SSEFC worships Sundays at 10:30 am & Saturdays at 5:30 pm. Please join us! www.ssefc.org | Apple Valley, Minnesota

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

An Attitude of Gratitude

If you heard Pastor Coe's sermon last Sunday (4/5), than you might know about "the homework assignment" he gave out. Over this week, we were encouraged to keep a gratitude journal. Wouldn't it be nice to share some of our gratitudes with each other? A blog is a great place to share ideas so let's use this creative "lady space" to express some of these things that we are grateful for. Here's how:

Click on "Comments" below this post and follow the directions to create a comment and then go ahead and share something that you are grateful to the Lord for. Perhaps you have a brief story, Scripture or quote to share. We would all love to hear from you. Feel free to comment on another comment and so on. Let's be creative, let's share and let's interact on this "assignment" together.

Below are a couple quotes from Linda Dillow's book, Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment, that the ladies from the Tuesday morning Bible study are going through. Maybe these will offer inspiration...Thanks for participating!

"Two women looked through prison bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars...Each of us has a choice about how we look at life: We can focus on the mud or lift our eyes and see the stars. Every woman has circumstances that appear to be prison bars. God wants you and me to learn to be content in our circumstances now, not just when they improve." (29)

"If we are to find contentment in the midst of trial and uncertainty, we must accept our situation as being purposely allowed unto our lives by a personal and loving God." (173)

8 comments:

Margie said...

I asked Hans, age 6, today what he is grateful for. He responded simply, "Life." Isn't that the "nuts and bolts" of it all? Thank You, Jesus, for life...for health. Thank You that You are the Life. Thank You for what was accomplished on the cross in order to provide us with life everlasting!

Bernice Finne said...

Love it...out of the mouths of Babes...comes the Honest Truth.

Kathy said...

Friendship--how dull and lonely would life be without my friends. True friendship--people that know me with all my flaws, imperfections--and yes, even downright sin sometimes--who still love me, accept me and want the best for me. What a true blessing they are! And I believe Jesus modeled friendship in the NT--especially with Peter--even when he knew Peter would deny him--he still loved him--and even gave him great responsibility. Peter was a flawed friend--but Jesus still called him friend. I'm grateful for women who call me friend.

Margie said...

Thanks, Kathy, for expressing so beautifully your gratitude for friendship. I love the example of Peter! It reminds me of a quote from Linda Dillow's book where she says if we demand perfection or nothing from people, we will end up with nothing. You're right - true friendship involves A LOT of grace. I too am thankful for all the grace bestowed upon me by loving friends. :)

Sue P. said...

I too am thankful for all the beautiful ladies who are my friends - you encourage and love me without hesitation. While it is true that true friendship involves alot of grace, so does marriage. On the weekend of our
22nd anniversay, I am so grateful for my husband. He is an incredible man who loves me no matter what. I thank God for the awesome marriage I have!

Anonymous said...

I am thankful today for God's gift to us at EASTER, this amazing spring weather and for Margie who set up this BLOG; also that the Lord has given me almost 42 years of marriage with my loving and supportive husband, my best friend!

Martha

Sue P said...

Sitting here looking out at the beautiful Lake Superior and listening to the birds, I am grateful for that God chose to give us such beautiful creation for our enjoyment. I am in awe of the beauty!

Amanda said...

I'm grateful for my wonderful husband who loves me no matter what and lets me stay home with our three kids! Happy Easter everyone!