Thankful Thursday

I sit here on this Thursday evening with a grateful heart

I'm thankful Jesus is my Savior

thankful He intercedes for me at the Father's right hand

thankful God is my Rock, my strength and my song

I'm thankful He provides energy for each new day

my job is definitely physically taxing, but waiting on God renews my strength

He puts a song in my heart and a smile on my face

I'm thankful for the gift of today

thankful I woke up this morning and was able to get out of bed and move about freely

I'm thankful for the friends God has gifted me with

thankful for their support through prayer and encouraging words

I'm thankful for family

my sister is visiting this week, working on some memory items with my wife

my brother-in-law will be coming over the weekend to help celebrate my father-in-law's birthday

I'm grateful for those relationships

I'm thankful for my wife, for the years we've shared

thankful for the privilege of starting each day with her in prayer

thankful for times to sing together and times to just sit together

I'm thankful God has blessed us with children (all of them adults now!)

but grateful for the contact we still have with them even though they are scattered across the country

I'm thankful for God's patience with me

thankful He holds me hand and supports me when I stumble

thankful God is forgiving and merciful

thankful for His grace, poured out abundantly in my life

I'm thankful for His word, for the instruction it provides

I'm thankful God speaks to me through His word

and thankful He shows me how to apply it in daily life

every day is a gift from God

every breath is a gift from Him

and every moment is an opportunity to honor God and give Him praise

don't miss out on the opportunities! 

Thankful Thursday

time has a way of slipping by 

sometimes I believe I'm managing my time well

at other times, I have no idea where the hours have gone and wonder if I did anything of significance during the elapsed moments

I've missed a couple weeks of making note of my blessings on Thursday evening

there's been a lot of activity here at the Horst residence

but that's no reason not to take a few moments to think on and express my gratitude

I know God delights in hearing my thanks

and He is worthy of that honor

besides my daily commute to and from job sites (on average about 100 miles a day)

we made a trip to upstate NY

our daughter and son-in-law traveled in from Missouri

our son and his girlfriend traveled up from North Carolina

I'm thankful for God's hand of protection over the many miles of highway

just this morning on my way to my job site, I came upon a tractor trailer laying on its side

and was once again reminded of God's grace and protection

I'm thankful for vehicles that operate well

thankful God gives alertness and caution in my travels

some days driving and hour and a half home after 8 hours of physically intense work my body seems to crave sleep

but God provides energy and He gives me friends who are willing to talk to help keep me awake

I'm thankful for that provision

I'm thankful for naps on the couch

and thankful for God's promise that those who wait on Him will renew their strength

I have experienced the fulfillment of that promise so many times

I'm thankful for early morning communion with God, listening to Him as He speaks to me through His word

I'm thankful for songs of praise He gives me as I work through my day

I'm thankful that His word is living and active

thankful for how He uses His word to instruct and encourage me

I'm thankful God exercises patience with me

so many times I stumble along

but because He holds my hand I'm not hurled headlong

but God picks me up and sustains me

He faithfully cares for me as a loving Father

I'm thankful God gives me opportunities to serve

and thankful for the gifts and abilities He has entrusted to me

I'm thankful He directs me in being a faithful steward of His resources

I'm fading fast

it was an especially long and taxing day

I'm thankful I have a bed to sleep in tonight

and thankful God gives sleep to His children who trust in Him

goodnight!