Thankful Thursday

after 6 1/2 weeks, I started back to work yesterday

I'm thankful for the time God gave me to invest in family and friends

but I'm also thankful to be back into a somewhat normal routine 

and I'm grateful for the work God has provided

last week we did some traveling, visiting my sister and her family and also our son

I'm thankful for family

thankful for conversations I had with my sister, her son, and my son

it's always good to catch up with family

I'm thankful for a vehicle that runs well and for safety as we drove 

whenever I get done with a trip like that, I'm reminded of God's promise to be a shield about me

we had the opportunity to do church online with our son, and heard an encouraging and challenging message on friendship

I'm thankful for the friends God has placed in my life

thankful for the impact they have had on me

and as we were reminded in the sermon that God is a friend who sticks closer than any other, I'm so grateful for the truth that Jesus is a friend of sinners

I'm thankful He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for my sin

thankful I've been rescued out of darkness into His marvelous light

one of my friends made me a gift this past week; its a piece of wood with a cross burned into it and some read paint spattered around the cross.  When he gave it to me, he told me to put it in my van as a reminder that it's all about the cross.

I'm thankful for the cross; it's all I have to boast in

I'm thankful salvation is a gift, not something I had to earn

I got a rather crude text message today; it was a reminder that there are still many out there who are lost and in need of God's touch of grace

I'm thankful He gives me opportunities to be a conduit of His love and grace to those around me

thankful God invites me to partner with Him as His ambassador, spreading the message of reconciliation

the longer I live on this earth, the more I long for the day when I will finally be home

I'm thankful this is not my final destination, thankful for the hope I have in Jesus

so grateful there is a day coming when I will see Him face to face

Thankful Thursday

it's been a while since I've written my Thankful Thursday post

although I've been laid off for over a month, I've managed to keep fairly busy, and end up falling asleep on the couch most evenings

I'm thankful for the doors of opportunity God has been opening for me to serve others during this time of lay off

This week, I had the chance to help a friend from church do some wiring in his garage, help my prayer partner build a tennis wall and take down a bunch of trees, help another friend from church with some minor home repairs

I'm also thankful for the increased time I've been able to spend with my wife this past month

I love being with her, talking through decisions together, praying together, and going for walks together 

she is one of God's perfect gifts to me, and I'm very grateful for the 35+ years we've had to spend together

I've been working on some new songs, and enjoying time at the piano

I'm thankful for music and the ability to use it in praising my God

I'm thankful for God's holiness--that's the focus of the latest song I've written

I'm thankful He reveals Himself in so many ways

as I've been reading through the Psalms, I've been struck by God's magnificence described there

I'm thankful God is near and not far off

thankful He is a God who involves Himself in the lives of His children

thankful He is a loving and faithful Father

I'm thankful God tells me not to be fearful

as I look around me in these challenging times, and see the number of people who are ruled by fear, it's a reminder that God changes everything

I'm thankful for His transforming work in my life

thankful He lifted me out of darkness and despair to live in the light with hope 

I'm thankful God's plans are always good

He knows what is best for me, and promises to guide me in the path of righteousness

I'm so grateful I don't need to figure out the road ahead

He goes before me and behind me; He is all around me

thankful He is a shield about me; the lifter of my head

I'm thankful God is my provider; He gives generously without finding fault for my needs

How reassuring it is to know that God knows my needs even before I ask, and most of the time has already started the process of providing

I'm thankful God pours out His mercy and grace on me every day

and thankful He is working in my heart to show others the same grace I've received

Thankful Thursday

I drove almost a thousand miles today

up until Tuesday evening, the plan was to drive quite a bit less than that

But Scripture tells me that I can make plans, but God can change those plans

and ultimately, He is the One who directs my path

I'm thankful I serve a God who is big enough to handle the twists and turns my life takes

thankful that in the midst of all of this He remains faithful

thankful God is a shield about me

at one point this afternoon, while my wife was giving me a brief break in the driving, I awoke from sleep thinking we were about to crash

it is such a rude awakening; heart pounding, adrenaline spiking, fear attacking my mind

not unlike many moments in life

I'm thankful it was only a dream

thankful that after a few moments my spirit calmed

thankful for the calming influence of God's Spirit

we spent the last 8 days with our daughter and her family out in Missouri

it was such a blessing to bond with our grandson

thankful for time to invest in each of their lives

thankful for conversations with my son-in-law

thankful for the chance to work on a couple projects together

thankful to be able to use my carpentry skills to make a few repairs

I am glad to be back home, but also sad that I had to change my plans to visit my other daughter and her husband, down in Louisiana, due to this pandemic

I'm thankful I can trust God that He has a purpose in allowing for this change of plans

I'm thankful He is never surprised, never has to say, "Oops, how did that happen?"

I've been watching some challenging videos recently on my role as a man and a husband

I'm thankful for the instruction God gives me in His word

thankful He has provided a guide book for life

thankful I don't have to guess at what He desires for me

thankful for godly men who help me interpret God's instructions 

I'm thankful for friends who hold me accountable to living out those instructions

for friends who pray for me and speak words of blessing into my life

I'm thankful for a wife who encourages me to be all that God has intended me to be

I'm thankful for God's forgiveness and grace which He demonstrates so frequently when I find myself getting sideways to His desires for me

I'm thankful for a God who is merciful

thankful that "mercy triumphs over judgment."

oh how desperately I need God's mercy and grace

I'm thankful He has an endless supply for me and for all peoples

I'm thankful I get to climb into my own bed tonight

getting ready to head there soon!