Thankful Thursday

yesterday I celebrated my anniversary

37 years of marriage to the love of my life

I'm thankful for each of those years

thankful God has directed our path, showing us the steps to take, and sometimes carrying us when we couldn't walk on our own

I'm thankful for the joys and the sorrows we have experienced over these many years

thankful God has been faithful in guarding our relationship

I know it's only by His grace that we have enjoyed the closeness and depth of relationship we share

I'm thankful God challenged me many years ago to begin each day praying with and for my wife

it has provided solid footing for us throughout our journey

God is the glue that has bonded us together

I'm so grateful He knows us and hears us

I remember standing before Chris those many years ago, telling her that I would love her as Christ loves the church

I certainly haven't done that perfectly over the years

but I am thankful God has helped me in doing that, and thankful He forgives my shortcomings

I remember singing the song, "I Could Never Promise You" in our wedding ceremony

acknowledging my utter dependence on God in starting the new role as a husband

and as the years have passed, I just become more and more convinced of my need for Him

I'm thankful for Chris' patience with me

thankful for her devotion to God first of all, but also to me

I'm thankful for her support and encouraging words

she is my perfect gift from God

I'm thankful for my job

I'm also very thankful most days aren't like today was

it was just one of those days!

my brother in law sent the verse, 

"In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have overcome the world." 

in a family group text this morning

it was fitting for the day I had

trouble!

but I'm thankful God continued to guide me and give me strength even while experiencing trouble

I'm thankful God is the source of wisdom

thankful He is the giver and sustainer of life

I'm grateful for His presence with me each day

although I've been doing this kind of work most of my life--40+ years

I still find myself seeking His insight when I'm facing a challenging situation

I'm thankful for God's invitation to ask for wisdom when we find it lacking

thankful too for His assurance that He doesn't look on us with reproach when we acknowledge that lack

God is my refuge

He is my strength and my song

so grateful!

Thankful Thursday

I pause to reflect on what I am thankful for this evening, 2 days before Christmas

Immanuel: God with us

what an amazing gift!

I thank God that He sent His Son

born a child, and yet a King

I am thankful God is near

thankful He didn't just create the earth and then take a giant step back to let us flounder on our own

I'm thankful God reveals Himself to those who seek Him

on the night of Jesus birth, the shepherds received a message about this new born Savior

they could have just stayed on the hillside watching their sheep

but instead they went in search of the One who had come to bring peace

and they found Him

The magi from the east saw a star with special significance

they didn't have to travel many miles to bring homage to the One who was born king of the Jews

but the did

they came seeking Him and found Him

and I'm thankful God is still revealing Himself 

am I seeking Him?

I'm thankful God responds when I call out to Him

I know He hears me when I pray

I've seen the evidence of His answers to those prayers

I'm thankful God has blessed me with children and grandchildren

thankful for stimulating conversations with my kids

thankful for the way they challenge and encourage me

I'm thankful for God's protection

I was just quoting from Ps. 121 to my grandson this morning

"The Lord is your keeper; the sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul."

I had one of those protection moments this week

I was ripping a board on the table saw and suddenly felt something on my thumb

I pulled back, and looked at it

I was wearing a glove, and it had a cut in it, but when I pulled the glove off, the skin wasn't even broken

It could have been a very bad situation

but God...

I'm thankful God's timing is perfect

at just the right time, He sent His Son

even when I was trapped in my sin, Jesus died and rose again so I could experience newness of life

so thankful Jesus humbled Himself and became a servant and a sacrifice

I'm thankful for the exemplary life He lived

I'm thankful for God's grace and mercy demonstrated on the cross

and I'm thankful I am a recipient of His love 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for God's continued guidance and protection

my wife, Chris, spent 2 weeks out in Missouri with our daughter and her family

while there, she tested positive for Covid and was dealing with a lot of fatigue

she really wanted to come home, but wasn't sure if she could handle the trip

as we prayed and sought God's direction, we decided that I would drive out and bring her home 

1,900 miles in three days

so thankful God gave me the energy and endurance to make that trip

and I'm thankful to have my wife back home

I'm thankful God answers prayer

thankful He responds when we call out to Him

and I'm thankful God invites us to come to Him with our prayers

I've been singing a lot recently on the job

one of the things I've been praying about is thanking God that He is my strength and my song, and asking Him to give me a song throughout the day

and He has been answering that prayer with more than one song

daily I'm reminded how dependent I am on God's strength

the physical toll I experience in my work is a constant reminder that God's strength is perfected in my weakness

I'm thankful His grace is sufficient for all the circumstances I face

my coworker has been reminding me lately that in the world we will have trouble, but he encourages me with the rest of that truth: that we can take courage because Christ has overcome the world

I'm thankful God is a God of victory

thankful that He causes us to triumph through Him

I'm thankful His mercies are new each morning

and thankful God is faithful in fulfilling His promises to me

I'm thankful for the wisdom that comes as I seek Him and live in fear of Him

God is holy and righteous, and yet He is also gracious and merciful

I'm thankful I have experienced His salvation

as we go through this advent season

I'm thankful Jesus came

thankful God is with me

thankful He continues to shine on me and show me His favor

Thankful Thursday

it's Thanksgiving!

I wonder how many spent the day in an attitude of gratitude

I have a feeling that for many it's just a holiday that gets them a break from work

but for me every day is a gift, and therefore every day is a day of thanksgiving

it was a different kind of day for me

I didn't sleep very well last night, and woke up this morning feeling achy

so I've been lying low, drinking lots of fluids, and trying to recover

but it's given me an opportunity to consider all I have to be thankful for

I'm thankful for mercy, grateful God doesn't give me what I deserve

I'm thankful for God's faithfulness 

He is a generous provider

I'm thankful for family

thankful God has blessed me with a loving wife who supports and encourages me daily

thankful for kids and grandkids

thankful that although our kids are scattered across the country, we can stay in touch through technology

I'm thankful for my job

grateful for the opportunity it gives me to use my gifts in taking houses from a state of disrepair to a place someone would want to live in

I'm thankful for my new coworker, a man who loves Jesus

thankful for the conversations we've been able to have about the Lord

I'm thankful God is my strength and my song

thankful for salvation through the blood of the Lamb

I'm thankful for God's peace that guards my heart and mind

I'm thankful for His joy

the author of Proverbs says that a joyful heart is good medicine

so I should be feeling better soon

my heart is filled with joy!

Thankful Thursday

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." 

I'm so thankful for this truth

and I am very thankful for the expression of God's favor that Chris is in my life

Spending a week with her in Missouri and me in Pennsylvania just helps to confirm how blessed I am to have her by my side

I'm thankful she came home Saturday night

I listened to a sermon recently that talked about God's presence in our lives

I'm thankful for His promise to never leave us or forsake us

one thing the pastor said that has stuck with me is that "Worry waste the wonder that God is with me."

I'm thankful God continues to reveal Himself to me

thankful His ears are always open to my cries

I'm thankful for the truths found in His word, and for the impact those truths have on my life when I give heed to them

It's been a beautiful fall season

lots of vibrant colors to enjoy

I'm thankful God is a creator of beauty

thankful for the variety He has placed in His creation

we have a lot of clear nights that make the stars seem brighter

the heavens truly do declare God's glory

I'm thankful for God's attention to the little details

Scripture tells us He even has the hairs of our head numbered

seems that number has been decreasing for me lately

but God knows

I don't know why He needs to keep track of that, but it's a reminder that nothing escapes His notice

I'm thankful God is my strength and my song

thankful I can take refuge in the shadow of His wings

I'm thankful He is my provider and protector

thankful God knows exactly what I need

and thankful He gives generously out of His abundance

I'm thankful God is always good

thankful He is forgiving

I'm thankful Jesus paid the penalty for my sins so that I can experience God's forgiveness

I'm thankful God has raised me to newness of life, that my name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and that one day I will enter His presence to enjoy and worship Him forever

Thankful Thursday

I'm sitting here in Missouri

Chris and I have been enjoying an opportunity to invest time and energy with our oldest daughter and her family

I'm thankful for my two grandsons

they are a blessing from the Lord

and I'm thankful for the resources to be able to spend this time with them

it's a long drive from Pennsylvania to Missouri

but worth the effort

and I'm very grateful for God's hand of protection over those many miles

I'm also thankful for the people God has placed here to be a support system for my kids and grandkids

I'm thankful God is caring and compassionate

He knows our needs and He is a generous provider

I'm thankful for the friendships I have been able to develop with men here as well

got to spend some time with one of them this morning for a couple hours

it was a blessing to catch up and just to share how God has been working in our lives

I'm always grateful for conversations that center around making much of God and His greatness

two weekends ago, I had the privilege of playing piano for my niece's wedding

it was an honor to be asked 

I'm thankful for the gift of music God has given me, and for the ability to just play off the cuff

what was supposed to be a 30 minute prelude turned into an hour because of weather delays

I'm thankful for the chance to catch up with some family that weekend

also had some extra time with my son who drove up from North Carolina and then traveled with us to the wedding

thankful for someone to share the driving with and just for the time connecting with him

I've also been playing piano while here and singing with the family

I'm thankful for the calming effect music can have

it has helped put my youngest grandson to sleep a couple times when he was agitated

I'm thankful God answers prayer

we've had a number of ways we've seen this as we talk with our daughter and son-in-law

thankful for their trust in God to direct and provide

thankful for His faithfulness in doing that

 

Thankful Thursday

so it has been a while since I took the time to put my thoughts on thankfulness in writing

I make it a habit to express thanks to God whenever I talk with Him

but I know this focused time is beneficial

there's just times when life interrupts and I get distracted 

but James tells us that the one who knows to do good and doesn't do it is sinning

I want to avoid sin!

what am I thankful for?

God has been faithful in spite of my inconsistency 

God's mercies are new every morning

just this evening in a conversation with my wife, in a bit of frustration, she said, "Lord have mercy on me!" and I reminded her that He does, every day, His mercies are new every morning

God's timing is perfect

He knows what I need and when I need it

He is a generous supplier 

God is wise and when asked, gives me doses of wisdom out of His storehouse

God is my strength and my song

He is my Deliverer, my Redeemer

God uses my circumstances to remind me of my need of Him and assure me He is always present

God surrounds me with friends who encourage and support me

Life isn't always pretty, nor is it easy

But God gives grace in abundance

God has blessed me with family; a loving wife, children, and now a couple of grandsons

He has given me so many wonderful gifts, too numerous to count

I'm grateful for all of these things

and thankful for a God who involves Himself in my life

He is the God who is near and not far off