Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sep3

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought. Today I Am Thankful For…Contagious Grace

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Random (hopefully inspired) Thought. Today I Am Thankful For…Contagious Grace

Today I read 1 Corinthians 15. Verses 8-10a stood out to me. I can’t lie, I am going through a moment in my Christian life- a valley moment, a painful, very NOT fun time in the valley of life. If it can go horribly wrong, it has. Some of it has been due to choices that I have made, decisions that were not God’s best for me, and some has just been life, being life. Whatever the reason, it makes me feel as though I am the worst human to ever human. But then, like today, God reminds me that He is God, and that His thoughts toward me are good.

“Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.” I Corinthians 15:8-10A (ESV)

There are days when I wonder if I am truly a Christian, if I’m disappointing God to the point of no return. I feel (on most days) as though I am a living, breathing example of the Scripture that says: the things I don’t want to do, that’s what I do (paraphrase). I am sure I am not the only one, but here’s something to consider: Paul persecuted God’s people, God’s sons and daughters, and EVEN in that God showed him grace. God moved Paul from darkness to His glorious, beautiful light, because His grace is contagious.

Here’s the truth, friends: the Christian walk is hard, and it should be because of what it cost Christ for us to gain it. His life. All of this to say, you can’t out bad God’s grace (not sure if this is proper English, but I’m not fixing it). In the midst of your failures and falling, hold on to God’s hope, peace, and love. Because He loves you, His promises are true, He never fails, and His grace is contagious.

So, what am I thankful for today? God’s contagious grace

Jan3

GOD NEVER PROMISED ROSE PETALS…

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GOD NEVER PROMISED ROSE PETALS

God never promised rose petals at our feet or a perfect life. What He promises is to be with us in the fires and floods of life (Isaiah 43:2). He also promises that His plans for us are good (Jeremiah 29:11). Life happens; and will seek to choke out the promises God has made to us, but He also promises that if we seek Him with our entire heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Today let’s join hands together in a journey toward trusting, hoping, and believing the promises God has made, because He never fails.

https://journeyofthankfulness.blog/2026/01/01/day-1-of-random-hopefully-inspired-thought-today-i-am-thankful-for-a-god-who-never-fails

Dec17

Day 351 of Random (hopefully inspired) Thought. Today I Am Thankful For…”GO” and “DO”

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Day 351 of Random (hopefully inspired) Thought. Today I Am Thankful For…”GO” and “DO”

Today, while doing my devotion in 1 Kings 16. It was striking to me that God never had to tell Elijah anything twice. In verse two, God tells Elijah, “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” Verse three reads, “So he did what the Lord had told him.” He didn’t question, he didn’t think ravens will bring me food? What God? No, Elijah got up and DID what God said. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Is that as wild to you as it is to me? That instant obedience.

I need confirmation. I will ask, “Is that you, Lord?” more than once. Question Him at every turn and, as previously stated (see day 350), try to “help”. Not Elijah. If God says it, he’s doing it. Period. But here’s what’s beautiful about obedience like Elijah’s. It rubs off on those around us and brings them blessings.

“Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first, make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be used up, and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land. She went and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.” 1 Kings 16:13-15

Do you see it? The woman “went and did.” She “went” and “did” what God instructed, and because of obedience, she and her family never went hungry. God wants to use us to bless us and those around us in the same way. But first, we must be willing to “go” and “do” what He tells us. He’s a good God friend, and with Him leading us, we will never be hungry. So GO and DO.

Today I am thankful for “go” and “do.”

Dec3

A Return to Random (hopefully inspired) Thought…

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A Return to Random (hopefully inspired) Thought…

I started this blog in 2013 after realizing the importance of thankfulness. It came from a desire to give thanks to God for His mercy, grace, and love, whether my circumstances were good or bad. That desire hasn’t changed; my heart is still determined to thank God in all circumstances. I want to have a heart like Paul’s in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 when he says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Thankfulness is God’s will for us. I fell off this blog for a (very long) bit and, honestly, had forgotten about it. Then, one day, in a conversation with my brother, he randomly brought it up and told me God had used it to teach him discipline. I believed when I started this blog that God had a reason, and I still believe that now. He still has a reason. So, join me as we journey together through the ups and downs of life and give God thanks for ALL of it.

Mar25

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Kings 25. “And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around” (Verses 8-10). Lately God has been bringing me to scriptures that show the consequences of a life without God’s grace. Israel had taken their faith from God and placed it in “stuff”. They felt safe and protected because of the wall around their city. Invincible, if you will. Not realizing that it was not the wall that kept them safe, but the God who instructed its construction. They had forsaken Him and put their faith not in CREATOR, but in creation. So God allows the destruction of the wall. He allowed the destruction of their city, He allowed the enemy to come in and take them captive. ALLOWED. Sometimes in trials and tribulations it feels as though God has forsaken us, as stepped aside and left us to fend for ourselves. But that’s not the case. He allows opposition so that we can do what needs to be done: turn back to Him. He broke the wall, and they became captives, but captivity reminded them of their freedom in God. Many times trials are there to remind us… THERE IS A BETTER WAY. 

Mar23

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Kings 24. “ Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah” (Verse 17). This verse hit me today. Very simply God asked me, if I had allowed the world to change my name? Not in the literal sense, but in the sense where the title Christian could me everything, but what God intended it to mean: follower of Christ. The world has changed the meaning; nice, friendly. boring, goody two shoes, goodhearted and while none of these are bad they are also not what the word means. I have been reflecting lately on what I have allowed in and what I have put aside. Here is what I have concluded only God can change my name. Only God can give a different meaning to something. So today if you have allowed the world to change your name. Allow God to change it back.

Mar22

DAY 81 (2015)

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What we cultivate is what we'll give to those around us. (Picture by Lisa R.)

What we cultivate is what we’ll give to those around us.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Mmmm… it’s be awhile with the DAY posts. I feel regretful about that. I have been caught up with many things. Things that many times have kept me from where I know I am suppose to be and from what I know I am suppose to be doing. Which is why today’s post is so fitting and so God-breathed. Today’s praise and worship was beautiful; I could feel God’s spirit literally breaking down that walls I have (over the past few months) been building. We came to a particular song, one that we have sung many times before. But today the song resonated in my heart and soul in a different way. Today the meaning of the lyrics came to life and it was as though I was understanding them for the first time. The lyrics:

It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise

pour out our praise

It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise

To You ONLY…

The question came while singing. Do we? Do I… Pour out praise to God only? Honest answer… no. My praise is not always for God alone. I give my praise to many things, things that are not really worthy of it. Things like: friends, family, work, and attaining more stuff. However, none of those things came to earth to stand in the gap for me. None of those things gave up their one and only beloved for me. None of those things blew their breath into my lungs. Therefore they don’t deserve my praise. It is reserved for HIM only.

It’s God’s breath in our lungs. So we should pour out our praise to Him ONLY.

“Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

So what am I thankful for today? God’s breath.

Mar13

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Kings 23. “Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant” (Verse 3). Finally a king that does everything right. A king who not only loves and serves God, but leads his people to follow God as well. Josiah did not just get of some of the idols, he literally rid Israel of all of it. He lead the people back to real worship. This chapter is a reminder to us who call ourselves Christians of what the “call” is. We are not meant to just be nice, just be good, we are meant to lead people to God. We are meant to tear down idols and show people the truth of Christ. Today I am convicted by this king’s action… I pray you are as well.