Thankful Thursday

it has been a week of lots of windshield time

almost 20 hours of driving so far

and that's just to get to job sites to do my actual job

I'm thankful for God's hand of protection as I've been on the road

today as I was traveling home, I saw 5 state troopers with flashing lights heading south on I-83

I don't know what the situation was, but sure seemed like it must have been something bad

I know I was struggling to stay alert

but once more God came through and brought me home safely

I'm thankful every week isn't like this

I'm thankful for my wife who always expresses gladness when I arrive home

thankful for the time God gives us together

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

thankful He is my strength, my refuge, my song

I'm thankful God has opened the door for communication with Him

thankful I can enter His holy place by the blood of Jesus

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

and thankful that He responds when I call out to Him

I'm thankful for God's word; living and active, convicting and encouraging

I'm thankful for how God uses His word to guide my steps

I'm thankful for the way He reveals Himself in His word

I'm thankful God is the giver of wisdom

thankful for His peace that guards my heart and mind

thankful for joy that comes in walking with Him

I'm thankful for the love and grace God has poured out in abundance in my life

I'm thankful God is patient with me

I'm thankful He offers forgiveness when I stumble and lose my way and sin against Him

I'm thankful God is kind and gentle

I'm thankful God is my sure foundation; a solid rock on which I can build my life

I'm thankful God's mercies are new every morning

great is His faithfulness!

Thankful Thursday

it's another Thursday evening

time for some reflection and expression of gratitude

I'm thankful for God's word, living and active, powerful, life changing

thankful for God's promise that His word does not return void

it accomplishes His purposes

thankful for how God reveals Himself in His word

I'm thankful for the Living Word, Christ Jesus

I've been reading through the Gospels

taking another look at the documentation of Jesus' life

I'm thankful God sent Jesus to be our Savior and our example

I'm thankful for music

thankful for songs that put Scripture to music

thankful for how God has been bringing those songs to mind throughout my day

I love being able to worship in song as I work

I'm thankful for enjoyable work, for being able to see the fruits of my labor each day

I'm thankful for friendship

God has definitely blessed me with some solid friendships

I'm thankful for the encouragement I receive from brothers

thankful for those who pray for me regularly

I'm thankful for family

even though they are scattered around the country

I'm thankful for phone calls, FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom

thankful for the technology that allows me to stay connected with family

thankful too for visits from family

I'm thankful for God's peace

Life has had its twists and turns lately

but through it all there is a quiet confidence knowing God is in control

thankful He loves me and is working for my good and His glory

I'm thankful for the joy God gives as I trust Him and follow Him

I'm thankful He is the One who directs my steps

I don't know what lies around the bend

but God does and He has proved His faithfulness over and over in my life

Thankful Thursday

Yesterday was a day of prayer

a lot of time was spent seeking the Father on behalf of others

I'm so thankful God is a prayer hearing and prayer answering God

thankful He is not just some idol made of wood or stone

unable to hear or talk or move

He is alive and active

I'm thankful He is responsive when I call out to Him

and He made that known so vividly yesterday

I personally saw Him answer a number of prayers

and I received reports from others of how God answered prayer in their lives

I'm thankful God invites us to communicate with Him

and thankful for His promise that when we draw near to Him, He in turn draws near to us

One of the things I've been asking God for each morning is that He would give me a song

I'm thankful for how God is answering that prayer

there have been a number of songs running through my head the last few days

this evening when I got home from work, I sat down at the piano and played and sang for a while

I'm thankful I have the opportunity to sing praise to Him.

I've been enjoying jobs that are closer to home the past couple months

but that will be coming to an end beginning next week

I wrote the above last Thursday, but ended up falling asleep and never getting it posted

I'm thankful for sleep

thankful for the way God has designed our bodies to be refreshed by sleep

I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with our daughter and son in law this past weekend

it's always a joy to have family around

we will have more family coming in this weekend

and a gathering of some extended family on Sound

I'm thankful for the bond God gives us as families

as I see the breakdown of families in our culture and the deception of redefining marriage and family, I'm grieved at how far we've fallen from God's design

I'm thankful for my faithful wife

thankful for the years God has blessed us with

thankful for each day He gives us to live and serve together

I'm thankful for the commitment we share to walk life's road together 

it's not always an easy path, but God gives us grace for each twist and turn

thankful He is our strength

thankful He is the glue that holds us together

I'm thankful God is a shield about us, He is the lifter of our heads

I'm thankful God establishes my path and directs my steps as I depend on Him

I'm thankful for the peace God offers

peace that goes beyond my comprehension

thankful for the way it guards my heart and mind

I'm thankful for joy

I'm thankful for quiet moments to sit and reflect on God's goodness and faithfulness