Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well, let me know if you’re not and we’ll try and get that straightened out. Ha ha! I would like to share some thoughts from my heart about being a person that has a lifestyle of thanksgiving. I hope it encourages you and pushes you towards thanksgiving unto the Lord…who, by the way, is soooo worthy!
I actually received this revelation about being thankful when I was at what I would describe as my lowest point. Ricky and I were going through some rough months financially…but it was more than just about money, it was my wrong heart. I lead the way with the complaints, the whys, and the woe-is-me attitude! It got so exhausting…the lack of needed finances and the complaining. But God, being so gracious, as He always is, decided to offer His help and wisdom on the matter at hand. He spoke to me one day when I was at a low point…just down-right pathetic, really. I felt the Holy Spirit sort of nudge me on the inside and it got my attention. I stopped my wallowing long enough to listen to what Father God wanted to tell me. He started off by reminding me of His word and His promises, gently asking me if I belived them. I assured Him that I did. Then He reminded me of what Pastor Rick had been teaching and preaching on concerning finances and other areas of breakthrough. This, of course, was going where I thought it would have to go…my mouth, my words, my declarations. Instantly I was flooded with all the things I’d been complaining about and speaking concerning our “situation”. In the same instance, I could hear Pastor Rick’s voice…”watch your tongue…watch what you’re confessing…you’re prophesying over your life…it’s either life or death…can’t have living water and muddy water coming out of the same fountain…life and death are in the power of that thing in your mouth…the rudder of your ship…” Okay, okay! Conviction came…it felt good. It was brought to my attention loud and clear that I’d been confessing things that I really didn’t want to see bear fruit in our lives. Then I repented…that felt good too.
Did a pile of money fall into my lap that very instance??? It sure didn’t, but something much more valuable did. I was overwhelmed with a heart of thanksgiving. When I say overwhelmed, I really mean it. I got loud with my new thankful heart! This thanksgiving and rejoicing happened when Ricky was away working in California and it was just Luke and I at home, he was sleeping. I started looking around my house just being thankful for the “things” my family has. We have absolutely everything we need. Our couch, our kitchen table, our office furniture, our bedroom furniture set, everything filling our kitchen cabinets had all been given to us when we got married 5 1/2 years ago…not to mention all that’s been given to us since then. I thanked Him for my godly, loving, wonderful, handsome, caring…way-too-nice-to-me husband and best friend that I get to share my life and dreams with. Then I thanked God for my family…loving and nurturing mom, supportive and giving dad, my other mom and dad who are also loving, nurturing, supportive, and giving, who are also my pastors, admirable brother, passionate sisters, my adorable nephew…all who are serving God. Such a delight to be a part of this family. Then I moved onto thanking God for my son, Luke who is my precious miracle straight from the heart of my heavenly Father! I thanked God for giving me the exact desire and longing of my heart that I waited so long for. I thanked Him for healing my physical body…not only to conceive and birth my beloved son, Luke, but also that He healed me of the condition that was prolonging my promised and desired children from getting to me. I thanked God for all the other children He’s going to give me…all miracles as well. And of course I thanked Him for everything that’s in Luke’s precious nursery…all given to us by loving family members, and Freedom Gate family.
After all that thanksgiving to the Lord for everything He’d given me…my so-called “lack” seemed rather insignificant. From this place I felt led to renounce the negative things I’d been speaking and declaring and made a promise to the Lord that I would only speak His word and His promises over my life. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I have had such a change of heart that my words are strongly in the direction of His goodness. I’m very careful of what I say and even if I don’t see it right away, I know it’s there and on the way. We’ve always tithed and given so we know the devourer is rebuked…but I’d been our own “devourer” with my words. Thank God that’s done with! We’ve had such a breakthrough in our business, and I know it is directly linked to the words of our mouth… and of course to God and His faithfulness. We’ve adapted as our motto what Pastor Rick has been reading from the word and drilling in us all this time that…“we will always have all sufficiency in everything and an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 God is faithful and that will not change. There’s no shifting or shadow of turning in that truth…and that’s what I rest my words on. Ricky and I received a lot of help and a lot of grace from family members and church family which we are forever grateful for. Our goal is to sow that back in to the Kingdom 100 fold. There’s more ahead! I’m trying everyday to have an attitude and heart of thanksgiving toward the Lord.
This feels like a good start to what I want continue to share on here, and have other’s thoughts and perspectives concerning having a lifestyle of thanksgiving as well. Have a blessed day and remember to be thankful in everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:18-24
That was poignant for me Liz, especially as you were expounding on your actions of late. I have seen myself doing many of those things you were stressing in the begining.
I bet I needed to read those words as much as anyone at Freedom Gate.
I not only need to make the thanksgiving you are speaking of my lifestyle, but I also need to get on a heavy regiment of anti-negative words and thoughts, of blessing, spoken over myself, my health, finances and future.
You’ve given me a lot of encouragement to start with.
Thanks,
03.11.2009, 4:22 pmDaniel
Dear Elizabeth,
01.11.2009, 6:52 pmNow I see one of the directions the Lord is leading you into. Keep writing.
Love ya,
Margy
Amen! Thanks for sharing Liz. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS … in EVERYTHING give thanks! Praise coming from a grateful heart will silence our enemy!! I declare breakthroughs and JUBILEE over all the families of Freedom Gate!
29.10.2009, 5:27 pmAnd thank you Lord, I have milk in the fridge and a roof over my head. Thank you for my loving husband and family. That includes FGC too!!
29.10.2009, 11:13 amAmen and amen!! HE is so Good and Faithful!! We are so blessed, thank you Lord!! God was really speaking to me this morning…about everything that’s going on my life. As I received an update about my Grandfather from my sister, I began praying and asking God for a divine miracle, yet in the back of my mind, I had this doubt that just seemed to overshadow everything I was asking of him. He then asked ME, why do you doubt me, as I have already show myself faithful to you..look at where you are right now. I began to think about all the situations where he was so faithful and merciful and so loving…even now when I feel so powerless and small..so distant from where I want to be at this moment. In spite of my emotions and thoughts racing, HE says I am still God, and I am still full of power and might. I will never change. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I’m still your provider, your redeemer, your healer, and everything else! Don’t lose hope in me, as I’ve heard your heart’s cry. Keep the faith, keep asking, keep seeking, and keep trusting. Just let me be God! I AM the source of your life, not your finances, not your past, not the way of man.
Thank you Jesus for who you are, and for what you’ve done in me!! More Lord!! You are so Good!!
29.10.2009, 11:10 amCome to think of it…of all the people you listed as being grateful for, I didn’t see honorary brother/uncle anywhere on that list. I’m sure you overlooked it. I’m grateful for you guys as well!!
29.10.2009, 11:07 amLizzie!!!! You had me crying. It’s funny how we can get so caught up in “money” and we forget about all the amazing blessings that God has given us. Family, friends, love, hope, joy, food, tv, movies…haha, the last few were more of a joke… …. ….but I AM thankful for them, too.
29.10.2009, 11:02 amAmen to that! Also we have two new leads for websites this morning…both referrals from a happy customer. Thank you, Lord!
29.10.2009, 10:48 amGood word Liz. God convicted me of the same thing a while ago using Matthew and about serving mana and how you can’t serve two gods. I was letting my worries and concerns for money overtake the voice of God in my life. He finally lrebuked me and said “Let me rule your life, not money”. We do need God more then anything else, and if we seek Him first, all those things that we worry about WILL be added unto us. I’ve been blessed the past two years after that rebuke, because I let God lead me in my finances (as well as some GREAT spiritual and financial counselors I had, ha). I’m not where I want to be, but from where I was…I couldn’t have even dreamed about being here now.
God is good and will provide, if we watch our tongue and belive that He is faithful and that He is true to His words and promises. His strength is perfected in our weakness, but soon (through our own diligence and faithfulness and staying the course), His strength becomes ours and we are no longer weak!!!
Bless you guys and your entreprenurial (SP?? big word) spirit. I pray that favor, customers and finances OVERTAKE you!! As well as all of us. That sowing of 100 fold back into the Kingdom is coming QUICKLY!!
29.10.2009, 10:24 am