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I’ve spent the last week with my dear friend, Edurne, a missionary to the Curripaco tribes in Venezuela and the director of our LGG International Branches.

Living with her this past week has opened my eyes and made me thankful for things I never even knew I should be thankful for things like:

  • Ziploc bags
  • Warm water in the morning when I take my shower
  • Grocery stores…especially Target
  • Air conditioning
  • Leftovers and fast food restaurants on busy days

Just to name a few…

One of the many things I love about this woman is how she chooses to see God’s goodness in all circumstances…her faithfulness inspires and challenges me.

And I’ve had the rare privilege of seeing her choose gratitude, choose thankfulness in very hard circumstances.

Like when her house was broken into three times in the past year, items taken from her home like medicine, food and even her children’s backpacks.

Yet each time, she chose to view her life through the lens of thankfulness…her life to speaks volumes to mine.

There is something powerful about praising the Lord in the midst of hard circumstances that puts life into perspective and places Jesus on His rightful throne in our lives and in our hearts.

Edurne reminds me that there is always something to be thankful for.

Choosing to give God thanks for His goodness, His everlasting, unfailing, always and forever love…a love that has no end. How can we not be a grateful people?

I remember my mom teaching me from the time I was a little girl that when life seems to get hard, we start praising Jesus and start looking for opportunities to choose to be thankful.

Today I’m thankful for God because He is good and His love for me never ends. No matter what my future holds, His love for me is constant…nothing or no one can ever change that!

The Psalm we are reading today was written to celebrate the Jews’ return from their exile in Babylon.

These people had a lot to be thankful for, and I’m sure if they had written down gratitude lists, they would have listed similar items as Edurne.

Hard times, lean years and empty pantries have a way of making one extremely thankful for the smallest of blessings.

These precious people, the ones God redeemed…they were once wanderers, prisoners, fools and overcome by the storms in their lives.

And yet through these hard times, God was there.

Their struggle sharpened their eyesight, and they were able to see Jesus more clearly.

When they cried out to the Lord in their wanderings in life…thirsty and hungry (vs.6) and He satisfied them. (vs.9)

When they sat in darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains (vs.10) He broke down the gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (vs.16)

When they had become fools…rebellious to His ways (vs.17), He heard their cries and saved them from their distress. (vs.19)

When their lives were filled with storms and their courage melted away (vs.26) He was the One who stilled the storm to a whisper. (vs.29)

Friend, no matter if our hard times in life have come because of our choices or due to matters outside of our hands, we are reminded that God is always in control and we always have so much to be thankful for.

Our God redeems, He is good, and His love for us endures forever and so no matter what tomorrow brings, I will choose to praise Him with my life.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.”- Psalm 107:31-32

Love God Greatly!
Angela

 

 

Let’s Talk: Where are you joining us from today?

Week 1 Challenge: In your journal this week, write down one or more praises for each day. There is always something to be thankful for!

Week 1 Video: Coming TOMORROW!

Week 1 Reading Plan:
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Week 1 Memory Verse:
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Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt is the founder and director of LoveGodGreatly.com, a nonprofit online Bible study ministry reaching thousands of women in over two hundred countries around the world with God’s Word through their translated Bible studies. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas with their three daughters. Angela is passionate about God’s Word and believes one woman in God’s Word can change a family, community and ultimately a nation. Her greatest joy is to encourage her children and others to love God greatly with their lives one day at a time. You can connect with her on Instagram.

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