Wisdom-Trek ©

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 184 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

The 12 Markers + 6 Traits of Character

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 184 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail otherwise known as the Tyranny of the Should. For today’s trek, we will stop by the 12 Mile-Markers for building your character, which result in 6 character traits that you will possess as a result. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It is starting out as a busy week as expected, but we have been able to accomplish a significant amount and also complete some planning for 2016.

Over the weekend, we moved our large wind chimes to the back corner of The Big House so we can enjoy them while working in our 2nd-floor office. We are also enjoying the return of our Red Tail Hawk today. It appeared to be looking for some food, so the mice and chipmunks would do well to stay hidden.

When we go for a difficult hike, one of the resulting benefits is building persistent resolve to continue on, even when we may not feel like it. This in turn helps to build strong character. It is time now to set out on our Trek, as we will search for the 12-mile markers that will help us to build good character and then explore the resulting 6 character traits that we should all obtain.

12 Markers for Building Your Character

I possess the Right Motivation: I realize that in some capacity, everyone is a leader. As a leader, I am called to be an example-setter of high character to the people to whom I am responsible — whether they are my peers, children, employees, and/or constituents. No matter if it seems inefficient, inconvenient, or ineffective, I will build character because it is the right thing to do.

I possess an Accurate Mindset: My character flaws undermine my leadership but are correctable. Character is who I am; competency is what I do. I will no longer confuse the two. Character is not only attractive to me but is irresistible.

I possess the Freedom to Choose: I am 100% in control of my character and my response to others. I choose to be a leader of character. I regret my past character-poor choices. I will do all within my power to change. I will become more like the mentors and models I most admire.

I possess a Teachable Spirit: I am designed to be a life-long learner. I am teachable and have a strong bias to apply what I learn to who I am and what I do.

I possess an Optimistic Vision: A few might remember my competence, but virtually all will remember my legacy of character, good or poor. Many will exceed me in various competencies, but I will set my sight on building a reputation of uncommon character.

I possess a Clear Target: I know the "bulls-eye" of high character. I know exactly what character-ethics are and the corresponding behaviors I desire, even though I may struggle to achieve them consistently.

I possess the Right Tools: I have taken the time to assess and acquire the correct resources to support my character-building journey, including a list of defined character-ethics and a support system of like-minded leaders.

I possess a Sensitive Conscience: I may not always act on its every conviction, but I have a conscience that consistently generates a sense of great personal peace when I act in high character and appropriate guilt when I do not.

I possess the Ability to Find a Caring Mentor: My mentors know me personally, and we have agreed on a transparent, accountable, encouraging relationship as it relates to building...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 183 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Should Have, Would Have, Could Have

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 183 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the 25 nuggets or Proverbs for Abundant Living. Today we are going to hike the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail otherwise known as the Tyranny of the Should. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On Sunday, we went to church with my Dad, who lives about an hour north of The Big House. We also took him out for lunch at Cracker Barrel, which is his favorite place to eat. Our daughter Elizabeth and her four children came over for the evening to help us consume some Thanksgiving leftovers, and the grandkids helped Gramps get started on the renovations in the library. This week will be a busy work week with client work and planning for 2016.

Have you ever had those times where you have felt or said, “I should have made a different choice or decision?” For example, your narrative may have gone like this…“I should have made a different decision, then I would have been in a better place. And, I could have so much more in life.” The trek that we will hike today is the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail, or as some may refer to it, The Tyranny or the Should of Trail.

Tyranny of the Should

Learn how to free yourself from the destructive, incessant pressure to be perfect.

Everyone lives with "shoulds." One might say that Christianity and other faiths are a way of life built on shoulds, such as one should love others, one should keep themselves from bad practices, and one should give to charity. For many, their shoulds are experienced as positive and fulfilling. Meeting one's moral obligations is a great source of pleasure. When we do the right thing, we feel good about ourselves and feel that life has meaning and purpose.

But there are others who do not experience shoulds in a positive way. They feel pressured and strangled by them. For such people, their inner shoulds are sources of great emotional suffering. Dr. Karen Horney named this experience, the "tyranny of the should."

Here are some examples of shoulds that can become problematic:

     I should always feel happy.

     I should not dislike anyone.

     I should feel strong and in control.

     I should have perfect clarity.

     I should always be giving.

     I should not make mistakes.

     I should never get angry.

     I should never waste time.

     I should always feel productive.

Shoulds become tyrannical when they are experienced as making impossible demands that are impossible to meet. "You should never be weak," is an impossible demand to meet. The "tyranny of the should" is experienced as a demand to be perfect and, therefore, feels like an order given by an oppressive dictator who ruthlessly demands perfection and nothing less. Shoulds are rigid, unyielding, and devoid of compassion for your limitations and weaknesses. You are never able to relax because the pressure to be perfect is unrelenting.

When shoulds are reinforced by social pressure, they become even more unbearable. Under the burden of these dictates, your behavior may become pressured, forced, and may even take on an obsessive quality. The hallmark of the experience if you are controlled by the tyranny of the should is that you feel driven, but you never feel like the driver of your life.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 182 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

25 Proverbs for Abundant Living

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 182 of our Trek, and yesterday we completed our three-part series on the Psalm of Thanksgiving - Psalms 100. Today we are going to look at a list of inspirational sayings starting with “In life…” that are Proverbs for Abundant Living. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very blessed day on Thanksgiving with our kids Elizabeth and Barnabas over for an evening dinner along with their spouses Nat and Leesha and five of our six grandchildren. Our niece Rebekah and her husband Victor along with their two children were also in.

Friday morning we were able to be on site with a client to assist with the month end billing. On Friday afternoon, we finished up cleaning out the gutters, completed the little bit we had left on the leaf harvest, and hung up the Christmas Star on the front of the house. On Saturday, we reran some cable TV wire to the two front rooms and cleared everything out of the library, including two large built-in bookshelves so that we will be able to start the renovations this next week. On Sunday, we will be going to church with Dad and going out for dinner afterward. It has been a great Thanksgiving weekend with so much to be thankful for.

Let’s get started on our Trek today as we hike the trail of Abundant Living and look for the 25 proverbs that will provide direction and insight to our lives. We will call our trail today the…

Proverbs for Abundant Living

After three days of exploring the requirements of being a thankful servant in Psalms 100, which was some fairly deep study, I wanted to switch to an easier trail today and dig up some nuggets of wisdom that we can ponder and reflect on.  As usual, I will also intertwine wisdom from the Bible into the points. Let us take a leisurely hike today as we look at a series of points that we should always integrate into our lives to create a living legacy each day.

In life we are to encourage and build up each other,  not to discourage and tear down one another.  (So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

In life we are to add not subtract, to multiply not divide.  (Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. Proverbs 9:11)

In life we are to leave an enduring impression, not a careless dent. (Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalm 89:2)

In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey, not create new potholes. (The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. Luke 3:5)

In life we are to sing a joyful song; not just drone a groan. (Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Psalm 66:1)

In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life's symphony, not strain the symphony with clatter and clang.  (Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14)

In life we are to soar on eagles' wings, not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens. (But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31)

In life we are to radiate light into unseen places, not permit unknown fears to dim our radiance.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 181 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

A Thankful Servant Part 3

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 181 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the second part of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100. Today we will explore part 3 of Psalms 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. If all goes according to plan and the weather cooperates, I should be able to finish up the final remains of the leaf harvest today. After this weekend, it will be time to start back in on the renovations in The Big House. The next room we are focusing on is the library.  We will have furniture to move and the large bookshelves to clear out before the renovations begin. I will keep you posted on our progress.

On our Trek today, we will finish up this three-day Thanksgiving series as we learn to become a thankful servant through our study of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100.  Our trail today is…

A Thankful Servant Part 3

Continuing on the section from yesterday’s Trek, we explored why your thank offerings must be intelligent. Intelligent worship also affirms God as Creator. Psalm 100:3 reminds, "He made us, and we are his." This is a fact of which we are informed by the scriptures. It is also one with which every instinct of our nature agrees. Our own conscience also agrees with nature and the scriptures.

Have you ever seen a child startled when he is told for the first time that he is the special creation of God? Within every little mind, there dwells a God-given instinct that accepts the statement. It takes a public school 12 years to try to make them believe they are the offspring of primordial soup.

Since the Lord made us, He has all rights over us just as a human potter has a right to make out of his clay a vessel for what use he pleases. We are entirely at His disposal and should serve Him with all our hearts.

The sculptor with his chisel may develop amazing beauty, but there is no life. But we are far different from canvas or marble, for within us is the mystery of life, the divine spark. Like God himself, your soul can know and reason, believe and understand, and also love. God created you with incredible abilities and has exalted you as His highest creation, surely then, it is your obligation to love and serve Him.

An ancient chronicle tells of a powerful, regal, Saxon king, who, riding through a dense forest, came upon a little church. Inside the church was a priest saying prayers. The priest was pitiful, lame, and hump-backed. The commanding, rough Saxon king looked down on the deformed priest in disgust and despised him until he heard the priest chant these words of Psalm 100:3, "He made us, and we are his." The king was instantly wounded by the powerful convicting arrows of God’s truth and blushed and owned his guilt.

If you aren’t the brightest, prettiest, or most talented, don’t complain, rather worship God. He has made us what we are, and God doesn't make junk! If you enjoy great looks, intelligence, and health or ability, humble yourself and recognize that you are what you are by God’s grace.

Lastly, intelligent worship embraces Him as our Shepherd. Psalm 100:3, "We are his people, the sheep of his pasture." To those of us who are in Christ, He has become to us the Good Shepherd! God has not left us like the neglectful ostrich that abandons her eggs, only to have them broken. He is watching over us every hour as a good shepherd who guards his flock.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 180 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

A Thankful Servant Part 2

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 180 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the first part of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100. Today we will explore part 2 of Psalms 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is the day after Thanksgiving, and it is my hope that it was a blessed time of thankfulness for you. Let us not forget to be thankful every day.

We are continuing our Trek today and tomorrow as we explore how to become a thankful servant as we once again look closely at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100.  Our trail for today is…

A Thankful Servant Part 2

Psalm 100:2 tells us to “Worship the Lord with gladness!” We come before God as a lowly but glad servant, offering up what are our logical and reasonable acts of worship.

The unspiritual man cannot understand this at all! For him to worship Christ seems foolish and a terrible imposition. Worshipping God is contrary to man’s proud, fallen nature. In the flesh, we stubbornly refuse to give God the worship and service He deserves. Man’s fallen nature begrudges service to anyone other than to themselves.

But, having been subdued by Christ’s overwhelming grace, we are radically transformed! Now, we want to serve God, even to the extent of what others may perceive as a loss. We do it gladly with a sense of joy and gladness.

A story that I read emphasizes this…Ten years ago, Nigerian Christians could expect a major attack against them about once every year by Muslims. Then the attacks began to occur monthly. In the past year, attacks have occurred nearly every other week. Today, simply attending church on Sunday puts a believer at risk, and those who actively tell Muslims about Christ are at greater risk still. Evangelist Johnson was seriously injured in a bomb explosion on his way to a Christian meeting. But Johnson exemplifies the persevering spirit of Nigerian believers. While many of these Christians could leave, they feel called to reach their Muslim neighbors. As Johnson says, “If I didn’t love my work, if I didn’t love Jesus, I would give up.”

Christians gladly serve and suffer because they know they have been saved by God’s own suffering servant Jesus! Serving God is not always easy by any means and may cost you dearly in some parts of the world. But true and lasting joy comes from serving King Jesus and sensing His delight. A Christian is one who serves with genuine humility, mixed with unspeakable joy! 1 Peter 1:8 says, "You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy."

The Psalm continues and urges us to "Come before him, singing with joy." He is the Great King of all the earth, the infinite and Holy Creator of the universe, and you are commanded to appear before him. But, when you come, come with a voice of victory, a shout of triumph and a joyous song! There is no moping in the King’s presence for to see him is to love him and rejoice in Him. Psalm 100:4 states, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name."

Imagine receiving an invitation to meet someone that you have admired all your life. Who would that be? Maybe it’s a sports hero, a military leader, a captain of industry, or an admired political or spiritual leader? How would you prepare yourself for the meeting?

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 179 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

A Thankful Servant Part 1

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 179 of our Trek, and yesterday we climbed the five steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving. Today and for the next two days, we will look at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is a special day in the United States, one of the most special days of all year. It is Thanksgiving Day.  This is a day to watch parades, enjoy a delicious meal, fellowship with our family and friends, and watch football or other fun activities.

As a Christ follower, it is also a day when we give thanks to God from whom all blessing flow. On our Trek today and the next two days, let us learn to become a thankful servant as we look closely at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100.

A Thankful Servant Part 1

We all love to hear the story of the Pilgrims. In 1620, a ship full of 102 religious refugees and 30 crew members, set sail for Virginia. The Christians longed to build a community to the greater glory of God. But, having been blown off course, they landed on Cape Cod.

Coming ashore at Plymouth Rock they established a settlement and prepared as best they could for their first winter. Short on supplies and even with the aid of native Indians, just half the Pilgrims survived the bitter freeze. Only three couples that began their voyage together were spared the ravages of death in their family.

In the light of such bitter hardship and disappointment, what would be their disposition towards life and God? After all, they came to America precisely because they were convinced it was God’s will. They wanted to worship God without the interference of the state and to get their children away from the worldliness of Europe. But, rather than feeling sorry for themselves in the face of loss and succumbing to cynicism or fleeing back to Europe, they celebrated what has become known as the ideal American holiday, Thanksgiving. This simple act of faith is one of the most tenacious expressions of true spirituality in our history!

The observance of Thanksgiving comes directly out of the Old Testament tradition of Feast Days. A thank offering was prescribed in the Law of Moses as a special burnt offering for deliverance granted or blessings received. In the Old Testament we have a beautiful expression of thanksgiving that serves as a window into which we will peer to see the spirit of true, thankful worship of God.

Psalms 100 is the only Psalm entitled, “A Psalm of Thanksgiving.” The Psalm is written from the perspective of a worshipper who has come to the temple in order to present their thank offering. Psalm 100 is the pinnacle of praise in a series of Psalms that exalts the Covenant Lord of Israel as the great king of all the earth.

Imagine yourself back in Old Testament days coming to the temple, with your family to offer your thank offering. You enter into the outer court of the temple, and in front of you is the brazen altar. You feel the radiant heat from its fire and smell the savory aroma of its sacrifices. As you present your gift to the priest, he asks you, “What has God done for you for which you are thankful?” On this Thanksgiving, what are the reasons for which you have come to praise God?

Psalm 100 gives us instruction in our thanksgiving.

1.   Your Thank Offerings Must Be Passionate

Psalm 100:1-2 says, “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 178 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

5 Steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 178 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored Thanksgiving through the Bible as we focused on some key verses. Today we want to climb the five steps to a thankful Thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. With our client workload a little less this week, it is our hope to start putting some structure into our plans going into 2016. We see several areas of opportunity but want to make sure to focus on the wise opportunities for this season of life. As with many of the decisions that we make in our lives, it is not the choice between a good or bad option. Those are clear, but it is choosing the wisest option among several possible good options. The more you focus on making wise choices, the more you will realize just how very important it is.

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, and as such, we have been focusing on Thanksgiving all week. We have learned much through these nuggets of wisdom and thankfulness, so today we want to climb the 5 steps to have a thankful Thanksgiving.

5 Steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving

If your home is like most, your Thanksgiving Day will be very busy, with either traveling to where you want to go or preparing your home to have others over for the day. Either way, that can be very hectic and emotionally trying, which doesn't lend itself to preparing your heart to be reflective and thankful.

This means all the more that if we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, not just on Thanksgiving Day but at all times during the year.

Here are a few key steps as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply that you can use right away in your quest to become more thankful.

1. Time

Set aside time regularly to be quiet and to reflect. We live in the fastest paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day during which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds up from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.

Psalms 119:15, "I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways."

 

2. Thought

Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have "it." But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things that you have that you may typically take for granted, and then take a moment and give thanks for those.

Psalms 85:12, "Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest."

3. Generosity

Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, "I sure wish I had what he does." That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank. This should not just be during the holidays — everybody works there then — but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.

Psalms 112:19,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 177 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

4 Essentials of Thanksgiving

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 177 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the concept of “Thanksgiving or Thanks-living, What Is the Difference?” Today we will explore the four essentials of Thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We drove up to Marietta late on Friday, and after sleeping in a bit on Saturday, we were able to spend the remainder of the day on the leaf harvest. It was a cool but sunny day, so it was a perfect day to be outside. Fortunately, Paula and I were able to pick up all of the leaves that were remaining on the property. My brother Jack had already picked up the leaves on his property which is all connected, so that enabled us to complete our task just as it was getting too dark to see clearly. It also started to rain just as I was parking the mower for the night. Even Paula’s mom who is 82 helped out with the blower, getting the leaves away from the house so I could pick them up with the mower and vacuum.

After I clean out the gutters and blow off the roofs next weekend, I will quickly run over the lawn once more to pick up any remaining leaves. It feels good to have the leaf harvest nearly completed for another year. We are thankful for the good health to be very active as well as the beauty that the trees bring to our property.

It is a cool week in Marietta with temperatures in the 30’s, and it is nice to be able to work indoors as I am able to enjoy the view from our 2nd story office with large windows overlooking the property. We are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving later this week with two of our children and five of our six grandchildren along with a niece, her husband, and their two young children. We have many blessings and so much to be grateful for.

It is time to head out on our Trek for today, and as we hike through each day, our focus and thoughts turn to the various aspects of Thanksgiving. As such, I thought that it would be appropriate to reflect on.

4 Essentials of Thanksgiving

As we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States this Thursday, I began to wonder what the Bible says about "Thanksgiving." Thankfulness plays an important part in the Scripture. In fact, some form of thanks is mentioned over 150 times. I knew that the Bible references thankfulness often, but I was curious about the specifics. Let’s explore a few of the many aspects of Thanksgiving found in scripture.

1. Good Deeds Produce Thanksgiving

Jesus died upon the cross to purify for Himself, a group of people zealous for good deeds as listed in Titus 2:14, "He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."

As Jesus's people, we work diligently in our Lord's kingdom to do the good works God prepared beforehand as written in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

As we do the Lord's work, we affect the lives of others. The result is Thanksgiving directed toward God.

Matthew 5:16 reminds us that people in the world see our good works and glorify God. – "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

2 Corinthians 9:11 states that good deeds directed toward our brethren produce thanksgiving to God. -  "Yes,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 176 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Thanksgiving or Thanks-Living?

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 176 of our Trek, and yesterday we shared additional details about the Blessings of the First Thanksgiving. Today we want to explore the concept of Thanksgiving or Thanks-living to determine what the difference is. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode will air on Monday, and we are rapidly coming up on Thanksgiving this week. We still have much work and preparations that need to be completed before Thursday, but it is always such a special time of year.  We have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful that we can once again celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends at The Big House. God has been gracious to allow us to be caretakers of this family heritage, and we are pleased that it can be shared by so many.

It is time to head out on our Trek for today. As we hike, we have time to remember all the blessings in our own lives, and we want to consider these two questions:

Do our lives only show thankfulness and gratitude during special times or seasons?

Do our lives reveal that thankfulness and gratitude are part of the very fabric of who we are?

Thanksgiving or Thanks-living

Our speech is a great revealer of what is in our hearts. It is from the abundance of the heart or mind that the mouth speaks. Jesus put it in these terms in Matthew 12:33-37, “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.  You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Jesus said again in Matthew 15:8, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” We can say we are thankful, but our attitude and action will give us away. To quote Jesus for a third time in Matthew 12:37 he says, “The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” If we are truly thankful in our hearts, it will be reflected in how we live. Our Thanksgiving will become thanks-living.

Thanks-living is about attitude. Zig Ziglar is quoted saying, “Attitude determines your altitude.” I believe that is true in our spiritual and natural life. I know some gifted and talented people who seem to stay perpetually grounded and go nowhere simply because they have rotten attitudes.

The Bible is full of people who lived a life of thanks-living. This attitude helped David endure years on the run, sleeping in caves and the wilderness, while being hunted like an animal to be slaughtered by Saul. Instead of becoming a victim or an old sour puss, David allowed God to use all this to make him into one of the greatest kings to ever walk the earth.

Thanks-living is not living in denial. It is not the same as denying the pain of a situation or pretending that everything is fine when it really is not. Thanks-living is being able to be thankful in spite of our circumstances because we choose to look at our life and circumstances through the filter of God’s love and goodness. Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Thessalonica 5:18,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 175 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

The First Thanksgiving

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 175 of our Trek, and yesterday we located the 7-mile markers to boost your gratitude. Today I will share additional details around the Blessings of the First Thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode is being released the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and if things go according to our plan, we should have most of the leaves harvested. I will update you with those details once it is accomplished.

The sinusitis or cold that I have been battling for over a week now is finally starting to wane although it has really zapped my energy this week, which is unusual. I spoke with my brother Jack today, and his family has had the same type of cold. He also mentioned that it has really drained him of energy also. It is good to know that soon I will be back to normal, or at least normal for me.

It is time to head out on our trek for today. As we hike, it is a time to remember all the blessings in our own lives and discover how the first Thanksgiving Day was established. I will share this story with you so that we can remember it, gain wisdom from it, and apply it to creating our living legacy. Our story today is…

Remember the Blessings of the First Thanksgiving

This week Americans across the country will sit down and devour their turkey dinner with all the trimmings, including pumpkin pie. Some will bow their heads and say a humble "thank you" to God for their blessings of the year while others will just dive in and eat. Regardless of your family's practice, most people agree that this is one of our country's most popular and enjoyable holidays. But how many of us talk about the history of this particular holiday that makes it so unique? Let's do that right now!

Thanksgiving is our oldest national holiday and is the only holiday in the United States decreed by a joint resolution of both houses of Congress and yearly proclamations by our presidents. Each proclamation has expressed gratitude to God, making Thanksgiving the only holiday of a religious nature that seems to be politically correct today. Thanksgiving is a holiday that can be celebrated without religious reservation by Jews, Christians (Roman Catholics and Protestants of all denominations), Muslims, or, for that matter, followers of any religion practiced in the United States. While a few other countries have similar celebrations, Thanksgiving as we know it is a holiday observed only in the United States. It truly is unique.

From our earliest days in school, we have heard the story of that first Thanksgiving. Having arrived in the United States after a very difficult sea voyage that took much longer than expected, a group of 102 people (44 men and 58 women and children) made their way to shore. It was on Dec. 21, 1620, and the bitter cold of winter had already set in.

They took shelter for the winter in a makeshift building that the men had gone ashore and built during the previous weeks. They had intended to land in Jamestown, VA, where friends and relatives were expecting them and had made arrangements for getting them settled. But because of ship repairs and problems of navigation that resulted in their being considerably off course and spending several extra weeks trying to find Virginia, the ship finally dropped anchor for the winter at Plymouth, Mass., far north of their intended destination.