Thankful Thursday

I typically am driving anywhere from an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and 40 minutes to my job sites each day.

I often talk with my mom when I'm driving home at the end of the day, and she expresses concern about how far I have to travel

not too long ago, she told me she was praying that I would get work closer to home

last week one day, I worked in Lancaster City, about 15 minutes from my house

and this week I started a job in Ephrata, 20 minutes from home

it's a pretty involved job, so I'll probably be there for a couple weeks

I must say, although I don't mind the travel, it is nice to be working so close to home

I'm thankful for a mom who is concerned and who prays

I'm thankful for shorter work days, especially right now when my son is in town

I'm thankful for my wife

she's my best friend, and my biggest supporter

I'm thankful for her words of encouragement

she definitely has a gift in saying things that brighten my day

I'm thankful for her servant's heart

I reap that benefits of that often, but I know there are many others who do as well

I'm thankful for her love for the Lord, and her commitment to serving Him

I'm thankful for a milder winter

I enjoy walks with my wife, but usually don't do a lot of that in the wintertime, just because I don't like going out walking when it's cold and blowing

but there have been quite a few days this winter when I've asked my wife if she wants to go for a walk.  And she's always eager to do that

I'm thankful for the conversations we can have when we are out walking, away from the computer and the phones

I'm thankful for our times of praying together

and I know she prays for me throughout the day also

I'm very thankful for a wife who takes me before the Father often

and I'm thankful that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father 

I surely need all the prayer I can get

I'm thankful God hears and responds when we cry out to Him

I'm thankful He is faithful and true

Thankful Thursday

had some neat interaction with a friend from Louisiana today

he's going through a rough time, needing to be off work for 6 weeks

that's especially challenging since he owns his own business with quite a few employees

at one point, he said, "God has a way of whipping you into shape."

I'm thankful God is involved in my life, investing in me, prodding me when I need it, pushing me toward growth and maturity

I'm thankful He is a God who is near

in a world where people tend to lean toward isolation, I'm thankful for the relationships God has provided and the people He puts in my path

I was talking with a coworker during lunch about how as christians we continue to move toward holiness and don't give up even though we know we won't be perfect until we see Jesus face to face

sometimes I'm tempted to just throw in the towel when I get something wrong for the umpteenth time

but I'm thankful for God's Spirit who continues to encourage me and pick me up when I stumble and fall

I'm thankful God offers His forgiveness 

I'm thankful He is a God of mercy and grace, that He is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth

I'm thankful God is a shield about me and the lifter of my head

recently, it seems I've been seeing more and more accidents on the road

I'm thankful for God's protection

whenever I think about all the miles I put on my vehicles and the importance of staying alert and cautious, I'm especially thankful God is in control, not me

His hand guides me, covers me, and at times disciplines me

God is trustworthy

I'm thankful He knows the future, He can see around the next bend in the road

I'm thankful God is preparing me for what lies ahead

I'm thankful for the way God uses His word to instruct and encourage me

Thankful Thursday

It's been a while since I captured my thoughts on thankfulness here

I've struggled to be consistent recently, not because there's little to be thankful for, but because I find myself fighting sleep in the evenings when I get home from work and sit down on the couch

I am thankful for my job

thankful for work that is consistent

thankful that at the end of the day, I know I've put in the effort and made some improvement

I'm thankful for a bed to sleep in

I don't have any problem with insomnia

I'm thankful I can lay down in peace and sleep knowing God is here with me

I'm thankful God is the author and sustainer of life

thankful He is preparing a place or me to live eternally

I'm thankful He has adopted me into His family, and calls me His son

I'm thankful God is forgiving and redemptive

thankful He extends His grace to me every day

I'm thankful God is a shield about me

thankful I have no need to fear

when circumstances become difficult and the way ahead unclear, I'm thankful my God is a rock and a sure foundation

I'm thankful God provides counsel and direction

thankful He is an example I can pattern my life after

I'm thankful He has blessed me with family and friends

thankful I don't have to walk this journey of life alone

I'm thankful God is a God who is near and not far off

thankful He has provided a means of communicating with Him through prayer

thankful He speaks through His word

I'm thankful He opens the eyes of the blind, makes the dumb to speak, and the deaf to hear

may His voice always be clear