Thankful Thursday

I'm sitting here in Missouri

Chris and I have been enjoying an opportunity to invest time and energy with our oldest daughter and her family

I'm thankful for my two grandsons

they are a blessing from the Lord

and I'm thankful for the resources to be able to spend this time with them

it's a long drive from Pennsylvania to Missouri

but worth the effort

and I'm very grateful for God's hand of protection over those many miles

I'm also thankful for the people God has placed here to be a support system for my kids and grandkids

I'm thankful God is caring and compassionate

He knows our needs and He is a generous provider

I'm thankful for the friendships I have been able to develop with men here as well

got to spend some time with one of them this morning for a couple hours

it was a blessing to catch up and just to share how God has been working in our lives

I'm always grateful for conversations that center around making much of God and His greatness

two weekends ago, I had the privilege of playing piano for my niece's wedding

it was an honor to be asked 

I'm thankful for the gift of music God has given me, and for the ability to just play off the cuff

what was supposed to be a 30 minute prelude turned into an hour because of weather delays

I'm thankful for the chance to catch up with some family that weekend

also had some extra time with my son who drove up from North Carolina and then traveled with us to the wedding

thankful for someone to share the driving with and just for the time connecting with him

I've also been playing piano while here and singing with the family

I'm thankful for the calming effect music can have

it has helped put my youngest grandson to sleep a couple times when he was agitated

I'm thankful God answers prayer

we've had a number of ways we've seen this as we talk with our daughter and son-in-law

thankful for their trust in God to direct and provide

thankful for His faithfulness in doing that

 

Thankful Thursday

so it has been a while since I took the time to put my thoughts on thankfulness in writing

I make it a habit to express thanks to God whenever I talk with Him

but I know this focused time is beneficial

there's just times when life interrupts and I get distracted 

but James tells us that the one who knows to do good and doesn't do it is sinning

I want to avoid sin!

what am I thankful for?

God has been faithful in spite of my inconsistency 

God's mercies are new every morning

just this evening in a conversation with my wife, in a bit of frustration, she said, "Lord have mercy on me!" and I reminded her that He does, every day, His mercies are new every morning

God's timing is perfect

He knows what I need and when I need it

He is a generous supplier 

God is wise and when asked, gives me doses of wisdom out of His storehouse

God is my strength and my song

He is my Deliverer, my Redeemer

God uses my circumstances to remind me of my need of Him and assure me He is always present

God surrounds me with friends who encourage and support me

Life isn't always pretty, nor is it easy

But God gives grace in abundance

God has blessed me with family; a loving wife, children, and now a couple of grandsons

He has given me so many wonderful gifts, too numerous to count

I'm grateful for all of these things

and thankful for a God who involves Himself in my life

He is the God who is near and not far off