Thanksgiving

 


Thanks. Giving. Giving. Thanks. Thanksgiving.  "Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good..."

Thank You, Father! With eyes wide open awareness, understanding, and insight come.  I realize that I've been living as if I'm the only one praying, persisting, or praising.  As if I  were the sole supplicant, the only one who asks the Savior to help me.

How myopicI've been! Ego, get out of my way!  Out of my thoughts.  Out of my life. 

 Psychologist and author, the late Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote that "ego" serves as an acronym  for "Easing God Out." Ironic? You betcha! I've been allowing ego to have its way, way too long.  Apostle Paul explained, "I have discovered this principle of life---that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God's law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that's at war with my mind" This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me" (Romans 7:21-23 NLT).

Consequently, I write today dear Reader, albeit about a different kind of peace, one that surpasses human understanding.  As a mere mortal who has walked a mile in your mocassins, I want to assure of the promises of the Holy Spirit, who will give you peace to accept the unacceptable,  assuage the pain that pierces like a dagger, and heal the despair or fear that recurs with unerring frequency. 

"Why should I feel discouraged,
//Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He;"

So there I  was, not knowing the isolation I'd created while praying "amiss," as John warned against (1 John 4:3). and the burgeoning self-righteousness that felt so good! Then wondering why situations didn't change! Where were my miracles?

The enemy (I call him "devil")  lays snares, or traps, of distractions and distortions, leads me (you?) into a House of Mirrors, and seats me (you?) on a rollercoaster of self-involvement (to mix a metaphor). Easing. God. Out.  All the attitudes and behaviors I abhorred (and thought I'd rejected) remained in varying degrees.  What were they? Hmm.

Now, back to basics.  "But now, Lord, you are our father.  We are the clay. and you are the potter.  We are the work of your hands" (Isiah 64:8).

Jesus promised, "Ask, (Dorothie) and it shall be given you.  Seek, (Dorothie) and you shall find.  Knock, and the door shall open to you " (Dorothie).

The prophet Jeremiah ( 29:11) reassures " For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future, and a hope."

His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me." 

Like clay, I'll simply sing as Mother did, "Where He leads me I will follow...I'll go with Him all the way."

I must get out of God's way and stay out of His way, especially since my pleas are jangled, incoherent, and self-serving. But what if I don't know how? Don't have a clue?  Again, one of Mother's hymns answers:

"All to Jesus I surrender, 
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In H His presence daily live,
I surrender all,
I surrender all,

That's it, in a nutshell! Your will, Potter, instead of my whims and wishes,  Your instruction and direction, Lord, instead of my groping, fumbling attempts.  With thanksgiving in my heart, soul, and spirit,

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Thank You, Lord! 


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