I missed posting last Thursday evening because I was picking my daughter Abigail up from the airport, got caught in some road construction delays on the way back and needed to go to bed when we got home at 1:30AM :)
But I have much to be thankful for, and wanted to make sure I took the time to express my gratitude today
It's Christmas time, so at the top of my list is thankfulness for God's amazing gift in sending His Son to be the Savior of the world
The baby born in a humble stable, grew into manhood, and was crucified as a common reprobate even though He committed no crime.
But the good news! He rose from the dead to live eternally with God the Father, and because He lives, He offers life to all who believe in His name.
I'm thankful for this expression of God's love and for His forgiveness offered to a sinner like me
I'm thankful all our kids were able to come home to spend time together over the last week and a half. Although they didn't all come at the same time, there was overlap so that we could celebrate together.
Thankful too for extended family that was in town for Christmas, and for our neighbor's generosity in allowing us to use her home to house out of town guests while she was visiting her daughter in Florida
Our kids would be nonexistent if it wasn't for God showing me favor in a huge way by giving me my wife, Chris, with whom I get to celebrate 33 years of marriage tomorrow!! She is a gem, for which I am extremely grateful
When I looked at the temperature outside this morning, it made me very thankful for a roof over my head and a furnace that works.
I'm thankful for time spent this morning playing piano and guitar and singing together. Grateful for the gift of music. It has filled our home even more than usual these last few days
One of the big events of this past year has been relocating Chris' parents and getting their home of 50+ years ready to put on the market. Our prayer was that God would provide a buyer who would want to purchase it before the end of the year. We are thankful for the way He answered that prayer. The house went to settlement last Wednesday, the 20th. So glad to have that behind us.
The God of grace has shown His faithfulness over and over again in our lives as we walked through 2017, and so on this last Thursday of the year, I pause to give Him praise.
As the angels declared so many years ago, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men..."
May you know His peace in the coming year and give Him the glory He alone deserves
