The art of Gratitude

Thankfulness. Gratitude. Regard. Esteem. Affection. Respect. Awareness.

When was the last time you showed someone gratitude for something they did for you?  When was the last time someone showed you gratitude for some you did for them?

The more interactions I have with people, the more I realize that gratitude seems to be lost on this generation of people in our nation...and this is a great tragedy.  Thankfulness is the gateway to a world of wonderful things in life; but sadly, many will miss out on life's greatest wonders simply because they have no gratitude.

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. - Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

I love the thought this quote conveys...basically, one who has gratitude can never run out since they can always make more...it's like a well that never runs dry!  The idea of gratitude as currency shows it as an act of exchange of one item for another...such as a grateful heart and words of thanks in exchange for a delicious meal prepared by a friend.

Philippians 4:6
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

This verse seems to show a similar thought to the quote above...in essence, your requests to God should always be accompanied by thanksgiving.  Gratitude and thanksgiving are visible proof of your faith - and faith pleases God!  The price that Jesus paid for our sins can never be repaid BUT, in exchange for that amazing gift we can live a life of gratitude, not only to God but to all those around us.

Gratitude is powerful...so powerful, in fact that it can change the outcome of many hopeless situations.  The simple act of being thankful can open doors you could never imagine!

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. - Willie Nelson

So, I encourage you - if your gratitude meter could use some improvement, make a list of all the things you are thankful for...and before you know it, your world may just change :)

The Synced Life - Day 3
Jenni :)

http://newsouthessays.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/thankful.jpg

In the Cloud

Google, Microsoft, Apple...all of these companies have focused major efforts toward one thing...the Cloud.  So, what is the Cloud?  There seems to be a plethora of definitions floating around, but the most simple one I found is "the internet or non-local storage".  Being in the IT field, I hear the Cloud talked about on a weekly basis and recently I began to see something very interesting; the idea of the Cloud works just like our spirits.  If you put things in when you don't need them, they will be there waiting when you do need them.

This idea reminds me of people who can vegetables during the summer so they can enjoy those items throughout the winter months.  It also makes me think of the basic training a soldier goes through; this quote sums it up perfectly:  Soldiers must learn to understand and obey commands without thought, for instant response may someday save their lives.  Just like a soldier must learn to obey commands and act instantly, we must study and put the Word of God into our hearts on a regular basis so that when we need help, the Word we have put in comes to the rescue immediately.

See, the Word of God is like a harvest of vegetables; if you never go out and pick the harvest, those vegetables won't be there to get you through the non-harvest season.  Colossians 3:16 (NASB) says:
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

If the only Word we know is stuck inside our Bibles or what the pastor preaches on Sundays or in a book on our bookshelf, and we never take the time to meditate and store up the Word on the inside of our spirits, it won't be there the instant we come across a situation where we need it.  If you have to stop and think, "Oh, I have a book on that" or "I know there is a verse about this situation" but you never take the time to prepare yourself and meditate on what is in that book or your Bible, God may not be able to use you like He wanted to.  God is looking for people who are prepared!

This is where the Cloud comes in; by storing up God's Word in your spirit, you move that knowledge from "local storage", which is the book on your shelf, or the verse in your Bible, or the preaching message to "non-local storage", which is your spirit.  Just like your smartphone can sync to any Cloud product you have, your spirit stores the knowledge you put in and you can tap into it in an instant without ever having to find that book on your shelf or flipping through the Bible looking for that scripture...it's already there on the inside of you.

2 Timothy 4:2 says "Preach the word of God.  Be prepared, instant in season or out of season (whether the time is favorable or not).  Patiently correct, rebuke and encourage your people with good teaching."  By storing up God's Word in our hearts, we have the ability to become like soldiers trained for battle, remembering God's Word and obeying His commands with instant response, which could save our lives or the lives of others around us.

So, I leave you with an admonishment...Joshua 1:8 says "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you maybe careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."  Begin putting the Word in your Cloud, even the smallest of actions can produce big results...just look at a tree, the small action of placing a tiny seed in the ground can produce a mighty huge harvest for years to come.

The Synced Life - Day 2
Jenni :)

http://targetx.com/wp-content/uploads/Got-Cloud.jpg

What's the synced life all about?

Welcome...and I'm so glad you asked!  I have made it my mission to walk in the steps God has planned for me each day; some days I hit the mark and other days I come short.  But, regardless of the outcome, I will wake up again tomorrow striving to reach the goals He has set for me.

Why use the word sync?  Sync simply means: synchronization or harmony, but more specifically:

1. to cause to indicate the same time, as one timepiece with another; Synchonize your watches.
2. to cause to go on, move, operate, work, etc., at the same rate and exactly together; They synchonized their steps and walked on together.
3. to cause sound and action to match precisely
4. to cause to agree in time of occurrence; assign to the same time or period, as in history

When we strive to follow the steps that God has laid out for us, our movements can become synced with His to the point that each step is precisely where He wants us to be...which in turn gives Him the ability to move in our lives.

Psalm 37:23 (Amplified)

The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].

This verse tells me that God cares about each step I take, but even more than that, it shows me that I have the ability to sync my steps with His...and that is an amazing thought!  When most people think of God and steps, they probably think of the popular Footsteps poem, but I don't.  I believe that more often than not God is just waiting for us to step along beside Him instead of His carrying us the whole way.  I want to be one of those who can follow His leading and walk along side Him...who's with me?

The Synced Life - Day 1

Jenni :)

http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/converging-footsteps.jpg