An Attitude of Gratitude

The end of the year can elicit mixed emotions in us. As we reflect in the good, the bad, and the ugly the past twelve months brought about, our natural tendency is to focus on one of those aspects more than the other – depending largely on our personality type or on how good the good was or how ugly the bad.

So how about making a conscious decision to end this year and begin the upcoming one focused on God’s goodness rather than bad memories or painful experiences? Circumstances may easily change from one day to the other, and such knowledge can produce in us an attitude of fear or pessimism. However, an attitude of gratitude can transform our outlook, mood, and mindset. What better way to start the new year?

This time, let us choose to remember that God’s love and faithfulness are not altered by life’s events and that –  no matter what it may bring –  we can always trust, rely on, and find comfort in the One who never changes (Hebrews 13:8). Who wouldn’t be thankful for that?

I pray next year will be blessed, characterized by and attitude of gratitude in us.

Happy New Year,

Ana

P.S. Check out my latest video on my Facebook page! 

Fruitful or Productive?

Call me crazy, obsessive-compulsive or anal, but I’m the type of person whose day’s highlight consists of crossing out items in her to-do list.

I just loooove getting things done.  It is a mandatory item in my morning prayers, “Lord, bless the work of my hands, pleeeease!” (Which basically means, “Let me get as much done as I possibly can.)  At night, I lull myself to sleep – not counting sheep or my blessings – but going over my day, recounting the tasks I was able to accomplish.  If said recount is to my liking, I sigh with delight and merrily drift into the land of dreams about productivity.

There’s so much good I’d like to do for God!  Yet my best-laid plans and intentions seem always thwarted by time constrains and limited physical strength.  Oh, so wimpy of me and so frustrating!

“Lord, I just want to give you glory!”  I cry out, disappointed by what I perceive as a poor performance, deeply saddened by my limitations.

But then, one happy day, I run across this verse and realize my confusion:

John 15:5 and 8, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

And I wonder, when did I begin to equate “fruit bearing” with “productivity”? When did I start thinking that the amount of glory I bring God would hinge on the amount of check marks on a list of accomplished tasks?

The more I think about this verse, the more I realize that in order to bear fruit (and thus give God glory), I must concern myself less with my “doing” and more with my “abiding” in Jesus. How else could I ever display a Christ-like character worthy of one of His disciples?  My main “tasks” should be to love Him, abide in Him, and let Him lead me – even when planning my beloved to-do list.

So I guess I need to start praying for more of Jesus in my daily life, more of His glory… and maybe – just for old-time’s sake – His blessing on my list of chores?