Thankful Thursday

It's Thanksgiving

and although I frequently post a list of things I'm thankful for on Thursday evenings

I'm usually reflecting on the previous week

today I had time to ponder God's goodness in my life over the last year

Ps. 86 tells us that the Lord is good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth

how grateful I am for those statements

I'm thankful that God is good and that He pours out good on His people

I'm thankful God never intends for anything to promote evil

He takes even the least desirable situations and uses them for my good and His glory

I'm thankful God is a forgiving and merciful God

because He is good, He desires for His people to be good also

I'm thankful for the blood of Christ that washes me clean

thankful that His sacrifice on the cross made forgiveness possible

thankful I am now clothed in His righteousness

it's God's lovingkindness that allows Him to forgive

it's His lovingkindness that gives Him patience when I stumble and fall

I'm thankful for the abundance of God's love for me

His love never runs out or dries up

I'm thankful God is governed by truth

there is no falsehood in Him

I'm thankful God always keeps His word

another verse in Ps. 86 says God is abundant in lovingkindness to all who call on Him

I'm so thankful for the channel of communication God has opened up for me

I can call on Him at any time knowing His ears are always open to my prayers

as I looked back over the past year today

I realized just how good and forgiving and loving God has been over the last 12 months

as I shared with family today, there were a few times this past year when I didn't know whether my wife would continue to walk by my side

she had quite a few health complications since last Thanksgiving

but God has preserved her life

He has shown me such favor

I'm thankful for each day we've been given

I'm thankful for opportunities to serve my wife as she has traveled down some difficult roads

and I'm thankful God has walked each of those roads with us

I'm thankful God continues to give me a song

I'm thankful for God's protection on the road and on the job site over this past year

there have been a few situations where the outcome could have been a lot different

but God has been a shield about me

He is the lifter of my head

I'm so thankful God calls me His beloved son, wraps me in His merciful arms and lights my path

teach me Your way, O Lord; unite my heart to fear Your name