Barbara's Banter

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

I will admit that I am very enamored by technology, especially my cell phone and computer. While it’s true that I’ve had to learn new skills such as rebooting, backing up, charging, finding good internet connections, plus how to delete, save, copy, and paste, the pros far outweigh the cons.

I love my cell phone. If I need a flashlight, it’s there. If I need a calculator, it’s there. If I need a GPS, it’s there. If I need to take a picture, it’s there. If I need to kill time playing some little video game, it’s there. If I need someone’s phone number, it’s there. If I need an alarm clock, it’s there. If I need to make a phone call, it’s there. Watching old movies reminds me of how dependent we were on telephone booths which are almost nonexistent today. Even Clark Kent had to adapt or there would be no Superman. 

I love my computer. If I need reviews for service companies, it’s there. If I need to find some trivia tidbit, it’s there. If I need the yellow pages, it’s there. If I need to type a report, it’s easy. If I need to store material, I file it on the computer. In the olden days, I had to use a typewriter and make carbon copies. Computers give me access to research instantly. As a writer, I used to have to send off for a book from the Library of Congress to get certain data, but not anymore. I love having access to information at my fingertips.

It amazes me that I can love something so much but not have a clue as to how it functions. It’s unbelievable how technologically challenged I am. Yet, I know it works and that’s enough for me.  

Sometimes I feel that way about God. God has revealed some mysteries to us, but some He has not. Do I understand how God created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1)? Not really! Do I understand God’s capacity to love me (Romans 5:8)? Not really! Do I understand how God can live in me (Colossians 1:26-27)? Not really!

God being three in one as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all working together mystifies me (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2). I believe it. I know it’s true. But do I fully understand it? Not really! Do I need to fully understand it to embrace it? I thank God that I don’t. I just know that it works and that’s enough for me.

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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…

Remember this old Teresa Brewer song? Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon, all I want is loving you and MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC!

I love music! I can honestly say I like most genres of music. I enjoy opera, country, worship songs, western, pop, rock and roll, some rap, classical, musicals, jazz, the blues, old hymns, and most of whatever else is out there. I’m not saying I like every song in every genre, but I can usually find at least one or two I like.

I was listening to the car radio today and found an “oldies but goodies” station. I was so excited when they played one of my favorite songs. I know we can hear practically any song we want instantly through programs like Spotify, but it still gives me a thrill to hear an old fav unexpectedly when I’m driving down the road. I love to sing along and ponder questions like: Who wrote the Book of Love? Who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp? Will you still love me tomorrow?  Where did our love go? Are you lonesome tonight? Does anyone really know what time it is? Do you know the way to San Jose?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do know the way to San Jose because we live in California!

God created music and it can be a powerful tool. The Psalms show us that music was used to praise and worship God, but music was used for other purposes in biblical times as well.

Music soothed the soul (1 Samuel 16:23). Music inspired (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Music taught God’s Word (Colossians 3:16). Music could release the power of God (Acts 16:25-26). Music could etch the mighty power of God into our memories (Exodus 15). 

Songs were used throughout biblical times to express joy, triumph, grief, relief, celebration, thanks, praise, and so on. Matthew 26:30 tells us that when the last supper had ended Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn before leaving. What a powerful image!

God put something inside me that loves music and I’m so thankful. And I’m especially thankful when I unexpectedly hear one of my favorite songs. It’s as if God is saying, “Barbara, I’m thinking of you. Have a good day!”

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

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

In the book of Romans, we are asked a rhetorical question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). Truthfully, nothing can separate us from Christ’s love, which is revealed as we read further in this passage: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).

We cannot be separated from God’s love because He loves us regardless. He loves us whether we are good or bad, whether we win or lose, or whether times are smooth or rough. Whether we believe it or not, God loves us! He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). There is no greater love than to die for someone (John 15:13). So God loves us. It’s a given. No matter what happens, God loves us.

We don’t have to earn God’s love. We don’t have to jump through hoops. We don’t have to be pretty, smart, wise, talented, or good. He loves us when we’re good and He loves us when we’re not so good. God is love (1 John 4:8). How wise God is! He knew we would never be good enough to earn His love so He just gives it to us.

God loves everybody, but His love for me is special. God has the ability to love each one of us like we are His only child.   

God’s love is hard to fathom. It is wide and long and deep and high (Ephesians 3:17-19). Nothing can separate me from God’s love (Romans 8:35-38). It’s there if I want it. It’s there when I need it. It’s there for me all the time. I may not fully understand it, but I gladly accept and appreciate it. How thankful I am that nothing can separate me from God’s love!  

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

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

Conceptually, I understand that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus to die for it (John 3:16). His redemption was for all of us. He didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save the world (John 3:17). However, I must admit I have a difficult time comprehending God’s love for me as an individual. Academically, I know He loves me. Emotionally, I’m not always sure. After all, why would He love me?

When I look at myself, I see nothing but flaws and imperfections. I fall short of the person I want to be or the one I think God would have me be. Plus, society functions in a way that makes me feel insignificant. It’s a great big world and I am just one small cog in the wheel of life—not even a name to most, but more like an impersonal line of data entry. I have a voice but cannot be heard.

But here’s the truth… Although I may be just a number in the world, I am not with God. God knows my name (Isaiah 43:7; John 10:3). God hears my voice. God cares about what I think and how I feel (1 Peter 5:7). The hairs on my head are numbered (Matthew 10:30-32). He knows my sorrows and keeps track of my tears (Psalm 56:8). He knows my sitting down and rising up. He knows my paths. He understands my thoughts. God knows me inside and out (Psalm 139:1-6). I may not matter much to most of the world, but I matter to God.

I’m so thankful that God knows me intimately and loves me anyway. God’s love is truly remarkable! 

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

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

The world loves to keep score on how we are doing. Whether it’s the number of “likes” we get on social media or how much money we make in our careers, the world is keeping score. If we want to buy something substantial, the bank needs to check our credit score. Along with scores come records. Companies keep records on customers. Police keep records on suspected criminals. This is not necessarily a bad thing—just a part of society which unfortunately programs us for the numbers game.    

When I was in school and got into trouble, the most frightening thing to hear from a teacher was that what I did was going on my permanent record. All those who looked at this record in the future would see it. It was daunting to think I would be marked for life because I chewed gum in history class.  

Thoughts about permanent records and keeping score can creep into the Christian life.

Sometimes we like to keep score on how well we are doing as Christians. On good days, we dream about all the gold stars that will get us into heaven. On bad days, we are praying God looks to other way. This kind of philosophy makes us think we have to earn God’s love or salvation.  

This is not true! Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “By grace you have been saved by faith, not of yourselves, for it is a gift, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

So God clearly tells us that nothing we do will ever earn us salvation because salvation is a gift from Him. Nothing we do will ever make God love us anymore than He already does. Christians who perform lists of do’s and don’ts trying to get God to love them do not understand God’s grace. God’s love is freely given to us!

When we are works oriented, we begin to focus on ourselves, our performance, and our works, instead of focusing on what God has done. Here’s the deal… God loves us!  God loves us!  God loves us! We do nothing to earn this love. We do nothing to earn salvation!

Psalm 130:3 says, “If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness…”

God is not the great Scorekeeper in the Sky—and for that, I am very thankful! Because if He kept score, we would all lose.

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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…

Our nation’s trend seems to be towards godlessness. It was the same in Hosea’s time. He lived during the last twenty-five years of Israel’s existence as a nation. It was a time of political upheaval, anarchy, and bloodshed. Israel’s spiritual condition had deteriorated. They were involved in idolatry, adultery, and drunkenness. Hosea tried to bring them to their senses. He preached about God’s character, righteousness, omnipotence, and loving kindness. He reminded them of the covenant they entered into with God. 

While reading Hosea, one passage got me thinking about all God does for us. Hosea 11:1-4 says, “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt…I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.”

I especially love the phrase, “They knew not that I healed them…”

Although our country only experiences blessings because of God, many do not know it. On a personal level, I’m sure there are many loving acts of kindness God has done for me that I did not know about. How many times has He protected me or my loved ones that I didn’t know about? How many times has He led, strengthened, encouraged, and comforted me that I didn’t know about? How many times has He diverted my path so I could avoid pitfalls? I know not.

Just because I can’t recognize God’s involvement in my life, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. So when I thank God for the blessings I see, I want to also thank Him for all the things He does for me that I don’t know about.   

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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 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)