Thankful Thursday

 

 

For the past 3 weeks or so, I have been studying intensely and preparing for an examination for certification as a code enforcement building inspector

 

The code book that I needed to familiarize myself with is about 3" thick

 

The examination is open book, but it is a timed exam, so knowing where to look for answers is essential

 

On Tuesday morning, I took the exam.  As I started reading the questions, I realized that my preparation had been somewhat misdirected

 

I became a bit more nervous than I already had been, but continued to ask God for peace and persistence.

As I reached the end of the questions, I hit the link for ending the test with a bit of trepidation.

I was guided out of the room by the proctor, who told me that I would be given a printout at the front desk.

I am very thankful to say that when I turned over the sheet of paper that was handed to me, it said that I had passed!

I'm thankful for the support of my family and friends, who encouraged me along the way.

This is a first step in moving toward a possible transition from actually doing the physical work of construction to evaluating the work of others to insure that quality is maintained.

I'm thankful for the endurance God provided in preparing, and for the wisdom He supplied in the midst of my nervousness.  It had been nearly 30 years since I took a test like that!

I've been working on a challenging project this week as well.  Trying to restore an old barn that has been compromised in many ways.  I'm thankful for God's provision of work and His hand of safety in that work.

I'm learning to trust God.  His ways are always good.  He is faithful and true.  Even when the way is unclear, He knows the path ahead and continues to guide.

I'm so thankful that I can put my trust in Him without any reservation.

Thankful Thursday

 

 

It's almost midnight on this Thursday

 

But I have a few minutes to reflect on how much I truly have to be thankful for

 

Are my circumstances perfect?  No.

 

I could sit here and let you know what I wish were different

 

But that's not what God desires from me

 

He wants me to recognize that every good and perfect gift is from Him

 

And I am very thankful that God is a generous giver

 

He knows me; every little detail

 

and He is able to meet all my needs

 

amazingly, He sometimes gives me some of my wants as well

 

but I'm glad He doesn't always do that

 

some of the things I want aren't really good for me

 

and because God loves me so much, He withholds those things that would be detrimental to me

 

I'm thankful God is a protector

 

He guards my life

 

I'm thankful He gives me strength for each day

 

thankful He continually invests in me as His child

 

I'm thankful God speaks through His word

 

it is living and active; relevant for all of life

 

I'm thankful I have a warm and dry house; especially yesterday when the weather outside was very miserable with snow and rain falling and then the temperatures doing the falling

 

I'm thankful for a comfortable couch to sit on at the end of a long day

 

and thankful for a bed to sleep in

 

I think it's time to head there!

Thankful Thursday

 

 

It's been an interesting few weeks

 

I'm thankful for friends; I've been getting lots of calls with job suggestions

 

I am grateful for the love expressed in those calls

 

As I've talked with a number of people about my job situation, the one thing I've asked people to pray about is that God's direction would be clear

 

I have seen Him answer that request in a couple situations. 

 

I've had two interviews, and in both cases, there were things that came up in the interview that provided me with information which indicated these were not the job for me

 

I'm also thankful for the ways God has shown His faithfulness as a provider during this month.  One of those is work I have been able to pick up.  This is a blessing on a couple fronts.  One thing is that it gives me something to do to keep busy.  And it also supplies some income for meeting our financial obligations.

 

I've been spending time in the Psalms recently.  They give me lots of examples of honest expression, whether joy, sorrow, disappointment, frustration, or praise.  I know that God is an emotional being, and He has created us in His image as beings with emotions.  He doesn't want me to hide those emotions, or try to deny them.  He knows me completely anyway. 

 

I'm thankful  I can come to Him in whatever state I am and know that He is waiting with open arms ready to reveal more of Himself.

 

I'm so grateful He has a plan and purpose He wants to fulfill in me.

 

He is for me.

 

He invites me to let go of fear and trust Him.