Giving Thanks for the Journey

“Am I there yet?” “When will I get there?” “When will this happen?” “Did I miss something?” I sometimes say these things to God. 

Patience is not a virtue that I have in full amounts, and sometimes it is lacking all together.  There is one specific prayer request that right now, I am having a hard time waiting for.

God has shown me that it is a "Yes", but that I need to wait. I am very clear on that answer. I am trying to be patient, but I want it to be a "Yes" now.  However, God is telling me "Soon", and to just "Enjoy my time with Him", and to "Trust Him on our journey."  Of course, soon in God’s eyes, and soon in my eyes are two very different timings.  So, I pray that God will help me be patient until that "Yes, in a little while" becomes a "Yes, now."

I am on this journey with God, and He is showing me His plan. It is a step by step process, and sometimes I want to go faster or a different direction.  God is patient with me, and continues to guide me. Sometimes He says, “Laura, I got this, you need to stop freaking out, and just trust me. I will not let you down.”

           

There are times, I have to take a step back and refocus my eyes on God. He does know what I need, and He has provided for me.  My God is here for me all the time, and gotten me through everything so far.  When I look to Him, He is the answer.

 

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Photo by Mary Maxson

God wants this journey with me, and I am giving thanks for this journey we are on.  He has been with me even in the storms of life and has not let me drown. I sometimes don’t know where we are heading, but I know that God has got this. I will not get lost with Him as my Light.

I love road trips, and some of the most fun parts of a trip is the journey, getting from location to location.  I travel down the road looking at the passing scenery.  Isn’t life also about the journey? 

Will I miss some amazing things if I lose focus of my surroundings? I need to refocus my eyes on my journey with God. I need to give thanks for the passing scenery. Yes, the destination is very important, but I need to enjoy the journey and take a look at the passing scenery on the road.

Giving thanks for the journey is something that I forget to do sometimes. I need to enjoy the ride, and just be in the moment with my God. Not to rush an answer, but have faith that my God will supply all my needs and that my God is awesome and powerful.

Poppa God, I thank you for the journey that we are on together.  Please continue to guide my steps as I walk this journey with You. I also am grateful that you are so patient with me.  Please forgive me when I try and rush the journey.  Help me to be thankful for where I am right now. You know the plans You have for me, and the walking together is part of that. Thank you and I praise Your name.

In Jesus Name Amen.

Laura Maxson

            

Giving Thanks with Open Eyes

            As a child, Thanksgiving was a time where we sat around a large family table.  We would spend time together as a family.  There were times that my family lived a long ways away from each other.  So, to spend a few days as a family was a good thing. 

            Before we ate the meal, we would go around that table and say what we were thankful for. It was anything from, being out of school, to being together as a family.  We would give our thanks for those things in our lives. 

            Now as an adult, I have started a tradition of giving thanks to God each morning for what He has done for me, and shown me the previous day. Every morning as I have my devotions.  I thank God for His amazing love and power. I also pray that God will open my eyes to see His glory in whatever form that may be. 

Last Sunday morning, as I was driving somewhere, I look up and there is a little rainbow in the clouds.  The sky is blue, but there is this little prism of color in the clouds.  It was my answer.

As I was driving, I thank God for opening my eyes to see that. It got me thinking about how many other ways God shows me His love, and I miss it.  I miss it, because I am so focused on other things-or myself.  Some days, I can’t see past all the items in life.  So, I want to give thanks to God with my eyes opened.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Ephesians 1:18

            What can God show you when He opens your eyes?  Better yet, what can happen when God opens the eyes of our hearts?  Will we be able to see so much more then what is visible to the eye? Give thanks when God opens the eyes of our hearts.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

There is a song by Michael W. Smith. “Open the eyes of my Heart.”  “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see you.  To see You high and lifted up, Shining in the light of your glory.  Pour out Your power and love as we sing holy, holy holy.”

That is what I want. I want to daily see, God shining in the light of His glory and pouring His power and love on me.  I pray that God will open the eyes of my heart to those things and people around me.

Photo by kartini r. maxson

Poppa God, I thank you for the daily reminders of Your glory.  Open the eyes of our heart, and please pour out Your power and love on each one of us. We give You thanks each day for those amazing blessings You have given each of us.  I pray that You open the eyes of our hearts so that we can see Your glory, and also, see those around us that might need us to show them Your glory.  Thank you.

In Jesus Name Amen.

Laura Maxson

            

Giving Thanks

            Poppa God, that is my name for my God, He has giving us so much.  Every day that we wake up is a blessing.  This month we are giving thanks.  It is very appropriate that this month in the United States is the month of Thanksgiving.

            I know that there are times that we don’t feel very thankful.  It could be that things are not going according to our plans.  That is okay.  I learned a phrase a long time ago. “Life is not about waiting out the storms, it is about learning to dance in the rain.” It holds a lot of truth.

            That statement was not truer this weekend when I went to the wedding of one of my best friends.  It was on the coast and the forecast called for rain all weekend and drenching rain on Sunday, the day of the wedding.  Yet, we all gathered for what would be a wonderful weekend in spite of the weather. 

We had torrential downpours, but you know what, we “danced in the rain” and had a great weekend.  It actually made it more special.  We were thankful for the rain.  It was badly needed.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1

            The reason that we had a great weekend was that it was full of love from the family and friends that had gathered to witness this union.  There is even a picture of my friend and I stomping in puddles the morning of the wedding.  We were laughing like children as we ran through the puddles.

It reminds me a little bit of life. Yes, we all have hard times and hardships that we go through.  Yet, even in that we can learn to give thanks to God for always being with us.  He has promised us that.  Even when it appears that things are going to be ruined by the “rain.”

“Be Strong and Courageous…For the Lord your God goes with you: HE will Never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Give thanks for the rain. Give thanks for the never ending love of our Poppa God.  Give thanks for all the blessings we have been given.  Give thanks for the sun shining through the rain.

On the day of the wedding, right before the ceremony, it was torrential downpour, but as the time for the service approached, the rain lifted, and the sun shone. For an outdoor wedding, no rain would have been optimal.  As the bride and groom said their “I do’s”, the sun was still shining.  Then after the wedding it started to sprinkle again.

What I am saying is that we were thankful for that sun shining.  However, we would have been thankful not matter what.  It was just a little added bonus that we got the sunshine.

So no matter what, always be thankful for God’s amazing love and his attention even to the smallest of details.  Even forty-five minutes or so of sunshine on a wedding day.  Also, we need to learn to dance in the rain and be thankful for that as well.

Photo By Travis Bowman

Poppa God, you have given us so many blessing.  This month as we give thanks, show us the little nuggets that you have granted on us.  From sunshine during a wedding to running through puddles in the rain as children.  In everything that I do, I give thanks to you.  You are my Poppa God, and you pour out your blessings on us daily.  Thank you.

AMEN

Laura Maxson