Cultivate a Heart of Thanksgiving

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Jill English Johnston

I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and offer my prayer to you.

Psalm 116:17 (GNT)

“There is this: We give thanks to God not because of how we feel but because of who He is.”

Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

G.K. Chesterton

Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s accomplishments. To rehearse His accomplishments is to discover His heart. Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. So practice gratitude! As Ephesians 5:20 puts it, “Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Max Lucado, You’ll Get Through This

If having a thankful heart came naturally, if it was something we easily do, we wouldn’t need to be reminded to do it. Looking on Biblegateway/NIV, Scripture mentions giving thanks and thanksgiving 133 in the Old Testament and 72 times in the New Testament. Paul mentions it 46 times in his letters. 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

God’s will for us. To give thanks. In all circumstances. Not just when things are going our way. Not just when we feel like it. Not just when God answers our prayers the way we want.

In. All. Circumstances.

That’s not easy. That takes cultivation. Work. A renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). A renewed spirit (Psalm 51:10). A new self (Ephesians 4:24).

It’s easy to be a grumbler, complainer, whiner, protestor, groucher, fusser, criticizer. Allowing negativity, cynicism, and a bad attitude to poison our thoughts, our hearts, our spirits. For that is what they are. Poison. Like an insect invasion to a garden destroying plant and fruit. Or fungus in the roots killing the plant’s ability to take in life giving nutrients. Or toxins leeched into the soil damaging the plant’s growth and health.

God’s prescription? Gratitude. Thanksgiving. Appreciation. Remembering the good things he has done. Trusting his promises. Acknowledging his gifts. Giving him thanks, not because he needs it, but because we do.

Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts speaks of the first sin being “the sin of ingratitude.” The first man and woman, instead of giving thanks for all God provided, were painfully ungrateful and wanted what God did not give.

In the book, Ann tells of a dare she received from a friend: could she write a list of a thousand things she loves? Name one thousand blessings? One thousand gifts?

And so Ann grabs a scrap of paper and begins the list.

I encourage you to begin a list as well. Grab a piece of paper, a notebook, the next page in your journal, and number down the left hand side, all the way to the bottom. Today. Right now. Close your eyes. Picture the special moments from the week, think of the unexpected interruptions, remember the ordinary. Because they all hold that which you can be thankful. Write them down. See them as gifts from our Father. Blessings poured out. Expressions of his love.

  1. Crescent moon rising in the cool clear sky
  2. Little girls’ giggles late into the night
  3. Worship, music swelling, hands held high
  4. Sunshine splashing across the backyard deck
  5. Cuckoo clock striking twelve
  6. Wind chimes playing melody in the breeze
  7. Furry warmth curled up in lap
  8. Shelves stocked full at the grocery store
  9. Desk cluttered with keepsakes and mementos
  10. Growing list and filling heart
  11. Continue the list…

Receive these gifts, theses blessings, these things given to you in love. And keep going.

Now it’s your turn. Go and be thankful.

Grace and Peace

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Southwest Chicken

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Jill English Johnston

Another healthy, gluten free, option. We tried this one out for the first time and the husband decided it’s a keeper (not all the recipes I find are keepers).

Ingredients

2 T lime juice
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 T oil
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut in 1/2 inch pieces1 zucchini, quarted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 yellow summer squash, quarted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn giblets, drained (or 1 cup frozen)
1/3 c picante sauce or salsa
2 T fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

  1. Mix lime juice, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Stir in chicken until well coated. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
  2. Heat oil in large skillet over high heat.
  3. Add marinated chicken and stir fry until chicken is no longer pink in center, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
  4. Add 1 T oil to skillet and coat bottom. Add zucchini and yellow squash and stir fry until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
  5. Stir in black beans, corn, chicken, picante sauce and cilantro and cook until hot, about 4-5 minutes.
  6. Garnish as desired with: avocado, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, chopped lettuce, shredded mexican cheese.
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Cultivate a Heart of Worship

Posted on April 3, 2022 by Jill English Johnston

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

Psalm 95:6 (ESV)

Worship – to revere, venerate, praise, adore, exalt, glorify, extol, honor.

The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration; the act of attributing reverent honor and homage to God

In the Greek, the word used for worship in the New Testament is often Proskuneó – to prostrate oneself, to fall down. It comes from two words, Pros meaning to move toward and Kuneó meaning to kiss. How might the definitions and an understanding of the Greek word provide you fresh insight on the following verses?

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17

In the Hebrew, the word used for worship in the Old Testament is Shachah – to bow down, to prostrate oneself. The Scriptures are filled with worship, unfortunately often God’s people did not worship Him, but the gods and idols of other nations. But God promises that one day, all nations will worship Him and He calls the whole earth to worship Him now. Do you take the time during your week to answer this call?

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Psalm 22:27
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 96:9

Worshipping God is not merely confined to Sunday mornings in our church service—there are many ways to worship. In fact, everything we do, as we’re doing it in and for the Lord, can be a form of worship.

  • Music – singing (Psalm 66:4), playing instruments (Psalm 144:9), dancing (Psalm 149:3), hymns (Colossians 3:16)
  • Posture – bowing down (Genesis 24:26), lifting hands (Psalm 63:4), clapping hands (Psalm 47:1), kneeling (Psalm 95:6)
  • Art – creating (Exodus 35:31-33), whether painting, writing, woodworking, gardening, sculpting, etc
  • Prayer – listening to and talking to God (Psalm 32:6),
  • Study – God’s word, his statutes, commands, instructions, teachings, precepts, laws, testimonies, prophecies, and promises (Psalm 119)
  • Serve – ministry (Romans 14:18), meeting the needs of others (Matthew 25:40), working (Colossians 3:23), one another (1 Peter 4:10), giving (Deuteronomy 16:17)
  • Rest – Sabbath (Leviticus 19:13), rest (Psalm 116:7), quiet (Psalm 131:2), silence (Psalm 62:5), nature (Psalm 143:5)

I’m thankful that everything I do can be a form of worship to God. However, I’m often busy about whatever I’m doing and I forget to surrender my activities, to offer them up to God. My deeds, no matter what they are, can become something other than worship. In fact, they can become tedious and burdensome, a sort of counter-worship.

When this happens, I know its time for a heart check. And intentional, focused, worship provides the realignment the heart needs. Sometimes it’s listening to music, sometimes it’s sitting in the shade of the tree listening to the wind, sometimes it’s working on a devotional like this one, sometimes it’s reading the Psalms out loud.

A very simple and practical way to adjust my heart is to focus on God and not myself. I mentioned the Psalms—they’re a great place to turn my eyes on Him. There is also what I call the Adoration Alphabet and it can be done anytime, any place. Driving, walking, cleaning house, exercising, trying to fall asleep.

Start with the letter A and think of all the attributes, characteristics, qualities, actions, and nature of God that start with A. Discuss with Him what each one means to you. Then move on to B, then C, until you’ve either run out of time, fallen asleep, or realized that your eyes are now on Him and not yourself or your circumstances. Your heart has been readjusted and realigned.

I’ll help you start.

  • God, you are ABLE to realign my heart as I focus on you.
  • God, you BLESS me everyday with so many good things.
  • God, you CARE when my heart isn’t right with yours.
  • God, you DELIGHT in me and my worship.
  • God, you EQUIP me for whatever I may face each day.
  • God, you FREE me from the things that weigh me down.
  • God, you GUARD my heart so that I can worship you.
  • …continue on through the alphabet.

Now it’s your turn. Go and worship.

grace and peace

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Healthy eating: Tuna Pasta with Olives & Artichokes

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Jill English Johnston

Ingredients

  • 8 oz tuna steak, cut into 3 pieces or 1 12 oz can tuna
  • 4 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 t freshly grated lemon zest
  • 2 t chopped fresh rosemary 0r 1 t dried, divided
  • 1/2 t salt, divided
  • 1/4 t freshly ground pepper
  • 6 oz whole-wheat rotini or penne pasta or 1/2 spaghetti squash
  • 1 can artichoke hearts
  • 1/4 c sliced olives
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 c grape tomatoes, halved
  • 2 T lemon juice
  • 1/2 c fresh spinich, wilted
  • 1/4 c chopped fresh basil for garnish
  • 1/4 c shredded parmesan

Directions

  1. If grilling, preheat grill to medium-high. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
  2. Toss tuna pieces in a bowl with 1 T oil, lemon zest, 1 t fresh rosemary (or 1/2 t dried), 1/4 t salt and pepper. Grill the tuna until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. When cool enough to handle, flake the tuna into bite-size pieces.
  3. If using canned tuna, drain and toss in a bowl with 1 T oil, lemon zest, 1 t fresh rosemary (or 1/2 t dried), 1/4 t salt and pepper.
  4. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Or microwave 1/2 spaghetti squash on a plate in 2 T water for 5-8 minutes until fork tender. When cool enough to handle, fork the squash into noodles.
  5. Heat the remaining 3 T oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add artichoke hearts, olives, garlic and the remaining rosemary. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes; bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are broken down, about 3 minutes more. Wilt spinach in a separate pan and stir in with the noodles, tuna pieces, lemon juice and the remaining 1/4 t salt; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Garnish with basil (or parsley) and parmesan, if desired.
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Cultivate a Heart of Listening

Posted on March 27, 2022 by Jill English Johnston

If you stop listening to instruction, my child,
    you will turn your back on knowledge.

Proverbs 19:27 (NLT)

Listen: hear, pay attention, be attentive, concentrate, take heed of, take notice of, be mindful, consider, meditate on, attend to 

  • Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might – Deuteronomy 6:4-5
  • Let the wise hear and increase in learning and the one who understands obtain guidance – Proverbs 1:5
  • Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord – Psalm 34:11
  • My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me – John 10:27

The Scriptures are filled with encouragement to listen, to hear, to allow the words of wisdom and instruction to sink in. To not only understand, but to respond. To do so, we need to have a heart ready to receive.

How often have we sat through a class, a lecture, a study, or even a conversation, but our mind wasn’t present, it was elsewhere? Or we’ve been listening to someone talk, listening to a podcast, or watching a program, only to realize we had checked out at some point and hadn’t heard anything since then? Maybe we’ve heard something a hundred times, a dozen times, or even once before and so we aren’t really listening when we hear it again?

Listening is a discipline. An ancient practice that takes work. Listening not just to hear or repeat facts, but to understand, to engage, to respond and apply.

No matter how complicated or simple one’s life might be, we still encounter obstacles to our listening. Big and small. Important or menial. Urgent or nonessential. They pull us from the art of slowing down and listening. Things like: Distractions. Media. Busyness. To do lists. Clutter. Worry. Interruptions. Needs. Obligations.

Our Creator, our Heavenly Father knew. And he provides a way. He’s given us the gift of Sabbath. A day of rest. To set aside our work and busyness. To get off the hamster wheel. To step out of the rat race. To stop defining ourselves by how many bricks we can make. And take a deep breath, slow down, recharge. And practice listening to his voice.

God also has given us feasts, festivals, seasons and times on the liturgical calendar to disrupt our everyday normal, to stop for a day, a week, or even a period of time, and seek Him a little bit deeper. The Lenten season is one of those times. As well as Passover week coming up soon. How might you use this season, this festival, to practice listening to the voice of Jesus?

Six times in the gospels and eight times in the book of Revelation, Jesus says, “he who has ears, let him hear.” We have ears. But do we hear? Have we taken time to learn the sound of our Shepherd’s voice, to know when it’s him speaking to us and know how to distinguish his voice from our own voice, the voices of the world, or the voice of the enemy?

Whether we’re a morning person or a night owl, it’s important for us to make time to be like Mary in Luke 10:38-42 and sit at the feet of Jesus. When we develop our listening muscles in those moments, we can then flex and use them throughout the day.

Some very practical exercises have helped me to listen better and they might help you as well. Spend some time exploring and then explore them again. Because listening is never a one and done. Just like one quick jog around the block is not all that’s needed for a healthy body, so too one quick lesson is not all that’s needed for a healthy spirit. We need daily exercise and daily practice to cultivate a heart of listening.

49 DAYS OF HEARING GOD: Daily emails full of practical tools to help you hear God’s voice.

THE DAILY STILL PODCAST: A Place to pause with guided Christian meditations and devotions.

SPEAK, LORD: A book exploring how to engage with the Psalms in a fresh, dynamic way—hearing them as though God were speaking directly to you. 

IGNATIAN PRAYER: A compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius Loyola to help you deepen your relationship with God. 

BRAINWAVE APP: Brainwave frequencies combined with background sounds or music to provide various modes of relaxation, focus, or creativity for a selected time period.

Pick one and try it out during this Season of Lent. I’d love to hear from you—drop me a comment and let me know which one you chose and how it changed the way you listen.

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