Gratitude

What do you understand by the providence of God?

Providence is
The almighty and ever-present power of God
whereby he still upholds, as it were by his own hand,
heaven
and earth
together with all creatures,
and rules in such a way that
leaves and grass,
rain and drought,
fruitful and unfruitful years,
food and drink,
health and sickness,
riches and poverty,
and everything else, come to us
not by chance
but by his fatherly hand.

~Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 27

Our lives, is a gift. We get to enjoy life, and everything else the surrounds our lives, and we seldom say "Thank you". Gratitude takes nothing for granted. Gratitude is not just about giving thanks to the gift, but it also recognizes the giver. When was the last time you recognize the giver of life?

I reflection of my thought on Sunday morning, the Lord is my breath, we ought to give thanks to the giver and the creator for life. But also we ought to give thanks for our purpose. Our purpose to serve the Lord in obedience. Thank you, Lord, for slowly revealing the joy in serving You. Serving You in obedience is not a burden, but it is in my being to serve with joy.

John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

You make my joy complete, and I abid in Your love and faithfully obey Your commands.

Gratitude
by Nichole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .