This past week I have been on vacation in beautiful California. Keeping up with my gratitude list has been rather easy when walking the beaches of the Pacific and enjoying the mild coastal weather. After all, it’s not hard to be grateful when life is going well. I can quickly count off all the things I am thankful for when there have been no obstacles or trials in my life. This is especially true during enjoyable events, vacations, and new experiences.
But when life is mundane and boring, I struggle with gratitude. And when life is hard and the tears blind my eyes, counting God’s graces seems almost impossible.
Then I read this: “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” (Psalm 7:17)
Giving thanks isn’t about me and whether God is doing what I want Him to do in my life. It’s about Him. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He alone deserves praise, honor, and worship simply because He is holy, righteous, and good.
And when I don’t give thanks, when I hold it back because life is hard, I am in a sense robbing God of the thanks and praise that is due Him.
Whether He blesses me in abundance or takes me through a dark valley of suffering, He always deserves praise and thanksgiving because He is God. His righteousness alone is worthy of my gratitude.
This is why the four living creatures in John’s vision never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)
In fact, giving thanks is what I was made for. The confession says that “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Praise, honor, worship, thanksgiving, and gratitude is what my heart was made to do. Having a heart of gratitude isn’t some trendy thing to do. It’s not a feel good exercise to greater self-fulfillment. Living a life of gratitude is simply living out what I was created to do.
The beautiful thing about doing what we were made for is that it brings us great joy. It completes us, fulfills us, and satisfies us. Knowing Him and responding to His wonder and beauty with thanksgiving is the very thing and only thing that fills all the empty places of the heart.
“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2
Continuing to count and give thanks in community: (#1938-1950)
God’s holiness, that He is the “I am”
Driving over the bridge on the way home just as the sun was setting
The way my ladies bible study is helping us all to grow, change, and learn
The opportunity to join my husband in San Diego while he was there for work
The miraculous behavior of the boys during the long day of travel from FL to CA
Beautiful, sunny southern CA
How the names of God provides healing to the wounds in my heart
this fun Hobbit study my friend is doing
seeing seals lying on the beach in CA
discovering a hang gliding spot and watching the gliders take off with the ocean below them
Finding a doctor who makes hotel visits
Taking the kids to the Melting Pot for the first time and hearing “This is the best restaurant ever!”
Linking up with these friends:
Yes…living out what we are made to do…amazing pictures…and oh…needing a doctor at come to a hotel room…hope all is well…blessings to you.
Thanks! I actually wish I could find a doctor who makes house calls where we live:)
Hi Christina, it really is that simple isn’t it. We were created to praise God, to bless Him and honour Him. Great post.
God bless
Tracy
Thanks, Tracy! We make things so complicated don’t we? But He’s laid it out simply for us. So glad you stopped by!
Love all those beautiful photos of the seals doing exactly what they were created to do. His creation reveals the faces of God to me like nothing else. Beautiful. Soak it up.
So, so true. I could have stayed there all day, watching the seals give glory to their Creator. Blessings!
Filling up the empty places of my heart with you today, Christina. Grateful for your insight and passion for Christ.
You are sweet! I’m so glad we are part of this community and can encourage one another to grow deeper roots in Him. Blessings to you!
“Whether He blesses me in abundance or takes me through a dark valley of suffering, He always deserves praise and thanksgiving because He is God.”
Amen and amen. Regardless of what we see or don’t see, God is always there and always worthy of our thanks. Love this post. And the seals, too.
Thanks, Lisa! Regardless of what we see or don’t see…makes me think of Elisha showing his servant the invisible forces of God surrounding them. May we remember that He is always there. Blessings!
Beautiful pics! And Melting Pot is a fav of mine. Yum!
Living out what we are made to… To God be the glory friend! Blessings!
They just loved the Melting Pot and had so much fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Those pictures. Initially, I didn’t even read your post because I wanted to scroll down to see who took the pictures. Ohhhh! How cool!
So, I struggle with graditude in the mundane too. It’s hard to find the gifts when it’s early and you are tired and tomorrow looks like more of the same.
Oh, and the Melting Pot. I bet it’s been 8 years since I’ve been there.
I could have stood there all day taking pictures of the seals. Such amazing creatures! It had been a while since I went to the Melting Pot too, I forgot how fun and yummy it is:) Thanks for visiting!
Great pics and fun list! What a great time!
Thanks! That’s a high compliment coming from you, my photographer friend:)
Looks awesome! I remember snorkeling at La Jolla Cove with my teens a few years ago….incredible stuff. May we continue to be thankful for the small things as well - great reminder. We are a eucharistic people.
Snorkeling! That water was freezing! I don’t know how anyone gets in it. I like my water to be about 87:)
I had a hard time scrolling beyond that amazing first pic! I’ve never seen them that color-so camouflaged!
)
incredible. (you should watermark them, friend. they’re amazing
and I’m wanting to hear the story around needing a doctor in the hotel…Trusting everyone is okay!
finally, YES. He is good all the time. He just is. And worthy of praise no matter what. striving with you to discipline myself and do just that…
Hugs to you!
Thanks! If I knew how to watermark, I would:) I’m slow with these things. There are actually no walk-in clinics nearby so the hotel referred us to this doctor who came to the hotel. It was for my son’s sinus infection/asthma stuff. We always end up at a walk-in during our travels:)
Absolutely LOVE those pictures! And the reminder to give thanks through everything is one I need often. Thanks.
beautiful words that encourage me to be what i was meant to be: thankful.
i guess different can be refreshing, even if you do live in paradise . . . ha!)
(and i find it mildly amusing that you, who are from FLORIDA — a vacation capital to those of us in the boring midwest — had to find a getaway on the opposite coast!!
Oh, yes, I get this. Giving thanks in all things can challenge me. Lovely shots and thoughts!
Oh, those pictures are so breathtaking! Wow! Thank you not only for sharing them with us, but reminding us all of what gratitude truly is and how, no matter what, we must give it to our Lord and God.
Wow Christina-this is such a good post. And not just because of the amazing pictures!
It’s so good to be reminded that we were CREATED to praise and thank our God!