Thankful Thursday

I've been challenged and convicted by Jesus' words to His disciples in the garden before His crucifixion

when He faced His greatest temptation and needed the support of His friends, He found them sleeping

and asked, "Couldn't you keep watch with Me for one hour?"

and then He goes on to say, "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

I'm all too familiar with that reality

I'm thankful as the psalmist says, that God is mindful that I am but dust

thankful for His loving care of me in my weaknesses

thankful God forgives me and separates me from my sin

thankful He clothes me in robes of righteousness

I'm thankful God never sleeps

thankful He never abandons me

I'm thankful God knows me completely

thankful Jesus is my intercessor

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

I'm thankful God never allows me to be tempted beyond what I can bear

thankful He always provides a way of escape

I'm thankful God delights in reconciling people to Himself

I'm thankful God enables me to walk in victory

I know that in my strength nothing good can come

but I'm thankful God gives me His strength

He is the Overcomer

God is the Victor in every battle

God is the One who makes a way for me

I'm so thankful God is the Director of my path 

I'm thankful He gives me grace for each moment

Thankful Thursday

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits:"

that's how Psalm 103 begins

it's a reminder that knowing God benefits my life

and a charge to give Him credit for who He is and all He does

from this psalm:

I'm thankful God forgives my sin

I'm thankful God is a healer

I'm thankful God has rescued me out of the pit of sin and death

I'm thankful God shows me His lovingkindness and compassion

I'm thankful God brings satisfaction in my life

I'm thankful God renews my strength

I'm thankful God is righteous

I'm thankful God takes up the cause of the oppressed

I'm thankful God makes Himself known to His people

I'm thankful God is patient; slow to anger

I'm thankful God doesn't deal with me according to my sin, but rather separates me from my sin

I'm thankful God is a loving Father

I'm thankful God knows me, understands my frailty

that's a good list to be reminding myself of often

as I think over these benefits, I'm grateful to know this God

I'm thankful He has adopted me into His family

I'm thankful God provides and protects

I'm thankful for His ongoing work in my life

a few years ago, God gave me a song from this psalm

if you're interested, you can listen to it 

if you go to bandcamp.com and then in the search for artist type in Papa's songs, it's #6, Psalm 103

there's something there about buying the track, but you can just listen for free! 

Thankful Thursday

there is so much I have to be thankful for

but it's a matter of choice

because there are plenty of things I could complain about as well

so each day, yes, even each moment, I decide

what will my focus be right now

will I choose to rejoice and be grateful

or will I allow my mind to go down the path of negativity

complaining is a natural response

because satisfaction alludes me

but gratitude is a godly response

it results from trust that God is good 

and He governs my life graciously

the results of gratitude are joy, peace, and contentment

what a place to live

I'm thankful God has rescued me out of a life of despair

He lifted me out of darkness

I'm thankful God is my strength and my song

the psalmist declared, "He has put a new song in my heart!"

and I have experienced that as well

I'm thankful for the songs God gives

thankful too for His word

I'm thankful God is a promise keeper

His word is sure

it is an anchor that holds me fast

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

He is the Author of salvation

He is the source of wisdom

He is the Bread of Life

the Living Water

I'm thankful God is faithful and true

thankful He is patient and kind

I'm thankful God's grace is sufficient for any hardship I might face

I'm thankful God's love is an everlasting love

 

Thankful Thursday

each day is a gift

I'm thankful for the gift of today

thankful God provided strength and energy to do the work He put before me today

I'm thankful for the peace that comes in trusting Him

I can only see this moment

I have memories of days gone by

and I may have ambitions for days that may come

but I can't see around the next bend

I'm thankful God can

thankful He knows the beginning from the end

thankful He is never caught by surprise

God is all knowing, all seeing, all powerful, He is ALL

I'm thankful God has chosen me to be His son

thankful He has adopted me into His family

I'm thankful God has given me a biological family

so very thankful for my loving wife

thankful God has blessed me with children--two girls and a boy

thankful they have grown into adults 

thankful for my two sons-in-law

thankful for my grandsons

I'm thankful for my faith family

thankful for brothers who encourage and challenge me

thankful for friends who go to the Father on my behalf

I'm thankful for shelter

the weather's been a bit crazy lately

thankful for a roof over my head, a furnace that gives heat, water to drink and wash with

I'm thankful for health

it seems that often I take things like that for granted

but when there's something missing, appreciation for what I have rises to the fore

I want to live a life of gratitude

I want to be known for having a rejoicing heart rather than a complaining spirit

I'm thankful God continues to open my eyes to new recognition of the many ways He has poured out blessing in my life

 

Thankful Thursday

life can be difficult

one of my go to statements is: everyday is a challenge

but in spite of challenges and difficulties, I know I'm still doing better than I deserve

Scripture gives us a glimpse into God's holiness

He is altogether righteous, there is nothing evil in Him

actually, evil is the absence of righteousness, and since God is righteous, He cannot be evil

I, on the other hand, have a lack of righteousness

and it is because of this that evil is often present in me

this absence of righteousness creates a separation from God

that is why Jesus came; to provide the cure for my sin sick soul

and God's word tells me that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, eternal life is available to all who believe in Him

and because of Jesus' work on the cross, I can now be clothed in His righteousness

that's the better than I deserve part!

I'm so thankful God sent His Son to be the perfect sacrifice for my sin

so very thankful I am clothed in the righteousness I did not possess on my own

I'm thankful through belief in Jesus I've been given the right to be called God's child

I'm thankful God is the author of salvation

He is the fountain of wisdom

I'm thankful God is good and ready to forgive and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call on Him

I'm thankful for the privilege of communicating with God through prayer

thankful His ears are always open to my cries

this is especially comforting to me since my family is scattered all across the country

I can't be physically present with them, but I know as I pray for them God is listening and working

and He is always near

I'm thankful He is the God who sees me

 

Thankful Thursday

I was messaging with my aunt this morning

mentioned that I was thankful God woke me up this morning and gave me life and breath

she replied, "yes...amen....It's Thursday"

I guess she knows that Thursdays are the day to be thankful

actually everyday is a day to be thankful

Scripture admonishes me to give thanks in everything at all times

but I know from personal experience how easy it is to live on the other side

I'm thankful God has turned me from a complainer into a person of gratitude

I'm thankful His Spirit has produced the fruit of joy in my life

I'm thankful I've been washed clean by the blood of the LAMB

and thankful God has clothed me in robes of righteousness

knowing I'm a chosen son of the Living God gives me motivation to get out of bed each morning

I'm thankful He has adopted me into His family

thankful God pulled me out of darkness into His marvelous light

I'm thankful for God's word that tells me I am a recipient of eternal life

I'm thankful for the hope which comes with that assurance

I'm especially thankful for this as I experienced the passing of my uncle on Sunday

I don't sorrow as those who have no hope

I know he is rejoicing in the presence of his Savior right now

I'm thankful I will have the opportunity to express this hope through music at his funeral this weekend

everyday is a gift

as I age, I become more and more aware of that

I'm thankful God knows the number of my days

thankful He knows every minutest detail about me; even the number of hairs on my head!

that's a number that is constantly changing

I'm thankful for a job I enjoy

I was sharing with a friend this afternoon how grateful I am the God has provided a job I enjoy and can do   even with some of the limitations I experience as I age

I'm thankful God is my strength and my song

I know that without Him I can do nothing

but I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength

Scripture says that those who trust in the Lord lie down in peace and sleep

that's what I'm going to do as soon as I finish this up

I'm thankful for that peaceful sleep God provides

Thankful Thursday

I've been spending time reading and meditating on Psalm 145 recently

one of the phrases that has stuck out to me is verse 4:

"One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts." 

it is so crucial for me to choose my words carefully

Jesus said in Matthew 12,

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an account for it in the day of judgment."

God has done so many wonderful things, and He wants me as one of His followers to be telling others about them

it's so easy to get sucked into talking about the negative things going on around me

but God calls me to rise above that

He wants me to fix my eyes on Him and recognize all that He is doing 

and then He wants me to talk about it!

I'm so thankful God is the creator

the earth is an amazing place

and the universe is beyond description

there is so much beauty surrounding me

and God made it all

He is a master designer

He placed the earth just the right distance from the sun to benefit from it's power without being overwhelmed by it

He is an extraordinary artist 

I'm thankful for the beautiful sunsets I get to enjoy from my dining room window

when it's warm outside, I enjoy them from my back yard

I'm thankful for a roof over my head, especially on days like today when it rained all day long

thankful for God's provision of my home with electricity, running water, and heat

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

I'm thankful for His gift of eternal life

I'm thankful for the grace and forgiveness I have experienced

I'm thankful for music, for that avenue I have for expressing praise to God

I'm thankful for family

I had a surprise phone call from my grandson today

(He's 16 months old!)

somehow he got hold of his mom's phone and called me

it was so cool to hear him jabbering on the other end of the line when I answered

couldn't understand a thing he was saying, but it was still a special moment

I'm thankful for health

throughout my life, I have enjoyed good health

if I get sick, it is generally just a 24 hour thing and then it's gone

I'm thankful for the way God has designed our bodies to heal

I'm thankful I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God

I'm thankful for God's patience with me

thankful He holds me in His hand and lifts me up when I stumble

I'm thankful He is a God who delights in reconciling people to Himself

I'm thankful that because of my belief in Jesus, I have the right to be called a child of God

Glory!