Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for me to stop for a few minutes and focus on what I have to be thankful for

there's a sign on my dining room table that reads, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough"

and yesterday morning I was reading from Ps. 23, and was once again struck by the statement, 

"The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want."

Implied in that statement is the idea that God is enough

the psalmist is expressing his satisfaction with who God is and what He does for him

I'm thankful Jesus is the Good Shepherd

thankful He is a leader

thankful He is a provider

a shepherd doesn't leave his sheep to fend for themselves, or find their own way

in that same way, God is not far off and clueless as to my needs

He is the God who is near

He knows me intimately, every detail, every thought and word, every action

I'm thankful God is all-knowing and all-seeing

I'm thankful He is the giver of every good thing

this morning, in a company meeting, I learned that as of June 13, I will once again be laid off from my job.

As I've processed this throughout the day, I've come to the conclusion that this time is a gift

God is entrusting it to me

and His desire for me is that I would be a good steward of this gift

so I have 4 weeks to prepare

I'm prayerfully considering how to make the most of this time that I will have

I want to use it for God's glory

I'm thankful that financially I am in a position of preparedness for this type of situation

thankful I don't have to worry about that part of the equation

I was sharing with a brother this evening that my bigger concern is with not self-destructing during a period of a lack of routine

I'm thankful I have brothers who stand with me and support me in standing firm

I'm thankful I have God's word to lean on and learn from

I'm thankful God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever

He is unchanging, unshakable; He is mighty to save

He is the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness

I'm so grateful He has made a way for me to be in relationship with Him

thankful He drew me out of darkness into His marvelous light

thankful He removed the scales from my eyes so that I can see Him and know Him

I'm thankful He always keeps His word

there's a peace that comes in the midst of the storm when Jesus is in the boat with me

and His promise is that He will never leave me or forsake me

I just need to trust Him!