Thankful Thursday

 

 

Thursday is almost over, but I certainly have much to be thankful for

 

Today was a beautiful sunny and warm day

 

I'm thankful for springtime, for all the signs of new life

 

things are finally beginning to look more green

 

winter had quite a grip this year and didn't go out without a fight

 

life is like that sometimes

 

I find myself going through seasons; sometimes there's growth, but sometimes things are dormant

 

I know it can be easy to get stuck in the dormant stage

 

but I desire ongoing growth

 

and I'm very grateful that God provides the light and warmth for growth to happen

 

I'm thankful He is patient with me

 

Thankful He continues to speak through His word

 

Thankful for a God who holds me in His hand and will never let go

 

though I stumble at times, with God beside me I can never be utterly cast down

 

He is my sure foundation, my rock and fortress

 

I'm thankful for His protection and provision

 

thankful He can melt the hardest hearts

 

thankful His mercies are new every morning

 

His love is everlasting

 

His faithfulness endures through every generation

 

His light shines through the darkest nights

 

His grace still amazes me

 

So thankful...



Thankful Thursday

 

 

I had a call from my daughter last evening as I was eating supper.

 

She was beginning to worry about her husband

 

He hadn't responded to her text messages or answered his phone

 

She asked if I would pray for her which I was happy to do

 

One of the things I prayed was that Carl would get in touch with her soon

 

After I prayed, we talked for a bit and then she said, "Carl is calling."

 

I'm so thankful for God's promise that when we call, He responds in ways we can't even imagine

 

Thankful for that demonstration of His faithfulness

 

Thankful that His word is true, and His promises are sure.

 

I've been given the privilege of mentoring a young man in our church

 

As we met last evening, he asked me why I wanted to be a mentor

 

I shared with him that I was partly motivated by selfish reasons

 

I have found that when I teach or mentor, God uses those opportunities to bring growth in my life

 

and I often feel like I get more out of it than the ones I'm teaching or mentoring.

 

I'm thankful God invites me to be a part of His plan for reconciling people to Himself

 

Thankful for His patience with me

 

Thankful that He is powerful and able to bring transformation in my life

 

I'm thankful that He continues to encourage me toward growth

 

and I'm thankful for the people God brings into my life to help push me along the path of growth

 

I'm thankful that God is light; there is no darkness in Him

 

He is the living water

 

He is the bread of life

 

I'm thankful I have tasted of His goodness

 

and continue to see revelations of Him as I walk through this life

 

 

Thankful Thursday

 

 

I got word this evening that my Louisiana "mom" passed away

 

We've been praying for her recovery from a surgery she had about a month ago

 

I'm thankful I know the author of life; grateful He holds me in His hand.

 

I'm thankful for family; for the bond we share

 

I'm thankful God has adopted me into His family

 

thankful He delights in reconciling people to Himself

 

I'm thankful for the love God displayed in sending Jesus to the cross

 

thankful Jesus is alive and sits at the right hand of the Father praying for me

 

had a conversation last evening about our unworthiness

 

I'm thankful God continues to reach out to me and brings transformation even though I would never be worthy of His grace and mercy

 

I'm thankful He invites me to partner with Him in sharing the message of reconciliation to a dying world

 

I'm thankful that His truth endures

 

There is so much wavering in our society

 

I'm thankful God is a rock, He is steadfast and sure

 

thankful He is light and there is no darkness within Him

 

I'm thankful for the promise of eternal life spent in His presence

 

Can't wait to see Him!

Thankful Thursday

 

 

I've been thinking about Jesus' words in Matthew 12 a lot this past week

 

He gives a strong warning about the responsibility I bear for the things I say

 

and goes so far as to say that my speech will either justify or condemn me!

 

That's heavy

 

But it has made me more aware of what I am saying

 

I had shared a situation I was struggling with recently with my wife, and I knew that I would be back in that setting today.  I asked her to pray for me that I would be obedient with my tongue.

 

I'm thankful for a God who hears and responds when we call out to Him

 

I'm thankful that He is gracious and patient with me

 

I'm thankful for His provision of victory when I rely on Him

 

There are many times when I fail to recognize my own inadequacy and try to go in my own strength

 

But I've learned how true Jesus' words are when He told His followers, "Without Me you can do nothing"

 

I'm thankful for His presence, for His Spirit who indwells me and teaches me

 

I'm thankful for the power of God's word

 

I got to spend some time with one of my daughters and her husband this past week

 

I'm thankful for good conversations

 

I'm also thankful for the technology that allows me to keep in touch with all of my kids even though they are scattered far and wide

 

and I'm thankful that God is not limited to time and space like I am;  He is with each of us at all times.  He knows us completely, understands every detail of my life, and delights in bringing reconciliation through the blood of His Son

 

We celebrated the resurrection of Jesus from the dead this past Sunday.

 

I'm so thankful for a Savior who is alive

 

Thankful for the new life that I've found in Him!

Thankful Thursday

 

 

Well, I fell asleep on the couch, and it's after midnight, so I'm officially late with my Thankful Thursday post

 

I'm thankful that God is never late; His timing is perfect.

 

It's been a physically draining week; working hard on a project that involves a lot of heavy lifting

 

I'm thankful for God's provision of work and energy to perform it

 

It's a reminder for me of the time Jesus spent in the garden before His death

 

He was drained and pleading with the Father if there wasn't some other way

 

And yet He submitted to going the distance as the perfect sacrifice for my sin

 

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

 

Thankful for His sacrifice

 

I'm thankful for the newness of life He offers to all who believe

 

This is the day we remember Jesus' death on the cross

 

But I'm thankful He is no longer dead, but alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father

 

I'm thankful that He prays for me, continually asking the Father to help me

 

He is my defense attorney when I slip into sin

 

I'm thankful Jesus bore God's wrath against sin so that I wouldn't need to

 

I'm thankful for the empty tomb; evidence of our risen Lord

 

I'm thankful the war has been won

 

I'm thankful for God's amazing grace

 



Thankful Thursday

 

 

On this Thursday evening, I'm grateful for God's continued direction

 

I had an interview this afternoon for an inspector position

 

I was a bit nervous going into the interview, but also hopeful

 

It really helped that one of the two men interviewing me is a guy I've known and worked with for the past 21 years off and on

 

As I prepared for the interview, I was praying that God would give me the right words to say and provide clear direction

 

I came away from the interview feeling positive

 

They will be reviewing the applicants and hopefully make a decision by the middle of next week

 

I'm continuing to ask God to open or shut this door as He see fit

 

I'm thankful that I can trust Him

 

I'm thankful for the support of family and friends as I go through this process

 

As I await a new permanent job, I've been working with a friend, helping him with some construction projects he has on his plate

 

I've enjoyed the work, but at the same time it has been a confirmation that I need to transition into something that will be less taxing on my body

 

I am thankful for God's provision through this time

 

I'm thankful that He knows me completely and continues to draw me toward Himself

 

I know that is my greatest need--His presence and power in my life

 

I'm thankful I don't have to lean on my own understanding, but I can trust Him and receive wisdom from Him

 

I'm thankful for His amazing grace

Thankful Thursday

 

 

This evening, as I reflect on the many ways I have been blessed by God, I'm reminded that I need to take more time to express my gratitude. 

 

We have had my brother-in-law staying with us this week.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to connect with him.

 

My father-in-law and mother-in-law were here for supper this evening.  It was the first time in quite a while.  I'm very thankful for them, for their love and encouragement, and for the chance to serve them.

 

My little sister had a birthday yesterday.  I won't say how old she is.  I got to talk with her for a few minutes at the beginning of her day to wish her a happy birthday.  I'm thankful for my siblings.  Each one of them contributes in some way to my life.

 

I'm also thankful for the family of faith I am privileged to be a part of.  I know I need the connection with my spiritual brothers.  They bless me in more ways than I can count.

 

I'm thankful for my Father in heaven.  I heard a song on my way home from work yesterday that talked about the fact that He knows me completely.  So grateful for His continued presence and patience.

 

I'm thankful for music.  A good friend has been sending me links to songs this week.  They have helped me keep perspective.  And I had a chance to play piano and sing this evening.  Music has a way of soothing and settling.

 

I'm thankful for God's protection.  We had some snow Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.  On my way to work yesterday, I saw numerous accidents and road closures due to accidents.  I've been driving a lot of miles lately.  So grateful God has been keeping me safe.

 

I'm thankful for a warm and dry house.  It's been an unusually cold month.  I'm grateful that the furnace continues to work, and there's hot water for a shower when I get home in the evening after being out in the cold all day.

 

I'm thankful for Jesus.  In two weeks we will observe a weekend celebration of His death, burial, and resurrection.  I'm grateful that He sacrificed His life so that I might experience life more abundantly.

 

I'm thankful for God's grace and mercy.  He has spared me from the punishment I deserve, and continues to pour out blessing on me that I don't deserve.