Thursday, November 13, 2008

Thankful Thursday: Life

From the very beginning life was a gift from God, coming from His very own breath.
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." --Genesis 2:7
The divine spark is in every person. That amazing touch left all persons throughout history craving more of Him who gives life.
"Seek the LORD while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. --Isaiah 55:6
Those who seek diligently are rewarded with finding God face to face.
"Seek, and you will find." Matthew 7:7b
Even when we get distracted, He seeks us and brings us to His side.
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
And when we focus on Him:
"When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." --Colossians 3:3
The gift of life we have can be lived abundantly and the Lord gave us a handbook to guide us to that abundant living.

I am thankful we can live:
  1. In reasonable independence
    "She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden." --Proverbs 31:13-16 [The Message]
  2. In trust worthiness
    "Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long." --Proverbs 31:11-12 [The Message]
  3. With the ability to take responsibility for our own livelihood
    "And willingly works with her hands." Proverbs 31:13b
  4. With the ability to work under rules and authority
    "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct." --Hebrews 13:7
  5. In tolerance of others
    "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." --Ephesians 4:32
  6. With the ability to show friendliness and love
    "A friend loves at all times." --Proverbs 17:17a
  7. With a sense of humor
    "A merry heart does good, like medicine." --Proverbs 17:22a
  8. With the capacity to give and take
    "A time to cast away...and a time to gather." --Ecclesiastes 3:5a
  9. And, with a devotion beyond self
    "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." --1 John 4:10-11

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." --John 10:10b
You can read a previous post I have on the importance each moment we are given in this life here: A Life of Moments.

Visit Iris at Grace Alone to read more Thankful Thursday posts and to post a link to your own.


(All scripture quoted is from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.)

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful posts with so much soul food and my spirit is full!

Thank you for sharing all that you did today!

Oh we have so much to be thankful for!

God bless,
Jill

Diane ~ said...

Loved reading your post! & like Jill before me said.."thank you for sharing..." !
♥diane

Laurie Ann said...

Beautiful post, beautiful Scripture! Thank you so much for putting such effort into sharing all this. It warmed my heart. Happy Thankful Thursday to you.

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen said...

Wonderful compliation of Scripture. To think about LIFE - is just one of those processes that makes your head spiral flat. Without life.... what's the point?
Of Anything??!
Every Scripture you highlight is simply one more way to use that gift of LIFE more abundantly and for HIS Purpose!
Lovely Post!
. . . and I could just quit there.
BUT I WON'T. Political nut that I am.
We are ONE ISSUE VOTERS. And I was not the least ashamed when my four-year-old son announced last Tuesday (11-4 Election Day) to the entire polling place in SmallFarmTownMinnesota that "...if you vote for Bearick Obama you're voting to kill little kids like me!"
The child is FOUR! (Homeschooled, I might add.) ... and He gets it! Without LIFE.... please tell me (and Shepard):
What is the POINT? all other political issues are entirely moot without LIFE.
FROM Lord GOD - CREATOR!
Wonderful Post!
:-)
Kindest Thoughts,
~esthermay

Unknown said...

"The divine spark is in every person. That amazing touch left all persons throughout history craving more of Him who gives life." Can I just say....how awesome is that! Thank you!

Denise said...

You are so far beyond precious my friend.

Mindy said...

Thanks so much for taking the time to list all of these verses!

MJ said...

I love the Scripture!