Thankful Thursday

talking with my pastor on Sunday, he told me I should think about doing something different for work

it was his way of politely telling me I'm getting old

but I'm thankful for my job

thankful I get to do something each day that I enjoy

sure, it tires me out

this afternoon when I stopped in at Lowe's on my way home to pick up some materials for tomorrow my salesman told me I looked like I could hardly drag myself in the door, so I must have had a long hard day!

but there's something fulfilling about coming home tired at the end of a productive day of work

and I'm thankful for the way God has designed our bodies to be refreshed by sleep

I'm also thankful for His promise that those who wait on the Lord renew their strength

I've experienced the reality of that over and over throughout my life

I'm thankful God gives me strength

thankful His strength knows no limitations

I'm thankful He never grows weary or tired

I'm thankful God is a shield about me and the lifter of my head

I know I have nothing to fear

I'm thankful for God's word

thankful for the opportunities I have to sit under sound biblical teaching

I'm thankful for the many guys I send daily Scripture texts to

thankful I can share with them the things God is impressing on my heart as I spend time in His word

I'm thankful it is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

I'm thankful for Jesus

thankful for His death, burial and resurrection

thankful He came to give life to those who were trapped in the death nell of sin, to give sight to the blind and abundance of joy to the defeated and downtrodden

I'm thankful I've been adopted into God's family

I'm thankful for grace

 

Thankful Thursday

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus

What a comforting statement

I'm thankful God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords

thankful He always causes us to walk in victory

I ran up against some unexpected temptation today, but so thankful for how God has provided friends and accountability that enables me to make right choices in those situations

I'm thankful for God's redemptive grace

thankful He continues to bring transformation in my life

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

and thankful He invites me to walk in His light and enjoy fellowship with Him

I'm thankful as I submit to Him, He gives me the strength to resist the devil and his schemes

I'm thankful for work that is closer to home

on Monday I wrapped up a job that was an hour and 40 minute commute each way

today, I started a project that is 25 minutes from home

what a difference that makes!

I'm thankful God is my strength and my song

thankful for the joy He brings to each new day

just last week, I encountered a young man on my job site

he was there with his dad; I guess it was take your kid to work day!

after a bit, he commented on my whistling

I asked if he had heard the saying, "whistle while you work." and told him it makes the day go better

I often find myself humming or whistling a song of praise as I go about my work

I find when I'm filling my mind with song the struggles seem less heavy

I'm thankful I don't carry my burdens alone

thankful God invites me to lay them at His feet, or cast them on His shoulders

I'm thankful God shows up in the everydayness of life

there's no detail of my life that is unimportant to Him

thankful God is intimately acquainted with all my ways

I often pray that He will guide my thoughts and guard my words

I need Him desperately

without Him I can do nothing

I'm so thankful God never leaves me or forsakes me

He is always near, always available, and always ready to take me in His arms

Thankful Thursday

 Once again Thursday evening has arrived

and I take some time to reflect on all I have to be thankful for

my job requires a lot of time on the road

most of my projects are an hour to an hour and a half from my home

I'm very thankful for the safety God provides each day as I am on the road

I'm also thankful for friends and family that I connect with while driving

it helps me stay in touch with what's going on in their lives as well as keeping me awake!

I'm thankful for the relationships God has allowed me to develop over the years

I am blessed to know people all across the country

I'm thankful for music

I know God has given me a gift in being able to sit down at the piano and play

He has also helped me write songs that honor Him

I don't take any of that for granted

I know how my music has changed since placing my faith in Jesus

and I love praising Him in song

I'm thankful God is my strength and my song

I'm thankful for God's amazing grace

for His mercy evidenced in my life every day

I'm thankful for my wife

there's not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for the expression of His favor that she is in my life

the love and support I receive from her is such a gift

I'm thankful for times to laugh together, times to sit quietly together just enjoying each others company

I'm thankful for the tasks I don't have to do because she takes care of them

talking with a friend this morning, he commented that his wife likes to mow the yard

I told him I didn't know if my wife enjoyed mowing or if she just does it to help me, but I'm thankful that she often gets the mowing done, and it looks good

I'm thankful for God's physical provision

I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my belly

I know there are parts of the world where those things aren't a given

I'm also thankful God has allowed us to give to others who are in need

Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive, and I've experienced the truth of that

I'm thankful for time

it's such a precious commodity

and I don't want to waste it on frivolous activities

I'm thankful for quiet moments and stillness

thankful for God's invitation to draw near to Him

and thankful for His promise that when I wait on Him my strength is renewed

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

thankful that He is light--in Him there is no darkness at all

Thankful Thursday

I'm tired!

it's been a full week, so I'm probably going to make this brief

but I've been missing my Thursday evening appointment so much lately

and I didn't want to let this week go by without giving God His due

I'm thankful for Easter--for the empty tomb

thankful Jesus died for my sins

but even more thankful HE is alive!

and because Jesus rose from the dead, I have newness of life

so thankful that because I am in Christ, I am a new creation

I'm thankful for the victory I can walk in

thankful I stand in the power of God's might

and I don't have to fight the battles alone

I'm thankful for the awareness God's Spirit brings, helping me identify those battles

I'm thankful God gave my wife and me the opportunity to travel to Louisiana last weekend to celebrate Easter with our daughter and son-in-law

thankful for time with them, for laughter, good food, games, and walks

thankful for the chance to attend church together and see some old friends

I'm thankful for safety as we traveled

I'm thankful for springtime

for new growth popping out of the ground all around me

thankful for warmer temperatures

thankful for our peaceful back yard and times to sit in the adirondack chairs, soaking in the sunshine and catching up with my wife

I'm thankful for my job

thankful for a positive environment to work in

thankful for the opportunity to use my skills in a profitable way

thankful for bosses who love Jesus and their employees

I'm thankful for the health and strength God gives each day 

thankful for His presence with me

thankful for God's promise to never leave me or forsake me

I'm thankful His word is true! 

Thankful Thursday

Over two months have slipped by since I last took the time to pause and reflect by posting my expression of gratitude in this way

It wasn't for lack of things for which to give thanks  

Indeed, God has continued pouring out His steadfast love

and He shows me His faithfulness every day

when I last wrote, my mother-in-law was still with us on this earth

however, just a few days later, she passed from this life into the presence of Jesus

I'm thankful for God's comforting presence over these last two months

thankful for the grieving process

thankful for the hope I have as a follower of Jesus that Mom is enjoying her new home

thankful for His shed blood which has cleansing power 

thankful God clothes me in Christ's righteousness through belief in His name

Life goes on

its flavor has changed a bit

new routines fall into place

old routines I counted on for so long slip away

I'm thankful God is my anchor

thankful my security is found in Him

thankful for this opportunity to walk along with my wife as she journeys through challenging days

I often feel inadequate 

this is new territory for me

but God is familiar with grief

and He promises to never leave me or forsake me

for that I am very thankful!

Thankful Thursday

It's been a hard couple of weeks

as a family, we have watched Mom Martin steadily decline

her body is giving up its fight, and physical death draws near

but in the midst of that, I'm thankful for her faith

even when her words are barely discernible, her trust in Jesus is clear

her favorite song recently is "I will rise and go to Jesus"

and she will start singing it at any moment

I'm thankful too for family

I'm the in-law (some would say the outlaw!)

but I've seen the family rally together and support one another

and it blesses me to see the bond and to know my wife has the support of her siblings and dad

I'm thankful God is the Father of mercy and the God of all comfort

I'm thankful for the glimpses of His care I've seen these last couple of weeks

I'm thankful for His faithfulness

in a couple days I will turn 60

I've had a lot of years to experience God's faithfulness

and I can attest with the psalmist that I've not seen the righteous forsaken

as I age, I become more and more aware of my need of God's grace

I recognize how lacking I am in the wisdom department

but God promises to give grace and supply wisdom

and He delivers

I'm thankful He isn't reproachful when I express my needs

I'm thankful God is generous and kind

I'm thankful He is forgiving

I'm thankful for His transforming work throughout my life

although the next few weeks and months will be a grieving time

I'm thankful we don't sorrow as those who have no hope

I'm thankful Jesus has paved the way for me to have an eternal hope

and grateful He is preparing and eternal home for all those who put their trust in Him

just this morning, I was reading Ps. 121

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber...The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand."

these are precious promises that become even richer when we see the end of life approaching

I'm thankful God is a promise keeper

I'm thankful He is waiting on the other side to welcome Mom into her new home

I'm thankful God has blessed my life by sharing her with me

thankful for the memories I will carry with me 

     

Thankful Thursday

tomorrow is Christmas!

I wonder if I will be able to sleep tonight

I remember my son's excitement when he was young

he always told us Christmas morning that he hadn't slept at all

I wonder if baby Jesus slept in Mary's womb the night before His birth  

or was He so keyed up with excitement about His mission that He was kicking and squirming

I am so thankful Jesus came

thankful for that name

the angel told Joseph to name Him Jesus because He would save His people from their sins

I'm thankful for the forgiveness available to me through Jesus

thankful for the peace that comes through belief in His name

I still remember the turmoil that filled my life as a younger man, and the peace that came when I finally acknowledged my need of God's forgiveness

although I still have my moments, I'm thankful I don't live in a constant state of unrest

I'm thankful Jesus truly is the Prince of Peace

I'm thankful He is my Wonderful Counselor

thankful He is the Word become flesh

I've been reading in Ps. 119 for the past week or so

God's word in one form or another is mentioned in every verse of this psalm

It has been enlightening to spend extended time meditating on these verses

and the author of Hebrews reminds us that after years of speaking to His people through prophets, God sent His Son to communicate His message to us

it's a message of hope, a message of joy, a message of reconciliation 

I'm thankful for God's word, thankful He still speaks to me through His word

I'm thankful for family

thankful for time to gather as family and build on the memories

thankful for technology that allows me to connect with those family members who are farther from home

thankful for the love that we share

thankful for grandchildren

thankful for the energy of little ones

I'm thankful for music

thankful I can use music as an avenue to express my thanks to the Father

it's a stormy night outside

I'm thankful for shelter, for a roof over my head and a furnace that provides heat

I'm thankful for friends who help to warm my spirit

thankful for the opportunities I've been given this year to serve my friends

I'm thankful God is my heavenly Father and one day will welcome me into His home

May you all experience a Christmas blessed with joy and peace!