Examples of Th(i)nkfulness

Thanksliving

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Daily Giving Thanks

He showed up!!

What an incredible thing!!!

The Father fulfilled the promise He made. The Son came as a baby to live a perfect life and then die, not for Himself, but for me and you so we could have forgiveness, reconciliation, transformation, and hope (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Thank You, Lord Jesus!!

My friend, Karen Tinsley, alerted me to this quote:

“Incorporating thanksgiving as a daily habit will translate into ‘thanksliving.'”

“Feature” A Daily Bible Study Guide

Love this concept of incorporating thanksgiving as a daily habit. Thanking Him for coming to die for our sins, not just at Christmas time, but all year long. Thanking Him for His grace and mercy, His many blessings every single day, His voice in His Word, His fingerprints in my circumstances, His closeness and promises in the refiner’s furnace ~ thanksliving.

My Th(i)nkful Friend

Every Monday I exchange thinkful lists with others who are learning to cultivate thinking thanks even when it’s so hard. I have done it for years with Grace, but recently I have started with another dear friend Cherie. Look what she texted me this Monday morning:

Thinkful
God’s will for my life doesn’t need to be found; it needs to be obeyed. And His will is that I’m thankful in all things. I certainly struggle with this, so I’m trying to train my mind as often as I can. These Mondays help so much. In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

By God’s Spirit and God’s strength, I’m a thankful person. He is helping me to be thinking about being thankful.

When I struggle to find things to practically be thankful for, I remind myself of this:

  1. My salvation. God saved me so I will rebound my gratitude back to Him. 2 Corinthians 4:15.
  2. ⁠The sovereignty of God. He is not only in control of every kingdom but over every part of my life.
  3. ⁠Thankful that God forgives me. Psalm 103:12 / 1 John 1:19.
  4. ⁠I’m thankful for the love of God.
  5. ⁠God’s word. Scripture stirs us up.
  6. ⁠The people of God. The people God puts into our lives. Ephesians 1:16 / Philippians 1:3
  7. ⁠The promise of heaven. John 14:2-3. Rejoicing that our names are written there.
  8. ⁠His provision. Philippians 4:19
  9. ⁠The faithfulness of God. Psalm 92:1-2. Great is the faithfulness, standing with Him is never unknown.
  10. ⁠He answers our prayer. Isaiah 65:24 / Psalm 4:3
  11. ⁠God is with us. Psalm 139:7-10

My list for today

  • I was able to ask my son Seth for forgiveness
  • ⁠I was able to forgive him and restore our relationship
  • ⁠In these, showing him Christ and what Christ has done for us
  • ⁠We are praying about a little dog Seth wants, but we have to wait on a few things and it’s an opportunity to teach Seth to pray and trust God
  • ⁠I was able to do a walk this weekend and one day of gym last week
  • ⁠No headache today
  • ⁠Summer is here
  • ⁠I am redeemed
  • ⁠Jesus is coming soon 🙌🏻🙏🏻🕊️
Cherie gave me permission to share this

Thanksliving in Action

Wow! Cherie is an inspiration to me. I know her life is not easy. She has great challenges, but she is willingly thanking God anyway. She chooses to focus on Him and His Word, His character and His promises. Good example to follow.

Lord, I need You. It’s so hard for me to have this thanksliving way of life. Please help me. Remind me of Your love for me, how You know everything about me and yet desire a relationship with me. Thank you for Cherie’s testimony. May I do likewise as we both run this race of life and long for Your return.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be a thinkful Cherie now and going forward into 2026!

Put On the Brakes

/ thinkfulkarin / 2 Comments

Slow Down!

Screech….

The brakes did their job, but you could smell burnt brake pads. The accident did not happen, but man, was it close. My heart rate was accelerated and I felt uncomfortable.

Have you ever been extremely close to a wreck? It instills a deep desire in you to try to avoid those situations in the future. I remember my Driver’s Ed teacher in high school saying we should stop with enough distance to see the tires of the car in front of us.

Let me introduce you to a really cool word!

Are you familiar with the word sophron?

Such a great word!

Quick meaning could be ~ put on the brakes ~ according to Nancy Wolgemuth in her book, “Adorned: Living Out The Beauty of the Gospel Together” (p. 163).

Sometimes there are natural pauses where it is easy to use the time to reflect on the things you are thankful for. Like we just finished a weeklong module of teaching in Egypt. It was easy to stop, during the week and after the week was done, to recount what we were thankful for.

  • That we had the joy of teaching this material to godly adults
  • The students were enthusiastic and loving toward us and the teaching
  • That we ourselves were encouraged by reviewing the truths from God’s Word
  • That we had a chance to help buy new TV’s to replace the old small ones, improving future visual learning in that classroom
  • Camaraderie with fellow staff and teachers

But sometimes, it is not so easy to stop and list things you are thankful for, especially when something or someone needs fixing! The Apostle Paul was concerned for the churches every day (2 Corinthians 11:28), yet when he wrote to those churches about urgent issues they were facing, he would put on the brakes and begin his letters by giving thanks for them before he would address different matters.

Self-Controlled Th(i)nkfulness

Reading through Titus 2, we find an exhortation for sober-minded self control.

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled (Titus 2:1-5).

Paul’s words are commending seriousness. There is a need for women to exercise self-control. Leaders in the church also need these qualities.

A new song we sang a few Sundays ago at our Phoenix Fellowship here in Durban, South Africa, drove home this point. The unusual title of the song was, “Give Me Self-Control.”

Self control is curbing your impulses and emotions, but it also includes controlling your pace, your pauses, and your pondering such that you keep a sane and sound mind. So many people are “run” by their job, their children, their pets, or the expectations of family and friends. Putting on the brakes to think thanks is an integral part of regaining a sound mind.

Resolutely untangling myself from the anxious demands of the next item on my to-do list, I have an opportunity to regain a balanced perspective, to see the strong hand of my sovereign God above all that is happening, to be mindful of hasty choices I am making, and to recommit myself to live slowly enough to discern His will and way for me.

I know that He desires me to think thanks in every circumstance because He tells me in His Word (I Thessalonians 5:18). But most often I need to stop in order to think. The impulse to be driven by outside demands must be controlled. So, choosing to be characterized by sophron, I am in a good place to develop a practice of thinking thanks.

Putting on the brakes in my life doesn’t mean I am not still busy doing the job set before me. It means that I am allowing the Holy Spirit to help me proceed with self control and wisdom.

When we’re not sophron, we don’t have any margin or heart for kindness.”

“Adorned,” Nancy DeMoss Woldemuth

A Little Introspection

Are you sophron? Does that describe or characterize you? It should.

Why not start fostering that quality in your life today?

Take a moment to put the brakes on. Slow down your pace and emotions, cherish your pauses, and meditate on truth. Regain a sound mind through self-control. You did that by stopping to read this blog post. Well done! The Holy Spirit is with you, inside you, and can help you become peaceful and trusting of the Lord’s sovereignty in your life.

Write down seven things that you are thankful for right now. And a step further share those seven things with a good friend. It’s edifying to them, too.

Thinkful Muscle

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Using Those Muscles

“Don’t give up! Lean in! Use those muscles!” We had the privilege to climb a mountain in Norway recently. As our age climbs, the mountains are harder to climb. We had to reawaken muscles who thought they had reached retirement.

The view was worth it as we looked out over a seaside town through sunshine and light hail. But it was hard going up … and then hard in a different way going back down.

You have to want to achieve the goal. Then you push and take steps to make it happen.

One foot in front of the other, step by step, you push forward. It was my first time to use hiking poles for balance and support. Very helpful! Felt professional.

Thinkful Muscle

Choosing to download grace from the Lord to think thanks about every circumstance in my life takes muscle. It takes the heart: “I want this change in my life.” It takes the will: “I will choose daily or as often as needed to stop and speak or write out things I am thankful for.” It takes the mind: “OK, now looking back through this day or this circumstance, what can I be thankful for?”

This does not come naturally, at least not to start with. But after those muscles have been engaged and used repeatedly, it does begin to come more automatically. That is a benefit of being “in th(i)nkful shape.”

Friend, when you choose to ask God for grace to process things with gratitude, you are exercising yourself towards godliness. You are obeying God’s command to give thanks in everything.

But honestly, it can feel like climbing a mountain. Every step feels hard and you have to choose to pursue your goal.

If you practice being grateful, even under duress, that can help you develop the attitude that makes you resilient as you move through tremendous difficulty.

Dr. Jordan B. Petersons

Even people who are not believers realize the importance!

Muscle Development

To get fit, you need a plan. David and I tried to take lots of walks on the hills around where we live to prepare for our mountain hike. We chose hills that were steep to begin to push our thigh muscles to get ready. Yes, it was a bit uncomfortable. We would sweat and breathe heavily, and some people who watched us pass by wondered if we would pass out, or pass away, before reaching the top … but slowly, it got easier.

The same is true with developing your thinkful muscle. Although it may feel awkward and unnatural, you choose to write down some things you are thankful for. Maybe it’s just one a week at first, but you build up to one a day, maybe even three+ a day.

As that gratitude muscle gets fit, it will amaze you how quickly you can blurt out one thing after another of what you are thankful to God for, even during difficulties.

That is climbing the Thinkful Mountain!

Joy Along Life’s Path

As I was pushing my leg muscles climbing up the mountain, I would take a pause and turn around looking how far I had already gone and the view from where I was.

It gave me inspiration to go on (and needed oxygen). We also met some who were descending because they were afraid of getting caught in a heavy downpour. Fully understandable! The one lady looked at me and said in Norwegian that she had some regret though that they had turned around.

If you pursue getting your thinkful muscle fit, I believe you will have no regrets. Becoming more of a natural at giving thanks to God for Who He is and all He does, will pour courage and joy in your heart.

Joy multiplies when exercising with friends

Embrace with Joy!

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A Divine Appointment

David was doing his simple magic trick for some little children during an evening fellowship meal at Fellowship Bible in Springdale, AR. The kids were intrigued that the wad of paper that disappeared could, seconds later, be pulled from their ear.

While David was keeping these little ones spellbound, a lady introduced herself to me and we began chatting. Cathy and her husband knew some of the same people we did from Citadel Bible College years ago. She had grown up as a MK in Congo, and then later with her husband, they had served the Lord for thirty years in Mindanao, Philippines. They moved back Stateside about six years ago.

When I asked how that transition had gone, she smiled and said it was very, very difficult.

Change is Hard!!

And a big change, like changing countries, is even harder.

Many people moving cross-culturally have fought heart-wrenching struggles. Exchanging the familiar for foreign, replacing routine with constant trial-and-error, and discovering new types of humor, privacy zones, and communication styles is exhausting. All the changes slide them down into a spiral from which they can’t find their way out. Culture shock is mental-emotional trauma, and even more tricky is “reverse culture shock,” because people don’t expect to feel like strangers when they return to their old “home.”

Mentally choosing to go down the different path of trusting in God’s Word and His promises, instead of the natural path of worrying thoughts and doubts, takes a huge and persistent amount of effort.

“Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.”

Jerry Bridges

The New Motto

As Cathy continued her description she mentioned something that intrigued me.

“It was like a never ending funeral leaving the Philippines for me. Till my kindergarten roommate Marilyn wrote me. She said, ‘I know it’s hard coming home. But I want to challenge you to embrace this new change with Joy.’ That made a whole big change in my thinking and emotions. I have had such Joy here embracing what this season has brought.“

Cathy shared how she decided to follow the advice from her friend and “embrace with joy” this new season. It was a mind game. Instead of recounting the hardships, sorrows, and frustrations, she would look for the joy, the gifts from the Lord, that were all over the place just waiting to be discovered.

She chose to journal and write down these gifts. Some gifts were hard, but it was amazing to find nuggets of joy embedded even in the hard things. I was reminded that in the gold mines under Johannesburg, gold appears as black spots in the otherwise gray rock. The black is chiseled out and with heat the gold takes on its familiar color. God’s hard things have to be refined with thankfulness to draw out their true color and worth.

Terry and Cathy now do a Neighborhood Bible Club where they live. Cathy also gets to spend time with her grandson teaching him.

Why Embrace New Seasons?

Why do we need to embrace new seasons with joy? Because it gives the honor and credit to the One who made the change and controls all things in my life. To fuss and fight and complain and lash out is an empty effort to seize control.

Down deep, we believe God has done something wrong – He has left things too ambiguous, hasn’t fixed what I want fixed, has been too slow, isn’t listening, doesn’t care – and we embrace a host of slanderous thoughts and lies. We say we are frustrated with our circumstances, but actually we’re frustrated with the God behind those circumstances.

God knows what He’s doing! He can be trusted! We need to say this over and over to ourselves as we wait upon Him and His timeline. He is the sovereign, dependable Shepherd who is micromanaging the details of our lives, even through the valleys of dark shadows.

It is best to let God be God as the Author of our lives and the changes He leads us through. Scan the names in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” and see how many of those people God took through massive changes and cross-cultural moves. God moved them to new places and into new seasons … and they stayed faithful because they trusted in God’s character!

How Do I Embrace New Seasons?

If He has allowed a difficult change in your life, go to Him and pour out your heart before Him because He is a refuge for us, but make sure you TRUST Him!!

“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.“

Psalm 62:8

So if I was to begin to try to embrace a new season in my life, how should I do that? Can I suggest baby steps?

Firstly, maybe ask for God’s help and get a journal to record just three things a week that have brought you joy and for which you can be thinkful. Then after a few weeks, try to find one or two joys each day. I think you will discover them when you put the right glasses on. They are all over.

    When a person gets a proper view of how infinite God’s mind is, how steadfast His love and faithfulness to us is, how comprehensive His knowledge of our details is, and sees how much the whole creation is filled with His glory, it results in submission to whatever He ordains. There is blessing and praise that come with that mindset (Proverbs 31:30). This is a beautiful thing that happens to a person who fears the Lord.

    Learning How It Works

    When David showed the little girls how the magic trick worked, they became so excited to try it themselves. They struggled at first – it was a new skill – but with practice they, too, in time would be able to give joy to others.

    Governing your thoughts is no easy trick, but in time you, also, can learn the “magic” of embracing your new season with joy. Step by step God is teaching us to trust Him and embrace whatever He sends.

    “Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side

    Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

    Leave to thy God to order and provide

    In every change He faithful will remain”

    God’s Journal

    / thinkfulkarin / 2 Comments

    Thankful Remembrance

    “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.”

    Malachi 3:16

    God is God. He doesn’t need to write something down to remember it. But this passage states that God is listening to certain human beings. He listens with interest and delight as believers who are in awe of Him talk about Him and think of ways to honor His name. He has ordered that a “book of remembrance” be written about those believers. It seems that this is His ongoing journal covering centuries of conversations between believers.

    There are a few verses that talk about books in the Bible:

    • Exodus 32:32 says that Moses referred to God’s book
    • Psalm 56:8 refers to a book where the Lord keeps count of our tears
    • Psalm 69:28 references a book of the living
    • Daniel 7:10 says the books being opened
    • Daniel 12:1 mentions names being written in a book
    • Revelation 13:8 mentions the Book of Life
    • Revelation 20:12 mentions the books being opened
    • Revelation 20:15 The Book of Life and the books are opened

    It is interesting to note that ancient kings, like the kings of Persia, had books to keep track of memorable deeds that needed to be rewarded.

    On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”

    Esther 6:1-3

    In Malachi, God is dealing with Israel because of their sin. He addresses their empty, hypocritical worship, teaching error, adultery and murmuring. But then as a great encouragement He says that He has been listening to the faithful ones. Of course nothing is hidden from the Lord. He sees our hearts and motives. He knows us better than we know ourselves. But He has apparently directed an angelic scrivener to keep an ongoing Book of Remembrance about the faithful ones and their conversations.

    God is thinking thanks!! What!?

    The Lord states that He remembers. He even says that those who feared the Lord and spoke to each other about God would not only be remembered, but also be His own special and treasured possession, like jewels were in ancient times.

    They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.

    Malachi 3:17

    The Lord God doesn’t need to thank anyone. He is the author of all! He deserves the praise, the gratitude, the worship. That is why it is so fascinating that He, God, would “write down” the names of the faithful ones.

    Searching For My Name

    But … is my name in His journal? If I could do a word search, could I even find my name? If so, what was the quality of my words, and were they unmixed with self-interest? How many times has He listened while I spoke to others about Him with joyful amazement and high esteem?

    Or have my sentiments about the Lord and His works just been private and kept to myself? Private feelings don’t get recorded. A journal entry requires the Lord to hear us talking to each other about Him.

    Your Book

    To be “godly” is to be “god-like.” God keeps a journal of people and conversations He is thankful for. Do you have a book of remembrance? Do you write down things for which you are remembering to think thanks?

    I also wonder if those words in Malachi 3:16-17 were written for us to remember that God will reward righteousness. The Bema Seat is coming. And the beauty in all this is that whatever we thought, said, or did that was pleasing to the Lord we could do only with His help. Yet, He says that we will be spared as a man spares his only son.

    The Lord Jesus exhorted His disciples to rejoice because their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20). In Colossians 1:12-14 the Lord exhorts us to give thanks because He has delivered us from the domain of darkness.

    “… giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“

    Delayed

    God’s reward is delayed. It is like the student that works hard all year and then at graduation is granted an award. The Israelites in Malachi had grown weary from waiting on the Lord. They felt like He didn’t see, He didn’t really care. They grew envious of the wicked.

    We, too, can begin to grow weary and feel like it doesn’t really matter. “The Lord doesn’t see what I do, what I think about and treasure in my heart.” But that is a LIE! He does see. He does know all things, and nothing can be hidden from El Roi (the God who sees).

    Be encouraged, you who fear, esteem, and converse! The Lord knows who you are, faithful ones. He will remember and reward. He wants us to keep on keeping on till the end. Even our precious Lord Jesus kept the end in view.

    “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

    Hebrews 12:2

    Start them young!!

    A Knife At Her Throat

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    The Attempted Hijacking

    All four ladies were chatting pleasantly as they drove up to the intersection. Adaleen’s window was halfway down due to the hot temperatures outside. Out of nowhere the assailant’s hand reached in through the open window and pulled the keys out of the ignition, stalling the car. Shock gripped all the women. Adaleen crossed her hands on her chest and became completely still.

    Her coworker in the front passenger seat quickly locked the doors as the assailant had forced the locks open. The war of unlock – lock went on for a second or two. Then the hijacker put a knife to Adaleen’s neck. She did not see the knife, but the passenger in the back saw it, and proceeded to throw her lunch pail at the man, which caught him off guard. At that very moment, a security guard drove up behind the car being hijacked. When the attackers saw the guard, they ran. The guy who had taken the keys threw them behind him as he ran.

    A Guard’s Witness

    The guard came up and checked on them. After telling him that no one was hurt, he asked them to drive up the road a bit to get out of this dangerous area. He wanted to chat with them. They did so. The guard said, “God protected you. I never come down this way, but for some reason I did today” (thank you, God!).

    Wow! All four of the women were so shaken up. The one lady who had thrown her lunch pail, realized that her ID as well as her brother’s insulin medicine was in the pail that the men had taken. So they needed to go to a chemist (pharmacy) to get more medicine.

    The Test of a Wrong Response

    The first pharmacy was located right next to a liquor store. Adaleen was the only believer in the car. She is a young Christian who was baptized only last December, but before Christ, she struggled with sinful addictions. One of the other ladies said she would run over to the liquor store and buy some alcohol for Adaleen so she could stop shaking, but Adaleen said no, she would instead go home and talk to God to calm her.

    That phamacy didn’t have the insulin needed so they had to go to a second pharmacy which was located right close to where Adaleen used to buy weed (marijuana). She was again tempted, but refused to run to those sources to cope. She dropped off her friends and headed home to her little flat, where she lives alone.

    Th(i)nkful – The Right Response

    That evening was the time that we normally met online for counseling, so a little after 7 pm, I got the whole story. Our church text group lit up with thankfulness and prayers for Adaleen because we were all sure that she wouldn’t sleep so well that night.

    My heart was so touched with all that Adaleen had experienced just a short time earlier. As some of you may remember, I also experienced an attempted hijacking years ago in Johannesburg with my daughter Elly. When you have a traumatic experience like that, it is so easy to go right back to the emotions you experienced when you later hear a similar story. I sought to help Adaleen as much as I could. We read Scripture and we prayed. I shared what had been helpful for me to think about when I went through that test. Adaleen was shaken, but it was amazing to me that somehow this young believer was so fully conscious that the Lord had been with her and helped her.

    I asked her to write down things that she was able to thank God for in the ordeal. I said to please send me screenshots of what she wrote down. Adaleen wrote down twenty different things for which she thanked God. She was able to go to sleep and even slept well. Praise You, Father!!!!

    The next day Adaleen went to work again, and her co-workers could not believe how calm she was. They said she must be in denial or not processing the trauma correctly. Adaleen used the attention she had to give God all the glory. She said that God had saved her. God helped her. God had given her good sleep and was giving her peace.

    The Aftermath

    The aftermath of a very traumatic experience is delicate and important. To choose to take every thought captive is extremely difficult.

    “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

    2 Corinthians 10:5

    It involves thousands of decisions. We can do the right thing initially – the first big decision is usually the hardest, but then the reinforcing echo-decisions are of critical importance.

    I have found that having a friend to walk through that pivotal time is so helpful. Just touching base with a daily text on how things are going can be the thing needed to stay on track with choosing to think thanks.

    Ataraxis, Not Anxiety

    Ataraxis: (Ancient Greek), a state of tranquility, freedom from anxiety and mental disturbance

    Ataraxis was a new word for me. I love the meaning. However, true tranquility can only come from one source! When Paul exhorts the Philippian believers to not be anxious, he wrote that they should instead pour out their specific burdens to the Lord with thanksgiving, and then the ataraxis of the Lord, which defies understanding (as it did with Adaleen’s coworkers) would keep, hem in, shield and protect them (Philippians 4:7).

    I wonder if you have ever taken God up on His challenge in Philippians 4:6-7. When a new challenge comes your way, I urge you to try. It may not be an attempted hijacking with a knife at your throat, but whatever is trying to hijack your thoughts and lead you to despair, arrest it! Emotions are real but they are not reality. Still, they can be wild animals that continuously claw and bite at your soul.

    Choose to take those thoughts captive. With strength and clarity, think thanks for God never leaving or forsaking you during the incident He chose in order to build your proven character. Thank Him for using every and all things to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-29). It may be a wresting match in your mind, but as you win with the Lord’s help, ataraxis comes. It may seem illusive at first through the fire and fog of the trial, but it will eventually come into focus.

    And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

    Adaleen gave me permission to share her story

    Wow! She Did It!

    / thinkfulkarin / Leave a comment

    Anna’s Example

    Listen to what my friend Anna shared with me:

    “You know those weeks where the Lord gives you dramatic opportunities to practice what you say you believe? I’ve had one of those weeks!

    Monday, we traveled to OH for a family reunion. Tuesday afternoon, we fell under a tornado warning and soon lost power at the home we were visiting. We watched some crazy wind and rain from the basement, where all 11 of us gathered to wait out the storm. Later reports confirmed 4 tornadoes in the area, one of which was less than a mile from us. The tree and power-line damage we saw on the dark drive to our sleeping place that night was extensive. We had to try multiple routes to even get there, as most of the roads were impassable. 

    The next morning, we heard that over 400,000 people were without power! So, we continued the rest of the week together without power and navigating constantly-changing road closures. Needless to say, it will remain a memorable reunion. 

    But, in the midst of the inconveniences, I kept thinking about God’s command (and desire) for us to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Th. 5:18). Further, Karin Brown’s blog th(i)nkful has consistently exhorted me to “choose to download grace/strength from the Lord to think thanks about every circumstance in my life and to express that thanks orally or in written form.”

    One exercise that she suggests is to make a list of as many things as you can think of to be thankful for in the midst of that difficult task/circumstance. And I needed that this week! 

    Instead of focusing on all of the negatives, I started my ‘list.’ I thank the Lord that:

    1) Everyone was safe

    2) No damage to either house we were staying at

    3) We eventually found a way to the parsonage where we were sleeping (even though it took over 4x as long, and we drove under some low hanging power lines and tree branches!!). Thank the Lord for a grid system of roads!

    4) The parsonage not only still had running water, but hot water too!

    5) The ‘day home’ had large windows letting in lots of daylight

    6) It also had a generator to keep the fridge going to keep 12-18 people fed

    7) The weather cleared up to allow for playing outside, but also remained semi-cloudy, keeping the temps more comfortable inside

    8) One of the young, local cousins (not with us that day due to sickness) ended up having a fever-induced seizure that evening at home, going unconscious, and expertly cared for in an ambulance before being taken to the hospital. They were in a nearby town that was not hit by the tornado, allowing the EMS crew to get there quickly despite the crazy storm damage. 

    9) Several in our group are used to dealing with no power, so they were prepared and proactive, keeping us well-cared for….water, food, and “powerless” fun!

    10) Lastly, I thank the Lord for the opportunity (even though I still had to work sometimes to see it as such!) to reflect on all His graces to me that I take for granted, but still give thanks for Who He ALWAYS is to me whether I have those conveniences or not. Our Giver is good.

    God is honored by our thanksgiving, and I know I express it too infrequently. This was a wonderful week to remind myself of how much I have to thank Him for. May you and I both grow in our ability to think thanks in all circumstances, glorifying the Lord and spurring others on to do the same!“

    You, my reader, are now privy to this admonition. Be like Anna. When you are presented with a difficulty or challenge, put thinking thanks into action. Get that list going!

    The Only Thing We Need To Do

    Do you realize all the opportunities that the Master affords you? Every day when you wake you are given a clean sheet of paper to use for His glory. I love how we don’t have to stay on yesterday’s sheet of paper. You get a new chance to live for the Lord and please Him.

    I have come up with 3 D’s of living for His glory. It just helps me stay on course. It is so easy to waste time and energies on things that don’t matter and seep out my strength and focus. Reading through the Scriptures it becomes apparent that it is crucial for me to discover His will. When Jesus walked this earth and exemplified how we should live our lives, He carefully sought to do His Father’s will (John 6:38; Hebrews 10:9). But there is more. I need to not only discern, but also choose to do in obedience what His will is for me. It is a beautiful reality that God has given me enough wherewithal to do His will. What a comfort!

    And I would add that just a begrudging or apathetic obedience is not enough. So I have inserted a middle “D.” We should delight in doing the will of the Father. Why? Because we can trust our sovereign Lord. He loves us and does what is best for us. Yes, even when we don’t see it.

    • Discern the Father’s will for me (Romans 12:2)
    • Delight in….. (Psalm 40:8)
    • Doing the Father’s will for me (Matthew 7:21)

    Anna, Carla, Me and You

    A few months ago our dear friends, Andy and Carla, visited us in Africa. Carla and I discussed the 3 D’s as we walked the beach on the majestic Indian Ocean. If we truly lived by that simple mantra, we would come to the end of our days with no regrets.

    On a sober note, you realize, don’t you, that you only get so many days? Perhaps for you or me there are not many left. Wrestle the opportunities to the ground. Don’t waste another day, but instead live life on purpose. Discern what the Lord wants from you today. It may not be what you wanted. Be flexible to His ways. He is “the God of the bend in the road!” Let Him guide your thoughts and direct your choices, and when you come to full knowledge of what His will is, choose to not only do it in obedience, but embrace it! Delight in doing His will. You may not feel it at first. Emotions are fickle, but they come around as you choose to do what is right.

    Carla and I walked on the beach and prayed. We prayed for our difficulties and we prayed for us to have God’s perspective. He loves us so. He wants what is best for us. He knows what that best looks like. He asks us to trust in Him with all our hearts.

    Walking The Talk

    I have been working on a manuscript for a book on Th(i)nkful. One thing I am clearly reminded of is that if I want to teach others, I have to be tested as well. So lately I have had lots of opportunities to practice what I preach. It’s not easy!! To choose gratitude when you are hurting, when you feel like you will never be fully well again, takes grace from the LORD. Remember though that He wants to give that grace to us as we come to Him with our burdens and cares.

    How will you put into practice what you believe?

    What will your sheet of paper look like today?

    Hard Times Harder

    / thinkfulkarin / 4 Comments

    Can Hard Get Harder?

    “Oh, no!” a friend cried out as she lost her balance and fell to the floor. Her left wrist caught her fall and yielded to a small bone fracture.

    My dear friend ended up in the emergency room, had to have her ring cut off, and her left hand is now out of commission for four weeks, right during the holidays!

    In a totally different part of the world my dear daughter in the Lord, Adaleen, also had a challenging Christmas. She went to worship with the church on Christmas Day and then returned to her tiny apartment and enjoyed Christmas all alone.

    She writes:

    It was so peaceful
    Gave thanks to the Lord
    Opened my gifts
    I ate until I couldn’t move 😄
    And then took a little nap🙏🏽

    “The hardest time to go through a hard time is in the good times.”

    David Brown

    Another friend and coworker is missing a recently deceased spouse. The internal conflict of going through that first Christmas without a special someone is legendary.

    Suffering a broken wrist when you want to serve others in the kitchen, or being alone at a time when family gathers, or navigating a joyful season when your life partner will no longer share it with you. These things are hard…..

    ……but even harder at Christmas.

    Why Is It So Difficult?

    We have an expectation inside of what is right and good, and when Christmas comes, and one or more of those conditions are not there, it exaggerates the pain. Imagine Christmas without any music. Or Christmas without any lights or decorations anywhere. It would just seem so wrong, downright disturbing and dystopian.

    But play the music and put up decorations everywhere, and then imagine Christmas where you cannot participate in any meaningful way due to illness, injury, or responsibilities elsewhere, or Christmas without dear ones who have passed away. Again, it just seems wrong. The radiance of the Advent turns up the contrast on the darkness in your heart. I remember when my mom died that I didn’t want Christmas to come. I wanted to avoid it because it hurt so much.

    I often think of the advice given to Ciara when she returned home from quadruple amputation last year. Her friend told her to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

    She wanted to give up. It was too hard, but God gave her grace to pursue gratitude and trust in a sovereign God. She started to think thanks. Her slogan has become Always grateful.

    You choose to think the right thoughts. It’s a work in progress. We fall. We get back up. We choose to be strong and let our hearts take courage, we who wait on the LORD (Psalm 31:24).

    You download grace from the LORD’s inexhaustible storehouse to think thanks in every circumstance.

    This is not easy! This is maturity above immaturity. This is warfare of the mind!

    “I WILL offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the LORD.”

    Psalm 116:17

    It’s a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Sacrifices costs you something!!

    Processing the Hard

    You don’t ignore the pain. You are allowed to pour out your heart to the Lord. You can do it in anguish even, but run to Him with your pain and not away from Him. He wants to make you better, steadfastly faithful through this, more like His Son, Jesus.

    Learning to search for thankful thoughts when you are sad and struggling is a feat indeed.

    My friend Debbie, who broke her wrist did that. In fact, she found comfort and inspiration in Ciara’s godly response. How beautiful is that!!

    Ciara and Debbie are both worshipping God with their gratitude in the midsts of their pain and frustration. It is like pouring fertilizer on their reward one day in heaven.

    We don’t get to choose what kind of tests the Lord will take us through. He chooses our crosses. But we get to choose how we respond.

    Having a friend to walk with you during these times is helpful. Just to express to that friend:

    “Yes, it is hard, but I am choosing to think on truth.”

    • The Lord has not left me (Isaiah 43:2, Hebrews 13:5b)
    • It could have been worse (Revelation 16:17-21)
    • It will pass; even if it lasts as long as this earthly life, we are headed to a Celestial City where there is no more pain (Hebrews 11:14-16, 12:22-29, Revelation 21:4)
    • God’s Word is a rock of refuge to us (Psalm 71:3a)
    • Others may gain inspiration from me thinking thanks which in turn brings more glory to God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

    Embrace the Hard

    I am challenging myself here, as well as seeking to inspire you, to not run away from the “hard,” but instead face it, run toward it, embrace it. You will get through it!!

    Step by step, download grace. Cry out to the Lord for help and think thanks!

    My two friends who are downloading grace to think thanks in their hard times.

    Joy Fuel

    / thinkfulkarin / Leave a comment

    Your Joy-Fuel Gauge

    This girl brings me joy. 😃 She is a “fueler” for me, not a “drainer” – spending time with her increases my joy, settles peace in my heart, and expands my imagination. She mentioned that the song by Steph Schlueter entitled, “Counting My Blessings,” is one of her favorites. 🎶

    Most of us are very familiar with the fuel gauge in our cars. It reflects what level of fuel is in the tank. But, try to picture an “emotional gauge” inside of you. It reflects how much strength and resilience you have in your “emotional tank” to meet new events and people and struggles each day. People who care a lot and give a lot can empty their emotional tank. If they do it too often without sufficiently refueling, they will struggle with burnout. And your emotional gauge affects your physical and spiritual gauges as well; these three are tied together.

    There are several fuels that can slowly refill your emotional tank, like peace and solitude and meditating on God’s truth. But there is nothing like the fuel called “joy.” Joy is the #1 fuel for your emotional tank. When you have no joy, you can barely move forward. But joy acts like a medicine.

    “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
    Proverbs 17:22

    “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
    Nehemiah 8:10

    So, where can you get this fuel? What is the level of your joy storage to refuel your emotional tank? Is it brimming to the fullest and pouring over?

    Joy Is Different

    Most of you already know that joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is a response to positive external happenings; happiness disappears when things go sour. Joy is an internal mindset that sustains you when things are sweet or sour. So, how can you get this “internal frame of mind?”

    Meg Bucher gave us the insight that “Happiness is a reaction to something great. Joy is the product of someone great.” True joy is connected to the Creator. In the biblical worldview,

    Joy is my calm enthusiastic confidence in the presence of God’s face shining on me, the goodness of God’s character, and the perfection of God’s sovereign plans. In short, God’s delight in me, God’s kindness to me, and God’s control in my life.

    We can differentiate joy and happiness in several ways, including:

    • Source: Joy is a fruit of the internal workings of the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22), while happiness comes from things outside of me (having a flowing spring within rather than seeking a stream nearby – John 4:14).
    • Duration: Joy is a long-lasting state of being, while happiness is temporary and fleeting.  
    • Origin: Joy is developed internally, while happiness is achieved externally. 
    • Nature: Joy is a deep enthusiastic peace that comes from within, while happiness is an outward reflection of circumstances. Happiness may be more animated than joy, but joy has more staying power over time and through hardships.

    Creating the Fuel of Joy

    How do we create the fuel of joy? We extract it from God’s truth and from deposits God has placed within our circumstances. It takes a choice. It takes thought. We must choose to meditate on the good things that God has given us. Being th(i)nkful is what creates the fuel of joy.

    Even if our circumstances are not that great, we stop and think for a bit, and find these deposits of joy. In fact, we are to count it all joy when we face trials. Why? God is building long-term virtue in us, and God loves long-term virtue in His children. Our calm enthusiastic confidence in God’s love, goodness and perfect plans for us fuels and sustains our steadfastness when driving down the sometimes long road of sorrow and heartache. Joy heals. Joy gives power.

    Gratitude is the first step to building joy into our lives…

    Jim Wilder

    We are at God’s table every day, and it is free, whatever we have. It is accounted very unmannerly for a man at his friend’s table to find fault with things…Now when we are at the table of God (for all God’s administrations to us are his table)…for us to be finding fault and to be discontented is a great aggravation of our sin.

    Jeremiah Burrough, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

    So many of us are trouble-shooters, problem-solvers, which has a nasty side effect – we spend our days focusing on trouble and problems. True, we can’t just live all day in the bliss of thankfulness and militant contentedness where we leave everything a mess and get nothing done. But in our mornings and evenings, and repeatedly oscillating throughout the day, we need to focus on things we are thankful for.

    Think the thanks, express the thanks, remember and honor the One to whom the thanks is due. You are creating the fuel of joy for your emotional tank. The ancient word “rejoice” means to intensify joy by repeating it, recalling it, and expanding upon it. It is a sister to being th(i)nkful.

    “I do not think the church rejoices enough. We all grumble enough and groan enough: but very few of us rejoice enough.”

    Charles Spurgeon

    Why Invest in Joy Fuel?

    Perhaps the first reason should be because God asked us to rejoice in Him (Philippians 4:4), to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and to even rejoice and give thanks when we face persecution (Matthew 5:11-12).

    But also, when we purposefully develop a habit of gratitude, and discover the huge deposits of joy in the discipline of thankfulness, we become gospel-contagious. So few people in this world see joy. Their eyes and hearts are heavy with sorrow, regret, and guilt. A joyful person is an anomaly. Many people are skeptical when they see a truly joyful person. “Why are they being that way? That can’t be real.” But a follower of Jesus who knows the gospel well has a treasure trove of things to be thankful for and joyful about.

    Most of you know this good news, but some do not, so read this carefully. Jesus of Nazareth was God in human form who came to die in our place and for our sins to save us from God’s judgment. Hundreds saw him after he rose from the dead, and the news of his teachings, death, burial, and resurrection has spread around the world. One day soon, Jesus is returning to planet earth.

    A person can only be forgiven of their lifetime of sins when he or she believes in what Jesus did and asks God to save them (Romans 10:9-10). When someone turns from their sin to the Savior, God declares them fully righteous in His court, gives them spiritual rebirth, adopts them as His children, and sends His Spirit to live inside them beginning the lifetime work of transforming them to become more like Jesus. They have peace with God and begin to experience the peace of God.

    When Christians sin, we can confess that to Him, be cleansed from that unrighteousness and be restored to the joy of a clean conscience. That joy is catchy! Joy is attractive. Your obedience in cultivating thankfulness and joy could be the catalyst that brings another to Christ!

    “You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

    Psalm 4:7

    Endorsement

    / thinkfulkarin / Leave a comment

    A Scientific Study in Brain-Psychology

    In this excerpt from a recent article dated May 22, 2024, notice what the secular scientific community has observed are the effects of thinking thanks:

    Brain scans have shown that expressing gratitude activates the prefrontal cortex, a crucial area responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation. This neurological activation prompts the release of dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter, enhancing mood, increasing motivation, and sharpening attention.

    Over time, a consistent gratitude practice goes beyond ephemeral emotions — it fosters lasting changes in the brain. By engaging regularly in gratitude practices, like journaling, mindful reflection, and expressing thanks, we modify our neural pathways, transforming a simple act of thankfulness into a sustainable habit. This habit enhances our mental resilience and facilitates a more optimistic outlook with ease, establishing a solid foundation for emotional stability. 

    https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/why-gratitude-may-be-your-brains-best-friend

    Interesting!! This is not from a biblical source. But laboratory science once again testifies that what God has exhorted us to do is really healthy for us to do.

    Our “Take” on the Matter

    When we take the time to process, and we deliberately choose to discover things for which to give thanks, we are opting to have a certain take. We could select things about which we are especially aggravated in the same situation, and would thereby go for a completely different take on the matter.

    You decide what you can “take” from any situation. You may say, “I cannot help myself. I naturally notice all the flaws, shortcomings, and disadvantages.” I would like to suggest that you don’t have to. You can formulate new thinking patters. God will help you as you call out to Him for grace to obey His command in Ephesians 5:20.

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

    What God has called us to do doesn’t feel natural at first, but it is definitely beneficial. The article referenced above reinforces the emerging data that the habit of thinking gratitude is good for you. Your emotional wellbeing is improved, as well as ability to sleep, to name a few benefits. Those are good reasons to pursue being thinkful, but of much more importance is the exhortation from the Creator of the human brain Himself. Even if you did not receive those physical health benefits, it would be very good for you to develop this mental discipline, purely to be obedient to our Creator God.

    Do You Have Feet on Your Intentions?

    May I encourage you to begin today?

    Even if it would just be one item a day for which you give thanks … in a year, that would 365 items.🎉 It doesn’t actually take much energy to choose to be different, to deliberately have a different take on people and situations. However, it does take forethought. You need to actively plan to pursue gratitude, because the natural human disposition is to be negative.

    Sanctification is the process of God molding you to be more and more like Jesus. Following Christ’s example, and choosing to think thanks, is possible as the Spirit works in you. Through prayer, you can ask Christ for his enabling help throughout the day …

    • to pause your action or talk,
    • to scan all aspects of your situation,
    • to select something or someone in it or around it for which you can be thankful,
    • to express that thankfulness verbally or in written form, and
    • to thereby develop those neural pathways.

    “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

    2 Corinthians 3:18

    Let God start formulating in you the habit to think thanks and enjoy the natural consequences!