have learned to have a greater reverence for the sovereignty of God, I am more in love with God, and I trust Him more. God wants to give us gifts, and all He asks in return is for a thankful heart. Amazing, isn't it?

I encourage you today to find three things you are thankful for not only over the past year, but also today. Then wake-up tomorrow morning, and carry Eucharisteo with you. Watch for things to be thankful to God and be amazed at how much He loves you! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Prayer, Part 2

As I've continued to read The Circle Maker, I've found myself flip flopping on my opinion of it. There are some good points, however I'm not sure it's going to be a go to for me in prayer. Thoughts?

One thing I did like about Batterson's section titled "Praying Through" was the idea of incorporating praise into prayer.  In the book, he says to start praising God for the prayer being answered. All of the examples he gives end according to the person praying's desires. However, I've had a recent experience where that wasn't the case. But being able to praise God in my prayers let me deal with disappointment in a God honoring way.

I felt like things were at a stand still on three things I was requesting from God. I started to praise God for a lot of things I wanted to happen as if they already happened. That didn't feel genuine to me, so I just started to pray praises to God for who He is, not what I wanted Him to do.  Suddenly my shift in my prayers went from what I wanted to focused on God.  As God told me no on certain things, I was sad but felt a peace. I think it was because I know that God is in control. God is sovereign. If things didn't happen like I desired, it is because His ways are not only higher than my understanding but they are also BETTER.

Tonight, our LifeGroup met for a worship, word, and prayer night. As we mixed our prayers with the reading of The Word and the worship of God, the atmosphere changed. I know I felt tired and worn out when we started but at the end I was feeling better and full of HOPE.

My challenge to you is this: instead of making your prayer list a list of requests to God all the time, stop. Stop and spend some time refocusing on Him and who He is. You may not understand all of His ways and you may not be happy tomorrow. But worshiping and affirming the truth of God in your prayers will elevate them to where the enemy cannot touch and put them right in the palm of God's hands.  God will move in your heart and you will be recalibrated to His Rhythm of Grace. 

Do you have a case of the Mondays?

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:6, 7 NIV)

I think today was supposed to be a day of the Mondays for me. But it wasn't. I woke up this morning and read the YouVersion verse of the day, 1 Corinthians 13:6-7. It reminded me of a Bible study I wrote a few years ago where I replaced the word love with God in order to see the characteristics of God clearly. When I did that, it read like this in my mind:

"God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:6, 7 NIV)"

While I was in the middle of praying during my morning commute, traffic came to a sudden standstill and I was involved in a minor fender bender on I-44. But God was there. He was definitely protecting me. I had just stopped with enough room that I didn't bump the car in front of me. The lady behind me just scraped little Nicole Nissan's left rear wheel. She couldn't have been more apologetic or sincere. She probably is a really nice person in everyday life. After we exchanged information, I had to merge from the shoulder back onto I-44, which I looked and saw was going to be impossible. I said a prayer and asked God to help me get on the highway, and suddenly there was a clear break in the traffic. I was able to make it to work and still teach all day. The students were great and rolled with me. They worked hard and we got to end the day on a fun note. I wasn't looking forward to sitting through a meeting after school, but it ended up being very interesting and dare I say, a tiny bit of fun?

God definitely protected me. He definitely chased after my heart and renewed my hope and trust in Him. It could have been a bad day, but instead, by keeping my eyes focused on Him, it's been a tough day of Eucharisteo.

Dear God, I thank you for this Monday. I thank you that you are always protecting me. Thank you for renewing my hope and my trust in you. Jesus, there is no one beside you, forever the hope in my heart.

Poor little Nicole's scrape!! :-(

Saturday's List: Prayers I'm Praying

Here is just a few things that are on my prayer list. I'd love if you would lift these up to The Lord too!

1. I received a letter yesterday from one of my Compassion children, Maria. She was diagnosed with a serious heart infection and had to go to the hospital in the Philippines for treatment. Her mother wrote and asked if I would pray for her complete healing, so I'm asking you to stand with me. Please pray Maria is healed!

2. I've asked God to show Himself in my classroom lately. This week I've seen such a difference. The children are much calmer and even more focused. I was so blessed on Thursday because not only did I work with all my reading groups, but I was also able to work with some students who needed extra help. God is so good!!

3. I'm trying to slow down and be still with God. I'm trying to tell myself that it is ok to rest and relax. I've even prayed I could be sensitive to His leading and slow down. God allowed me some opportunities this week and thankfully, not because of my will, but because of the Holy Spirit, I've listened and slowed down.  

4. I'm always praying for the Nurse and her husband's marriage. I'm thankful that they seek God together. They are getting more involved with their church and doing activities together, like singing in choir. 

5.  Finally, I'm praying lots and lots of wisdom for a really close friend. This year contained a lot of life changing events, with some good and some bad. She now needs some wisdom to make some big decisions. I've prayed wisdom and truth over her mind and heart so she can walk where God is leading her, out on her own personal "Oceans."

Side Note: Hillsong United's acoustic version of Zion released on Tuesday. It is wonderful. I've listened to it while praying and worshiping. I am so moved by it, I've cried every time and have had to just stop to be still in the presence of the Almighty God. If you need a heart revival, I give it two alleluia hands up!!