Cadybunch Cottage

Fill Your Life with Beauty and Truth

Cultivating a Grateful Heart

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During the month of November and as we approach Thanksgiving Day, the messages of gratitude and giving thanks are seen everywhere. But what does it mean to live daily with an attitude of gratitude? How do we give thanks when life is not going as expected or is just plain hard? What if I don’t feel thankful?

I can relate. The struggle of choosing joy and gratitude is often a very real experience for me!

Yet, as followers of Jesus we are called to give thanks as a way of life.

How can we cultivate grateful hearts that give thanks to the Lord with our entire being?…continue reading

Let My Soul Live and Praise You

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We’ve made it to the end of Psalm 119. Great job, ladies! My prayer is that you have been encouraged, comforted, stretched and renewed in your walk with Christ as you’ve studied this psalm. My challenge and encouragement to us all is that our hearts and minds would continue to resonate with those of the psalmist in these final verses.

The psalmist closes out this psalm declaring his love and his need for the Word of God in his live. We see that in God’s Word he finds great peace, steady feet, hope, joy and direction for life.

He admits his need for God’s presence and the Word of God in his life.

He confesses a heart that is prone to wander and go its own way and yet he recognizes that his ways are always before the Lord.

Oh how I can relate!…continue reading

How Do You Respond to Affliction?

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How do you feel about affliction? What is your go-to response? I admit my first reaction is usually to avoid it and run from it at all costs. I like ease and comfortability. The verses we journaled last week from Psalm 119:65-80 are rich lessons for us in our approach to and attitude toward affliction.

Did you notice that this stanza begins with a note of gratitude?

You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. —Psalm 119:65

Think of all the ways God has dealt well with us. He loves us, He chose us, He called us, He drew us to Himself. He rescued us, He declared us righteous, He forgave us, He put His Spirit with us, He adopted us into His family. He makes us kings and priests and co-workers with Him, and He rewards all our work for Him.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. —Psalm 119:67

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes. —Psalm 119:71

What would prompt the psalmist to be grateful for affliction?…continue reading