Remember those two verses I mentioned last week?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

I’ve had some friends who, when going through hard times, look for things in those situations for which they can be grateful. In fact, that’s one of the suggestions that the researchers of the topic of gratitude have made that can help one grow in gratitude. I think that’s a great idea, and I’m impressed by people who do this.
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The topic of giving thanks is one that the Lord keeps taking me back to time and time again, so it is a subject near and dear to my heart. Recently I heard on a Christian radio station that there have been several studies that revealed that having a grateful attitude can positively impact your life. Being interested in this topic, I did an Internet search for “studies on gratitude” and found a wealth of information-a lot more than I expected!
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Tim and I were encouraged at a seminar years ago to go on a weekly date. At that time we had been home schooling for about four years, and our children ranged in age from 6 to 11 years.

On the way home Tim and I discussed the idea. I asked him if he thought we could afford the time to go out once a week. He said he thought we couldn’t afford not to. (I think he might have been very cognizant of the need, since right before we left for the seminar I was in the kitchen cooking with my stepmother. I had just turned my back on her, and she asked me how long she should “cook this.” I turned back to her and asked what she was cooking. 😛 )

So, we began to go on dates once a week.
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My favorite person in the Bible is Peter (excepting God and Jesus, of course! 😉 )—so much so that we named our firstborn after him.

I think it’s because I can so identify with him. For example, when the disciples were in the boat and Jesus walked to them on the water (Matthew 14), Peter, bold and brash, asked Jesus to tell him to come to him on the water. “Come,” Jesus said, and out of the boat Peter went. He did fine for a bit and walked on the water, but then he started looking around at the waves and began to sink. Jesus had to save him, basically, from himself.

Oh, I have great ideas and plans—many of them even for the Lord. But so often I step out of the boat only to start looking at the circumstances around me, and I take my eyes off of Jesus. I have good intentions, but my follow-through isn’t so great. Sometimes I start thinking about how I can’t do what He has called me to do.
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