The day with dianne Louise

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.18.NLT This morning I went for a walk with my grandson Myer. I wanted to send a postcard to my mother and it meant walking for 1 1/2 hours, round trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk. The post box was near a shopping centre and it was hot. I bought us each a cool drink of water. I made a point of being extra thankful to the lady serving me.  Thankfulness extends beyond our mouths to our eyes. When we are 'all in' people notice. My daughter invited me to her home to swim and relax. Out of gratitude for her kindness I baked granola and muffins for her. As she works she was very grateful. Thankfulness goes the extra mile to show gratitude for kindness shown. Because I am grateful for being able to spend time with my son and his wife's children I put down my phone and played them scrabble. I have waited many months for this time ...

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.18.NLT You only have to hang out with poor people who are grateful to learn thankfulness. We can have a grumbling attitude or a thankful attitude. When we wake each day we need to choose to be thankful and start praising God for the good. A thankful heart is a merry and blessed heart. Choose thankfulness and focus on all that is good. Amen!

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.7.NLT Making the devil flee must be on the top to-do list of every Christian. I found myself awake at 2.30 am doing just this. Fear, anxiety and criticism we're flying at me. I rebuked it and said: "I have the mind of Christ!" Satan left. I am being challenged severely but am standing. In the meantime, I am making wins in God. Wins are always good! Amen!

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.7.NLT It is when we are not humble in our attitudes towards God and others that we stray into enemy territory. Critical thoughts about others will crowd in. However, if we stay humble, that is knowing that we too are sinners, and refuse the enemy entrance, we can win. How do we resist? First, we recognise his rubbish yabbering away in our minds. It makes our mind feel heavy. It hurts. Then rebuke it, refuse to play the game. Ask for the Holy Spirit to help. Amen! Then replace these foreign thoughts with prayers and good thoughts, not anxious thoughts. Amen!

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.10.NLT Faithfulness extends to keeping secrets we are told in confidence, honouring others even if we don't always agree. Being kind is being faithful to our God. Our God is good to us, we can return the goodness and be faithful to Him. After all, He gave us His Son. Amen!

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.10.NLT What are the little things? Is it not paying the correct amount of tithe? Giving the correct change? Honouring our word and giving a child the promised pocket money? Keeping our word and repaying money owed? What are the big things? Paying the right wages? Paying the right tax? Not cheating God or others out of promised donations?  If we don't have faithfulness in the core of our being we will cheat, lie and steal. Faithfulness holds us together, it is cement. Our God promised to send His Son. He did. He promised us His Holy Spirit, He sent Him. He kept His word.

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. Philippians 2:12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.12.NLT Work hard to show results of salvation. Salvation is the beginning. At salvation, we are endowed with power and given a guide. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and Jesus tells us He, the Holy Spirit, is our guide. He whispers truth to us and when we read the word of God the Holy Spirit reveals the truth in it to us. We have all we need to step out and walk, giving testimony to the grace given. Amen!