Check out this great video created by Christ Church of the Heartland to the music of Matthew West.

This morning I tweeted:

Good morning! Instead of 1 day of Thanksgiving, how about living a life of thanksgiving?

That’s because I believe as Marcus Tullius Cicero has been quoted as saying:

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.

An unthankful person complains. A thankful person compliments.

An unthankful person discourages those around her. A thankful person encourages those around her.

An unthankful person hoards because he thinks he doesn’t have enough. A thankful person gives.

An unthankful person selfishly pushes her own agenda ahead of others. A thankful person selflessly puts others first.

An unthankful person lacks compassion. A thankful person recognizes he wouldn’t be where he is today without the help and has compassion on others who are in need.

An unthankful person disrespects the gifts she’s been given. A thankful person stewards well the gifts she’s been given.

An unthankful person may lie, cheat or steal to get what he thinks he deserves. A thankful person respects the rights of the people around him.

This is why starting each day with gratitude sets the tone for your entire day and therefore also sets the tone for your entire life.

How does gratitude affect your day?

Are you willing to commit to making every day a day of thanksgiving no matter what circumstances you’re in?

This past Saturday we had a heck of a storm pass through our neighborhood. Strong winds blew the pouring rain nearly sideways, and then the power went out. Our family went to a friend’s birthday party that evening and when we got back the power was still out. So, we went to bed in a very warm, humid house. We were startled awake sometime after midnight by a loud noise as the power came back on, but that was not the end of the drama.

At 4 AM the power went out again with a flash and a bang. A few minutes later a fire truck pulled up in front of my neighbors’ house. A branch of the big oak tree in their back yard was touching the power lines and on fire. The fire eventually burned itself out, and then a crew from the power company showed up with chainsaws. They trimmed tree branches for what seemed like forever, but was probably about an hour. When they were done they turned the power for our street back on. And then the sun came up.

I was pretty tired. And I could have been annoyed and frustrated. Our power goes out in storms several times a year. Why doesn’t the power company bury the power lines? Why don’t they keep the trees trimmed?

However…

Last month in Kenya I met Benard Msandu. I call him Pastor Ben, because he used to be a pastor of a church. As pastor he saw people in his church in need of food or emergency medical care and he started helping some of them in any way he could. There were a lot of poor and sick people in his church and he couldn’t help everyone. He didn’t want to be accused of favoritism and create division within the church, so he resigned. Now he spends all day every day helping people who are hungry, taking people with AIDS and other maladies to the doctors and hospitals, and taking children into his home who have been abused or abandoned. He’s married and has two young children and does all of this with no official job or regular source of income. He relies on donations and gifts, and trusts God to provide. (You can read more about the day we spent with Pastor Ben in Kenya)

A few days before our power outage I saw a message from Ben on Facebook. There’s a neighborhood in his community which could get electricity for the very first time, but they haven’t been able to put together the $300 they need to make that happen.

Focus on the 0.1% or the 99.9%?

In light of that, I can handle being without power for a night. Instead of being upset about the 0.1% of the time we’re without power, I’m grateful we have electricity 99.9% of the time. I’m grateful that when the power goes out, the power company has a crew on the scene within an hour, even at 4 AM on a Sunday morning. I’m grateful we have firemen that come out in the middle of the night.

Serving in the midst of extreme poverty changed my perspective. The memories and my ongoing friendships and involvement constantly remind me of how blessed I am.

Not only that, but trying to fix the 0.1% problems in my life doesn’t seem nearly as important as helping with the 99.9% needs others have.

No matter how rough you have it…

…there’s always plenty to be thankful for. There’s always someone who has it rougher than you. And you don’t have to fly to Africa to find them. In my town and yours there are people who are unemployed and on the brink of losing their house. There are 40 year old husbands and fathers who have just been diagnosed with cancer. There are single moms who can’t keep up with the demands of work, kids, chores, etc. There are homeless people who have given up hope. There are children who have never heard anyone say, “I love you” or “You can do it!”

Find them. Get to know them. Help them.

It will powerfully change your perspective and your life.

How has serving those less fortunate than you changed your perspective and focus?  What do you need to do to further change your perspective and focus?

My 10 year old daughter, Ainsley, loves to write.  After Jennifer and I got back from serving in Kenya, she wrote about the trip from her perspective.  I’m very excited to publish what she wrote as her very first blog post today.

The morning my parents and the team headed off to Kenya was very emotional for me. Even though this had happened before I really missed them. First, my Nana picked me and my siblings up. I was already crying. I wouldn’t see my parents for about two weeks. Even though I was with family that I love very much, I was still very sad. I felt a little better because at night Aryn, my little sister would cry because she wanted Mom. I wasn’t the only one who was crying. Aryn couldn’t see Mommy or Daddy because they were already at D.C. And headed off across the Atlantic Ocean to Switzerland. Also the time difference in Kenya is seven hours.

After a few days I got used to not being with my parents. My Nana let us look on facebook to see what my dad posted. I was very exited to see what my dad was saying. I also got emails from my parents. That made my day. We did fun activities with the family. Some days my dad would put pictures on facebook. I felt like I was in Kenya. With the poor conditions, stray animals, and dark skinned people. Now I now that I should be thankful, because we have food, clean water, good conditions, and air conditioning.

Today I finally get to see my parents. This is going to be so exciting. When I saw my mom, I was really happy. I almost started crying again. I never wanted her to leave again. As we were driving home we were talking all the way home. Then I got to see my dad. I was also so happy. I also looked at all the stuff they brought back such as bags, necklaces, and pictures.

I was so excited to see my parents. Now I know more about the Kenyan culture. It’s so interesting. Someday you should go to Kenya. And someday I am going to do the same. Please help by praying for the people in Kenya.

Mama Maggie Gobran led a comfortable life in Cairo. A Coptic Christian from a prominent Egyptian family, she taught computer science and lectured at Cairo University. But following a conviction from God, she started a ministry to serve the poor in her city. A Nobel Peace Prize nominee this year, Mama Maggie has spent 20 years serving the poorest of the poor.

Notes

• We don’t choose where to be born. But we do choose either to be sinners or saints… to be nobody or be heroes.
• If you want to be a hero, do what God wants you to do.
• 1st step was to read the bible
• 2nd step was to sell everything and follow Jesus.
• I grew up affluent. I liked to be elegant. But I found to be elegant comes from the inside, to love. To love is to give, to give until it hurts.
• I thought I’m the least because I’ve been forgiven of so much and given so little.
• Who are the least of the least… the children…
• The children are hungry… and hungry for love…
• When I touch a poor child, I’m touching Jesus. When I listen to a poor child, I’m listening to God’s heart beating for all humanity.
• Among them, the creator is hidden. There is mystery in the poor.
• 3rd step (the toughest) to have a pure heart and ??? to the Almighty
• The silence is the secret, the first step, to finding treasure.
• Silence your body to listen to words.  Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating. Silence your hearts to listen to your spirit.  Silence your spirit to listen to His spirit.
• In silence you leave the many and be with the One.
• Whenever I visit a country, I always kiss the ground and ask that God may bless this land and its people.
• (Notes never do anyone justice, but more than any other session. I feel that’s the case here.  I really, really want to see this session again to try to take in more of  her talk.)

It’s hard to believe that after all the time, effort, and prayer that went into preparing for our trip to Kenya, the trip is now behind us. The 13 days just flew by.

If you didn’t have a chance to read the blog posts, here are the links:

• A Flyby of the First 4 Days
• Day 5: The People of the Nakuru Landfill
• Day 6: God at Work in the Slums of Ronda
• Day 7: Lake Nakuru National Park Safari
• Day 8: Cana Girls Rescue Home in East Pokot, Kenya
• A Fly-Over of Days 9-13

I’m still jet-lagged and trying to process the experience, but a few thoughts…

1) The Children and Staff of Springs of Hope are Amazing!

When Jennifer and I went to Kenya 2 years ago, the orphanage was still under construction. It was just amazing to see it full of smiling children and caring adults. It is everything I could have ever hoped it would be. So full of life!

2) Our Team was Awesome!

Two years ago, the “team” was just Jennifer and I. This time there were 6 of us. It required a lot more work to prepare and it was a lot more complicated to coordinate. (The phrase “herding cats” made our trip quote book) But it was such a rich community experience. It was so awesome to see how God used each person’s gifts and personality. It was so cool to see the people of our team praying for each other, helping each other, and encouraging each other.

3) Ministry is Hard in Nakuru.

In the short time time we were there…

• Daniel, who is like the COO of Springs of Hope was only 2 weeks removed from losing his wife during child birth.
• Both vans had their transmissions go bad.
• All 4 wheels were stolen off one of the vans.
• Molly had to fire both of the guards who were supposed to be on duty during the theft.
• A wonderful young woman who had just been hired, decided on her second day that Springs of Hope was not the right fit for her.
• That same woman later passed out while on the job and had to be taken to the hospital.
• Every day there were people in the community asking for help as they struggle with poverty and/or AIDS.

4) God is Doing Some Remarkable Things through some Remarkable People.

Despite all the struggles, obstacles, and set-backs good things are still happening. It was so inspiring to see Molly, Daniel, Tony, Pastor Ben, Pastor Christopher, Pastor Chochoi and others in action. They are doing so much to help people and point people to God with so little.

It motivates me to want to do and be more than I am now. I’m not sure what that means, but I know some things have to change. I’m continuing to wrestle with that.

• Made it to Washington but Amir is being detained somewhere & no one will tell me why. 22 minutes until r flight 2 Tampa leaves #
• Missed r flight 2 Tampa. I shoulda known better than 2 take an int'l flight w someone named Amir Kahn. #AlwaysAnAdventure #
• I don't suppose the Dept of Homeland Security would comp r dinner since they made us miss r flight? Um, no. #
• Tampa, at last! #
• 3 quick days @ home 2 unpack from Kenya, catch up on @OurChurchDotCom work & get ready family vaca. #BusyButGood #
• New guest post by @davidbunce… Why succeeding sometimes means we need to fail – http://t.co/fMRfJkY #
• Self Promotion Hurts Everyone – http://t.co/zvO7FoP // Good thoughts from @chrisfluitt #
• '@Ainsley2001, @Aidyn03 & @Aryn07 just walked in the door. Yea! Hadn't seen them in 2 weeks. #

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• Boarding in Nairobi for Zurich. I guess they got that little runway lights issue worked out… or something. #
• Layover in Zurich. Woohoo! http://twitpic.com/5sdis9 #
• Coffee & pastries along the river in Zurich. Yum! http://twitpic.com/5se02n #
• View from University of Zurich http://twitpic.com/5seeas #
• Bye bye Zurich. We hardly knew ya. #

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• Good morning! Packing up b4 our mourning safari http://twitpic.com/5rwzpe #
• Back on the Mara with our Masai guide Dennis & some giraffe http://twitpic.com/5rxzkx #
• Jennifer, Korin & a lion cub eating a buffalo http://twitpic.com/5ryaeo #
• Yea! Hippos! http://twitpic.com/5rz6q8 #
• Funny that I seem 2 b getting better cell service in the middle of Masai Mara than in my own home. #
• Bye, bye Masai Mara. U were the icing on the cake of our trip http://twitpic.com/5s06rl #
• At Nairobi airport. Were told runway nights r out. We may take off 2nite… or not… or w ppl waiving hand lights in front of us. #Doh #

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• Saying goodbye to everyone @ Springs of Hope. What an amazing stay we've had! http://twitpic.com/5reg06 #
• Lunch in Narok. Connie & I both ordered ham & cheese. She got ham & cheese on a burger w 3 slices bread. I got..… http://twitpic.com/5riikf #
• Made it to Masai Mara. Catching our 1st glimpse of elephants http://twitpic.com/5rl7i2 #
• Short safari, but amazed by all we've seen already – zebra, gazelle, ostrich, elephants, lions, Beautiful sunset. #
• Korin, Sandi, Amir & our Masai guide, Dennis around our campfire http://twitpic.com/5rnaur #

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