Friday, May 8, 2020

Thank You! ~ Guest Post by Martha Orlando

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"These are the times that try men’s souls." 
Thomas Paine

How are you faring in these unprecedented times?  How are you feeling?  What are you thinking?  How are you coping?

My husband, Danny, and I, because of his preexisting heart troubles, and because of our age, decide it’s best for us to shelter in place until the all clear is given.  In our state of Georgia, that will be in mid-June.  Oh, how far away that seems!!!

Being an introvert and an optimist, I have weathered this confinement fairly well.  I pray for those who are ill and those on the front lines keeping us safe, as well as our leaders, those in essential jobs, and those who have, tragically, lost their jobs due to this pandemic.  I also follow the news as best I can; I want to keep up-to-date with all the developments both in our nation and around the world.
Yes, in spite of all the trials and uncertainties swirling around us, the Lord has seen fit to keep my hopes and my spirits high.

Until the other day . . .
It starts with an unwelcomed feeling of restlessness.  I am distracted, finding it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand.  And as the day drags on, a dark and ominous cloud of sadness descends upon me.  I am being swept into a vortex of self-pity, wishing things were different, missing my daughter and her family with a vengeance, resentful that we cannot go see them, sorrowful that I can’t even pay my elderly mother a visit, lest I were to put her in danger.  My very soul is being tried!

Desperate for relief, I retreat to our deck, my place to go when my heart and mind are troubled.  
“Oh, Lord!  Forgive me for this pity party I’m hosting,” I pray through my tears. 
“I’m miserable, Father.  Please, please release me from it.  Show me what to do!”

And in the immediate silence that follows, I hear these words:  
"Be grateful!"

Like that unexpected moment when a ray of sunshine peeks through a break in the gloomy clouds, offering hope, I literally feel the weight of the burden I am bearing, float up and away from me.  In its place, a quiet joy.  A peace that passes all understanding.

Thank you,” I whisper to the One who sees and knows, who cares and heals, who loves beyond measure.
  “Thank you.”

Since that miraculous touch of God on my spirit, I have promised Him that I would go back to a practice I followed for many years, and don’t really know why I quit.  It’s keeping a daily gratitude journal.  Have you ever done this?  There are no blessings too small to appreciate and recount in writing them down.  And once you begin, it becomes impossible NOT to see God’s gracious hand at work in your life.

So however blue, or frustrated, or out-of-patience you may be feeling at this moment in time, look around you.  Find something in your life right now for which you can be grateful.
And be sure to tell the Father, “Thank you!”
Amen!

Bio:  Martha Jane Orlando is a retired teacher, who resides in Kennesaw, Georgia, with her husband, Danny.  They love that their home is nestled in a forest; difficult to find in urban communities, so it is appreciated as a special blessing.  Martha is a published author, and invites you to plunge into the life-changing adventures of ten-year-old Davy in The Glade Series and Adventures in The Glade.  Please check out her novels at her author’s website, and consider ordering them for you or a loved one.  We have to keep inspired and filled with hope, don’t we?  And these reads are sure to do just that.  Martha Jane hopes that you will also consider following her bi-weekly blog, Meditations of My Heart, where she meets the miraculous in the mundane, and hopes you will, too!

What a wonderful, encouraging reminder to keep grateful, even in the midst of these trying times!
I am ever so thankful for each one of these posts of encouragement during the coronavirus, and I hope they have been as big a blessing to you as they have been to me.
Keep the faith, dear friends, and stay healthy and safe!
And, don't forget to enter our Pressley Girls' CD GIVEAWAY!!

32 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Cheryl, for inviting me to be your guest today! I've linked my post to yours so my readers can jump over here to read and comment.
    Blessings, my friend!

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    1. Thank YOU, dear Martha, for sharing what the Lord placed upon your heart! And, thank you for linking this to your blog. It is so appreciated! Many blessings to you, too, sweet friend.

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  2. A great reminder to count our blessings during these times, Martha! Thanks for sharing here, Cheryl.

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    1. Amen, Beckie! May we all count our blessings, each and every day.
      Love and blessings!

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    2. Thank you so much for your kind words, Beckie! I was so blessed by your visit. God bless you!

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  3. I just loved how God spoke two words to you that changed you in an instant. 'Be Grateful'. Your post was a wonderful reminder to be thankful to Him, the Giver of all that we have, and our very beings. God's continued blessings on you Martha ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed my post here today, Lorraine, and that you, too, understand the importance of being grateful to God each and every day. After all He has done for us, it's the least we can do for Him!
      Love and blessings!

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  4. Wonderful post, Martha! I have also experienced that same kind of sadness/restlessness this past week, and I've prayed that the Lord would restore my joy and peace. Your post confirms that our God is bigger than the tricks of the enemy of our souls, and we need to spend time in prayer and praise and thankfulness when we start to feel that sad spirit descending on us. You have encouraged us here today greatly. Thank you.

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    1. Oh, Pamela, it so comforts my heart to know that your feelings mirror mine, and yet we persevere, knowing that God has everything in His hands. The enemy of our souls is working overtime, that's for sure, and we need to rebuke him and all that he stands for. Let us, in order to confront and overturn him, give thanks and praise to the only One who saves!
      Love and blessings!

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  5. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. Another good reason to express our gratitude and thankfulness -- we become closer to Him! Thank you for this reminder to be thankful.

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    1. Deborah, it is our highest calling to be grateful to our Father for all He has provided for us. He is definitely in our praises, and we can only grow closer to Him through these.
      Love and blessings!

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  6. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today Martha. I have actually stopped watching the news so much because f the lack of concentration and restlessness that came with it. I'm much more content limiting my reading and watching to just a few short times per day. I'm trying to spend even more time in the Word and in prayer. Since my life is at home or in our trailer, I have plenty of time for both.
    Thank you again for taking time to encourage all of us.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Thank you, Betsy, for your comment here. Yes, for many of us, tuning out/off the news is a great help. As much as I am a "news nerd," I've tried to do the same. So glad you found my words here encouraging.
      Love and blessings!

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    2. What a preciuos reminder to Thank God..Reminds Me of my Dear Dad..He died 27 years ago with cancer.It ate his mouth off and he looked non human..He was dressings his awful looking mouth one night in front of the merrow and shook his head in disbelief of his own looks and then looked up to the light above him on the wall and said well thank God anyway..I will never forget that as long as I shall live but I have to ask God each day to help me to see the silver linings instead of the dark clouds because as you Martha I want be thankful..Pray for Me and Cheryl thanks for all the encouragement you are sending out to Us..Also to all you Mother's HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!! Love,Elaine

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    3. Thank you, Elaine, for sharing your touching and heartfelt memory here. God does provide silver linings everywhere, but we have to be the ones looking for them.
      Happy Mother's Day to you, too!
      Love and blessings!

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    4. Dear Elaine! Bless your dear heart! I am so thankful you are finding encouragement here through all the posts. It is so sad to think of all your dear Dad suffered! He sounds like a wonderful man, and I know you miss him and your Mom so terribly. Though I never met him, I will never forget your dear, sweet Mom and how precious she was. God bless you and comfort you on this day, and may He fill your heart with peace. Sending love and hugs to you, and thank you so much for your sweet note.

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  7. Visiting you today from Martha Jane's blog. Such a good message for all of us, to be intentionally grateful, during this time of isolation and deprivation.

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    1. Thanks so much for coming by here, Barbara, and for leaving thoughtful comments on both blogs.
      Love and blessings!

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    2. Thank you for visiting, Barbara! Yes, Martha's message was such an encouragement and blessing to us all!

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  8. Thank you so much Martha and Cheryl. I also used to keep a gratitude journal and it is so helpful when the enemy tempts us to grumble and complain. Thank you for the reminder that I should take up the practice once again.

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    1. Pam, I'm so glad to hear that you are planning to resume this practice of a gratitude journal! It certainly has been a life-saver for me in these trying times. Thanks for stopping by!
      Love and blessings!

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    2. Thank you for your sweet comment, Pam! Happy Mother's Day to you, my friend!

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  9. Hi Martha, you have put it very well... gratefulness is so important! Under all circumstances. I keep a journal and always start with thanksgiving!
    Thanks Cheryl, for hosting Martha (it took me to your blog!)

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    1. I agree, Marja, that a Gratitude Attitude is a must have as we navigate this life. Glad to know you keep a journal, too!
      Love and blessings!

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    2. Oh, I am so thankful for your visit and kind words, Marja! SO very grateful to have you here. May the Lord bless you!

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  10. I think it is so funny that you and I both wrote about a pity party for ourselves at the same time and we both had the same response eventually. Great minds, Martha! :)

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    1. When I read your post, Laurie, I thought the same thing! Yes, great minds do think alike. :)
      Love and blessings!

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  11. Martha, this is a beautiful post. Yes, it's so easy to get in a dark spot mentally, emotionally, spiritually in difficult times. This is a difficult time for many. Yes! Being thankful is what we're to do--Paul writes about this in his letter to the Philippians. There's power in praise--praising BEFORE the answer is amazing.

    Love and blessings!

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    1. Praising and giving thanks . . . Yes, Kim, that is the answer always, no matter what times we find ourselves in.
      Love and blessings!

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  12. Amen weĺl said Martha.. oh we are good at those pity parties, aren't we?!
    That still small voice bringing great comfort.. "in EVERYthing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you".. a fav verse and how true it is. I'm not a finisher with journals. Most things I am but not a diary or jourbal.Ive given up on them but thankful book sounds good.. esp if thankful by faith for something not even happened.. like salvation of a dear one!
    Sorry for late visit! 😊
    Thanks for sharing, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love, in these different times.
    Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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