Three Keys to Being Thankful Even in Tough Times

December 1, 2023 Kathy Green

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Fall and holiday seasons are my favorite time of year. I love the aroma of turkey roasting in the oven on Thanksgiving and Christmas. When I was a young girl, I enjoyed watching Mom and Dad take turns basting the turkey to ensure its moistness. Many of my fondest childhood memories were captured during family dinners around the table. After becoming a wife and mom, my husband and I would load up the car and travel three hundred miles through cold snowy weather to experience the joys of the holiday season surrounded by family. Although, it wasn’t long before my husband announced that it was time to start family traditions of our own.

It has been 35 years since I began hosting and preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for my family and relatives who visit from out of town. Now that we’re empty-nesters, I’m ready to pass the baton. This year, on the heels of unexpected loss, weeks of travel, and assisting a dear friend and family in need, I thought I would hang my apron, sit back, relax, and enjoy good food from someone else’s table, but God had another plan.

For many, the holidays represent loneliness, sadness and sorrow, fatigue, or the stark reality of lack and insufficiency. So how can we be thankful even when times are hard?

When I discovered we would be hosting Thanksgiving yet another year, I felt disappointed and weary at the thought of cleaning the house, preparing the rooms, planning meals for the week, and all the cooking for the Thanksgiving meal. My attitude went south and I began to murmur within my heart. If I was going to survive and be a gracious host, I knew I needed to humble myself, repent for my attitude, and ask God for a fresh perspective on the situation. In essence, I needed His grace, mercy, and help.

Here are three keys to cultivating a thankful heart even amid weariness:

1. Determination - Determine within your heart to be thankful despite the situation. The Bible states, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (New Living Translation)

2. Intentionality - Be intentional about remembering what God has already done. Say out loud as often as necessary: “Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me! My lips are full of perpetual praise.” Psalm 34:1 The Passion Translation

3. Focus - Set your mind on good things, not things that cause grief or anxiety. The apostle Paul reminds us, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

Maintaining an attitude of gratitude can be a daily challenge, especially in a difficult season, but with sincere prayer and a little effort, gratitude will rise in our hearts. Those who are truly thankful are victorious and pleasing to God.

Scripture tells us, “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT

Needless to say, when I acknowledged my struggle and turned to God for help, He gave me the grace to do all I needed to do and to prepare a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with joy. And everyone pitched in to make my load lighter. As we sat around the table enjoying the abundance of God’s provision, the smiles, laughter, and words spoken when we shared what we were most thankful for reminded me of the blessing of yielding to God’s will even when we don’t understand His plan or purpose. God used us and our home to minister to those who needed it most. By extending hospitality we created a space for hearts to overflow with thanksgiving to God.

This holiday season and in every season of life, may our hearts always overflow with thanksgiving to God, and our mouths be ever filled with praise. He is worthy!

The Power of Endurance: Six keys to thriving in 2022

January 19, 2022 Kathy Green

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised”

Hebrew 10:35, 36 NLT

We are blessed to see a new year full of new possibilities, the year of 2022. Sadly, some of our friends and loved ones did not make it to this point. 2021 was a tough year. Although last year had its share of sorrows and disappointments, we must thank God that we triumph in Christ. We are here for a specific purpose, and God is not through with us yet. However, because of all we have been up against, many of us are on the verge of becoming weary.

Do these words resonate with you? If so, you need to have a plan in place to help you not only survive but thrive in this season.

Towards the end of last year, while seeking the Lord for direction and instruction for 2022, including a word to ground me on my journey, the Holy Spirit dropped the word Endurance into my heart. The reason is clear: Endurance is a necessary substance for individuals who desire to complete the race that is set before them, to cross the finish line, and to receive the rewards God has promised them.

In the world of sports, endurance refers to the inner strength athletes possess and rely on to help them perform at their maximum ability, in hopes of being victorious. In comparison, endurance for many of us is simply having the strength to withstand the tests and trials of life.

According to Vines Expository Dictionary, the word endurance in New Testament Greek refers to “abiding under, bearing up courageously” (under suffering), and “patiently waiting.” This offers us a sense of what is required to live a successful Christian life. In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3. The same endurance which was needed in days of old is still much needed today.

Below I offer keys to help you persevere through life’s difficulties. I hope you will be encouraged by these practical tips and strengthened by the word of God. Read and meditate on the scriptures I have included to empower you to go the distance and beyond in 2022.

Six Keys for Endurance

Travel lite. Rid yourself of heavy weights, burdens, hinderances, and unconfessed sins. It starts by having an awareness of these issues, and by repenting of sin to be in right standing with God which will open your heart to receive His will and direction, allowing you to move freely on your course. Because no one runs a race carrying heavy loads on their back and expecting to succeed. Consequently, the individual would succumb to the pressure. Therefore, taking time for introspection and clearing your heart is vital. God will give you the grace for the pace He has set for you this year.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. Circumstances are distractions which are designed to keep us from getting to our desired destiny. So, we must shift our focus away from what our eyes can see, and what our emotions feel, and look towards heaven where God sits on the throne with Jesus at His right hand. He is our great example. Additionally, the Bible is filled with God’s promises for every situation we encounter in life. Therefore, we must focus and meditate on scriptures to ground us throughout the year.
Have a vision for the future. We cannot change the past. It is unfruitful to look back and grieve over the way things used to be. We can set our focus towards the future because our real life, our best life, is still ahead of us. The author of Hebrews wrote, “For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Although, Jesus died a painful death, He had something greater in mind – you and me. Do you have foresight for something better and more wonderful for your life? If you struggle to answer, simply pray and ask God for a fresh vision of what He has planned for your life.
Ease into your purpose. As long as there is breath in our body, we must be about the Father’s business, and strive towards the fulfillment of our calling (in every vocation, not just ministry). Who has God called you to be? What has God given you to do? The answers to these questions will give you a reason to press on. A purposeful life is a life full of hope and contentment. We cannot afford to stop until we know without doubt that we have accomplished all we were destined to achieve here on earth. A few months prior to the pandemic God gave me clear direction to take a step in a new direction which would lead me further into the fulfillment of my life’s purpose. I share this because knowing and obeying has kept me grounded on the right path with the assurance of being in the will of God despite how life may appear.
Take life one day at a time. There are times when life feels overwhelming, especially if we look too far ahead and try to figure out every step of our journey. If we knew all the details we would not have to walk by faith. God does not reveal every aspect of His plan, because He wants us to have faith, and trust Him for the outcome. God provides for our needs one day at a time.
Be thankful. Having a grateful heart opens the door for God to perform miracles and disburse unexpected blessings. Despite life’s difficulties, there is always a reason to shout “hallelujah” and thank God for His goodness and faithfulness. Whenever I catch myself starting to complain I stop to consider what God has already done. Remembrance has a way of getting me back on the right track. Being thankful is the will of God for our lives.

Scriptures to Illuminate your Path in 2022

“By your endurance you will save your life.” Luke 21:19 GW

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, .let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of underserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.” Romans 5:3-5

“Dear brothers and sisters when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 5:12

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:35, 36

Thank you for taking time to read this post. Please be sure to leave a comment. I’m always blessed to hear from you.

Grace and Peace,

Kathy

Note: All scriptures are taken from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Photo by Mārtiņš Zemlickis on Unsplash.

Source: http://kathyrgreen.com/blog

12 Ways to Care for the Suffering Soul

March 31, 2021 Kathy Green

I have always considered myself to be spiritually strong. However, I was unaccustomed to the depth of suffering I experienced in my soul due to the onslaught of events which took place in recent months. On several occasions, I woke up with tears in my eyes by experiencing the suffering that stems from the human condition. I eventually had to unplug from social media, watching a limited amount of news, and silencing the notifications on my phone simply to maintain my peace. I went into deeper levels of prayer and the Word of God as I listened for what the Lord would say.

What Do You See? The Significance of a God-given Vision

April 10, 2018 Kathy Green

Having a God-given vision is essential to our future if we ever expect to reach our God-appointed destiny.

Recently the Lord spoke to my heart and asked, “What do you see, and what did you see?” This caused me to pause and take a look at my current situation to determine where I am in relation to my destiny. I also had to think back and remember what He had shown me in times past. I believe God had me ponder these questions because the time has come for me to step into my destiny and live in the reality of a vision He gave me many years ago. Thirty years ago to be exact. It may seem like much time has passed, and it has. But this is the way God works in the lives of His children.

Vessels of Honor

October 24, 2017 Kathy Green

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash — Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

II Timothy 2:20,21 NKJV

When I was a little girl, I loved when my family gathered around the table for Sunday dinner. Mom always set the table with a linen tablecloth and nice dishes. But once a year – on Christmas day, she would always pull out her special red glasses, making the table look so beautiful and festive. When it was time to clear the table and do the dishes, we were always careful not to break Mom’s special glasses. Today my family has the privilege of drinking from the same special red glasses that I drank from when I was a growing up because Mom passed them on to me. I learned early on, that special dishes are brought out only for special occasions.

Wake Up

August 29, 2017 Kathy Green

Therefore, He says, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible, intelligent people. Making the very most of the time, buying up each opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore, don’t be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:14-17 AMP)

While praying about the current events in our nation and crying out on behalf of the suffering, God begin to speak to my heart. In essence it is this:

What I Learned at the Global Media Summit

May 10, 2017 Kathy Green

If I had to limit myself to share one overall message that I gained from the recent Global Media Summit it would be this,

To throw aside every weight and distraction, and determine to run my race with enthusiasm, passion and joy.

This is what high achievers and very productive people do to accomplish great things. They are not hindered by fear, doubt and unbelief, or the lack of vision and focus. With faith and determination, they just do it – whatever God has called them to do.

Birthday Rain

March 28, 2017 Kathy Green

What do you do when life doesn't go the way you've planned? In today's post, I'll share with you the lessons I've learned from this year's birthday and how my disappointments turned into new discoveries of joy.

Sing to Him a New Song

March 3, 2017 Kathy Green

Whenever we approach God in prayer we should always start by giving Him thanks and praise for the wonderful things He has done for us. But when our hearts are hurting or we're in desperate need, often times we bombard God with our petitions and we forget that He is worthy of praise.

Learning to express our gratitude to God can take our relationship with Him to a new level of intimacy. Lifting up our voices in praise and worship creates a beautiful atmosphere that welcomes God’s presence into our day.

One morning during my prayer time as I started singing a song of praise to the Lord, I was taken aback by His response. He spoke to my heart and said, “Not that one.” I assumed He wasn’t pleased by my choice of songs, so I began to sing another familiar song. But once again, He said, “Not that one." Then He said, "Sing to Me a new song.”