The Weekly Encourager - February 20, 2013 - “A Good Girl, and a Grateful One”

Today I begin Week 3 of possibly the worst cold I've ever had, but the Lord has given me peace. I had set aside these last two weeks to finish a spiritual-themed art quilt for the Sacred Threads exhibit, but I've been too sick to even think about it. Yet I know God is good to me all the time, and He is faithful. I've had to put my trust in Him as I see myself getting further behind in what I had planned to do. If that piece, which is in His honor, is not ready by the Sacred Threads deadline, so be it! If I have a horrible cold, so be it! His timing is perfect.

Last Sunday I was home sick, missing church, plans thwarted by common humanity, yet God made that day good. As I read some Scriptures, I was thankful for a warm safe home, healthy food, warm clothing, clean water, and other riches: family, friends, forgiveness of sin! The Lord has brought me “out of the house of bondage,” “out of the miry clay,” and it is good to remember that. I don't have cancer; my children aren't dying; my house was not swept away in a flood. Yet even if all those happen, I am loved by the Lord. Who am I to complain?

That same weekend, I watched “Little Dorrit” again. Charles Dickens' tale of Amy Dorrit, a little woman with a big heart, is such an encouragement. Despite having lived her entire life in a debtors' prison through no fault of her own, Amy has a remarkable testimony and influence for good. She brings cheer and comfort wherever she goes. Despite misunderstanding, false accusations, and persecution from those closest to her (her family), she is known by others for her good character and ceaseless, selfless good works. I was struck by the scene in which the cold and critical Mrs. Clennam recognizes that Amy is “a good girl, and a grateful one,” although she has but little in the way of material things. Surely if Little Dorrit could remain grateful, we who have so much more should be abounding in gratefulness!

How many rich people are truly happy? I think that man often adds sorrow to wealth, perhaps because keeping that wealth and caring for it and increasing it becomes all-encompassing for some, and they (we?) may forget to thank the Lord. “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.” - Proverbs 10:22 NASB The Living Bible puts it this way: “The Lord's blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it!”

As I looked up a few verses on wealth, I was amazed by Deuteronomy 8 when read in this light. Moses is speaking the word of the Lord after giving the 10 Commandments, and there is a lot about “remembering.” Well, I always thought that passage was about remembering to obey the Commandments. It is, but the underlying reason for obeying God is out of gratefulness for all He has done. God's people are to “remember” past humbling and present bounty. “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware lest you forget the Lord your God...lest, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery...Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.' But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant....If you ever forget the Lord your God, and go after other gods and serve them and worship them,...you shall surely perish.” - Deuteronomy 8 NASB

All I have is from the gracious hand of the Lord, whether poverty or wealth, sickness or health. He loves me with an everlasting love. His banner over me is love. Lord, make me a good girl, and a grateful one. “I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things He does for me. He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things!” Psalm 103:1-5 TLB

Remember.