Thankful Thursday

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

I am thankful for God's word

thankful for the way it encourages me

thankful for the way God uses it to prod me

today was one of those days...

but as I faced some challenging situations, the verses I've been memorizing in James 1 kept coming to mind

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials

and I had to make a choice

would I just be a hearer of those words, or a doer

I'm thankful I can turn to God in those times and acknowledge my struggles

confess my need for His intervention

and then persevere

I'm thankful He gives grace for the trials

I'm thankful God uses testing to produce endurance and maturity in my life

It's not always easy, and certainly not always fun

but He walks with me every step of the way

so I get to jump back into it tomorrow

and I know I can only approach it joyfully with God's help

but I also know that's His desire for me

and I want to walk in obedience

I'm thankful God rewards me when I do

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for life!

I was born on this day, 59 years ago

and I've experienced many an adventure between then and now

I'm thankful God drew me to Himself almost 40 years ago 

thankful for the second birth I've been given

thankful life is more than just my time on this earth

I'm thankful for bosses who wanted to help me celebrate by taking me out for breakfast this morning

thankful for stimulating conversation with them

thankful they love the Lord, and desire to follow Him

I'm thankful for a shorter work day today

thankful for the time I had to spend with my wife this afternoon and evening

also thankful for getting to connect with our kids via technology

I am a blessed man!

Ps. 86:12 says,

"I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and I will glorify Your name forever."

that's my desire

I don't know whether I'll live to see my next birthday or not

but while God gives me breath, I want to have a grateful heart

and give Him the honor He deserves

He is glorious, majestic, faithful, and true

He is holy and righteous, merciful and gracious

I'm thankful I have experienced His fulness and His goodness

I'm thankful God reveals Himself 

as I seek Him, He promises that I will find Him

I want His praise to be on my lips

God is worthy of all my worship

I pray He will continue to give me a heart of worship, an undivided heart

Thankful Thursday

this will be short, as it is midnight and I fell asleep on the couch once again

I'm thankful for the way God has designed our bodies to rest

work has been taxing lately, but I'm thankful that sleep helps to refresh me

God is such a perfect creator

He knew what we would need and designed us in such a way that our needs can be met

I'm thankful for work

I know there are many who don't have jobs, or if they do have a job, it's one they don't particularly enjoy

I'm blessed to be working in a job that helps bring me satisfaction

as I look at the results of my labor, I'm encouraged

God has given me skills to make changes that beautify the houses I'm working in

I'm thankful for Scripture

I've started memorizing again after a couple years of not focusing on that

I just finished memorizing Ps. 86

it is a powerful passage, with lots of descriptive language about God

I love the verse that describes God this way:

"For You are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You."

I'm so thankful God is good

I'm thankful that even though I'm not good, He extends His forgiveness to me

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

and thankful His lovingkindness reaches out to me when I call upon Him

memorizing helps me focus, gives direction to my thoughts

I'm very thankful for the power of God's word and for the positive impact it has on my life

and with that I will say, "good night"