Welcome to Thankful Thursday! Just another day in the week–but one I’m convicted to use to stop, count my blessings out loud, and savor the goodness in our lives. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes you have to mine it out deep in the dirt, but I’m convinced that the Lord calls us to cultivate gratitude in our lives and the reward is greater peace and joy.
Would you like to join me? Leave a comment telling me what you’re thankful for today. Or hop over to Facebook and post what you’re thankful for on our wall.
In the meantime, this week I’m thankful for…
1. Headstrong children. Strong-willed children are a challenge. (Having 3 of them in one household is a very special challenge!) But they call you to greater faith, greater consistency, greater patience, greater faith, and greater conviction. They simply can not tolerate any hypocrisy without calling it out. They are a refining fire! (And sometimes watching other people try to “manage” them is kinda hilarious!)
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)
2. A Faithful Church. Our church family is such a blessing to us. They are graceful and caring friends, but our church body (led by our Pastor and his wife) are also a faithful, steadfast example of walking out sound biblical doctrine in everyday life. I’ve been “churched” all my life (I was saved at 12, and even helped teach Sunday School in high school!) but when I sat through my first sermon at what we’re now privileged to call our church home, I was boldly convicted that I was still just a babe in Christ–at 30! There is so much I have to learn about biblical teachings, doctrine, and Christian living–but I know this is a place to learn it!
“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” (Titus 2:7-8)
He will make the crooked straight…3. Shared Wisdom. The Ladybug and I went round and round recently about some modesty issues and I was so blessed to have some more experienced mothers (and some sincere younger ladies from God-fearing homes as well!) to turn to for Godly wisdom and help. What a blessing to know that we’re not alone in our parenting struggles or the Godly standards we are trying to uphold!
“Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)
4. My Camera. I have captured so many moments the last few years and it is such a blessing, such a balm to my soul to go back and look over all those pictures…to soak in all those smiles and bright eyes…to remember those days, those moments…to see the hard work and count the bounty it brought in…I’ve got our Flickr account down to 41,000 (and shrinking!) by deleting copies, blurs, and some of the ones I’m not even sure what they were! But paging through our 400 page photostream (I know it’s terrible!) never fails to bring a smile and lift my spirit.
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” (Proverbs 13:7)
What are you thankful for today?
