This is my beautiful life....

Thanks-living

melissasalomon — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:17:12 +0000

Pastor Schmidt in his Thanksgiving message had some good thoughts and tips for Thanks-living.

Thanksgiving is an invitation into the heart of God.

Thanksgiving actually heals us.

Thanksgiving lifts us out of the crud.

You can’t move from Thanksgiving to Thanks-living in one jump. You will crash and burn. Thanksgiving is a day to day lifestyle. Try giving thanks each day:

Sunday: Grace (thank God for his grace, that he forgives our mistakes)

Monday: Family. (they are a gift to you)

Tuesday: Community. (local, state, country)

Wednesday: Life /Special blessings (thank God that you are alive)

Thursday: Church (in our case Concordia, for the mission launch)

Friday: Self (what God has given me, done for me, who He has made me)

Saturday: God (for His person and for His performance, i.e., what He has done for us)

More good ideas for Thanks-living all year long!

Am I a Thankful Person?

melissasalomon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:52:41 +0000

Came across this from Pastor James MacDonald’s blog and thought I would share it here. Good food for thought……and love his index card idea.

“I am just wrapping up my sermon preparation for this weekend and my thoughts are turning toward Thanksgiving Day. Turkey, family, football, mashed potatoes, friends, and maybe a nap! Oh, and remembering to thank our great God for Who He is and what He has done. Did you remember the “thankful” part of Thanksgiving?

I just want to ask you three questions.

First question: Am I a thankful person?

I’m not asking if you think if I am; I’m asking you to ask yourself if you think you are. Ask yourself the question, “Am I a thankful person?” Am I? Well, let’s go to school on thankfulness just for a moment here. There are three levels of thankfulness. Elementary school. High school. Higher education.

Level one: Thankful. Just thankful. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Let us offer onto God the sacrifice of praise.” That is the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. Level one—elementary school—is the sacrifice of thankfulness. “Thanks God. Okay? Is that what You want to hear? Okay. That’s right. You did do that for me. Thanks.” Now that’s not nothing, but it’s not much. As long as thankfulness is just a sacrifice, like, “Well, I’ll do it if I have to, I guess”, you might get to the edge of the Promised Land, but you won’t find a lot of the joy that’s there.

But there is a better place. We’ll call Level two—high school thankfulness. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” In every situation, I can always find something to be thankful for. Always. I can make that decision. I could look away from what’s wrong and focus on what’s right and give thanks. “In everything give thanks.” That’s kind of a high school version.

But if you want the real joy—if you want to be done with the poverty-cheerless-joyless-wilderness thing, Level three—higher education is thankful for all things. Ephesians 5:18-20, “Be filled with the Spirit, giving thanks always to God for all things.” Even the bad things. Even the things you wouldn’t choose.

Maybe you have a health crisis or a great sorrow that won’t go away. Maybe you’ve got a financial need. To get to the place, by faith, where you can thank God for that thing— “Thank You, God. This is the thing that You’re using in my life. Thank You, God for that!” When you can do that, get ready for the land flowing with milk and honey.

Second question is: Am I seeing the blessings of thankfulness in my life?

Am I? Am I seeing the blessings of thankfulness in my life and the joy that comes with that? Is my life like a wilderness?

What percentage of my thought life is focused on good, positive, praiseworthy things? How often do I go out of my way to recognize with gratitude a person that God has used to bless me? A parent or a neighbor or a friend or a Small Group leader. Is thankfulness part of the discipline of my life and am I seeing the blessings of that?

Third and last: Am I choosing thankfulness over complaining moment by moment?

Am I choosing thankfulness over complaining? Because it’s at a moment. It’s like freeze-frame! Am I choosing thankfulness right now? Am I? Remember, attitudes are patterns of thinking formed over a long period of time.

Find a 3” x 5” card, but don’t write on it. What you want to do is to take it and put it on a photocopier and make three hundred sixty-five of them. Then put it by your night-stand. Now I’m telling you, in Jesus’ name, you fill out that card every night before you go to bed. Big things. Little things. Something good today. Things you’re thankful for.

You lay your head down to sleep with that on your mind. You get up in the morning and you read that before you begin your day. That will change your life—that will absolutely change your life. You say you want to live in the Promised Land? Do you want to know the fullness and the fulfillment that only God can bring? That card right there—that was worth the price of admission of this morning. Guaranteed.

Nobody’s life is perfect, but we dilute the complaints of life with thankfulness. It’s all a matter of perspective. It’s what we choose to focus on. God’s fullness comes to those who turn from complaining and embrace thankfulness as the focus of their thought life.

Happy Thanksgiving,

James”

Thanks-living

melissasalomon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:04:20 +0000

We have a new ministry counselor for the work in Tijuana and so we had a week of long days sharing the vision of our work in Tijuana. (www.cptlnmexico.wordpress.com) I actually had time for a daily facebook/twitter post focusing on those things large and small for which I am thankful. It is an appropriate thing to do in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. I am hoping I can turn thanksgiving into thanksliving.

Have you tried this tea?

melissasalomon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:43:18 +0000

I am thankful for Good Earth’s Herbal, cafeine free Sweet and Spicy Tea? I can’t believe it doesn’t have sugar! On these chilly nights, it is great to snuggle up with a cup of tea. Soothes the rough spots in your day. Let me know if you try it and what you think. (yes…..I wish someone would write me a comment ….. any comment on virtually anything!)

Thankfulllllllllllll!!!!!!!

melissasalomon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:06:03 +0000

I really have been posting daily thankful notes……but on FACEBOOK! (www.facebook.com/melissasalomon)

Thankful for the power of friends…..

melissasalomon — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:07:36 +0000

I am thankful for the power of friends….some I have never met face to face but heart to heart. I have stalked the blog of two gals — the Opel sisters — very talented women as they went from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Utah to take jobs in the scrapbooking industry. I have admired how they incorporate the things they love into their scrapbooking work. I have “lifted” some of their work (this is ok in the scrapbooking world….we are a generous bunch!) and TODAY I got a mention in their blog! Sweet! Not only did I get a mention but the LWML got a mention. This is a missionary organization that raises millions for mission work all across the globe by filling these tiny boxes with loose change (and more)….. a perfect example of the power of one, the power of the insignificant, the power and multiplicative (is that a word?) power of love.

http://bethandsusanopel.typepad.com

I am also thankful for an endowment fund that was established yesterday which will have an impact on the ministry in Mexico! Check out our work on the ministry in Mexico blog: www.cptlnmexico.wordpress.com

I’m on a daily roll……of thanksgiving.

melissasalomon — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:47:51 +0000

Hmmmm…..daily thanksgiving….I like the idea! As I said yesterday, I am challenged to post what I am thankful for. It is a retraining to force quit the negative in general and recognize the great things in your life and reach for the attitude of gratitude that can totally change your outlook on life….how you respond to others and how they respond to you!

I am thankful for healthy kids. Elizabeth has had a cold and despite some cough medicine she had a dry cough much of the night. Those seasonal illness are more of a nuisance that anything else…..a blip on our radar….for the most part we go about our daily activities. It makes me think…..and here is the thanksgiving……that my kids are very healthy. It stirs something in my heart for those who have so much more to face with their families or themselves……debilitating disease, serious injuries…..cancers! I am so thankful for health. Reminds me too (grrrr…..not too happy about this realization) I have to do my part to promote good health……eat right, exercise……

I wonder if in every moment of thanksgiving there is a call to action too?

Thankful for moments….

melissasalomon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:21:16 +0000

I was inspired by a friend to think of and record things I was thankful for every day until Thanksgiving. I posted the challenge on FACEBOOK (www.facebook.com/melissasalomon) It is always good when you can train your mind to focus on the blessings of each day. Somehow our brain wiring always wants to go to negatives or critical thoughts. Fight it….that is a good fight!

Life is made up of moments. Does this happen to do you too, that a certain realization, thought, joy happens in a moment like a flash!? I am so grateful for those moments.

I am grateful for moments of challenge……because they force me to think differently.

I am grateful for moments of grace and goodness……because they remind me God is near……(and the realization that they are gifts because often I am not very deserving….!)

I am grateful for moments when I see the “big picture” of what we are trying to accomplish….. because I know those moments are a gift and I am motivated and moved by that understanding.

I am grateful for moments that I am encouraged by others……and when something pops into my head of an idea I can use to encourage others (shhhh….. making a mini book made from a Starbucks cup for our organizer of our Living Nativity — she has been great in wading through a lot of chaos toward a great event….) because it reminds me that small offerings can have a lasting echo!

More to follow………..

Iowa friends and Iowa cornfields…..

melissasalomon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:14:09 +0000

I was invited to visit Iowa and update some faithful supporters (thanks to my most gracious and lovely hosts, Lynn and Ellie Menz and Kathryn Sprecher) of our work in Tijuana. It was harvest time and unseasonably great weather. It was cool to drive through endless fields of corn or freshly harvested fields. I had several stops in central, northern and western Iowa….from beautiful little country churches to larger churches, to a hispanic congregation in Denison. The final event was a banquet for the wonderful IOWAY volunteers who have a passion for blessing people all around the world……we in Tijuana have been the grateful recipients of that blessing. It was great to prepare the presentation and see the impact they have had in our lives over the four years that they have been visiting us and supporting us.

I realize I don’t do that enough…….count my blessings…..and especially see how unexpected some blessings have been or how very small and seemingly insignificant blessings at the time have become large blessings as they have matured. I am going to try to do that in my own life more. I learned also you need to not only see and count the blessings but celebrate them. Despite the challenges and trials that sometimes occupy much more real estate in my mind that they should, seeing the wonderful things that God has done for me or allowed me to witness or be a part of is so amazing.

“Summing it al up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4: 8-9 (the Message translation)

Life is crazy…..

melissasalomon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:36:11 +0000

…..work backload, don’t know if some vendors are going to come through for me on some essential things for the weekend, mom sick and needs extra care through weekend, family drama, good friends struggling with health and other serious issues, cash tight, need to pack for trip to Iowa on Friday, laundry not done…etc. etc. There was an old TV commercial for a bath liquid and the stressed lady would say, “Calgon, take me away!” There are days like that…..there are weeks like that…..there are seasons like that!

I am focusing on the fact that my strength doesn’t begin and end with me. At times like these I am grateful for my favorite verse and God’s promise: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5,6)

Moving forward, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time, not able to see the whole thing just a bit at time. Trusting on God. That is my plan. I have seen it work before ….

I wish I was here this weekend to hear the message of Sunday at Windingwalk at 10:45a.m. If you are around, come on over (www.concordiachurch.com) Help us evaluate and test run the family FAM JAM format. I know it will be a time of encouragement and faith building. Let me know how the welcome team does….. lots of friendly and great people serving on Sunday…..I organize tasks but it is the people and their unique talent and heart for the mission that makes the welcome genuine and nourishing…..and an extraordinary place to be (nothing I have anything to do with….it is just a gift from God). I love working with the people at Concordia……hey, I’m feeling better already.

Is life crazy for you too? Come on by on Sunday….I think you will feel better too as you explore what it means to trust and lean on God.