Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Psalm 97 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Fire goes before him,
and consumes his adversaries on every side.

His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.

All worshipers of images are put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before him.

Zion hears and is glad,
and the towns of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O God.

For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

The Lord loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful;
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

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Reflect

Etiquette stats that you have 3 months to send a thank you card after receiving a gift, service, or other act of kindness. In wedding world, people will tell you that a year is an acceptable amount of time frame to send thank you cards. Why? Because you can’t really express the proper amount of thanks for the blender that is still sitting in the box. Thank you cards are more fun when you can throw a personal story in such as, I’m thankful for this great gift each morning as I make a smoothie.

Life is busy, sometimes I forget to say thank you. Thank you to the friend that randomly dropped coffee by my office. Thank you for the wonderful birthday gift. Or, simply thank you to a friend that is always there. The worst thank yous are the ones I forget to say to God.

Leading up until this day I have wrapped gifts, planned meals, and attended parties. At the end of each day coming home and exhaustedly climbing in bed, and sleeping so I can do it all over again. Instead, I (we) should be joyfully thanking God for the people and places we get to enjoy during this season and every day. Take out a piece of paper and write 10 things you are thankful for. If that’s too hard, start small and write 5. Go down that list and spend some time thanking God for each of them. God is always willing to accept a thankful word no matter how late it is.

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Pray

Thank you God for all that you have given me. Forgive me when I focus on my life and all I need to accomplish rather than all I need to be thankful for. I want my life to be lived focusing on all of the great things you have given me. Amen

Go with God!