Things I'm Thankful For (not necessarily in this order)

I have long since given up on my traditional "A Month of Thanksgiving" posts where I post about the different Bible commands to give thanks to the Lord. I totally messed it up this year, but oh well. :-) There's always next year, right?

But I was just thinking about all of the things I am thankful for, and I wanted to post about that. These aren't in any particular order...just off the top of my head.

I'm thankful that 18 years ago last August, the Lord found me, saved me, and has been at work in my life to make me more and more into His image. I think it is an understatement to say that I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for that. The me I am today and the me I was 18 years ago (or even 10 years ago) are not the same people, and I am thankful for that.

I am thankful that I am married to a guy who is willing to support his family even when it is hard and stressful, and even when, in a bad economy, that means he has to drive an insane amount to go to work.

I am thankful for five healthy, smart, beautiful children who all have a heart to serve the Lord and who are a real blessing. I am thankful that I was able to have any children at all...when I was 19 I had such a bad case of chicken pox, combined with some other health issues, that the doctors told me I never would....but here we are.

I am thankful that my lupus stayed in remission the whole year. \o/

I am thankful my in laws have finally decided that driving around is not a good idea (it was getting scary and they were unwilling to let go of the car keys)

I am thankful for those big, fluffy snowflakes outside of my window that look like cotton balls.

I am thankful for the freedoms we have here in America.

Though the vote didn't go as I would have preferred, I am thankful that we live in a country where we get the privledge to vote for our leaders.

I am thankful for my BlackBerry (LOL)

I am thankful my husband and I got to go on a marriage retreat this year.

I am thankful for teenagers.

I am thankful that God is my provider.

I am thankful for the car the Lord just provided Martin. Sure, it's not what he'd prefer, but it is great on gas and runs well

I am thankful for children who know how to cook, and how to cook well.

I am thankful that generous people donate to food pantries. I am thankful that this year (unlike last), we don't need a Thanksgiving box from the food pantry, but I am thankful that I am able to instead donate this year to one.

I am thankful that things are looking up in my husband's job and that he got his first raise in years recently.

I am thankful that I understand Algebra, and am able to explain it to my kids. ;)

I am thankful that gas prices are well under $2 a gallon.

I am thankful to live in Michigan, surrounded by all of this beauty

I am thankful for a good church, with sound preaching, and others who are able to be a good example to my kids, supporting, rather than undermining, what I am doing at home. After years of being in a host of "really really bad" churches, being here for the last 7 years is a blessing. I am thankful for Godly youth leaders and godly sunday school teachers that work with instead of against me.

I am thankful that my daughter, Isobel, is going to be baptized.

I am thankful we celebrated the Lord's Supper last night.

I am thankful that all of my Christmas music (and then some) fits onto my blackberry, with room to spare. ;))

I am thankful for Christmas music.

I am thankful for the pretty coat my husband bought me....my first in 12 years (I was pregnant with Anastasia last time I got a new coat...and I sewed it myself!)

I am thankful that Anastasia is turning 12 on Friday, and that she has a heart for missions and for the Chinese people.

I am thankful for the opportunity to publish and sell my writings.

I am thankful for the opportunities God has for me in the coming year.

I am thankful my Christmas shopping is done.

I am thankful for kids who are diligent and eager to learn.

I am thankful for the opportunity to manage the church website.

I am thankful I already wrapped my Christmas presents.

I am thankful that "every kiss" does NOT begin with a trip to some lame Jewelry store (my husband says "AMEN". I really hate those commercials, don't you? I am thankful that I got a new wedding ring this year...that looks really nice...but cost less than a new book.

I am thankful for Skype, which lets me keep in touch with family and friends far away, nearly "face to face"

I am thankful for the opportunity to teach art at our homeschool co-op

I am thankful for the Internet. I am even more thankful that I don't have dialup. I am thankful the phone company gave us a sweet deal on phone and internet for a super low price.

I am thankful for Digital Cameras because film is expensive and kids love taking pictures.

I am thankful for my clawfoot bathtub, and for hot running water, as most of the rest of the world is not so blessed.

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to play piano. I am also thankful for the electric "portable grand" yamaha piano keyboard that was gifted to me 2 years ago. I am thankful to get to play piano specials for church on occasion, and for children who do the same.

I am thankful that we still have a roof over our heads.

I am thankful to the Lord for His goodness towards me, and His mercy endureth forever!

How about you?

A Month of Thanksgiving

All the time, God is good....and God is good all the time (Amen?!?)

I was negligent to mention yesterday (because as I said in the first post, I originally wrote these up a month ago, scheduled to publish one per day for the month of November, but failed to hit publish!), though it is not specifically in the Bible, a THANKS to those who have given their lives to ensure our freedom here in the USA. Happy belated Veterans day, Vets!

God's goodness is another reason to give thanks to Him in the Bible.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
(1 Chronicles 16:34)

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalm 106:1)

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalm 107:1)

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalm 118:1)

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalm 118:29)

Thank Him for His Goodness!

A Month of Thanksgiving: To Let everyone know what He's done for us

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

One aspect of thanksgiving in the Bible is to give thanks to the Lord to tell others what He has done for us. Let them hear how He's working in your life. Let them know what He has done for you lately. Doing so accomplishes a few things:

• God is glorified in front of others, including those who may not know Him yet.
• Christians are encouraged, perhaps in a hard time.
• Our own hearts are encouraged as we rehearse, outloud, what HE has done for us. That's one of the main reasons why I keep a blessing notebook, to record the blessings Christ sends my way, so that when I am feeling down, I can look to Him and remember His goodness to us.

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
(1 Chronicles 16:8)

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
(Psalm 105:1)

A Month of Thanksgiving: His Mercy Endures Forever

When you do a search of the Bible verses which contain the phrase "Give thanks to the Lord", you find that the next phrase most often is "for his mercy endureth forever."

Mercy. God's mercy towards us is mind-boggling.

As children, we all heard (and maybe even sang) the song, "Santa Claus is coming to town", and sometimes we think of God like a sort of cosmic Santa Claus. If you are "good", He fulfills your wish list. If you are naughty, well, you get coal in your stocking. Though our actions do often have consequences (for better or for worse), were it not for God's mercies, we would all be deserving of Hell, because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Don't believe me? Try taking this simple test!

God's mercies are new to us every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Each day is a fresh start in Christ!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalm 136:1-5)

A Month of Thanksgiving: Thank Him for Protection and Deliverance

Since 9/11 we haven't had any more terrorist attacks (yet). Maybe because of this we take for granted the job that homeland security, the military, and the governments of our allies have done to thwart any attacks that could have happened on our soil...but didn't. In the same way, the Lord protects us and delivers us often in ways that we will never know this side of heaven. As He orders our steps, He often protects us from dangers we are blissfully ignorant of, as well as situations that we find ourselves in, crying out to Him for His help.

God is truly our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and showeth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
(2 Samuel 22:47-51)

A Month of Thanksgiving: Thank Him for our Very Lives

Continuing on with my series, a Month of Thanksgiving....

God gives us so many blessings to be thankful for which we often take for granted. We don't even think about what He does for us sometimes unless it is "big" and "obvious".

The fact that we can communicate, that we can understand the written word (how our amazing brains even work by His design!), that we can learn and grow, that we are sitting here right now breathing. Psalm 150 says to let everything that has breath praise the Lord. That means you too!

Have you thanked Him today for being alive? For having life in your bones? David asked God for deliverance so that he could continue to thank the Lord before others and praise Him:

"Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?"
(Psalm 6:5-6)

A Month of Thanksgiving

I recently noticed my posts that I had set up for "A Month of Thanksgiving" were not coming through. Yeah, it took me 6 days to notice ;), so we are going to be just skip a few of them this year...as we focus our attention on GIVING THANKS. Apologies to my Canadian and overseas readers who celebrate Thanksgiving in October, though in reality Thanksgiving is something we shouldn't limit ourselves to once a year, amen?

Day 1: Give Thanks because it is His Will for our Lives!

Too often we wonder what God's will is and make it out to be some sort of freakish mystical thing, a mystery seldom understood but by the most spiritual. The fact is, God often doesn't reveal His specific will for our individual lives to us, until we are already obeying His general will for all Christians, as seen in the Bible. One of the four things the Bible specifically declares as being the will of God for our lives is to give thanks in everything.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing, give thanks.

In the good stuff
In the bad stuff
When the guy with the scary policies wins the election
When we don't get our way
When we do get our way
When people let us down
When people bless us
When we have a big spread on the table
When we are trying to make dinner with a scant selection of things leftover in the pantry
When we get a raise
When we get a pay-cut
When we have a bad day
When we have a good day.

In EVERY THING give THANKS, for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU (yes, you!)

Want to know the will of God for YOU? Read on...

Have you ever heard someone say, "I just want to know the will of God for my life?" Maybe you've said it. I know I have. A few times.

BUT, the will of God is not nearly as mysterious and adventurous as we make it out to be. The will of God is actually quite simple, and is found in the Bible.

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

I remember reading years ago the autobiographical story of Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom, helping Jews in Nazi-controlled Holland at the time, and getting thrown into the concentration camp. Betsy read this verse, and started to give thanks for everything, even the fleas and lice (having recently had to battle fleas this summer on our Doxie I have a great image in my mind on that one!), and Corrie protested. Finally, Betsy learned, months later, that the reason why they could hold Bible studies and have prayer meetings without being disturbed by the cruel and evil guards is because the guards wouldn't set foot in the dorms because of those fleas. Everything has a purpose, even fleas (though I agree with Corrie; I think I'd also have a hard time thanking God for fleas LOL).

This has been a really hard year for our family. It seems like things are going totally crazy around here, and in all of the craziness--the jury duty, the broken down van, then malfunctioning car, the furnace that broke down for a second time and is waiting for a part--brrrrr, the broken washing machine, and the lack of sales on my website---we are still more blessed than those living in other parts of the world. Hey, I could be one of those Christians in Darfur that the Muslims are brutally murdering, torturing, and raping for their faith. I could live in China, where house church leaders and members are often thrown into prison or beaten for their faith, but God continues to move and add to those churches daily in spite of it. I could live in Germany where the neo-nazi government siezes property, children, and bank accounts of parents who choose to homeschool their kids.

All in all, I'm pretty blessed.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

And so do you....

You will never know the complete, detailed will of God for your specific life, until you are already obeying His general will of God for you, as revealed in the Bible. We all fail of course ;) but there are so many things He shows us to be the will of God in His word that we routinely ignore or disobey while begging to know the will of God...do a study, searching for the words "the will of God" in some Bible software....there is a whole selection of verses.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank You!

The firesale is over, and I wanted to express my thanks.

I didn't make enough to fix the transmission, but thankfully someone from church did something to it to make it run for a little while longer. His comment was "Don't drive unless necessary in this, but for the time being, it will at least get you to the necessary places. BUT...don't wait too long to get it fixed"...okay, so that is the game plan! We're going to save up for the transmission (all I want for Christmas is a new transmission, honey!). For my birthday, my mom's husband is going to install my shock absorbers which I was able to buy with the fire sale money so I don't bounce and shake as I drive anymore. Those have been broken for a year now...but at the urging of some friends who don't like the noises my van makes...I'm fixing those now.

I am so thankful to the Lord for providing me with a van in the first place...I know a lot of families don't have two vehicles--maybe some of you! I think it would be more expensive for us to have one vehicle, as a vehicle that fits our whole family would be pricey for my husband to drive to work each day. Vans don't get as good of gas milage as little Saturns do. We were without a vehicle for a while in our family, and only my dh had a car to go to work in. We missed going to church as a family, and were so thankful when God provided this van, even with it's many miles and funny noises ;)

We had a storm at our house the other day...well not at our house but near us. There were tornadoes near us--scary! You probably heard about it on the news. The baby that was found in his crib under the rubble when the house was blown apart by the twister is not very far from us...so we have spent most of the weekend cleaning up the yard. While out there, I finally decided to plant some bulbs that were on sale (love them sales!)...I have tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. I already have quite a few planted, but there were some spots where I felt like I could use some more color in the spring. I also dug up some irises, separating them, and replanting them in other places. Somehow a large patch of irises and lamb's ear has encroached on my strawberry bed, so I am digging that up and putting it elsewhere.

Coming soon...more dinner time photos, including Tacos and French Bread Pizza. Stay tuned.