Give Thanks . . .

Dear Friends:

A couple weeks ago I went to a prayer meeting at a home church in my community. Each Thursday night people of all ages and all walks of life gather together just to pray. We pray privately and then we gather in a circle and pray as a group.

Our petitions vary from private matters to prayers for our city and country. God cares about the daily affairs of this world and about the private concerns of His children. When we commit ourselves to prayer, He hears and He speaks. We just need to listen.

Sometimes God whispers softly by planting a thought, an idea or an image in our minds. The image the pastor shared two weeks ago was that of thanksgiving. As we prayed he felt as if God were consoling us by telling us that now if the time for those who believe in Him to simply receive the blessings and the provision He is sending forth.

"God is pouring blessings out from heaven. Its as if he has pried open a treasure chest and now he's just shaking out its contents. Those who believe in Him just need to stand still and receive what He sends. We should simply hold out their hands and say thanks," the pastor said.

The pastor went on to explain that these gifts are being distributed at this time in history because we will need them in the near future.

"We may not realize it yet, but He is pouring out a treasure chest of hope and promise, of healing, of talents, of wisdom, of good things . . ."

I thought about how every great musician was given an instrument when they were young. Every athlete was given sporting equipment before they became so adapt. When we examine the things we love most and the things we do best, we can almost always trace back to gifts we were given in the past.

I agree with that pastor who said a day is coming very soon when those of us committed to serving the Lord and helping others will have to rise up and use whatever resources we have toward that goal. This is one of those things that we may not fully understand today but if we accept it by faith, it will eventually become clear. We just need to accept and receive whatever God sends us.

Sometimes the greatest blessings God sends our way are people who inspire us or people who help us in our daily lives. Often these people are those closest to us -- the ones we take forgranted and never remember to thank.

As I sat down to write my thank you cards, I thought about this. I had decided yeasterday to send out 11 cards -- but I'm sure I could easily send out more.

The 11 who made my thank you list this year are as follows:

1. The woman who mows my yard (she's well into her senior years but perhaps the hardest worker I have ever seen);
2. Pastor John Elliotte (FourSquare Church in Hitchcock, Texas; he heads up a disaster relief crew and is totally committed to serving God and his community);
3. My own pastor, Tom Walker (Zion Christian Church in Palm Bay, FL);
4. Mark Smith (a blessing and inspiration to everyone he meets);
5 - 7. Drucella, Kristy and Roger (three editors who are assisting with my book);
8. Sandy (my best friend);
9. Dan Walker (he heads up LOVE, Inc. a para-church helps ministry in our community);
10. Mildred Childers (she heads up a ministry called New Beginnings which provides a home to help women get off the streets);
11. Mark (the house manager at a ministry called His Place which provides housing for men trying to break free from drugs and alcohol).

As I finished up the cards and stuck on the last stamp, one other person came to mind. My mother. In spite of all our ups and downs, I know I need to thank her and tell her I love her. She deserves far more than a card for putting up with me. Perhaps tomorrow I'll find a random act to let her know the way I feel . . .

Give Thanks,
Cindi (aka POETIC JUSTICE).