"God has established a created order full of excellent and good things, and it follows naturally that as we give our attention to those things we will be happy. That is God's appointed way to joy. If we think we will have joy only by praying and singing psalms, we will be disillusioned. But if we fill our lives with simple good things and constantly thank God for them, we will be joyful, that is, full of joy. And what about our problems? When we determine to dwell on the good and excellent things in life, we will be so full of those things that they will tend to swallow our problems" (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, p. 195).
He [the LORD] remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:23-26, NIV
From my gratitude journal, #3468-78:
~Cotton-candy sunrise backlighting living sculptures of bare trees
~Simmering hot cereal on the stove, with apples, instead of in the microwave
~Tea in my favorite china cup, just because it's Wednesday
~Beginning to read the new book by my favorite online author and finding it as beautiful as hoped
~A surprise gift in the mail from a friend of my youth
~Receiving words of encouragement from an unexpected source
~Seeing a neighbor at church
~Gracious burger-shop staff cleaning up my spilled water with smiles and, "Can I get you anything else?"
~Falling asleep under love's wing
~The scent of sleeping puppy
~Hot water from the tap
