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It’s a New Day …whatcha gonna do with it?
Value each day. T.H.R.I.V.E., #9
Let’s not just scrape by during these highly unusual days of quarantine, but instead, let’s THRIVE!
                 again, the acronym:     Trust God fully
                          get to know the Holy Spirit
                                      Read God's Word
                                      Be Intentional
                                 ~~>>Value every day, giving God thanks
                                      Exercise daily (outside, if possible)
To be fair, some of the stories coming out are dreadful, and we weep with those who are suffering . . . whether related to Covid-19 or something else entirely. I know a few who are struggling with the totally different, like a hospitalization of a loved one who they cannot see . . . like a broken heart; how to bear up? 
Besides endeavoring to Trust God fully because he is able to handle whatever we bring to him, [and actually do more than all we ask or imagine!1] we become more and more aware of the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Reading God’s Word and meditating on it, we gain strength and wisdom, when by Intention we set aside time to spend with God each morning. Previous Morning Briefings on THRIVE can be seen at www.pastorwoman.net. And now we arrive at ‘V.’ Life is more meaningful, more tolerable, more joyful when we come to Value every day . . . 
Life is a gift. I do not want to sleepwalk through a single day because of struggle. 
Often the challenge comes in mindfulness - being present in the moments of the day. 
How intentional was this writer? "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."2
This is the day, not tomorrow, not when something or another happens, but this day, I will be present for my life; this day I will recognize that I am fully alive and be grateful to God. 
I oft speak out that verse in the morning: “God made this day and I will rejoice and be glad in it!” and I just cannot keep a smile off my face. Besides assuming my rightful place, understanding that life itself flows from God, the statement is declaration, obedience, realization of a gift, and gladness all rolled together like a spoonful of chocolate chip cookie dough. And chocolate chip cookie dough always serves up delight.
Being grateful is a good thing but being thankful is even better.
Being thankful is directed toward a person. 
There’s an old preacher I love, George Buttrick3, who thanked God by praying specifically, “I thank thee, God, for __________, _________, __________. . .” naming people and things one by one. 
Have you ever thought about it – Gratitude is actually a pathway to God . . .
When we stop to think about how grateful we are for life, for instance, it leads us to the Source of life, and gives us the humble perspective of our place before God. As James wrote, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”4 And take a look at how the Amplified Bible states the same thing: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
If we are to Value each day, we will choose to be thankful, whereby our minds will feed our hearts thankfulness. The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.5 Love that. [Could it be true that carrying a disposition of thanks toward God would also make us more present?]
So, to be present . . . 
to be pleasant to be around . . . 
           to be more emotionally healthy . . . 
                 grow your thankfulness muscle,
  and you will learn to Value each day.
Start your day with your eyes cast heavenward, a smile on your face~ 'This is the day the Lord has made--I will rejoice and be glad in it!' Yessir.
Christine
PastorWoman.com
1 - Ephesians 3.20-21
2 - Psalm 118.24, NKJV
4 - James 1.17, NIV
5 - Robert Holden
6 - Looking for a great read? Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Eric Metaxas

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