Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday 9-23-2021

Refreshing Rain

Thankful Thursday soothes my soul with the rain outside. From the soft steady pitter patter to loud pounding downpours, each falling speed makes me grateful for the gift of the rain. It cleanses so many physical items, but also my mind and emotions.

I walked to the mailbox through a slow drizzle portion of the morning and thought “This is the ultimate moisturizing experience for my face!” As the droplets met my face, I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply welcoming the fresh air to my lungs. As I exhaled those deep breaths, I lifted prayers of thanks to God for the moment together and released to Him my thoughts and concerns. Giving over to God these issues, I opened space for Him to refresh me through rest, renewal, and rejuvenation. Through His strength, my thoughts turn from worry and anxiety to excited anticipation for the events and opportunities before me.

I pray that as the rain moves through today that you meet God in the rain. Allow Him to give you rest, renewal, and rejuvenation. Through Him, the ultimate refresh awaits (Psalm 23:3).

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 9-23-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. This week, we celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Gravel Hill. Sunday School will occur at 9:10 am and one worship service for all will happen at 10:30 am. A picnic will follow the the worship service. Masks are optional. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

If you want to be part of a prayer group joining in collective efforts to support and lift up others during your time with God, you can do so through our new Facebook group: Gravel Hill Prayers. It is a closed group to be mindful of the private and sensitive requests made. And it’s purpose is for you to be a prayer warrior both interceding where others are asking for assistance in prayer and requesting prayers for situations that need lifting. To join, please send an email to Katie.

Thankful Thursday 9-16-2021

Movement

Thankful Thursday felt the movement in the air this morning on our walk. Gratitude flowed from me as the breeze consistently kissed my skin throughout the walk. That gentleness was in stark contrast to the cool winds that whipped along side the storms that came through last evening. While these experiences varied greatly, both offered grounding and calming effects.

Despite the stark contrast in the way I experienced the wind, I also found another common element: movement. These movements brought newness and energy. The soft breeze encouraged my consistent, steady stride as I walked along. The strong cool winds brought peace and calm to me as they raced around, making my thoughts, emotions, and feelings grounded.

Our Heavenly Father knows what each of us is going through mentally, physically, and spiritually. He uses the Holy Spirit to move through our lives to encourage us, calm us, and ground us if we look and listen for His movement. The Bible tells us in John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” As I move through my devotion time and through the world each day, I’m grateful to our Heavenly Father for the creation of each level of movement both His and the ability gifted to you and to me.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 9-16-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

If you want to be part of a prayer group joining in collective efforts to support and lift up others during your time with God, you can do so through our new Facebook group: Gravel Hill Prayers. It is a closed group to be mindful of the private and sensitive requests made. And it’s purpose is for you to be a prayer warrior both interceding where others are asking for assistance in prayer and requesting prayers for situations that need lifting. To join, please send an email to Katie.

Thankful Thursday 9-9-2021

Impact

Thankful Thursday mulls over our variety of choices. Often times we have many options before us to approach various situations. Before we even make a selection, it is helpful to ask ourselves “What is the desired result?” The answer to this question can determine the technique and strength of approached used.

When looking for relief for my tight and tired muscles, I will seek a deep tissue massage. But if an area of my body needs support from my lymphatic system, a feather-light touch massage is required. When the area of focus is known, the appropriate approach is used and the desired result, relief, makes its impact. It would not be good if I tried to switch one for the other!

God showed His voice and connection to Elijah not through the wind, the earthquake, or the fire; but through the still small voice. You can read more about this experience in 1 Kings 19:10-13. God always has the ability to choice any approach He desires, but He chose to reach Elijah in a quiet intimate approach. He also offers that to you and to me today. Do you hear Him?

If you want to be part of a prayer group joining in collective efforts to support and lift up others during your time with God, you can do so through our new Facebook group: Gravel Hill Prayers. It is a closed group to be mindful of the private and sensitive requests made. And it’s purpose is for you to be a prayer warrior both interceding where others are asking for assistance in prayer and requesting prayers for situations that need lifting. To join, please send an email to Katie.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 9-9-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 9-2-2021

The Collective

Thankful Thursday exudes gratitude for the communal efforts to help make a positive difference in the lives of others. As I scroll through my Facebook feed this morning, I see stories of neighbors helping each other through the impacts Storm Ida has made. I also see prayer warriors giving like, love, and care emojis as well as their support through comments on an important hospital transfer happening today.

Additionally, my text messages ping with parents sharing their excitement as they prepare to have their athletes finally get the chance to complete again. This shared concern, joy, etc. overwhelms my heart when considering the sweeping positive impact God brings to situations through the collective efforts and focus. These moments live out the scripture Hebrews 10:24-25.

If you want to be part of a prayer group joining in collective efforts to support and lift up others during your time with God, you can do so through our new Facebook group: Gravel Hill Prayers. It is a closed group to be mindful of the private and sensitive requests made. And it’s purpose is for you to be a prayer warrior both interceding where others are asking for assistance in prayer and requesting prayers for situations that need lifting. To join, please send an email to Katie.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 9-2-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 8-26-2021

Collaboration

Thankful Thursday drifts towards thoughts of collaboration. We each hold certain talents and abilities allowing us to pursue our passions and interests. As we flex our skills, testing them time and again, we refine and improve our abilities with applied focused intention. In doing so, we create really good results from our efforts.

When a group of individuals who each are honing their God-given abilities come together and apply their varied gifts towards a collective goal, collaboration has the potential to create excellent results. I say “has the potential” because effective collaboration relies on clear communication. Sharing of a unified vision and understanding of expectations are just two key pieces towards communicating well.

Christ communicates to us a unified vision in the Great Commission. He reminds us that each has a different function in the fulfillment of the commission in Romans 12:4-5 “⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

As you turn to God to give Him glory with the gifts He has given you, know that as a sister in Christ, I’m cheering and praying for you. Knowing God will take your offering and multiple it beyond our comprehension is wildly exciting! All because you choose to collaborate first with Him.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 8-26-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 8-19-2021

Grounded through Change

Thankful Thursday see change all around. In this season of sending kids and young adults off to school, many shifts are happening. Schedules morph, expectations raise, and the air crackles with MANY emotions.

Taking time to remember is a grounded activity amidst the swirl of change. We are God’s creation, His handiwork. Psalm 139:14 states I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Additionally the words from Jeremiah  29:11 give hope: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This is emphasized through 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! What joy this message brings!

Your life experiences so far have brought you to this moment of living. No matter how good or how awful they were, they built you and the person you are today. When you allow, God takes every piece of your life (which He knows intimately) and uses it for His glory. Through this shifting season of life, I encourage you to take the morphing schedules, changing expectations, and BIG emotions to God. When you continually place it in His hands and praise Him, we just may have a bit of heaven on earth.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 8-19-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 8-12-2021

WOW Connections

Thankful Thursday highlights my gratitude for connections. As the school year arrives on the horizon, preparations abound. As with the coming of many activities, it takes a team of people to bring everything together.

This week I have been fortunate to have multiple communications covering a variety of areas of involvement in my life. As I pause to think about all the wonderful people I am blessed to team up with, my heart fills with gratitude. God created all these amazing people with varied and unique abilities. Connecting those various abilities together allows God to create some pretty mind blowing results.

Wait on the Lord (Psalm 46:10). Obey the call (Ephesians 4:1) He gives to us. Watch His hand at work in our lives (Ephesians 4:11-13). When grounded in Him, He will position us, connect us, and use even the smallest of actions to do BIG things. When we pause to look back at all that has happened, we just may find ourselves saying “WOW” at all God has done!

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 8-12-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 8-5-2021

Peace That Passes Understanding

Thankful Thursday appreciates the peace in life. After getting to spend some time in the mountains, my mind continues to wander back to those moments under the trees. Surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation and removed from the hustle and bustle of life’s daily demands, serenity enveloped me.

Memories like this along with time well spent reading the Bible and devotions fill my internal bucket with the peace needed to face all life’s scenarios. The peace that passes understanding waits for each of us through a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is here that the well-spring of life awaits.

When our hope and future are found in our relationship with Christ, we can enter any life scenario with assuredness. The peace gifts us confidence to face the scary and hard parts of life knowing God is with us each step of the way. He makes the way for us before we even fully see or understand any of it.

If you are struggling to find peace right now, I invite you to take a look at your relationship with Jesus. Have your talked with Him recently? Have you sought His advice in His Word? If not, try it. In doing so, you too may find some of the peace that passes understanding in your life.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 8-5-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional when seated at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 7-29-2021

Wisdom

Thankful Thursday focuses on advice. From where I sit, I can hear my husband sharing a bit of wisdom with one of our sons. Our son will choose to either heed that advice or not. The information has been given and the decision of action is now his just as Proverbs 12:15 shares: “The way of fools seems right to them,
    but the wise listen to advice.”

Yesterday as I shared a situation I was facing with a friend, she shared some advice with me. I heeded that advice and ooze with gratitude because of it. The wisdom greatly benefitted me. She truly fulfilled the Proverbs 27:9 scripture: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”

If you face a tough decision or situation, take a moment to read Proverb 3. Think about friends grounded in Jesus and the principles He teaches. Seek their advice. As a result, you too may greatly ooze with gratitude from what they share.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 7-29-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional when seated at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.

Thankful Thursday 7-22-2021

Daily Connection

Thankful Thursday sits in the midst of summer. It observes the comings and goings all around from weather to families to sunrises & sunsets. Much shifting and change surrounds us, but a steady undercurrent of movement provides direction towards new horizons.

Each day as we rise and spend time in scripture, we find one way in which the Lord provides daily for us. In Luke 11:3, we read “Give us each day our daily bread.” One of the keys with this scripture is that this is a request from us to God. So we have to actively have a conversation with God (often referred to as prayer.) God is our steady undercurrent, always there through the changes happening in our lives.

Daily, the biggest question we need to ask ourselves: “Where do we turn for help?” When we turn to our ever present God, He hears us. When went enter into communication and relationship with Him, rejoicing occurs. Bring the joy by getting together with God for all parts of your life.

Blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday 7-22-2021 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to Worship both online and in person. In person options occur Sundays at 8 am, 9:15 am, & 10:30 am. Masks are optional when seated at all services. To learn more about online worship, click here. Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

On Facebook (Gravel Hill Church) and Twitter (@GravelHill): A Moment To Praise and A Moment To Praise For Kids! find postings from our worship leader, Joyce. She shares a small devotional, scripture, and worship song.