Barbara's Banter

It Is Good to Be Thankful: Appreciation makes the world a better place…

I must admit that I sometimes try to shrink God to my size. I think my problems are too insignificant for Him to be concerned with or I think they are too overwhelming for Him to solve. I am thankful that God’s size and magnitude are not dependent on what I think. God is BIG! He is so much bigger than we can imagine.

Author, teacher, and preacher Francis Chan marveled, “Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” Yes, it is a great comfort to me! I’m reminded of a song I heard on one of the Gaither programs, “God Is Bigger Than Any Mountain.” God is bigger than all my problems, fears, hang-ups, confusion, trials, roadblocks, sickness, adversities, grief, sorrows, failures, and weaknesses. He is just really, really BIG and I forget that.

And thankfully we can always count on Him to love us regardless of our insecurities. We can give all our cares and worries to Him, because He, indeed, cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We can ask Him for peace as He works out our situation.

Sometimes instead of approaching God with the magnitude of my problem, I come before Him acknowledging His might and power. The Bible speaks of magnifying the Lord (Psalm 34:3; Psalm 35:27). The word magnify in scripture can mean to extol, laud, and praise. We don’t need to magnify God to make Him look bigger like we do with the fine print on directions they give us nowadays. God is already BIG. We just need to see it! After all, He did create the universe. That’s pretty big stuff! Praising God for who He is, what He has already done for us, and what He will do in the future helps us focus on His greatness.

Psalm 69:30 (KJV) says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”  Being thankful is one way our eyes are opened so we can see just how BIG our God is!

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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” ~ Psalms 92:1 (KJV)

It Is Good to Be Thankful: Appreciation makes the world a better place…

I am not one who longs for the good old days. In fact, I appreciate modern conveniences—especially those involving water. I’m thankful for flushing toilets, built-in dishwashers, hot water at my fingertips, pulsating showers, and washing machines without wringers that you have to hand-feed clothes into, then turn a crank to squeeze enough water out so they could line dry quicker. Believe it or not, this contraption was one time considered a modern convenience. I still remember how thrilled my mom was to get one for her birthday. Unlike many, I still remember outhouses, chamber pots, and bathing in a washtub with heated water from a wood burning stove. The good old days???? I don’t think so. 

It may sound like I’m older than dirt, but not really. Let’s just say that I’ve experienced life in two eras—one bygone and one a little more modern. Plus, we have done some extensive travel and been to places where you had to literally pee in a pit. And did you know there are over two million people in America today who lack connections to piped water? I truly believe that indoor plumbing is a privilege not be taken lightly.

We recently had to have all the pipes in our older home replaced. We knew we would have to do it eventually. Well, “eventually” happened during Thanksgiving. Fortunately the work was completed before Christmas—giving a whole new meaning to Happy Holidays!  

I’m also thankful for plumbers who crawl under your house and go where no man should have to go to bring us running water. There is a reason they get paid big bucks. It’s a dirty job and they are willing to do it. Maybe that’s why the Bible tells us a skilled laborer is worthy of his hire (Leviticus 19:13; Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; I Timothy 5:18).

So I lift my water glass high in tribute to running water and those who bring it to our houses. I am indeed thankful for indoor plumbing.  

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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” ~ Psalms 92:1 (KJV)

It Is Good to Be Thankful: Appreciation makes the world a better place…

A new year has arrived and I say, “Off with the old and on with the new.” Let’s face it! The last couple of years have been challenging. COVID has changed the face of society and possibly created a new norm. If that’s true, we will have to adjust or be continually swallowed by depression and despair. To avoid this, we can find things to be thankful for, regardless of our circumstances. Hmm? I think there is a scripture about that.

“Give thanks in all circumstances…” ~ I Thessalonians 5:18

Notice that it says give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. In other words, we can always find something to be thankful for regardless of our circumstances. Thankfulness is not just the result of having a good day. It needn’t be tied to how we feel. No matter how bad things are, there is always something to be thankful for. Developing an attitude of gratitude comes from continual practice. Practice requires a certain discipline. It doesn’t come naturally—at least not to me.

However, it is worth the effort. Research shows that gratitude doesn’t just make you feel like a better person; it is actually good for your health. Gratitude can lower blood pressure, improve the immune system, and provide better sleep. Grateful people have less depression and fatigue.

With that in mind, I have decided to make my 2022 blog theme about being thankful. It will be filled with random things for which I give thanks. Some may seem trivial, but if we can’t learn to be thankful for small things, it’s likely we won’t appreciate the bigger stuff either.

Let me start by saying I’m thankful for YOU! Writers will write, but it is much more gratifying to have someone read what they’ve written.

Thank you for joining my thankfulness trek—a journey we can share together. Hopefully my thoughts will generate some ideas of things you may be thankful for. If so, don’t forget to let God know—because it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord!

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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” ~ Psalms 92:1 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Surviving the past two years has given us much to celebrate as we embrace the New Year.

Celebrating the New Year is not a new concept. It’s an ancient custom dating back 4000 years to the Babylonians. It had something to do with a New Moon, the Vernal Equinox, and such. However, exactly why they selected this time of year to celebrate is not really known. It seems to have no real agricultural significance which is what most people planned their lives around in those days. Maybe it was a slow time of year and they just wanted to party! And party they did—for eleven days.

Various cultures continued these customs. But since the calendars were always being tampered with, it wasn’t until Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar in 46 B.C. that January 1 became the New Year. Of course, in order to get the whole thing synchronized, the previous year had to last 445 days, but I digress. That’s a different story. Life can be very complicated! 

Ushering in the New Year is celebrated in various ways by different cultures. Some Muslems wear new clothes. Some Asians release birds and turtles. Some Japanese eat rice cakes. Some Hindus leave shrines next to their beds. Some countries such as Thailand, Nigeria, Uganda, and Cambodia temporarily depose their kings and set up temporary kings. In Scotland, the old year is banished by making a dummy and parading it through town. Then it is buried, drowned, or burned. The dummy is called—and I take great offense at this—the Auld Wife.

When America and Great Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, January 1^st became our New Year’s Day, too. Just like in ancient times, some of us usher in the New Year by going to parties. Although, they don’t usually last eleven days, like in the good “auld” days.  

Some of us older people like to usher in the New Year by watching television. We watch the Tournament of Roses parade; we watch football; we watch a huge lighted ball fall to the ground in New York’s Times Square as we count down “ten, nine, eight, seven, etc…” to the New Year.

Whatever way you choose to celebrate, all I can say is, “May your days be merry and bright.” Whoops! That’s a Christmas song from last week. Perhaps this poem from Martin Luther would be more appropriate…

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad New Year to all the earth.

God is in the highest heaven. His Son is His gift to us. The angels sing His glory and so should we! We are alive! We have so many reasons to celebrate. So I wish all of you a happy New Year! In the words of Martin Luther, “A glad new year to ALL!”

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Some say the story of Christmas begins with the birth of the Christ child, but here’s the rest of the story…

Long before Jesus was born, there was something wonderful: the promise of His coming and the promise of redemption for mankind. Over 300 prophecies were fulfilled through the birth of Jesus, His life, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection.

Psalm 130:7-8 told us, “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”

Jeremiah 23:4-5 said a day was coming when God would raise up a king who would reign wisely and do what was right. His name would be “The Lord Our Righteousness.”

Isaiah 11:2-5 said the Spirit of the Lord would rest on Him, and the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, fear of the Lord. He would not judge by what He saw or heard, but with righteousness.

Isaiah 9:6-7 told us, “Unto us a Child will be born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”

Not just the promise of Christ’s coming was revealed in Scripture, but the details of how it would come to be. He would be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10/Luke 3:3). He would be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3/Matthew 1:1), Isaac (Genesis 17:19/Luke 3:24), Jacob (Numbers 24:17/ Matthew 1:2), Jesse (Isaiah 11:10/Romans 15:12), and David (Jeremiah 23:5-6/ Matthew 1:1).  

He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:11/ Luke 1:26-31) in Bethlehem (Micah 5: 2/Luke 2:4-7), worshipped by shepherds (Psalm 72:9/ Luke 2:8-15), and honored by kings (Psalm 72:10, 17/Isaiah 60:3/ Matthew 2:1-11). The slaughter of children (Jeremiah 31:15/Matthew 2:16-18) and flight to Egypt (Hosea 11:1/Matthew 2:14-15) were foretold as well.

These lists can go on and on and on. So the birth of Jesus was truly a miraculous event!

I love Christmas. I love the thought of jolly old St. Nick, stockings hung with care, sleigh bells jingling in the snow, trees twinkling with lights, halls decked with holly, colorful presents lovingly wrapped, a snowman coming to life, Christmas card greetings, kissing under the mistletoe, and a red-nosed reindeer. I laugh when I hear “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”—although it’s not quite as funny now that I am a grandma. I even secretly wish Santa would slip a sable (faux sable, if I want to be politically correct) under the tree for me. It all adds to the festivities!

However, all of that can’t compare to the gift Jesus brought—the redemption of mankind. We must never forget that without Christ there is really no “Christ”mas. So this Christmas season as you sing your favorite carols, may you remember the birth of Jesus. Because here’s the rest of the story…only in honoring Christ can we truly partake of the genuine joy in celebrating!

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Oops! I apologize if you received an unexpected Barbara’s Banter post titled Indoor Plumbing. Unfortunately, my blog system posted this way too early since it is scheduled for January. Sometimes computer systems and programs have a will of their own. Sorry for the inconvenience! Life is just one glitch after another, but we muddle through. Have a great week! Think positive thoughts as we enter the Christmas season. Merry! Merry!

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

When I need a spiritual reality check I go to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Here are three key elements to a relationship with God: rejoicing, giving thanks, and praying. We should rejoice always, regardless of circumstances. We should find something to be thankful for in the good times and bad. And we should pray without ceasing, but exactly what does that mean?  

We all know that prayer should be a big part of the Christian life. There are times when our hearts ache and we kneel to pray in a secluded place. Sometimes we stroll in a park and pray. Maybe we sit in a garden and think about God’s Word. One aspect of praying without ceasing is to never give up praying. Even if we are discouraged, going through trials, grief stricken, tired, or weary, Jesus told us we should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).

Another facet of that phrase refers to God walking beside us throughout the day, like our best friend. We have access to God all day long. What a privilege! We can dialog with Him day in, day out. Our daily experiences become opportunities to share our lives with Him. As we totally surrender our lives to God, we can look beyond circumstances and set our minds on what God would have us think about (Colossians 3:2).

Short, little talks with God throughout the day can help us build a relationship with God and keep spiritual perspective. When we wake up we can say, “Good morning Lord. What do we have going on today?” We can thank Him for the taste of that cup of coffee we enjoy so much because it helps us start our day. When we read a passage of scripture or our daily devotional, we can ask God how we can apply it today.

On the way to work, we can discuss that problem we are having with a coworker and ask God to give us patience so we don’t say something we shouldn’t. When we pass a car accident or hear an ambulance, we can pray for the people involved. As we drive, perhaps thoughts of certain people pop into our mind and we can ask God to protect, encourage, or comfort them depending on what’s currently happening in their lives.

When we are held up in a traffic jam, we can ask God to help us realize there are so many worse things that could be happening to us. When a friend calls, talking about some trouble she is having with her teenager, we can ask God to give us the wisdom to say something helpful. When a difficult situation comes up at work, we can ask God to help us be part of the solution, not the problem. As we fall into bed at night, we can tell God three things we are thankful for.

The list is endless. Of course, we want to take time to listen as well. God may speak to us through a beautiful sunset exclaiming that He is the Creator, or through a child’s laughter reminding us to become as little children. Prayer can be a conversation we have with God all day long. We are conscious of His presence. Letting God walk with us and be part of our daily lives will not only enhance our relationship with Him, but it will keep our minds focused on spiritual things. Then we will be better equipped to rejoice always and give thanks!  

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Blessings are mentioned specifically over 400 times throughout the Bible and implied many more. No wonder Christians use the term freely in their walk with God. Prayers are filled with asking God to bless our children, grandchildren, spouses, parents, relatives, friends, co-workers, and so on. We sign our cards with “God bless” and use phrases like “Have a blessed day.” There is no better word to describe God’s goodness towards us and hopefully we thank Him daily for our blessings. However, I think it’s also important that we be a blessing to others.

When God told Abraham to leave his country, God told him what he would do. “I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make you a great name and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1-2) The NLT says, “…and you will be a blessing to others.” I meditate on that scripture a lot. Am I a blessing to others?

We know it is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35). We know that we should share our blessings with others (Matthew 10:37). But I think being a blessing to others goes deeper than that. A blessing is something conducive to happiness, good fortune, or a godsend. Do people feel better or blessed just being around us? Or would they rather hang out with someone with a brighter outlook on life?

As Christians we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Our job is not to solve the world’s problems, but show forth a little light in the darkness. Does our very presence light up the world of those we meet? Or do we light up a room and make everyone happy by leaving? Which is just another way of asking, “Are we a blessing to others?”

Being a blessing to others is not contingent on everything going right in our lives. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they chose not to curse their situation, but to praise God. Their example blessed the other prisoners and the prison guards (Acts 16:25-31). Sometimes our actions during times of adversity can bless others and we won’t even know it. If we yield to God, He can do miraculous things through us that we are totally unaware of.

We really don’t know how many lives we touch. It is said that one person can influence up to 10,000 people in a lifetime. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be a blessing to each and every one of them in some small way? I think I’d settle for just being a blessing to my family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

My nature isn’t one to spread sunshine where ever I go, so I need a little extra help to be a blessing. That’s why I continually ask God, “Please make me a blessing to others!”

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Through the years, the Dahlgren family has learned to roll with the punches, go with the flow, and take calamities in stride. Our children have become very adept at adapting quickly. If you read my book Zorro and Me, you will see they’ve had lots of practice. Well, this Thanksgiving was no exception.

After over a year of our family being separated with COVID restrictions, this was the first time we would all be together. I was so excited! It would be a whole week of activities which started with our grandson Dakota and his girlfriend flying in for the weekend. They are part of a dance troupe called On2ourage which would be performing for several nights in San Francisco. Our daughter Sherisa would come on Sunday and stay through Thanksgiving. The rest of the family live locally and would be in and out of the house all week.

The fun started the day Dakota arrived. The main light in our kitchen went out. We thought we would have to replace it, but then the upstairs and downstairs bathroom lights went out, along with the stair and hallway lights. Fortunately, the outlets and all the other lights in the house worked. It wasn’t the circuit breaker. We knew an electrician was needed, but we thought we could get through the holiday with lamps in all the rooms requiring light. Nothing like a little ambiance when you need to cook or take a shower.

Speaking of showers, on Thanksgiving morning the upstairs shower got stuck and would not stop running. Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink because we had to turn the water in the house off. The only solution was to take the faucet out of the shower. We decided to wait until after the holiday to call a plumber since everyone could still use the downstairs shower.

While the water was off, we were having a kitchen crisis. Our daughter Shelly was trying a new turkey recipe which called for parchment paper to cover the bird while cooking. After about twenty minutes, a noxious odor came from the oven. When we peeked in to see, we discovered that the parchment paper was on fire. We closed it quickly while Zorro grabbed a fire extinguisher. When we opened it again, thankfully the fire was out.

There was ash residue on the turkey, so we decided to rinse it off and try, try again — this time with tin foil.  But wait, the water was turned off so how could we rinse it? I grabbed a gallon container of distilled water I had on hand and we scrubbed Mr. Turkey clean. Back in the oven he went.

To add to the festivities, my knee decided to “go out” which it inconveniently does every few years. So I’m hobbling around on a cane. Sherisa’s greyhound and Matthew’s Chiweenie dog are trying to adjust to each other. I could go on but I think you get the idea…

Needless to say, our Thanksgiving dinner was two hours late. However, the turkey was done to perfection as well as all the side dishes. Navigating family dinners is not as easy as it used to be, but all our vegans, gluten free, and FODMAP people had a feast.

And boy, were we thankful! This may qualify as the most memorable Dahlgren family Thanksgiving EVER! The food was delicious. The family was fun! God is good!

P.S. We are also thankful for the plumbers and electricians who are scheduled to come this week.  

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

The heart is at the core of our physical existence. We can live without a foot, leg, arm, hand, gall bladder, ear, eye, or even brain function, but without a heart—we die.

The heart is also central in reference to emotions, illustrated by these idioms. When we eat our hearts out, we are envious. Our heart breaks when we are sad. We lose our hearts when we fall in love. We follow our hearts when we are happy. When we say something from the bottom of the heart, we mean it sincerely. The cold-hearted are unforgiving. When we pour out our hearts, we are telling others how we feel.  

God talks a lot about the heart from a spiritual perspective. At times, it can be difficult to know and rule our hearts. We are emotional beings who can easily be led astray by our feelings. That’s why God says the heart can be deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

God knows our hearts better than we know ourselves (Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 9:4). We can pretend we feel a certain way but eventually our hearts reveal our true attitudes. A good heart will bring about good for others. An evil heart will bring about bad for others. The truth will always come out. Our words eventually belie our true intentions (Luke 6:45). We will put time, money, and effort into where our heart is (Matthew 6:21).

Evil thoughts start in the heart. It is here the thought process can lead us to be prideful, foolish, envious, stubborn, rebellious, and lustful (Mark 20-23; Hebrews 3:8). However, it is also in the heart where we can have love, hope, compassion, and forgiveness (Romans 5:5; Matthew 18:35).

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy can rot the bones (Proverbs 14:30). A cheerful heart is as good as medicine to heal, but a crushed spirit brings us down (Proverbs 17:22). How we feel guides what we do. That’s why God says to guard our hearts. Our hearts determine how we live our lives.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).

How does one guard a heart? The Bible tells us that we become what we think about in our hearts (Proverbs 23:7). So it might benefit us to dwell on the positive aspects of life, not the negative. Philippians 2:8 gives us some good advice: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Sometimes we use the phrase “to get to the heart of an issue.” That’s what God would like to do with us. Get into our very hearts and live His life within us. God wants to be a part of our lives. When we seek Him with our hearts desiring a relationship with Him, He readily makes Himself available. With God in our lives, our hearts are much easier to guard. 

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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)