My last post was about trying to be grateful even while disappointed, afraid, and upset. Last night as I was falling asleep (which is a .02 second process lately since I'm preggers...did I mention that here???) I was singing a song in my head. It's not a new song, as there are so many Psalms with this phrasing: "Oh Oh Give thanks to the Lord for He is good". And that's all the song says.
I was struck by its simplicity. Not just lyrically, but conceptually. The concept of gratitude to the Lord is SIMPLE. Basically, we should just always be thankful. Not just because we're being mandated or because the Bible says so and we just have to get over our junk and be grateful because there are starving children in China, so eat the rest of your dinner...that never made sense to me anyway. No, it's not a guilt trip, it's not a discipline. There is a very good reason to be giving thanks to the Lord. He's good! All the time!
There are bumps in all our roads...
- We are so looking forward to meeting this little baby (currently the size of a lemon and already sucking its thumb...so tiny and yet totally formed, it's just maturing now...amazing) but we have lots of reasons to wonder "how are we going to do this?" God is good, so we are giving thanks!
- Joaquim is still searching for a job, and that's really hard. We have days where I am exhausted and he is bored out of his mind because he's been stuck in the apartment. But God is providing in very intentional ways. Joaquim got his first check in the mail from preaching at a church in Forreston, IL this month, and he is currently working on a project to help translate a cell phone system into Portuguese. These connections have been divinely placed in our path, without a doubt. We thank you, Lord!
- We were blessed with a hefty tax refund to pay for half of our trip to Brasil next month (March 25-April 11). We booked those tickets wondering what in the world we were thinking, but we put it in God's hands because we know He is pleased as we pursue our future there. A month later our bank account evened out! We thank you, Lord!
- We have wonderful friends and family, here in the Chicagoland area, around the country, and across the globe.
Even if we had nothing and no one, I pray that we would still give thanks. Because we have been given the greatest gift of all, which is the gift of eternity with our God. This life is such a "poof" and it's not important. Who cares if you get the newest smart phone! Make sure you have GOD. And if you do...give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
