1. Gifting and Passion
2. Mission Opportunity
3. God’s Providence

That was the framework offered to us by a local Austin pastor as we tried to figure out what to do next. I didn’t fully realize the chaos and confusion of my own heart and mind until he provided this categorical way for us to discern the best way forward. Those three categories helped us sort it out, and now I’m feeling more at peace with the decision to stay in Austin and plant a church. We really never considered coming back to Texas for ministry evidenced by the fact that all of our earthly belongings are in a storage facility in Holyoke, Massachusetts. If we’re moving overseas, why move everything twice? But here we are, and here we’ll stay for the foreseeable future. We just made arrangements for our things to be delivered by the end of December.

The story of why we aren’t relocating to Europe or the Middle East, what things we realized about our giftings/passions, what mission opportunities were before us, what we saw playing out providentially, and how a place like Austin could actually be in need of more churches is a longer story for another day. Today I’m just marveling at frameworks and how constructive they can be – especially for someone who thrives in a structured and orderly environment. I’m especially grateful for some of the frameworks I’ve discovered in Scripture, and thought I would share, this Thanksgiving Eve, one I recently discovered in Psalm 143. I’ve been using it as a structured or guided way of giving thanks this month.

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all you have done;

I ponder the works of your hands.

I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Psalm 143: 5-6

David wrote those words while in angst over being pursued by an enemy. It was such angst and anxiety that verse 4 says his spirit was fainting, and his heart was appalled. At the beginning of the Psalm he begs God for mercy; at the end he pleads for protection. Interspersed throughout he expresses a desire to grow in faith and obedience. Are my prayers for peace and protection always coupled with prayers to grow in godliness? I wish I could say yes.

I think verses 5-6 reveal not only reveal David’s longing to know and honor God, but are also a path, or a framework, for knowing God, honoring God, growing in faith, and walking in obedience. He’s remembering God’s past faithfulness, his miracles, his Providence, and he’s using it all to draw close to God in gratitude. Already a man after God’s own heart, it makes him long for God even more. The secular world has figured out that it’s good to be grateful, but they probably don’t understand exactly why. They just know the research says that gratitude creates new pathways in the brain resulting in an increase in happiness, but they are likely missing out on the deeper benefit of gratitude, which is intimacy with the One who gives all good gifts.

The transition away from my home of two decades and the transition to a place I didn’t expect have caused me some angst to be sure, but Psalm 143 has given me a framework for gratitude in the midst of that angst. I can already attest to God’s power to not only bring peace, but also joy (happiness, too) and an increasing desire to do his will in the practice of gratitude.

Want to try it? Here’s how I’ve used verses 5-6 as a framework for gratitude this month:

1. Remembering the days of old: Thank God for redemptive history, his creation of the world, his grace in the Garden, the Flood, the Exodus, the Prophets, the Exile, the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection of Jesus. Thank him also for your own life story, his salvation, and the providential ways he’s sustained you.
2. Meditate on all he has done: Think on things he did for his people in the above stories. Marvel at his provisions and protections on their behalf. Think on specific ways he has provided for you. Thank him for all of it.
3. Ponder the work of his hands: Consider the creation, let the natural world cause you to be in awe of him who brought it all into existence out of nothing. Consider humanity, the gifts, skills, intelligence, inventions, discoveries, art, leadership of people. Remember that being an image bearer is what makes all of those things possible. Offer him humility and gratitude for his work around, and in, and through you.
4. Stretch out your hands to him: Ask him for the ability to rest in his faithfulness and power. Worship him as you read his Word and sing songs of praise. Request a heart of obedience. Pray that you would be satisfied in him. Thank him for being the God who is within reach because of Christ’s work on the cross.

Now I’m off to follow a recipe for homemade, gluten-free macaroni and cheese and praline sweet potatoes. I’ll be sure to execute all of the steps, because that’s how my structure-loving heart and mind work. And even if you are an expert at winging it, I pray this recipe for giving thanks will be an encouragement to you.

Happy Thanksgiving!