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IMPORTANT: NEXT WEEK Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, there will be NO linkup, but plan to join me again the following Thursday, November 30th for my posts: Mommy vs. Santa
This week is a continuation of sorts from last week’s post “Enter His courts with Thanksgiving“. If you missed it, click on the picture below.
As I have been meditating on Psalm 100 the past few weeks, I felt like the Lord challenged my thinking about those areas in my life that seem challenging or difficult.
You know, those areas where we don’t immediately think to give thanks. Or those areas where thankfulness is definitely NOT what would come to mind. Especially, those “life gives you lemons,” moments.
God’s challenge to me was simple: Do you want to be thankful for these tougher moments in your life? Are you expecting to have a testimony of thanksgiving one day for these challenges?
Immediately the chorus of the song by Casting Crowns: “Praise you I This Storm” came to mind…
I thought about it for a moment, and decided YES.
Yes, even though I have stuff that is hard to be thankful for, like insomnia, health challenges, loved ones facing difficulties, people being offended, or even being misunderstood…. Yes, I want to be able to look back and have a testimony of God’s faithfulness in any one of these or other difficult areas in my life.
Don’t you?
Don’t we all?
Yes, I believe we all do. Our testimony of thanksgiving may not be what we want it to be, or think it should be, but God is always faithful. Even when His answer is no, or not now, or he seems to remain silent, we will one day be able to look back and say, that we now have a testimony in an area that we never thought possible.
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You see, when asked, “what are you thankful for?” it’s easy to be thankful for something we already have. But, is it easy to be thankful for the things you don’t have?
Is there an area of challenge or difficulty that comes to your mind that you are facing even now?
How would you finish this sentence?
Even though I have: _________ (fill in the blank). Maybe it’s: health issues, family issues, financial issues, relationship issues, car issues, house issues, etc. I know God will give me a testimony of thanksgiving.
I believe we all want to look back at what was a difficult moment or season and give thanks for the amazing testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Let’s choose to praise in Him the storms of our life as well as in the calm season.
Let’s activate our faith and begin praising God now, before we see anything to be thankful for.
Please feel free to share your testimonies below in the comments of what you are thankful for, and also what you are believing God for in regards to a tough “right-now” situation, that will soon become a testimony of thanksgiving.
Enjoy celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday next Thursday with your family and friends.
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
I have been teaching these classes internationally for the last 10+ years equipping and training believers in discerning the Ways God speaks. God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
2. My new membership site, d2htrainging.com has official opened, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “Will You Sit with Me?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Thankfulness in the midst of all the givens — that’s the challenge. Psalm 100 gives us a great script for tuning our hearts to gratitude.
So glad we’ll be taking a break next week. Thanks for all you do!
Thank you Michele! I am glad for the break next week too, that way we can all focus on rest and being with those we love. 🙂
This is so good Deb. We sort of know in the backs of our minds that one day the struggles will be a testimony but it is hard to be thankful and embrace that mind set. I wonder how many times our struggles might’ve ended sooner if we had begun praising right away. Hmmm…
Thanks for the party girlfriend and here’s a heap of prayers to cover you! <3
Patti
Thanks Patti, and yes, we do sorta know it, don’t we? But it’s the remembering piece we have a hard time with when we are in the midst of it. I always wonder the same thing too – how much sooner would those difficulties cease if praise was ever on our lips? it is a hmmmm thought to ponder for sure. You are most welcome for the party, thanks for your support and always being here to encourage me.
My tough, right-now situation is my second oldest woke up in the night with a stomach bug (or something) and we have company and more supposed to be coming today. “Give thanks in everything for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So thanking God anyway. He is here and giving strength and grace.
Oh man Kelly, that is a tough one, but great attitude and way to have a testimony of Thanksgiving in the midst of a not so fun time. May God give you peace and rest in the midst of it all as you enjoy those coming into your home and May God’s healing power touch your child and make the stomach bug flee in Jesus name!
Debbie, you have brought a truth we need to remind ourselves of during hard times > “God is always faithful, even when it doesn’t look like I had thought.” He is always at work, working things for our good. Blessings!
Thank you Joanne – Yes, He is always at work, even when we can’t see it or it doesn’t feel like it. I am so grateful that He is, especially in those hard times, now if I can just convince my mind to be at peace and trust Him during those times – ahhh that would be amazing!
Thankful for you creating this place for us to share. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you Debbie, and I am thankful that you join me here each week and are a part of making this place wonderful
Yes, so thankful that in the midst of these hard days, God is always so faithful! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Bettie – Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well. This year I am having all my family come to my house 🙂 it’s been a while since we were all together for the holidays.
“Activate your faith now BEFORE you have a testimony.” YES! Right on!
It’s easy to be thankful when things are going as planned, but much harder when we are still waiting on God for something we don’t yet have.
Good word today, Debbie!
Thank you Rachel! and yes, waiting on in those seasons is often hard, but thankfulness before is paramount. 🙂 Blessings, and thanks for being here today!
Thank you for hosting all this opportunity. Have a good Thanksgiving!
you are most welcome Marilyn. Thanks for being here and you have a good Thanksgiving too!
This is such great food for thought, Debbie: “But, is it easy to be thankful for the things you don’t have?” May I learn to be more grateful not only for what I do have, but also for what I do not have. Have a great Thanksgiving!
You are most welcome Lisa, it’s not always easy to be thankful for what we don’t have, but I am learning to be and keep reminding myself God ways are not my ways. Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend and Happy Thanksgiving. Grateful for your lessons.
thanks Patrick!
What a great reminder Debbie! For me it is my health – although I have a lot of issues that I deal with I am thankful that by His grace I am still able to lead a productive life!
Roseann, you are such an inspiration to me and others as well. I know that your health is one of those areas that you are praising God for well in advance of any healing. Thank you for sharing that and I am so grateful for His grace as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks Lisa, I did. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Did the linkup close early? 🙁 thanks for all that you do. I will try again in a few weeks.
Mary, no it shouldn’t have – it was an error and I fixed it and sent you an email. I will be down this Thanksgiving week and offline for some maintenance on the site. see you the week after.
The Lord began to teach me about sacrificial praise during an extremely difficult time with one of our kids. Since then, giving Him praise in all circumstances has gotten easier, and more joyous. Thank you for the gentle reminder about the importance of praise.
Alice, you are most welcome. I have learned many lessons through the years raising my kids and “sacrificial praise” is one of them.. thank you for reminding me of that. Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Yes, there’s something in offering praise and thanksgiving in the middle of hardships that changes things. It’s a miracle, really. I can’t explain it but it works. It’s like us choosing our side and then the Holy Spirit moves in and creates beauty out of ashes. Thanks for your post. Blessings to you!
You are most welcome Mari-Anna! Thank you for sharing such beautiful words and thoughts. Yes, its exactly like the Holy Spirit creating beauty out of ashes. such a great way of looking at it…
Beautifully written. I want to give thanksgiving for all that Christ leads me through and for what He delivers me from. He is a wonderful God. Thanks for linking up with the #LMMLinkup this past week.
Thank you Mary. 🙂