Gratefulness

Devotion 3: Affections of the Heart by Jonathan Edwards

We are moved by affection! Jesus give me a holy fear, hope, love, compassion, zeal, sorrow, gratitude and joy! I want my heart to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! One of the questions of reflection was, what am I grateful for? Make a list of gratitude and as you write begin to open your mouth and praise HIM!

I am grateful for…

-a loving husband

-a home

-rest

-health

-the Spirit of God who brings healing

-multiple families around the world

-making Christmas cookies to give away

-enough money to pay for rent, phone, food, loans, insurance, Christmas presents & tithe

-being able to live out the calling that God has placed on my life

-God’s overriding goodness in every area of my life

-God helping me to forgive my enemies

-youth and how funny they are

-open doors to new relationships in Oakland with drug dealers  & gang members

-being able to have time to pray and worship with my teammates

-a laptop so I can write and share it with the world

-all the fun wedding presents that I get to use for hospitality

-a guest room for anyone in need of a bed or a get away

-creativity

-my Oakland neighbors and community

-authentic faith of those around me

-intimacy with God

-the scrutiny and purifying power of God’s spirit

-grace

-rivers of JOY!

-Christmas carols, songs and music!

-Nature

-Roosters crowing in the hood in the morning

-a little patio with sunset seating right out my back door

-hot water and indoor plumbing

-trash pickup

-parking

-a paid off car that we get to share

-the fruit of the vine, wine!

-fun & zany friends and parties

-pictures and a camera

-our trip to Mexico

-books and being educated enough to read

-a social security card, visa, drivers license, bank account, and memberships

-free healthcare when we don’t have insurance

-CA sunshine and warmth

-a high school diploma & a college education

-my childhood memories

-parents that are married

-wonderful siblings and nephews

-my new family through marriage

-freedom to follow Jesus

-the process of deliverance from old mindsets like fear and people pleasing

-learning a new language

-having not one Bible but enough Bibles to give away!

-clothing and shoes

-for furniture

-for experiencing different cultures

-for the extermination of roaches in my new apartment

-for flowers bursting through concrete

-for cleaning products

-for dishes and a place to wash them

-for clean drinking water

-for parks and recreation

-for the ability to smell, taste, feel, touch, hear and see

-hand written cards and letters

-for no TV & no microwave

-for an imagination

-for the simple life

-for play and pleasure

-for the ability to see Jesus in each person

-for God’s LOVE!

-for hope, purpose and passion

-for hobbies

-for learning and a sound mind

-for mentors, teachers and spiritual guides

-for God’s power when I am weak

-for InnerCHANGE and my fellow missionaries

-for the experience of travel by train, plane and car

-for the saints who have gone before

-the voice of Jesus

-the embrace of a friend

-for light always overcoming darkness

-that the victory is already won

-for a prayer team

-for instruments

-for tools

-for animals and pets

-for dreams and visions

-for the heavenly surrounding us

-for God’s holiness

-for romance!

-for answered prayers

-for God giving us the things we don’t possess like patience

-for God sending his son to be our savior

-for suffering

-for persecution

-for all the things & circumstances that break me and bring me to my knees

-for God’s presence when I am homesick or lonely

-for talents, gifts and abilities

-for God making each of us unique

-for work

-for donors

-God’s promises, he always keeps them

-God’s word it is always true

-for the gospel

-for God taking the violence in my heart and turning it into love

-for God going deep into my heart and healing my wounds

-for adventures

-for the crazy life that God calls us into that confounds the world!

-for the upside down kingdom

-for seeing God build bridges between rich and poor

-for being able to live out a radical life

-for the hope of heaven and being able to see our loved ones again

-for inspiration and Holy Spirit moments

-for divine appointments

-for God’s plan which is better than my own

-for redemption

-for a heart that mourns over prostitution, addiction, greed, injustice, violations against human rights, racism, hatred, abuse, neglect, broken relationships, abortion, divorce, perversion, porn, gangs, drugs, a broken bride (the church), mistreatment of the poor, orphan, and the immigrants in our midst & my own rejection of Jesus and my neighbor

-people who are moved by love to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves           

-for the ability to bless rather than curse

-for non-judgmental people who don’t have to be right

-for those who listen

-for those who think outside of the box and seek to alleviate the suffering of humanity

-for those who do simple things with great love

-for the generous who know its all God’s anyway

-for acts of service that don’t expect repayment

-for people who love children

-for children and how they teach us wonder

-for amazement, awe and the fear of God

-for laughter, jokes and lightness of heart

-for peace

-for all who have showed me mercy, compassion and kindness

-for the teachable moments

-for God using all means necessary to get our attention

-for God being the hound of heaven who never stops pursuing us

-for humility and courage to follow the narrow path

-for God caring enough to show us our sin and to save us completely

-for each human being, a masterpiece made in his image!

-for law enforcement, for fireman and for ambulances and emts

-for jobs, unions and opportunities for employments

-for the right to vote

-for being born into a time when women have a voice

-for contacts and glasses

-being able to go to the dentist

-for breath

-for organs that function without me even thinking about them

-for the ability to grow things

-for the miracle of life and babies

-for all that I have been given that I take for granted!

 

Wow, this list could go on forever… what a powerful experience to pause and just say thank you! There are so many things that I haven’t even thought of yet and listed! To say them out loud is really humbling! We don’t deserve all that we have been given, it is all gift! It is meant to be shared! Help me not to be a hoarder but to give as freely as it has been given! Help me to put you above all Lord Jesus! Be my first love and my primary affection! Let my life flow out of you! Let it be characterized by your attributes, I want to disappear so that when people look at me they see you! Come Lord Jesus, invade all the places in my life where I haven’t allowed you access! Transform, redeem and make me new! Make me alive with your power and let me express love and gratitude without ceasing!

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