A Word of Hope - Gratitude

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.

Shards of lightening tore the early morning’s dark veil and a deep growl of thunder rolled over from the South. From a dream-haze, prayer rose from my mind; thank you, thank you Lord for the rain. The weather forecasters had called this one: we were situated on a line where the heavy warmth of Gulf air would meet the cooling Easterly flowing air from the Northwest. It would come upon us and move through our area and could possibly bring turbulent weather.

Later, when gray light spreads across the sky, we head outside for his early morning walk, looking towards Ruffner Mountain, seeing the trees swaying all along the street and upwards on the mountainside, wind racing, running through the trees. Gladly I am taken in, awakened, enlivened, brushed clean of illusion and self-deception, if only briefly. Thank you for the wind, dear Lord.

Charlie, his thick honey colored coat, gallops from the yard to the street, almost pulling me down. Previous to this, his nose was sniffing the ground and searching. He was wanting me to set him free to run with the breeze. He was scouting where the cat from up the street had wandered in the yard as well as the neighbor’s yard. Thank you for creature companions, dear Lord.

Pausing at the backdoor, I look back where it’s pitch black to the South and see a flash of lightening as the wind catapults leaves and twigs all through the air; the storm is fast approaching. I fix my eye towards the encroaching wave of rain coming my way. It’s so hard to see heaven in a storm sometimes. Thank you for your eternal reflection, dear Lord.

It is the dawn of Advent as we leave Thanksgiving, a time saturated with Your Presence. We utter prayers of gratitude – for the beauty of the earth, for family, for heart-friends, for meaningful work and service, for trials which teach us faith, even wounds that lead us to God, whose love and tender mercy are endless. All of these things of life help to open our hearts and renew our humility. Thank you for prayer, dear Lord.

We turn toward Advent – to journeying into mystery, to a resounding “yes” of the in-breaking of the Holy One into our daily lives, the miracle of the incarnation. We are led by His Hand into the place of unknowing, once again, to be surprised by all the ways God comes amongst us and lives within us. Thank you for your Grace, dear Lord.

On Precious Savior, Intimate Mystery, at this turning of the sacred calendar, may we not just hear the ancient stories, but step into the narrative of Your unfolding Love. May we ever sense Your Presence, daily, as we yearn and cry to You, for You are Holy, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

With joy as we serve along-side each other,

I remain your friend,

Mark David Jackson

A Word of Hope - "A Grateful Heart"

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
I Chronicles 16: 34 (ESV) – (A Psalm of David giving thanks)

It seems like it was just yesterday when Spring had sprung, flowers blossomed forth, the buds on the trees appeared, the grass turned green and we cleaned up from the winter. Now we’re in the midst of Autumn. Time has changed; it gets dark early; leaves are falling fast; and, tonight we will have our first hard frost of the season. We’re just two weeks away from Thanksgiving. I just don’t know where the year has gone.

So much has happened this year. It seems like sometimes the world is spinning out of control and that things that could be fixed and repaired are wearing and perhaps worn out. There’s so much bad news with the economy and now Jefferson County, Alabama is going bankrupt. Our 401k has become a 001k. Just what do we do? Aging parents, loss of jobs, changes all about us. Our seemingly stable environments and routines become unstable. How do you deal with it all? Do you pick up and run away? Do you pull into your shell, like a turtle? How do you face life with all its ups and downs?

I believe one of the best things to do is to count your blessings…be thankful; read God’s Word for it is a great source of comfort and encouragement; have a song on your heart; have quiet times for meditation, contemplation and reflection. Refocus ‘stuff’ in your life so that you can make a difference in someone’s life. Give a word of hope to someone in need. Give a hug to someone much in need of a touch from God. Help those who are hurting. Give thanks in all circumstances, good and bad. By refocusing and giving thanks we can begin to see that having a grateful heart brings healing and helps our attitude!

PRAYER:
Thank you God for providing for our needs.
Thank You for allowing us to rise in the morning to face a new day.
Thank You for Your great love, joy, hope and grace!
Help us to be more loving, joyful and hopeful.
Help us to extend grace to others as You have so freely given to us.
And above all, grant that we will live each day with a grateful heart.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen..

With a grateful heart for serving alongside you, I remain your friend,

Mark David Jackson