One Year of Thankful Thursdays. Susan W. Brown

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       So very thankful for something I cannot see, but can see what it does. I cannot touch it, but can feel it when it moves.

       I need it every minute of every hour of every day and without it I would die.

      Oh my AIR! How wonderful and beautiful and special and unappreciated it is until we are so desperate for it, it’s the only thing we can think about.

      When we first moved to Texas, I had major breathing problems every fall. They were so severe, I would land in urgent care getting emergency breathing treatments. I became the owner of an inhaler and an Epi Pen. In those moments of desperation, I guarantee you I was solely focused on breathing and how I would give up everything I had, except my family, just for the next breath.

       Isn’t AIR so much like THE HOLY SPIRIT?!

       We can’t see Him, but can see the effects when He moves.

       We can’t touch Him but we can surely feel Him and His presence.

       And we surely need Him every moment of every hour of every day!

       We are definitely hyper aware of our need for Him when desperation kicks in and we are needing emergency treatments and help from Him!

      In my humble mind, it’s no mistake that God designed our bodies to be so dependent on air.

      I mean think about it for a minute. He could have made us dependent on water, but He didn’t. We can see and touch and somewhat hang onto water.

      Maybe, just maybe, He made our physical bodies dependent on something we cannot see or touch so our spiritual minds and hearts will learn to do the same as we lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance and sustaining us.

      SCRIPTURES FOR THE DAY

      JOB 33:4 puts it so beautifully, "The SPIRIT of God has MADE ME, and the BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY gives me life."

       JOHN 3:8 is a beautiful description of air and The Spirit,

      "THE WIND BLOWS WHERE IT WISHES, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is BORN OF THE SPIRIT.”

       2 CORINTHIANS 5:5 tells us He gave us The Holy Spirit as a GIFT, "He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has GIVEN US THE SPIRIT AS A GUARANTEE."

      Thankful Thursday #8

       Today I am thankful for the gift of SLEEP!

      I think in our non-stop culture sleep can be something that is looked down upon because of the idea that "you aren’t being productive if you are sleeping" or the always hustle mindset of "you have to work, work, work so you can get ahead".

      I have been guilty, in the past, of not looking forward to sleep for another reason entirely. I just love life and enjoy being busy (most of the time) and there’s so much life to live and so much to do and experience I just want to be up doing it!

      BUT……

      There’s a real danger in not getting enough sleep or making sleep a priority.

      Just as God designed the seasons of the year to flow in a natural rhythm and even the 24 hour period in a day to have a cycle, so our bodies were designed with a natural rhythm as well.

      Take a step back, recharge by getting some extra sleep, and see the world and life fresh and anew.

      Our bodies need the sleep in order for our minds and bodies to function at peak capacity.

      I have been overly exhausted recently. I knew it was affecting every area of my life as I was short with people, my body was extra torn down from my usual workouts, and I was falling asleep at random times in mid conversation.

      So, for the next 2 mornings, I planned to sleep in. Instead of waking at 4 , I slept in until 6:30 and it made a massive difference in those 2 days and after.

      It can change not only your perspective, but also massively increase your productivity, energy, and attitude.

      Sleep truly is a gift and we should treat it as such and use it wisely.

      SCRIPTURES FOR THE DAY

      PSALM 127:2 reminds us that “HE GRANTS SLEEP to those He loves.”

       This does not at all imply that if you aren’t sleeping He doesn’t love you.

       What it does imply is this. It’s OK and good to throw that worry off…lie down….sleep…it’s good and healthy for you!

       PSALM 4:8 reminds us how we are to go to sleep..in peace,

       “IN PEACE, I will LIE DOWN AND SLEEP, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Have a beautiful Thursday as you are thanking God for the gift of sleep.

      Thankful Thursday #9

       Today I am so thankful for PIGGYBACK RIDES.

      I’m thankful for the heavenly picture they paint for us.

      I love watching my oldest lovingly СКАЧАТЬ