One Year of Thankful Thursdays. Susan W. Brown

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      I love these type of seashells more because they are such a visual reminder of how God takes our brokenness and sees each one of us.

      None of our brokenness is wasted…not one iota of it is lost anywhere.

      I am thankful that He sees this broken seashell and loves me still!

      It's the broken or chipped shells that grab my attention against all the other perfect ones that may blend in and look the same. There's something about the imperfection that draws me in and makes me want to know more about this shell and where the waves have tossed it, how many feet it has avoided, if anyone has tossed it to the ground unwanted.

      It's really no different than people in that sense is it? None of us are perfect anyway. Some try to pretend more than others. The ones that have the pain, trials, and have been in the trenches seem to have a bit more character, perseverance, abiding faith and therefore beauty. There's something about those people that draws me in. I want to know them, learn more, and listen well. That's where the beauty lies after all.

      SCRIPTURES FOR THE DAY

       Maybe we are drawn to those chipped and seemingly broken ones because PSALM 34:18 reminds us of something truly beautiful, "The Lord is NEAR TO THE BROKENHEARTED and saves the crushed in spirit."

       2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 is an acknowledgement of the chips and the beauty and power that comes from it. "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

       Yes, I am thankful for those beautiful chipped, damaged, and imperfect seashells. They provide such beautiful life lessons when we put on our perspective glasses and view them through a heavenly lens.

      Thankful Thursday #5

       While it may sound bizarre, today I am thankful for TREE TRUNKS.

      Most of their lives they are responsible for holding the weight of the branches and taking whatever nutrients they can get from the ground to help serve that purpose.

      But if one day, that tree should fall or get knocked down, it doesn’t just vanish, it just changes its purpose a bit.

      The new purpose may include being a home to the many critters that need a safe habitat, while also offering a weary traveler a place to rest.

      I am struck with how similar this is with our own lives.

      For a time we were young and needed support. Then as we grow stronger and more able, we stand on our own and eventually support others.

      What happens if life takes a crazy turn and knocks us down?

      We find another way to serve…that's what we do.

      God didn’t design our lives to look like one stage our entire life. Think of the knocked down stage as a place to seek others to offer comfort to as they need a safe place.

       Thankful for tree trunks and the life lessons they offer us.

       Thankful for the God who made the trees and made us to seek Him out in every detail of life.

       SCRIPTURES FOR THE DAY

       PSALM 96:12 tells us, “Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; LET ALL THE TREES OF THE FOREST SING FOR JOY.”

       When life has taken a turn and you aren't sure what to do next, PSALM 32:8 reminds us,

       “I WILL INSTRUCT YOU and teach you

       IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO;

       I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

We are so thankful you are here, alive, and present. Go seek out the beauty where you are today in the normally unseen places, and know that you are always seen by the God of the universe who loves you with an unfailing love.

      Thankful Thursday #6

       Today I am thankful for the “BLUR AND FADE LENS” that God uses when He looks at me.

       Much like this picture where the focus is on the very blossom right in front of you and not the rest that it’s connected to is how God sees

       me and you.

      It’s so hard to wrap my mind around that so often when I am tempted to think that I am just a big compilation of my history and past.

       That’s NOT how God sees us friend!

       He looks at us through the lens of His perfect Son who He willingly gave up FOR YOU AND ME!

      I have made so many mistakes: some small, some big, and some hurtful. I tend to self loathe and want to crawl out of my own skin at times, BUT GOD.

       His vantage point and lens brings me back reminding me He sees me through Jesus and has the strongest blur and fade effect we could hope for!

       Today, put away the self doubt, negativity, frustrations, and pain and be reminded that God doesn’t connect you to your past or mistakes when He looks at you.

      Our history is part of His Story and that is right and true, and we have it to remind us how far we have come and to mold and shape us.

      Be so encouraged today friend that God puts on the Jesus level fade lens when He looks at you!

      He doesn’t see a nasty disgusting mess that is unsaveable or beyond repair.

      He sees a highly treasured, one-of-a-kind, beautiful human being that He loves and gave up everything for!

       SCRIPTURES to prove this lens is accurate!

       PSALM 36:1 tells us what СКАЧАТЬ