Thankful Thursday

I got pulled over by a police officer this morning

when I saw him make a U turn and hit his lights, I wondered what I had done wrong

Turns out there was a driving law I was unaware of

I was talking with my wife on the phone with my ear buds on

he informed me that it was against the law to drive while wearing earbuds

I told him I did not realize that, and asked some clarifying questions

he gave me a warning. showed me the section in his code book and told me to have a nice day

i'm thankful for grace  

especially thankful he didn't give me the $142.00 ticket he could have!

I'm sure there are more laws like that, that I unknowingly break from time to time

and unfortunately, there are also some laws that I sometimes just choose to ignore

I'm thankful God has given me a code book, the Bible, so I will know what He requires of me

and I'm thankful He extends grace to me when I stumble along and fail to live up to His standards

I'm thankful He offers forgiveness as I confess my sin to Him

I'm thankful I can ask clarifying questions, and He patiently directs my thoughts to understand His desires for me

As I was driving through the country today, the colors of autumn were very vivid

I'm thankful for the beauty God has created all around me

and thankful for eyes to see that beauty

I read a verse in Psalms recently that talked about God opening the eyes of the blind

and we are told in Scripture that the devil attempts to blind the eyes of the unbelieving so that won't recognize the truth

I'm thankful God, in His mercy, opened my blind eyes and revealed Himself to me

thankful He continues to open the eyes of my understanding so that I can see Him more clearly

I'm thankful for the many ways He shows up in my life

and I'm thankful that one day I will stand before Him and see Him in all of His glory and have the opportunity to worship Him forever

all creation shouts His praise

I join in that symphony of praise!

Thankful Thursday

I've been fighting a bug this week.  

I'm thankful I don't get sick very often!

But this one caught me by surprise and hit me hard

I'm thankful for a loving wife who sacrifices and serves me on a regular basis

and then goes the extra mile when I'm not feeling good

On top of that, she prepared and delivered meals to two friends who are going through difficult times right now

I am very grateful for the gift God has given me in her

She has been His hands and feet of blessing in my life for going on 35 years

and I'm sure there's a crown waiting for her when her work here is ended!

I'm thankful for a steady job, and thankful that I've had lighter duty work the last couple of days while I was feeling under the weather

I'm thankful God is a provider

He know my every need and faithfully meets those needs 

I'm thankful He gives strength for each day

I'm thankful for creation and the beauty God has placed all around me

and grateful He has given me eyes to be able to enjoy that beauty

This past weekend, we drove to upstate New York to visit family

The leaves were beautiful as we drove up through the Catskill mountains and on up into the Adirondacks

I'm thankful for the chance to connect with most of my family

I'm definitely a home body

it was good to return to my own familiar surroundings and my own bed!

I'm thankful for the home God has provided for us

yesterday was my grandson's first birthday

I'm thankful for technology that allowed us to participate in his birthday party

and especially thankful God blessed our family in giving us Hudson

even though he and his family live far away, I'm thankful for the chance to watch him grow and develop through the pictures and videos my daughter sends our way

I'm thankful for a daughter and son-in-law who are committed to training him up in God's truth

I'm thankful God's grace is sufficient for me

and thankful His power is perfected in my weakness

I'm thankful I don't have to earn my way into favor with God

eternal life with Him is a gift!

Thankful Thursday

Some days are painful

just getting out of bed in the morning can be a struggle

and then as the hours creep by, events unfold with what appears to be a downward spiral

until I'm eventually wondering if there is any hope of salvaging something positive from the day

that's when I need to focus my thoughts on God's truth

to fix my gaze on my Savior and allow His sacrificial love to sustain me

the author of Hebrews tells me to consider what Jesus has done so that I won't grow weary or lose heart

and in his letter to the Galatians, Paul encourages them to "not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary."

I'm so thankful I have a loving Father who has sacrificed much for me so that I can be in relationship with Him

I'm thankful for Jesus' willingness to obey the Father even to the point of death

I'm thankful God's grace is sufficient for everything I face

thankful that His power is perfected in my weaknesses

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

thankful He doesn't deal with me in anger as my sins deserve, but He is patient and kind

I'm thankful God's faithfulness doesn't fluctuate with my level of faith

I'm thankful God is light, He's the source of light, and therefore doesn't hide in the shadows

I'm thankful God is a rock, He is steady and sure, solid and unmovable

I'm thankful He is my Shepherd, He knows and meets all my needs

I'm thankful God is the bread of life and living water

thankful He satisfies and fills me up with Himself 

I'm thankful I have no need to fear

thankful He offers rest for the weary, refuge for the down trodden, comfort for the broken hearted, and hope for sinners

I'm thankful God enables me to take every thought captive and renews my mind

I'm thankful He gives me a song of praise

I can say with the Psalmist, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You."

Life my seem hard, and it is definitely uncertain, but God is an overcomer

so I don't need to focus on life, but rather on Him and His truth

for that I am very thankful!