There is an account where Jesus touched a blind man, healed him but then the man needed another touch to see more clearly
i cry, “Touch me again Lord.” One may ask, “Why did Jesus have to touch the guy again?”
Because it was needed.
He is and gives more than what we need, often i think we don’t realize it or maybe take somethings for granted..
My oldest daughter Kyri’s accepted a challenge as part of National Novel Writing Month. The goal by participating is to write a 50,000-word (or more) novel within the month of November. “NaNoWriMo” is an intense month of pumping out words. The site encourages you not to go back and edit. Therefore, naturally, Kyri accepted the fact that she will have typos and the novel will not be developed into its final form by the end of the month. The editing process will come later. Rather than holding on to not writing a novel for fear of; it is to hard or there would be too many mistakes or it would take too long to edit Kyri is “just doing it!” Throwing all inhibition aside she has jumped head long into this experience and as i read it’s development i am learning so much about myself. In one of her blog post (NaNoWriMo Day 2) she points out how a child (one character in her novel) notices the change of the season without the use of a calendar. How much we miss because we don’t look and don’t see (more details in comments below).
May i take a double take, rethink things, not just take a 2nd glance but really look, ponder my surroundings.
When i do this sometime i see things that cause me to not have a reason to rejoice. I recognize that
“they paved paradise and put up a parking lot”
some times we “don’t know what you got till it’s gone…” (from the song “Big Yellow Taxi” by the band “Counting Crows” -video in comment section).
So i look around and sometimes don’t like what i see ! ! !
However, this causes me to now know what i got and i am truly thankful or full of thanks.
Seems ironic that the less we have
the more thankful we are for what we got.
Even in my worse situations i MUST rethink and see clearly now God’s grace is sufficient and i have real reason to rejoice.
I think of a song by the band Petra, “I have a thankful heart!”
There is a story, a record of the account, where Jesus healed a group of lepers, 10 of them, and only 1 came back to thank him.
So, as i rethink and now rejoice i ask myself, “What am i going to do with my thanks? How am i going to express it?”
Look, see, hear, become aware , then share to wake up others and tell them, “IT’S CHRISTMAS MORNING!” …wait thanksgiving 1st ok,ok,ok but I WILL:
- before
- during and
- after all holidays
convert all my celebrating into praise to Him who deserves all praise and hope that others too will be made aware of what i have personally discovered and always in all ways give thanks.
Pressing On,
Tom “Beetle” Bailey
I work at The Salvation Army of Saint Augustine, Florida
That is also my church. Visit our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Salvation-Army-of-Saint-Augustine-204243596357064/timeline/
And if you’re ever in beautiful Saint Augustine, Florida visit us
at 1425 Old Dixie Highway Saint Augustine, FL 32084
M-F 8am-4:30pm
Wednesday Nights 6:30pm Men & Women’s Ministry
Thursday Nights 6:30pm Bible Study
Sundays
10am Bible Study Sunday School
11am Worship/holiness Service
6pm Salvation Service
We also offer opportunities for “Community Care” visits, projects and more
call me at 904-824-6956 Ext. 4407
Appreciate the land around you, the world’s Eco system? Let’s do out part to take take of it, be good stewards.
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This video of ‘Paved Paradise’ “Big Yellow Taxi” by Counting Crows talks about more than just loosing nature around us, it refers to loosing people in our lives…
i personally Hope you’ll know whatcha’ got before it is gone, not only be thankful but express your thanks in some way.
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Here is the direct reference from my daughter Kyri’s Novel about the child’s observation of the world around her:
She notices the world’s wonders. She discovers the first day of fall without aid of a calendar nor the Internet. She says “The light just falls differently on the objects of the world this time of year. There’s a different tint to everything. Plus, I smell the season change.”
For more on this from Kyri go to:
https://misscaffeinated.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/starting-nanowrimo/
https://misscaffeinated.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/nanowrimo-day-1/
https://misscaffeinated.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/nanowrimo-day-2/
These are only the the first two days of post of the novel she started.
I will ask her to post in the comment section of my post a full reference or link when she is done.
Her blog is:
“Miss Caffeinated”
Her goal is to spark discussion with other educators and like-minded people, as well as express the feelings surrounding her experiences as a teacher.
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Song Give thanks:
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Here is an audio sample from Chip Ingram, Living On The Edge, that puts emphases on how if you have LOVE you will give:
LOVE…Gives
http://player.subsplash.com/0c8496c
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The linked worked. Thanks so much for your never-ending support! I need it when I keep beating myself up, saying “this isn’t good enough.” I just have to keep reminding myself: it’s just a rough draft. Glad you’re enjoying the novel.
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Reblogged this on tombeetlebailey and commented:
With Thanks giving coming THIS WEEK, this one is especially a good thought, please share.
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“Sing a joyful song onto the Lord.”
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“Joyful noise!” When i was in a band called that “Joyful Noise” the guitar player said, tom is joyful and i am the noise. LOL so good to see you. Chill for Christ sake!, literally.
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Tom your a truly blessed man, an older daughter who is talented as well. Yes, I tend to take some things for granted as well, but a realization of Him given me everything I need to do what ever He has called me to do usually cures that. Thanks for sharing Tom.
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You said it best Karen, “realization of Him giving us everything” and ” everything we need to do” with “what ever He has called us to do” THAT realization, awakening from the nightmare we are or were in is what a relationship with Jesus is all about! So glad we share this.
The Holy Spirit, YOU and others in Christ inspired that thought in me even more to write this: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/free-shoe-giveaway-acquire-inquire-within-our-souls/
By the time you read this reply to your comment you may have already read that post, i’ve been struggling between my desk and signing people up for our holiday assistance and more so just now answering you.
Thanks again for reading.
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I really enjoyed the song by Petra and it is so true. That band has toned it down quite a bit. I like the rock they do too, but what is more important is the lyrics which speaks to our hearts.
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amen. Some happy they toned it down others disappointed the toned it down but they are focused and filling the shoes God gave them and pleasing Him and you’re right, that is ALL that matters. Thanks for comment.
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