Thankful Thursday

 

 

It's Thursday evening, and as I reflect on the week, I have a heart that is filled with gratitude

 

On Monday, our nation celebrated Memorial Day

 

I am thankful for the many who have made sacrifices for the freedoms I enjoy

 

Even more importantly, I am very thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made in going to the cross so that I could experience spiritual freedom

 

Although it is wonderful to live in a country where freedom is commonplace, I know this world is not my final destination

 

And I won't be completely free until I stand one day before my Lord and hear Him welcoming me home

 

I'm grateful for the truth of John 3:16--"God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

 

I'm thankful for the mercy my heavenly Father has shown me; indeed His mercies are new every morning

 

I'm thankful for a God who delights in reconciling people to Himself

 

I'm thankful salvation is a free gift that is not dependent on my actions

 

I'm thankful God promises to complete this work of transformation He has begun in my life

 

Every morning when I wake up, I'm reminded of how desperately I need a Savior

 

And I rejoice in His goodness and faithfulness to me

 

I'm thankful for how abundantly God has blessed me

 

The wisest man who ever lived said that the man who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.  I'm thankful for the expression of God's favor that my wife, Chris is in my life

 

Scripture also tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord.  And I'm thankful for the three children God gave us through birth and the son He's given us through marriage.

 

Tonight, my heart is filled with contentment and gratitude

 

And I know it's not because of any merit of my own, but rather because God has rescued me out of darkness into His glorious light

 



Thankful Thursday

 

 

I've been reading in John 3 recently

 

It contains a very interesting conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus

 

Nick comes to Jesus at night

 

and starts off the conversation claiming to know that Jesus has come from God

 

Jesus doesn't pull any punches, but flat out tells him that he, nor anyone else, can't even recognize the kingdom of God unless they are born again

 

that's quite the challenging statement

 

I'm thankful that I have been born again

 

thankful God has opened my eyes to be able to see His kingdom

 

I'm grateful that even in my moments of weakness

 

God continues to intervene and bring growth and healing

 

I'm thankful He offers me forgiveness

 

I'm thankful that because of my belief, I'm now given the right to be a child of God

 

I'm thankful that even before time began, God put in motion the plan to save the world

 

As Jesus put it, just like Moses had to put the brazen serpent up on a pole where all the people infected by snake bites could see it and be healed, in the same way He would be lifted up on a cross to bring healing to all who believe.

 

I'm thankful God looks on me with compassion

 

allows His mercy to guide His responses

 

and reveals His grace and truth

 

I'm thankful God delights in reconciling people to himself

 

I'm thankful He sent Jesus, not to condemn the world, but to save

 

I'm thankful God's gift of love is freely offered to all

 

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

 



Thankful Thursday

I drove for 13 hours yesterday

Pennsylvania to Missouri

I'm thankful for a safe journey

There were a couple scary moments

But God was providing a shield of protection around our vehicle

I'm thankful for the opportunity to be with my kids

I got to work with my son, Adam, today

What a joy to share that time with him preparing for a weekend of ministering to junior high aged boys

I'm thankful for the commitment Carl has to invest in the lives of young men

and thankful I get to participate this year

I'm thankful my daughter, Abigail, will also be joining us

she flies in tomorrow evening

our whole family will be together on Saturday

and Chris will get to see all the kids on Mother's Day

I'm thankful for the family God has blessed me with

thankful for the work He is doing in each of their lives

grateful for His grace that overcomes my failures as a parent

I continue to see God's hand of provision as I seek full time employment

I'm thankful for His faithfulness

thankful for relationships He has allowed me to build

and the way He uses those relationships to provide new connections

I'm looking forward to what He has in store for the next stage of my life

I know I can trust Him 

I'm thankful for that confidence and assurance

Each day, as I experience God's goodness I'm reminded of how much I truly have to be thankful for

Praise His holy name!

Thankful Thursday

 

 

Today was the national day of prayer

 

I am thankful for prayer

 

thankful for the confidence that when I pray, God hears and responds

 

I'm thankful God invites us to communicate with Him through prayer

 

I'm thankful for the power that is unleashed when we pray

 

God is infinite, I am finite

 

He is powerful, I am weak

 

God is wise, I am foolish

 

He is unchanging, I get distracted and swayed by the next whim that catches my attention

 

God is faithful, even when I am faithless

 

He is the One who calms my fears

 

He calms the storms of life

 

He graciously provides and protects

 

I am thankful God has chosen me to be His son and adopted me into His family

 

I'm thankful God loves sinful men and offers forgiveness through the blood of His Son, Jesus

 

For the past 20 years or so, I have prayed daily with my wife

 

I'm thankful for a life companion who supports and encourages me in my relationship with my heavenly Father

 

I know that many of the blessings I have received are a result of her faithful prayers for me

 

I'm thankful for my kids who regularly pray for me

 

I'm thankful for friends who speak to God on my behalf

 

I'm thankful Jesus intercedes for me at the right hand of the Father

 

while He walked this earth, He had a lot to say about prayer

 

He modeled the need for getting alone with God

 

He taught His disciples to pray

 

He told them what results they would see if they had the faith to ask

 

I'm thankful God's ears are always open to my cries

 

and to yours...