Thank YOU is enough

The Lord has been dealing with me on gratefulness for a while. People have never ever understood me. I’m not saying I haven’t had love. I am saying, that GOD is the only one meant to fully understand and get us. He is and has been teaching me how wonderful being thankful and grateful are. It is such a gift to look to HIM in thanks.

For years before Sarah Elizabeth left us, I would say something to her. I would say, “Always be grateful.” I would say it to her, because God had said it to me. She lived a life worthy of praise. Because JESUS thrived in this kid. Even though I would say this to her, I struggled and even battled ungratefulness.

I was not thankful of grateful. From the outside looking in, I had everything. I had a stable husband who loved me, a beautiful child, good friends, a nice vehicle, many houses, and so much more. Most important, I had and HAVE a God who deserves thanks. Yet, everyday I would wake up dreading the minutes, hours, and even seconds. I complained about everything. I did not mean to, and it was NOT on purpose. But, I could not receive the LIFE He was offering and had gifted me.

So, for years, I would seek God’s help. I would say, “Make me grateful for your glory. Thank you Lord.” I would smile through much pain, that was hidden yet not. I told someone just yesterday, “I am a horrible liar.” I always tell the truth. I once watched a movie about lying. It had a character who because of a child, had to tell the truth. THAT is what happened to me.

I had been preaching Jesus, and teaching HIM, while always wondering something. Do I really know HIM and does HE know me? When this precious child came into my life, our lives, I was forced to face myself. To face God in a new way became my daily chore. Oh, what a burden it was. But, OH what a blessing it became.

Even now, I am still healing. In fact, in some ways I would say THIS has been a catalyst for the TRUE healing to show up. WE are healing as a family. God knows exactly what that means. It really is hard to describe. Except to say now I breathe in JESUS. I could not do that before, for so many reasons.

Psalm 118:24 ESV / 506 helpful votes

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV / 445 helpful votes

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 440 helpful votes

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 136:1 ESV / 368 helpful votes

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Ephesians 1:16 ESV / 334 helpful votes

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

James 1:17 ESV / 278 helpful votes

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Hebrews 12:28 ESV / 242 helpful votes

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

Colossians 3:15 ESV / 236 helpful votes

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15-20 ESV / 193 helpful votes

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. …

Romans 8:28 ESV / 173 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Psalm 107:1 ESV / 151 helpful votes

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 50:23 ESV / 138 helpful votes

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Psalm 100:1-5 ESV / 136 helpful votes

A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Ephesians 5:20 ESV / 135 helpful votes

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Matthew 6:21 ESV / 123 helpful votes

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV / 111 helpful votes

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Acts 24:3 ESV / 111 helpful votes

In every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.

Luke 17:11-19 ESV / 89 helpful votes

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; …

Ephesians 1:16-18 ESV / 85 helpful votes

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Psalm 118:28-29 ESV / 79 helpful votes

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Hebrews 13:15 ESV / 75 helpful votes

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

John 11:41 ESV / 71 helpful votes

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

Psalm 118:1-18 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. …

Colossians 3:16 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV / 60 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

Psalm 105:1 ESV / 60 helpful votes

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Lamentations 3:23 ESV / 57 helpful votes

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 103:1-5 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 92:1 ESV / 51 helpful votes

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

Psalm 50:14 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,

Colossians 2:6-7 ESV / 49 helpful votes

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

1 Corinthians 4:7-9 ESV / 49 helpful votes

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV / 48 helpful votes

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

The vision has changed, and the direction looks strange to me. But, as a precious angel said, “Strange things will be happening. But YOU have to let them happen. They may not look like God’s will, but they are. God has proven He can be trusted. He will do ALL He said He would do. It will be HIS time, His way. Stay surrendered, this is critical. He loves you.”

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I will leave you with this. THANK you is the only thing I could muster when Sarah died. It had the biggest impact on me, of anything in my life. Because it was like everything rolled into one. Can you say thank you for the sunshine and the rain? Can you say thank you for the joy and the pain? There is freedom in thank you. It is a bounty for our KING.

In His Grace and Glory,

E and Fam

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