The secret to life.......and a happy Thanksgiving!

The other day I asked Noah if he knew why we celebrated Thanksgiving and without hesitation he said “Because it’s Jesus’ birthday!” Fail.  Oh well, at least His birthday is coming up soon, right?!  After explaining to/reminding him that Christmas was Jesus’ birthday, we got back on track and started talking Thanksgiving again.  I explained to him that it is a day where we look at everything around us and thank God for it.  He thought that was cool, and within seconds he was already spouting that he was thankful for power ranger swords, his sister, and his portable DVD player. 

But, as I was driving in to work yesterday, I heard someone mention the word ‘content’ on the radio. And it reminded me that we must be content in order to be thankful.  The world around us is anything BUT content.  Everyone is always chomping at the bit for the next coolest, bigger, fastest SOMETHING! Fill in the blank…I really need __________.  But do we really need anything else??  Why can’t we just be content with what we have in the here and now?

My cordless phone has tape on the back of it to hold the battery in and the numbers are getting difficult to push, but do I need to toss it out get a new one….  My shoes are not ‘in’ right now, but are perfectly comfy, keep my feet warm and dry, do I need new ones…  My car has 80,000 miles on it and has seen better days, shall I trade it in for newer one…  You get my point.  We, as a society, are constantly looking to upgrade because what we have right now, although it is meeting our needs, could be better. 

After spending countless hours with my grandmother over my last maternity leave, she taught me the secret to life is being content.  Not only is my grandmother a genius, but I found proof in the Good Book to back it up in Philippians 4:11-13, Philippians 4:11-13  ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ,^[a] who gives me strength.

This Thanksgiving, take some time to look around and not only be thankful for what you have but be content.  God has blessed us all tremendously!

Hosanna in the highest!

This morning I was singing random songs to my 9 month old and one particular song popped into my head.  'Hosanna' by Hillsong United.  What started out as me singing to my daughter ended up as a mini worship session in my living room with Hillsong singing it courtesy of Youtube.  I love this song!  I first heard it over the summer while I was on a youth trip in South Carolina. 

As the morning has gone on, I have thought more and more about the meaning of the word Hosanna.  So what does every one my age do when they have a question...GOOGLE it :)  According to Wikipedia,
"Hosanna" (Greek transcription: ὡσαννά, hōsanna) is the cry of praise or adoration shouted in recognition of the Messiahship of Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem, Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
My train of thought didn't stop there.  I began to wonder 'what would've been my response to seeing Jesus coming to Jerusalem?'  I'd like to think I would have been one that was cutting branches and laying them across the road ahead of Him while shouting Hosanna!  The cool thing about this passage in Matthew 21 is that people are recognizing Jesus for who He really is and beginning to worship Him. 

I encourage you to do this on a daily basis.  Worship Him.  That seems like a pretty heavy word, and it is, but instead of just reading a passage from your Bible and saying a 2 minute prayer, I urge you to really worship Him.  After all, He has given us life.  The very least we can do is offer our worship and to adore Him daily.

Oh and check out the link to Hosanna on Youtube!
I will have this song stuck in my head for atleast the next week...enjoy!

http://youtu.be/_ajFnnKFivY