Thankful Thursday

after 6 1/2 weeks, I started back to work yesterday

I'm thankful for the time God gave me to invest in family and friends

but I'm also thankful to be back into a somewhat normal routine 

and I'm grateful for the work God has provided

last week we did some traveling, visiting my sister and her family and also our son

I'm thankful for family

thankful for conversations I had with my sister, her son, and my son

it's always good to catch up with family

I'm thankful for a vehicle that runs well and for safety as we drove 

whenever I get done with a trip like that, I'm reminded of God's promise to be a shield about me

we had the opportunity to do church online with our son, and heard an encouraging and challenging message on friendship

I'm thankful for the friends God has placed in my life

thankful for the impact they have had on me

and as we were reminded in the sermon that God is a friend who sticks closer than any other, I'm so grateful for the truth that Jesus is a friend of sinners

I'm thankful He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for my sin

thankful I've been rescued out of darkness into His marvelous light

one of my friends made me a gift this past week; its a piece of wood with a cross burned into it and some read paint spattered around the cross.  When he gave it to me, he told me to put it in my van as a reminder that it's all about the cross.

I'm thankful for the cross; it's all I have to boast in

I'm thankful salvation is a gift, not something I had to earn

I got a rather crude text message today; it was a reminder that there are still many out there who are lost and in need of God's touch of grace

I'm thankful He gives me opportunities to be a conduit of His love and grace to those around me

thankful God invites me to partner with Him as His ambassador, spreading the message of reconciliation

the longer I live on this earth, the more I long for the day when I will finally be home

I'm thankful this is not my final destination, thankful for the hope I have in Jesus

so grateful there is a day coming when I will see Him face to face

Thankful Thursday

it's been a while since I've written my Thankful Thursday post

although I've been laid off for over a month, I've managed to keep fairly busy, and end up falling asleep on the couch most evenings

I'm thankful for the doors of opportunity God has been opening for me to serve others during this time of lay off

This week, I had the chance to help a friend from church do some wiring in his garage, help my prayer partner build a tennis wall and take down a bunch of trees, help another friend from church with some minor home repairs

I'm also thankful for the increased time I've been able to spend with my wife this past month

I love being with her, talking through decisions together, praying together, and going for walks together 

she is one of God's perfect gifts to me, and I'm very grateful for the 35+ years we've had to spend together

I've been working on some new songs, and enjoying time at the piano

I'm thankful for music and the ability to use it in praising my God

I'm thankful for God's holiness--that's the focus of the latest song I've written

I'm thankful He reveals Himself in so many ways

as I've been reading through the Psalms, I've been struck by God's magnificence described there

I'm thankful God is near and not far off

thankful He is a God who involves Himself in the lives of His children

thankful He is a loving and faithful Father

I'm thankful God tells me not to be fearful

as I look around me in these challenging times, and see the number of people who are ruled by fear, it's a reminder that God changes everything

I'm thankful for His transforming work in my life

thankful He lifted me out of darkness and despair to live in the light with hope 

I'm thankful God's plans are always good

He knows what is best for me, and promises to guide me in the path of righteousness

I'm so grateful I don't need to figure out the road ahead

He goes before me and behind me; He is all around me

thankful He is a shield about me; the lifter of my head

I'm thankful God is my provider; He gives generously without finding fault for my needs

How reassuring it is to know that God knows my needs even before I ask, and most of the time has already started the process of providing

I'm thankful God pours out His mercy and grace on me every day

and thankful He is working in my heart to show others the same grace I've received

Thankful Thursday

I drove almost a thousand miles today

up until Tuesday evening, the plan was to drive quite a bit less than that

But Scripture tells me that I can make plans, but God can change those plans

and ultimately, He is the One who directs my path

I'm thankful I serve a God who is big enough to handle the twists and turns my life takes

thankful that in the midst of all of this He remains faithful

thankful God is a shield about me

at one point this afternoon, while my wife was giving me a brief break in the driving, I awoke from sleep thinking we were about to crash

it is such a rude awakening; heart pounding, adrenaline spiking, fear attacking my mind

not unlike many moments in life

I'm thankful it was only a dream

thankful that after a few moments my spirit calmed

thankful for the calming influence of God's Spirit

we spent the last 8 days with our daughter and her family out in Missouri

it was such a blessing to bond with our grandson

thankful for time to invest in each of their lives

thankful for conversations with my son-in-law

thankful for the chance to work on a couple projects together

thankful to be able to use my carpentry skills to make a few repairs

I am glad to be back home, but also sad that I had to change my plans to visit my other daughter and her husband, down in Louisiana, due to this pandemic

I'm thankful I can trust God that He has a purpose in allowing for this change of plans

I'm thankful He is never surprised, never has to say, "Oops, how did that happen?"

I've been watching some challenging videos recently on my role as a man and a husband

I'm thankful for the instruction God gives me in His word

thankful He has provided a guide book for life

thankful I don't have to guess at what He desires for me

thankful for godly men who help me interpret God's instructions 

I'm thankful for friends who hold me accountable to living out those instructions

for friends who pray for me and speak words of blessing into my life

I'm thankful for a wife who encourages me to be all that God has intended me to be

I'm thankful for God's forgiveness and grace which He demonstrates so frequently when I find myself getting sideways to His desires for me

I'm thankful for a God who is merciful

thankful that "mercy triumphs over judgment."

oh how desperately I need God's mercy and grace

I'm thankful He has an endless supply for me and for all peoples

I'm thankful I get to climb into my own bed tonight

getting ready to head there soon!

Thankful Thursday

The steps of a man are established by the Lord;

And He delights in his way.

When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong;

Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

Ps. 37:23,24

I am so grateful that God holds my hand

I can stand today, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, only by His grace

there is no merit of my own; nothing in myself of which to boast

but I am thankful God has reached out to me in my brokenness

thankful He offers me life when I deserved death

thankful He has exchanged my turmoil for His peace

thankful He has replaced my weakness with His strength

thankful He has turned my mourning into joy

thankful He has given me a garment of praise where once I was clothed with a spirit of heaviness

I am thankful He has made me His servant

thankful for the opportunities He gives to reach out to others in need

thankful for the doors He opens to allow me to minister 

thankful He invites me to be His ambassador, representing Him in a world that desperately needs a Savior

I'm thankful He has gifted me with skills I can use to bless those around me

I'm thankful He is a shield about me as I go forth in His name

I'm thankful He knows the road ahead and promises to walk it with me, to never leave me or forsake me

I'm thankful He has poured out His favor on me in allowing me to find a wife

thankful He has heaped blessing on me in allowing me to be a father

I'm thankful He has taken my feeble efforts as a husband and father and covered my family with His grace

I'm thankful for air to breath, beauty to behold, scents to take in, the song of the birds to enjoy, food to taste

thankful He has created me with senses that allow me to experience life 

I'm thankful for time; it truly is a gift

thankful He gives wisdom and discernment in how to invest that gift and be a good steward of all He has given me

I'm thankful for love

the love of a Father for His son that prompts Him to search for me, offer me forgiveness and mercy, stand beside me and teach me, and encourage me to find my way home

Thankful Thursday

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear it and rejoice.

O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

Ps.  34:1-3

For I proclaim the name of the Lord;

Ascribe greatness to our God!

The Rock!  His work is perfect,

For all His ways are just;

A God of faithfulness and without injustice,

Righteous and upright is He.

Deut.  32:3,4

Life can get a little sideways sometimes

It is filled with many twists and turns and unexpected events

sometimes it is easy for me to become distracted by those moments

rather than focusing on my Lord and Savior

like Peter, I begin to stare at the mounting storm

and it starts to take me under

but when I come to my senses, I cry out to Him and He hears my cry

and delivers me out of all my distresses!

I am thankful that I have had work for the past eight weeks

I'm thankful God has provided strength and wisdom in performing the tasks of my job

I'm thankful for the interaction I've been able to enjoy with coworkers

I'm thankful for bosses who have a long-term vision for their company

I'm thankful for their efforts to create a culture of encouragement and support within the company

I'm thankful for the changes that are coming after tomorrow

I'm thankful God remains the same throughout the changes of my life

I'm thankful He knows my needs, and promises to meet my needs as I seek Him and His kingdom first

I've been meditating on the above verses quite a bit over the last week or so

and I've been praying that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart would be pleasing to God

I've been looking for opportunities to proclaim Him and His goodness

He is the Rock!  I'm thankful I can stand firm on His foundation

He is the author of salvation

He is the lover of my soul

His is the God who delights in reconciling people to Himself

He is abundant in mercy and full of grace

I'm thankful God continues to reach out to me and beckon me to come to His place of forgiveness and rest

I've also been thinking about the verse in James:

"So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.  Jame 2:12,13

I'm thankful God's mercy is new every morning

I'm thankful He gives me opportunities to extend mercy to others

I'm thankful for the times when I get it right 

believe me when I say there are too many times when I don't

times when I get impatient and prideful in my responses

I'm thankful God slows me down in those moments, taps me on the shoulder, and reminds me He desires a better way for me

I'm thankful for God's amazing grace that saved a wretch like me!

Thankful Thursday

I've been reading through the Psalms

and over and over I'm reminded of what a great God I serve

He is a God of refuge and strength

He is a warrior

He is a God who delights in His people

He is the source of salvation

He is a guide and teacher

He is faithful to do what He says

He is a gentle Shepherd

He loves righteousness

and hates evil

He rewards those who trust in Him

He is the creator of the heavens and the earth

I'm so thankful for his grace and mercy

thankful He has lifted me out of the pit and set my feet on solid ground

I'm thankful He is a watchful God

He has not left me to find my own way

I'm thankful He directs my steps

I'm thankful He has revealed Himself in His word

and instructs me in how I should live

I'm thankful for the prophecies that have come to pass

thankful Jesus left His home in glory to come and give His life as a ransom for many

I'm thankful for the many ways God shows Himself to be a provider

I'm thankful He loves me with an everlasting love

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for me to stop for a few minutes and focus on what I have to be thankful for

there's a sign on my dining room table that reads, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough"

and yesterday morning I was reading from Ps. 23, and was once again struck by the statement, 

"The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want."

Implied in that statement is the idea that God is enough

the psalmist is expressing his satisfaction with who God is and what He does for him

I'm thankful Jesus is the Good Shepherd

thankful He is a leader

thankful He is a provider

a shepherd doesn't leave his sheep to fend for themselves, or find their own way

in that same way, God is not far off and clueless as to my needs

He is the God who is near

He knows me intimately, every detail, every thought and word, every action

I'm thankful God is all-knowing and all-seeing

I'm thankful He is the giver of every good thing

this morning, in a company meeting, I learned that as of June 13, I will once again be laid off from my job.

As I've processed this throughout the day, I've come to the conclusion that this time is a gift

God is entrusting it to me

and His desire for me is that I would be a good steward of this gift

so I have 4 weeks to prepare

I'm prayerfully considering how to make the most of this time that I will have

I want to use it for God's glory

I'm thankful that financially I am in a position of preparedness for this type of situation

thankful I don't have to worry about that part of the equation

I was sharing with a brother this evening that my bigger concern is with not self-destructing during a period of a lack of routine

I'm thankful I have brothers who stand with me and support me in standing firm

I'm thankful I have God's word to lean on and learn from

I'm thankful God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever

He is unchanging, unshakable; He is mighty to save

He is the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness

I'm so grateful He has made a way for me to be in relationship with Him

thankful He drew me out of darkness into His marvelous light

thankful He removed the scales from my eyes so that I can see Him and know Him

I'm thankful He always keeps His word

there's a peace that comes in the midst of the storm when Jesus is in the boat with me

and His promise is that He will never leave me or forsake me

I just need to trust Him!