Thankful Thursday

 

 

Pausing for a few moments on this Thursday evening to express my gratitude

 

I recently spent some time in the first part of Genesis, looking at beginnings.  It was a reminder of what an awesome God I serve.

 

I'm thankful that God is:

the Creator of the ends of the earth

The Maker of the sun, moon, and stars

powerful

personal

instructive

a pursuer

forgiving

understanding

exemplary

all powerful

a planner

merciful

redemptive

loving

 

"There is no one like our God"

 

a line from a song that has motivated me to look beyond the moment

 

God isn't locked into time and space like I am

 

He sees the beginning and the end and everything in between all at once

 

I can't fully get my mind wrapped around that, but it is reassuring as I go through these days of uncertainty.  God is moving and directing to bring His will to pass in my life.  And I can trust Him.

 

I'm so thankful for who He is

so grateful He has purchased me and adopted me into His family

 

He is worthy of praise

 

His love is everlasting

 

His faithfulness is immeasurable

 

Have you taken time recently to be still before Him and express your gratitude?



Thankful Thursday

 

 

A lot has happened since my last post

 

Life has taken an adventurous turn for me

 

I found out on January 2nd that my job with Vision Property Renovations had come to an end

 

I'm thankful for the time I had working for them

 

thankful for the learning and growing that job provided

 

I'm also thankful for the assurance that God is sovereign

 

this has not caught Him by surprise

 

thankful for the confidence that He will continue to guide and provide

 

this has been an unusually cold and snowy winter

 

so the timing of the unemployment meant I didn't have to be out working in that weather

 

one more thing for which to be thankful

 

While my daughter Allison and her husband Carl were here we recorded some of the songs I've written over the years

 

Allison has a special microphone for recording, and we had a lot of fun doing that together

 

I'm thankful for the gift of music

 

One of the songs we recorded is titled, "More Like You"

 

I still remember God giving me that song back in 1991

 

I was sitting in my vehicle eating lunch the day after I was informed that I was being laid off from my job

 

Lord I believe that You are in control

And I believe You are pushing me toward the goal

To be more like You, to be more like You

 

You are the potter and I am the clay

Help me to trust You to show me the way

To be more like You, to be more like You

 

I may not understand the way You're leading me

But I know that's not my responsibility

Help me not to question why

Help me to say "Lord, here am I!"

 

Lord I believe that You are in control

And I believe You are pushing me toward the goal

To be more like You, to be more like You

 

Those words still ring true

 

there have been many times throughout my life when I haven't understood the twists and turns of the path

 

but I've always had that assurance that my God is in control and that He uses all things for the good of conforming me more and more into the image of His Son

 

so I am thankful for this path I'm on right now.  I can't see very far ahead; I don't know exactly where it is leading.  But I want to be listening to the voice of the Shepherd and following Him.

 

I'm thankful for His promises

 

Thankful that He is faithful and true

 

Thankful He never changes

 

Thankful that even now, Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for me.

 



Thankful Thursday

 

 

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 

Thankful Thursday

 

 

Been reading through the Psalms recently

 

they remind me that I share similar struggles with others

 

I easily begin to feel alone at times, wondering why I find it so hard to live victoriously when others seem to have their act together so much more

 

I know satan uses this tactic to isolate not only me, but other brothers as well

 

This morning as I read through Psalm 68, I was encouraged by verse 20

 

"God is to us a God of deliverances;"

 

That's why Jesus came, 

 

He became the sacrificial Lamb to deliver me from the power and penalty of sin

 

In this advent season, I thank God for

 

His unfailing love

 

His extreme sacrifice

 

His grace and mercy

 

His Son, my Savior

 

a baby born 2,ooo years ago who was fully God and fully human

 

the cross

 

the empty tomb

 

delivering me out of darkness into His glorious light

 

His patience with me

 

His calling on my life

 

His power

 

His glory

 

a warm and cozy house on a cold winter day

 

good food to eat

 

music

 

daily reminders of His presence

Thankful Thursday

 

 

In case you haven't noticed, Christmas is coming

 

It seems like everybody wants to know what I want for Christmas

 

My kids are asking for gift ideas

 

But I've already been given the greatest gift

 

My Savior left His home in glory, came as a baby, lived among men for 33 years or so, died on a cross, and rose again

 

Now that's a gift worth receiving

 

And I'm so thankful I've been a recipient

 

As Jesus put it in John 11,

 

"Father, I thank You that You hear Me.  And I knew that You hear Me always, but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that You did send Me."

 

He understood that a grateful heart bears witness

 

It has the ability to move others toward belief

 

I have so much to be thankful for

 

I don't need any gifts, no fancifully wrapped presents

 

I just want those around me to believe that God sent His Son for them

 

For me, Christmas is about sharing the gift that's already been given

 

And as I reflect on that gift, I realize that I have no reason not to have an attitude of gratitude

 

So tonight I'm thankful for

 

a loving and loyal wife

 

early morning phone calls from my daughter

 

text pictures from my son letting me know his latest project status

 

Skype calls with my daughter and son-in-law (missed you this evening, Carl!)

 

friends who let me know they pray for me

 

songs that allow me to express my joy

 

God's word that is living and active

 

a job that I can enjoy going to each day

 

Opportunities to serve

 

a God whose ears are always open to my cries

 

Answered prayers

 

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday

 

 

It is Thanksgiving evening

 

Today was refreshing and restful, filled with the blessing of family and friends

 

I thank God He has provided both in my life, and I'm grateful for those who fill both roles

 

I know there are many who don't consider their family as friends, so I feel privileged in that area

 

I also thank God for my spiritual family, brothers and sisters who support and encourage me in my journey toward knowing and serving Him

 

As I spent time today reflecting on God's gracious and generous provision, I realize how unworthy I am of His merciful investment in my life

 

I'm thankful He was willing to sacrifice His only Son for a sinner like me, paying the penalty of death I deserved to pay, offering forgiveness and new life

 

I'm thankful for the connection I had with our kids today, from the early morning phone call from Abigail as she drove to work, to installing a new handrail on our steps with Adam, to a family Skype call with Allison, Carl, and Abigail this evening.  So wonderful to build those memories

 

I'm thankful we could open our home to my little sister and Chris' parents today as we had a Thanksgiving feast together

 

I'm thankful for the music that filled our home today: piano playing, guitar playing, singing

 

Psalm 92 tells me that giving thanks to God is a good thing

 

declaring His faithfulness and lovingkindness should be regular activities

 

The fact of the matter is that but for God's grace I wouldn't have a home, or kids, or friends and family

 

I was on a path of destruction, with no hope.  Last evening, I heard about an acquaintance who took his life earlier this week.  He had lost hope, and gave up on life.  I remember dark days like that as a young man

 

I'm so thankful God rescued me out of that place of darkness and invites me to walk in the light of His love and enjoy fellowship with Him

 

He is an AWESOME God

 

His works are wonderful

 

His words are true

 

His ways are pleasant

 

He is worthy of all praise!

Thankful Thursday

 

 

For a few years now I have had the privilege of sending out daily verse texts to a number of men

 

There's something powerful about the word of God

 

It has been written by men, but they were led by God's Spirit

 

It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness

 

It is living and active and sharper than a sword

 

It is our defense and our offense against sin

 

It is eternal

 

I'm especially thankful for God's word, for the availability to read it in my own language, for its freshness and relativity to life

 

Thank You God for giving of Yourself through Your word

 

Thank You for teaching me and giving me an ability to understand

 

the verse I sent out this morning was from Proverbs 16:6

 

"By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil."

 

Thank You Lord for Your lovingkindness

 

Thank You for Your truth

 

Thank You for being a God who delights in reconciliation

 

Thank You for providing a way of escape when evil surrounds me.

 

If you are interested in becoming a recipient of my daily verse text, let me know  I will gladly add you to the list.  Investing in lives through scripture is one way for me to express my gratitude for all that Jesus has done for me.