Thankful List and What I'm Giving Up For Lent

One of my friends posted on Facebook a link about 20 things to give up for Lent instead of the typical (yet still difficult!) things we usually give up, like chocolate (Thanks Shamron, if you still ever read this blog!). Click on the link above to read the article and you can even subscribe to a daily devotion related to the list. A few items were fear, guilt, and a "spirit of poverty."

This is what the article said about giving up a spirit of poverty:

• A spirit of poverty – Believe with God that there is always more than enough and never a lack

I think I would call it a "scarcity mindset" (which is a term I think I remember hearing a pastor use) instead of a spirit of poverty, just because that sounds like "poor in spirit" which is something Jesus BLESSES us for (Matthew 5:3)...but I'm just being picky about words. 

Word pickyness aside, I think that giving up a spirit of poverty is actually about BECOMING poor in spirit - believing that we are nothing without God but that He gives us everything we need. Trusting Him to provide instead of ourselves. I love the idea of thinking about God as a generous provider. And He is! And I for sure need to remind myself frequently that I.Am.Not.In.Control. Can I confess that I have had a scarcity mindset/spirit of poverty attitude WAY TOO OFTEN?

On one hand I have seen God provide SO MANY TIMES...so generously and such extravagant love and grace. But for some reason I keep going back to the fear of not having enough, or just the selfish, entitled, greedy desire to have more than I have instead of recognizing that I have WAY MORE than enough!

So in order to give up that attitude and replace it with gratitude for the amazing ways God provides here is my list of "more than enough" for this week:

1. Three-fourths of the Dalgetys (me, Mark, and Gavin) had the awful stomach bug this week. But Aiden has not gotten sick. And it was such a silver lining to see him happy, content and entertaining himself the whole time everyone else was sick! Thank you God! Gavin also was such a trooper even though he was sick. He did not complain or whine. I probably whined the most. But I am also thankful that my family put up with me. (Also, thank God for carpet cleaner, enough energy to get laundry done, a mother-in-law who dropped off diapers and ginger ale, and that we had enough bananas and applesauce to get us through!)

2. Hugs from two and four-year-olds - those never get old.

3. My Crock Pot, microwave and other ways to make cooking easy and quick. Seriously, I am so spoiled!

4. Gavin frequently asks "Is baby Judah coming out today?" and talks about what he will be like. Today he drew me a picture of several tall lines and one shorter line and told me how one day he and Aiden and baby Judah would be tall, but their baby sister (? - does he know something I don't know!?) would not be as tall. Love how excited he is to meet his new brother.

5. Family that I love, friends that I love and making plans with both for some quality time. This is so good for my soul. I love that God gives us friends & family.

What are YOU thankful for? And are you giving anything up for Lent? Besides doing this devotional, I am planning to limit my Facebook time. I don't know if I'll totally give it up, but I am going to plan not to sign on unless there is a reason, like to respond to a message from someone or look at pictures when my cousin's baby arrives in April. I hope this will give me time to focus more on ways to love and serve people (and less comparison and "scarcity mindset.") So call me or email me or come visit!