30 days of Thanksgiving: Part One

I really enjoy doing this every year, even if I only do it in my head!  So this year I though I would write down 30 days worth in 3 days, if I can find the time *sigh* But I'll give it a shot... and include some verses I've been thankful for as well.

1.  I am so thankful for God's provision.  Even when I stress, He always takes care of us and reminds me that I need not worry.  "Be still, and know that I am God.." (Psa 46:10)

2.  I am so thankful for God's faithfulness.  Even now I have a couple "thoughts" about some scripture that I've been pondering for nearly a year, but my faith does not waver because I know that if He brought something to my attention, it's because He has a treasure for me at the end.  "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter."  (Pro 25:2)

3.  I am so thankful for God's sanctifying lessons.  Though often uncomfortable, I can look back and see the walk He's led me on and appreciate the person He is molding me into in place of the one I once was.  "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." (Phil 1:6)

4.  I am so thankful for God's people.  I am learning to appreciate that we are all on different walks with Him, and each is unique.  While we may not agree or understand the priorities or callings of others, we are still one body.  "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."  (1 John 1:7)

5.  I am thankful for God's comfort.  Life hurts.  It just plain does.  People can be so hurtful and have no idea of their actions or words.  I know I am the same way.  But when we abide in Him, we can know that His opinion is the only one that matters in the end, and it is He who we must follow.  "This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life."  (Ps 119:50)

6.  I am thankful for God's peace.  Depending upon your perspective, the world is on a variety of perilous paths.  But I know that He is in control, no matter how out-of-control everything appears.  "Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" (Ps 2:1)

7.  I am thankful of God's sovereignty.  He knows all and sees all.  No action or thought passes by Him, and all will pay the price or reap the rewards of their earthly existence.  "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgements."  (Rev 16:7)

8.  I am SO thankful for God's Redeemer!  "..Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

9.  I am thankful for God's love.  I don't think there are words to describe His love... but many grateful tears.

10.  I am thankful for God's victory.  We have hope; not in this life, but in our Savior and our future with Him.  "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth."  (Jer 23:5)

11*9*10

Nov.9: I am thankful for the body of Christ. That we are supposed to be edifying to one another, lifting each other up when we each need it. And boy, do I need it! I tend to keep my issues to myself and a very small group of friends, but when asked how I can be prayed for- I can't keep the tears from flowing! Mommyhood is hard. It just is. Add life in, and it can darn near be overwhelming. Thankfully, God has given some the incredible gift of encouragement to be a blessing to others. I am thankful for those people.

11*8*10

Nov 8: I am thankful for the gift of teaching. I count myself blessed to have had the opportunity to sit under a number of different Bible teachers, and I appreciate each of their different ways of showing others the magnificence of Scripture. I know that the Spirit opens our ears to what He has for us, but He also works through those teaching. Those who are humble and willing to decrease, that He may increase.

11*7*10

Nov 7: I am thankful that while the details of God's plan are possibly infinite, the basic understanding can be grasped by the youngest of minds. When we read the Bible or talk about God and Jesus, the questions and truths that emit from the mouths of my children amaze me.

Just the other night we were reading about Adam and Eve, and the Fall, and Melia asks, "Why didn't God just forgive Adam and Eve?" What a great question! And the answers, when understood, are applicable to our whole lives.

And yesterday, painting at the rental, we're listening to John being read aloud on MP3... It gets to chapter 8 where Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, and in verse 25, they ask "who art thou?" I hear Kiera whisper under her voice..."Jesus..."

What a sweet sweet sound- the name of my Savior and King, uttered and claimed from the lips of my daughter...

11*6*10

Nov 6: I am so thankful that the Lord somehow endows us parents with unending patience. Even when it means putting the child in a crib, and shutting the door. Today was a terrible day. I'm not sure what the problem was, lack of sleep, too much mucous clogging his breathing passages, or what... but Isaac was UNhappy. Meaning - only happy when he's hitting the cat, digging in the fireplace soot, or in the bathtub. The rest of the time, screaming screaming screaming. So, he spent a lot of time in his crib. And I'm thankful that God has allowed me to recognize that this doesn't make me a bad mom. Actually, it's the opposite. Because too much screaming gets to every single one of us, and then we might do something we'd really regret later. So, when I get him out, he gets love. And he gets love as I am putting him back down, 5 minutes later. :-)

Have you ever wondered at the profoundness of parental lessons from God's perspective? Not that He ever runs out of patience, but I bet sometimes He turns a deaf ear to our screaming about our situations that we've made for ourselves and our lack of blessings and why we "just don't think He's really serious" about something in His word. Thankfully, He's always waiting for us to stop screaming and start listening... the Faithful Father, patiently waiting for us to walk with Him instead of floundering about on our own. :-)

11*5*10

Nov 5: I am grateful for God's creativity! I am awed beyond belief when I wonder at the precise design of His creation. From the stars in the sky to the brilliant colors which exist where no one witnesses them, from the grandest whale to the microscopic machines which make life possible... Along the same lines, I am so thankful that He has called me by name, that I may recognize that He alone is Creator, and that I am not an accident.

11*4*10

Nov.4: I am thankful that life is not about me. It's all about Him. He wants me to be conformed to His image so that others can see Him in my life. As humbling as it is, I find comfort in the fact that everything I am clouds or blocks His light shining through me, but as I see His will and listen to Him, the light will shine brighter and the window of my life will become more transparent. I am thankful that for all my mistakes, He is greater still.

11*3*10

Nov. 3: I am thankful for all the godly examples in my life. From my pastor and his wife, to mentoring couples we've known for years, to family members on both sides, I know we are TRULY blessed to have those who can help us to examine our perspectives, learn from what God is saying, and humble ourselves when the situation calls for it! I'm thankful for the storms I've witnessed in lives near to me- for the opportunity to pray for God's will, not my own. To see miracles that have no other explanations.

11*2*10

Nov. 2: I am thankful for the Word. It truly is alive, teaching and molding me through its pages. I love how I can read a story I've "known" nearly all my life, and yet He still uses it to teach me a fresh word, a new understanding. I appreciate my freedom to own several copies and different translations with no fear of persecution. I love the technology of our day; the blueletterbible.com where I can search for further knowledge and understanding, having esword on Gabe's phone- all the ways we can have immediate access to the most important book we own.

Thankful it's November? 11*1*10

Can anyone else NOT believe it's November? Last year I chose not to do the thankful thing because I was afraid I would sound redundant, but this year I feel like doing it would be helpful to my overwhelmed feelings day in and day out. So here goes:

Nov 1: I am so thankful for my Father God. He continues to amaze me at how He gives wisdom when I am at the end of myself, turning to Him to whom I should have turned first. He is Faithful to meet us where we are, to show us the way through the storms step by step.

Ooohh... and yet as I wrote this I was inspired to write 30 days of how thankful I am for God in my life... This will be good, and it will definitely require further inspiration! Even though He is Infinite... my mind is not! What a great idea- Thank you Lord!