I told a friend that one day I was going to write a post entitled Love and Gratitude. Though I have written many posts regarding love and gratitude, I haven’t entitled one as such until now. As it happened one early morning, I was awakened with a phone call I’ve been waiting for for sometime. It involved good news and also not so good news. You might ask, how is that? Well, allow me to tell you. The good news out weighted the bad news by a million miles! But still that little itty bitty not so good news was trying to make its way to the forefront of my thoughts more so than needed.

However, after meditating on that call, I was reminded of the scripture, “Why are you cast down O my soul, and why are you in turmoil with me? hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11 ESV). When I thought of those words, I was engulfed by God’s love for me and in that moment experienced so much gratitude that I was no longer thinking about the itty bitty not so good news any more. That’s what the love of God does for us. His love out weighs and over shadows everything that we may encounter, hear, or could possibly fear. So rest in His love. You will come to understand that God’s love helps us to remember, there is always something to be thankful for.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1 ESV).

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for the assurance and comfort found in your great love.

With love and gratitude, may the blessings of the Lord be with you always :)!

Books:

• Something to Thank About from A to Z: xulonpress.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com

• Sacred and Intimate Lives of Husbands and Wives: amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Have you notice in Los Angeles the last few days in July have been very bright days? The sun is shining most of the day. If you’re like me, it is great to see these days after experiencing May gray and June gloom. July couldn’t have come too soon! Having thought on the brightness of this day, and having read in the book of Hebrews about the brightness of God’s glory, I felt a sense of awe! My heart became filled with gratitude when I considered whom the Hebrew writer was referring to as the Brightness of God’s Glory; none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

That said, have you experienced the brightness of God’s glory? In other words, have you had an experience with Jesus? Have you accepted Him into your heart as Savior? If you have, you know Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory. None can turn the light on and shine in and through hearts like Him. I do understand, however, it is unavoidable that we will undergo dark times in our lives. For this reason, I encourage you to keep Jesus as the bright spot in your lives. He is there to help you see your way through the darkness that tries to overtake you.

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3 ESV).

“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned’ (Matthew 4:16).

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12, ESV).

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for your light in my life, in Jesus name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always :)!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

There is a popular game show called Password. I really enjoy watching this show. I find myself being glued to the tube listening for the clues given by the contestants. I always have a clue in my mind as well as an answer. When my team guesses correctly, I feel proud to be on that winning team.

That said, there is another team I’m proud to be on. This team is called Pass the Word. This is an exiting team because there is no guessing required, only an absolute knowing. To participate on this team, it is required that you have a clear knowledge and understanding of the word. You may have already guessed, the word I’m referring to is none other than the Word of God. I also would like to mention, if you haven’t been passing on God’s Word, you can start today. It’s easy. Simply pass along a word of love, joy, and peace. Pass the word of gentleness, meekness, and compassion. From my experiences, words like these are often received.

Just so you’ll know, the difference between the game of Password and the team Pass the Word, is that Pass the Word is not a game, it’s a gift. It is a gift of passing on encouragement to someone who may be discouraged; a lift to someone who may be down; hope to someone who may be feeling hopeless. For these reasons, and more, I pray you will gift someone today by passing on the Word of God that they, too, may experience a brighter day.

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but is shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 ESV

“The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63, ESV

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24: 35 ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for the power of your Word that brings life and encouragement to my soul and others, in Jesus name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

So, here it is the first day of June, 2024, and God is reminding me through Scripture… to be still. I thank Him for bringing me back to the realization that being too busy can gear me from being still in the sense that pleases Him. For this reason, I pray in June to make more room for stillness, without tiredness; a stillness that honors Him.

You see, yesterday, while spending time at the beach, I took notice of the seagulls. I noticed how they weren’t flying around. They were being still; just sitting there facing the ocean. That said, the first day of June, I was also reminded through my Bible App’s ‘Verse of the Day’ to be still; to quiet myself. To stop being in a hurry; not to rush. Take a time out.

Certainly, May seemed to have gone by me like a whirlwind! This caused me to asked myself several questions: Could this have been because of my busy schedule? Or, could it have been because of a lack of stillness in my life? Or, perhaps, maybe, a sign of the times? When I look back, however, it could very well have been all three. Pondering those thoughts, I can’t tell you how grateful I was to be reminded still… to simply be still.

Again, looking back on May, I was quite busy. Besides from writing, I was also getting opportunity after opportunity to go here and be there. I even confessed to a dear friend that I wasn’t a good manager of my time during this month. I didn’t even write at least one post on my website. That being said, even though I stilled myself at times, it was mostly because of being too tired from being too busy. As a result of this, I went to the beach to wind down and to settle myself. To my surprise, observing the seagulls, God gave me that welcomed revelation of my own state of being, the need to be still, without tiredness. What can I say! God is mighty good that way :)!

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for your revelations in my life to be still. And please, Dear Lord, help me to be still with the stillness that pleases you, in Jesus name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

It’s amazing what thoughts can come to mind when thinking about something as simple as a childhood racing game. Today I was thinking about this game, “On your mark! Get set! Go!” Are you familiar with these simple commands? I am. As a child these are the words shouted out when I would compete in a race. At the beginning of the race whether it was running, sack racing, or jumping, I wanted to be the one to get to the finish line first :)! I believe many of us have engaged in this game in one form or another. The object is to get to the finish line first. Remember, that’s just a game, not real life. In real life it doesn’t matter who gets to the finish line first. The goal should be simply to get there. But in order to get there, there are several things that must take place as we can pull from this fun and exciting game.

First, you must get on your mark. Not another person’s mark, mind you, your mark. That means to get in position. Get in focus on your goal. No distractions lies here. Next, you must get set! Here you must be firm. Intentional. Determined. Decisive. Unmovable. Steadfast. Ready! And lastly, you must go! That is, you must start. Begin the process. Proceed. Get moving. Pursue. No stopping. Keep moving until you have reached your goal. With that said, if you have something you’re working toward, I hope you have been encouraged to get on your mark! Get set! Go!

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1Corinthians 15:58 ESV

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for encouraging me through your Word and everyday life to continue the work you have called me to do. I pray to get on my mark, get set, and go towards the plan you have laid out for me, in Jesus’s name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

By Hertistine Washington /keeponthanking.com

As you may know March is Women’s History Month, and today is International Women’s Day, March 8. This month women are being celebrated and appreciated all over the world. Certainly we are grateful for those women who have stood the test of time, and for their many achievements which have made a significant difference in our lives today. To name them all would be an impossible task for me. The reason being, just as there are many women well known for their impact on history, there are just as many women unknown who have inspired the lives of others to pursue their dreams.

So today, we not only celebrate women who are well known all over the world, but also those that are not. These are the unknown women to the world who lived beneath the radar. We also salute and celebrate you. You may know some… your grandmother, mother, aunt, auntie mom, friend, mentor, or even a daughter who is not known or been heard of on the world stage, but definitely have made a difference in your family history. We also celebrate you. We celebrate all you went through to make it possible for your father, mother, child, sister, brother and others to soar to higher heights and deeper depts. That said, I hope you remember to celebrate that special woman/women in your life today… and always!

“She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Proverbs. 3:15, ESV

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31: 29-31, ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord I will keep on thanking you for using women of yesterday, today, and tomorrow for the difference they make in our lives for the better, in Jesus’ name, amen.

May the blessings of the LORD be with you always!

Happy International Women’s Day!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Permit me to begin by saying, I thank God for His daily comfort. For there is no comfort like His. In many ways He shows me His comfort through the very things I seek to gain comfort from in my life. When I shop for a couch, I’m hoping to find the most comfortable couch there is. When I seek for a mattress for my bed, I’m determined to find the one that gives me the most comfort. When I buy a pillow, I’m certainly looking for a comfortable one to lay my head. When I seek a car (besides its reliability and a reasonable cost), I’m definitely feeling for comfort.

Seeing that comfort is so important to me, I hope to never take it for granted, and to always be grateful for the comforts in my life. I also urge you not to take your comfort for granted. In a nutshell, where I can find comfort that’s where I want to be. It helps me to rest better so I can think better and do better. It also gives me a confident feeling of satisfaction that everything is already alright. That said, the Holy Bible tells us we can always find comfort in God by the way of His Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He’s not only here to guide, keep, and sustain us, but also be our helper and comforter. He gives, provides, supplies, and readily has available all the comfort we need to trust and rest easy in Him.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26, ESV

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

Please pray with me: I will keep on thanking God for His daily comfort in Jesus’ name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Valentine’s Day is passed. Celebrating Black History is still going on. Here’s a sweet note to encourage you to stay positive and strong.

Dear Readers,

When the sweetness of the candies have been consumed, and the flowers have withered away, I hope you can still say, I’m having a great day.

During this Black History Month, as we continue to remember those who paved the way, I hope we can visualized the bright light that guided them to the light of day; the light of hope, the light for freedom, and justice for all! People like Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and many more.

As we celebrate their memories in a grateful and uplifting way, let us not forget the ‘One’ who made the way possible for them, and also for us today. Yes, Jesus is His name. And on that sweet note, we are thankful He cleared the way for us that we might live a better day.

As one songwriter wrote, “He’s Sweet I Know.”

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 ESV

“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever, the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:9-10 ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for your sweet loving care in the past, present, and future, in Jesus name amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

because of many we get to live another day.

This little tip is for all Lovers: Lovers of God and lovers of God’s people.

I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day where you don’t need to ASK for love, but be the recipient of the ACT of love. Or, simply, the giver of an ACT of love. Both are a blessing.

Remember, genuine love works whether we’re working with it or not. Nothing is able to stop the power or true love.

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14 ESV

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” St. John 15:12 ESV

Please pray with me: I will keep on thanking God for His great love, and for showing me how to love Him and all mankind in Jesus name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com

Have you prayed today? Who did you pray to? What did you pray for? Why did you pray? What was your prayer focus? These are just a few questions that come to mind as I get in the posture for prayer. I also hope you consider them when you get alone with God in prayer because prayer is important. It is how we as Christians communicate with God our Father everyday. These questions along with the thought “if I just pray” rested in my spirit today. If I Just Pray, meaning if I ‘will’ pray. Here is the result:

If I just pray, God promises to listen, and to provide answers to my prayers.

If I just pray, I will be comforted and grow in strength and faith in Him.

If I just pray, I will be less anxious and grow in confidence in God.

If I just pray, God will help me to see things in a better way.

If I just pray, God will direct me in watchfulness, prayerfulness, and in steadfastness.

If I just pray, I will be like a tree planted by the the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season.

If I just pray, God promises to be present.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” 1 John 5:14 ESV

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 ESV

Please pray with me: Dear Lord, I will keep on thanking you for the privilege and opportunities to prayer, in Jesus name, amen.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always!

By Hertistine Washington / keeponthanking.com