I Am Thankful | No. 3

I AM THANKFUL. PERIOD.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. I truly do hope that you are able to spend this day basking in fellowship, friendship and family. I have found that even on this day of thanks we often can get so caught up in the chaos of it that we completely forget the reason we do it (not to mention the very dark day that follows every year).

We live in a society that often wants more. When we have the phone we want, another comes out and we want a new one. We want new clothes, more food, more money, new shows, and new movies. You name it. We usually want it. We all do it, or have done it in the past- at least I have. But we have all we need in the Lord, don't we? All fulfillment can be found in Him.

And so the question is: how do we combat this greedy lifestyle?

Giving thanks. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

I believe that when we give thanks, attitudes change from feeling like you deserve more than God has given you, to an attitude of humility, realizing that you do not deserve a single thing that He has chosen to bless you with. God is not obligated to give us things like a comfortable bed, tasty food, or marriage. These are gifts given by a gracious heavenly Father who simply desires to bless His children. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Somehow we get it in our minds to doubt His ability to take care of our needs, but “… if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not so much more clothe you, O you of little faith” (Matt. 6:30)? We mean more to Him than the grass and the flowers of the field and the doves that He makes sure to feed. Another passage explains His care by describing a father. If his child asked him for bread, he wouldn’t give him a stone (though I’m probably butchering that passage).

Our Father is going to take care of us.

For some of you it may actually be more difficult to be thankful this year than others. Perhaps you’ve experienced a loss or heard some bad news. You might not necessarily be in the mood to praise God and thank Him. Perhaps you are even angry with Him for the things that have happened to you.

I want to tell you about a man that I once read about. He was a good man, the best you would ever know. He loved God and served Him and his life was full of the blessings of God. He was a wealthy man with a wife and many children. He had nothing to complain about. 

But then tragedy struck him. A number of his employees were killed in a raid, a fire destroyed his sheep and servants, and still even more servants were killed in another attack and camels were taken. Then he heard news that his children had all died tragically from a building caving in on them.

It didn’t end there. He suffered with boils and found no encouragement in his wife. Even his friends had only negative words for him.

This man lost everything. If anyone should be able to feel sorry for themselves, it’s this guy here. But in all this he still declared “though He slay me, yet I will trust Him…” (Job 13:15).

It wasn’t because He was some godly man that he was able to say these words in truth. It was because he knew that God was faithful, and because God is faithful, He can be trusted in even the darkest of circumstances. With every hurdle or fear that comes our way, we can still trust Him. 

I don’t know what your circumstances are. I don’t know what heartache you’ve had to face, but I do know one thing: God is still good.

He will take care of your needs. He will not leave you. I encourage you to begin to think on things He has blessed you with. Just start somewhere- anywhere. Once you begin, I think you’ll find the number of items on your list to be innumerable.

All verses used here are from The Holy Bible: New King James Version

I Am Thankful | No. 6

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

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I am thankful...

THAT GOD IS A REFINER

"He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross..." (Malachi 3:3).

God does not just look at your life and say, have at it. But He is playing an active role in shaping and molding you.

When silver and gold is being refined it is put through a blazing fire to burn away all the impurities. When we are facing hardship, trials, periods of waiting, He is using it for our good. He is teaching us what is important, drawing us closer to Him and removing all that is unnecessary in our lives.

Just the other day I walked to my car at the end of a long work shift, only to find out that someone had broken into my car and stolen all that was inside. Turns out it was the wrong day to have every expensive item I owned in my vehicle. (Side note, I am very thankful that I even have a way to be writing these posts, difficult as it may be).

I was mad, scared and really upset. And, shoot, thanksgiving was just around the corner! I looked up and thought, nice one God. Very nicely orchestrated, what with the timing and the placement of all these expensive items in the car on this specific day. Really, you can't write this stuff.

But I am still thankful. Trust me, I'm surprised too.

God is using this for good at so many levels, reminding me of what the Holidays are really about and what is important. He is taking me as gold and burning away the items in my life that are impure. Maybe not the items themselves but the distracting role they play in my life. I am more appreciative of the opportunities I have to play the guitar. And even now that it is more difficult to simply write a blog post, I am making time to do it.

He is making me see more clearly, and with the refining He is making me to be a clearer reflection of Himself.

These are the things that are important. Family, worship, prayer, the Word. And it took a thief to remind me.

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Well that wraps up my short Hello November Challenge. It's always a real pleasure doing these.

I pray you will take some time this thanksgiving and all throughout the Holidays to spend some time with your family. But most importantly spend some real one on one time with God. He is the reason we have anything to be thankful for. The reason we have breath.

So when we give thanks it is to no other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless.

I Am Thankful | No. 5

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

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I am thankful for...

WAITING

As much as I desire to meet the man I will marry, God has called me to wait as of right now. Some days most days it's a real bummer, but I worship a God who loves to turn what we may see as bad, into something good. Very, very good. (Romans 8:28). The good that God works things into is not a temporary goodness, like a movie you enjoy or a chocolate fudge brownie. Those are temporary things we consider good. The good He is working together is of eternal value, one that will not perish from the depravity of this world, but will thrive with Him when we inherit our full rights as God's adopted children.

He is working in and through us, shaping and molding us to look more like Christ. I may think it's a good idea for God to allow me to be with my husband now, but He's got better plans for me.

This is not to take away from the time in my life when God will allow love. He will be able to use that time to shape and mold us as well. But I can thrive in the here and now knowing that He is not giving up on me, that He is still working on my heart and doing something beautiful.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

I Am Thankful | No. 4

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

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I am thankful for...

PRAYER.

The God of the universe desires conversation with me and with you. He wants to walk in fellowship with us, His children.

So why do we not pray very much? It really does break my heart.

Not only does God desire to talk with us, but I desire to talk with Him, yet I know that I don't pray enough. Honestly, I believe none of us do. You know what they say, if you want to humble the mightiest Christians, ask them about their prayer life.

We overthink prayer. We make it some great big idea that we need to speak flamboyantly, drawing out all our empty words and saying "oh God" every two words.

There is no right or wrong way to pray... except not to pray.

I am thankful that I can speak directly to God, present my worries, praise, and any questions I have to Him. I am thankful that He listens. He hears our prayers and answers them. Could be a "no" or a "wait", but I find comfort that He will do what is best for us His children.

Take a moment today and thank God for this wonderful fellowship we are able to have with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" (Psalm 116:2)

"If you want a life of prayer, the way to get it is by praying," (Thomas Merton).

I Am Thankful | No. 3

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

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I am thankful...

FOR MY BEST FRIEND, COREEN 

Life is just so much more exciting with you.

This girl has been a part of my life from the very beginning. We gave our lives to Christ around the same time, and together we pushed and motivated and corrected one another in our walks. She has been nothing less than a beautiful gift from God, even as far away as she lives.

She is random and crazy, and with her I know I can always be myself, no questions asked.

Well, maybe some questions. When I speak my mind there is often a little confusion. I can trust that she'll always be there to slap me out of it. Literally.

One of her letters reads, "I'll bring you an egg so you can see it's awesomeness :)." Okay? But later in the same letter she says, "When you give your worries to God, you can just feel like it's not even that big of a deal. If you and him end up together, super! But if not, it's because God has a bigger plan. And the fact that, if you 2 don't work out, and there's someone better than him... that's crazy," (Coreen, 12 April 2011).

Gee, green flowers, you are so wise.

I love this one: "I hate waiting for things. Like my show to come on, or the class to end or my hot pocket to warm up. But when it comes to waiting for God, I start having more patience," (Coreen, 8 April 2011).

We have come a long way from our thirteen-year-old-selves, but I've said it once and I'll say it again, you are a blessing from God above. I wonder where I'd bee had I not met you. I love you, and am so thankful for you.

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend," (Proverbs 27:17).

"Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy," (Proverbs 27:6).

I Am Thankful | No. 2

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

This year "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

I am thankful...

FOR FAMILY

I have one great family. We are crazy. We probably belong in an insane asylum. And as my siblings and I say, our mom raised a bunch of zoo animals.

Except me, of course. I'm an angel.

My family may be dysfunctional and completely out of order (in the best way possible), but they mean the world to me. They are there when no one else is and they are free to speak their mind and tell you you're being an idiot and remind you of the right direction to go in. Even if you're positive they are wrong. We want what's best for each other, and if it came down to it, we would skin a leprechaun for each other. We will always watch each other drive away, and we will not stop waving until we know you are gone.

I am also thankful for they family of believers God has blessed me with. We serve together, we eat together, we pray together and we paint, clean, wash, cook together. Those, believe it or not, are my favorite moments.

Here's to family, and never ever taking them for granted. God bless!

I Am Thankful | No. 1

The month of November is not only bringing in colder weather and beanies but a heart of thankfulness and also turkeys.

So for one week leading up to the big day, I will write about one thing I am thankful for. And we're going to do it all in time before my Pic Monkey account expires, kay?

But let me add one thing before we begin. As one of my favorite bible speakers once said, "I don't want to just list the stuff I'm grateful for. I want to bathe in it. I want my heart to burst open with the joy of it all," (Christine Kane).

So? I am thankful...

THAT JESUS FIGHTS FOR ME

Many times I feel unimportant, unwanted, un(isthisevenaword)cared for.

But Jesus Christ has reminded me that, by Him, I am loved and that is all that matters. Even though I may feel like giving up, like no one cares and I am not worth anyone's time, He is fighting for me. always.

He was fighting for me when He came humbly to earth. He was fighting for me when He used all His strength to carry the cross to skull mountain. He was fighting for me as he hung there upon it and when He gave up His Spirit. He was fighting for me when He rose again. And you know something else?

He's still fighting for me. Rooting for me. Praying for me.

He's doing the same for you, and that is something to be thankful for.

Day Eight | Three Things You're Thankful For

You know how sometimes people will be asked what they're thankful for, and they'll respond with, "Oh, I'm thankful for a lot of things."

Hmm, are you just avoiding the question because you haven't actually thought of anything you're thankful for? Maybe not.

But come on, you know you've done it.

Anyway, I hope you had a great thanksgiving. Thinking of all the things I'm thankful for, makes me feel like a spoiled kid. He's dumped piles and piles of blessings on my life. and sometimes it's easy to forget.

I am thankful for God's plan. He does have a plan for my life but it's up to me whether I want to move forward in His plan, or if I want to continue in mine. I know that His way is always going to be better, so it's a constant struggle for me trying to hand Him my life's story. I think I know what's best for my life. But His plans? They're so much better than mine. And that's a very exciting thing.

God gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him. I believe He has someone for me, and I pray, I pray that I walk in his will.

"'For I know the plans I have you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,'" (Jeremiah 28:11).  

 I am thankful for the friends and family that He has placed in my life. I can't handle this life on my own. In solitude. So He's given me my family and blessed me with my church family. And ultimately, He's given me His Son, who gave me life. Which is really something to be thankful for.

Which leads me to the last on my list.

I am thankful for forgiveness. When it's given, it's a beautiful thing, but it becomes a bit more complicated when you are the one giving it. Learning how to forgive has changed my outlook on God's forgiveness. He didn't have to. He could have wiped us all out again and again. We're are just humans for crying out loud. When He created us, Him being all knowing and whatnot, He must have known what creating us would lead to. The price that would need to be paid.

We were killing ourselves. We, a sinful people, were wreaking havoc on this earth. And yet He still had compassion? It's awe inspiring, what He did.

He came down, humbled himself and became man, and lived among us. Then He died so that we might live.

This is our God.

And He is something to be thankful for.

Original photo via

Day Seven | Write About Someone Who Inspires You

As mushy as I want to be, I have to keep this one minimal because Jodi will probably laugh when she reads this (if she ever finds out).

I thought long and hard about who God has placed in my life and who I thought inspired me most. And there are people that I look up to, such as my parents and pastors and what-not. And they all invested in my life and I am entirely grateful. But I chose Jodi.

Jodi has taken time out of her life to spend with me. She never treated me as a project. I'm not a mentee or a student to her. I'm her friend. Plain and simple.

The first time I was invited over, I expected a long conversation about godly things and what I should do with my life and my problems. But it never came. She genuinely wanted to spend time with me, and if I wanted to open up and ask advice, I was completely able to do so.

Without realizing it, instead of telling me how to live my life, she showed me. She invites me over for dinner and cooks me pie. She invites me to her kids hockey practices and games. We watch American Ninja Warrior and play games with her family.

She's been leading by example. She's showed me what a healthy marriage and loving mother looks like. She's proved to me that it's okay to be yourself and to be confident in that even when others don't approve or understand. She has showed me that it's okay to mess up because we have a forgiving Father, as long as we acknowledge it and turn from it.

She probably doesn't realize that she inspires me, but she does, and I'm so thankful for her friendship.

"What is done in love is done well," (Vincent Vangogh).

"Let all you do, be done in love," (1 Corinthians 16:14). 

To The World We'll Never Be Perfect, But Honestly, Who Cares?

I have a confession to make.

I'm not always happy. Sometimes I get a bad case of road rage. My hair doesn't look like this when I wake up and, for the record, girl's eye lashes are not naturally this thick. There are days I go without reading my bible, and sometimes I use the big stall, even though I'm not in a wheelchair. To the world I'm not perfect, and- shhh- you don't have to say anything, you aren't either.

Just thought I'd cheer you up.

But in all seriousness, is this not comforting? I'm not 'perfect.' You're not 'perfect.' We're all not 'perfect.' Are you picking up what I'm putting down? There are times that I feel like we put on some kind of façade, and for what? Approval? Do we have to be someone who isn't us, to be accepted?

I believe that if we were to allow the very essence of who we truly are, who God fully intended us to be, to shine forth, the world will see a light so bright and so appealing, and that our bond as sisters will grow stronger. Where Christ is, so will there be love. An unshakable true love, between sisters of Christ.

To the world we will never be perfect.

Did you know that, to the Big Man Upstairs, you are perfect. He formed you in your mothers womb. We are His master piece- His prized possession. Do you honestly think that a Man so perfect and so flawless and so full of love, could possibly create anything imperfectly? I don't think He can.

And if that's true, that's the most comforting of news.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well," (Psalm 139: 13-14).

From Dust Comes Beauty

"Too often we look at life as a drudgery to be endured rather than a dance to be enjoyed. It seems as if it's easier for us to enter into the eulogies at a wake than the excitement at a wedding, to suffer the aches and pains of life than to celebrate the fun and games," Charles R. Swindoll.

I've spent too long being too serious and too sad. I know that I'm joyful, but it seems lately I've been more bummed and upset than happy.

I've been remembering my past with a sigh. I've been broken. I've spent nights crying myself to sleep. There are things I've been through that have completely changed and impacted my life.

And God brought good out of every single thing.  

Let me explain. I don't think God turned those negative things in to good things. My step mom has cancer, and that will never be good. But He has brought good FROM it. I have fibromyalgia, and pain will never be good. But God has brought good FROM it. Does that make sense?

God makes beautiful things out of the dust, but it never said he made the dust beautiful. It's time I stop looking at the dust and start seeing the beauty God has brought from it. What a more joyful life I'll be living if that were the case.

Look at Christmas. I've only been seeing Jesus' birth as the beginning of his suffering on the cross. But I forgot the most important thing! He is risen! Yes, he was born, and that will eventually lead to the death of him up on the cross, but FROM it he brought salvation. He defeated death and the enemy, and now we get to be with him for eternity! That is BEAUTIFUL!

This is not to say that God can't change your troubles into something good. He is completely capable. There are times he has healed the sick and turned what you thought to be the end, into a beautiful beginning. But I also believe that he uses the hard times in our life. That, instead of changing our circumstances, he changes our hearts.

I pray you will look at your past and not see the darkness, but the light and the beauty that God has brought from it.

Praise God for all the negative things that have ever happened because he is good and faithful to use it for his glory. Praise God!

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20

Give Thanks

I've lost sight of the meaning of Thanksgiving. I think a lot of people have.
 
I've been acting like a real brat lately. My parents are divorced and that means I get two Thanksgivings. But this year I've been acting like it's all messed up. I'm going to my mom's on Thursday, and to my dad's on Friday. My dad is still making a thanksgiving meal on Thursday, and I was mad because I wouldn't be there. I was mad because I wouldn't get to eat his Thanksgiving meal.
 
Isn't that ridiculous?
 
Thanksgiving isn't about the turkey, or the mashed potatoes and gravy. It's not about the corn or the delicious green bean casserole. It never has been.
 
Originally, the pilgrims used this day to give thanks to the natives for saving their lives. They came to America so they could form a separate community in which they could worship God however they saw fit.
 
That's what it's about. Giving thanks to God and others for what they have done. It's not about me- nothing ever is. I should be giving thanks that I get to spend time with both families during this holiday.
 
"Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him." Psalm 95:2
 
I am thankful for my salvation and that God has chosen me.
 
I am thankful for my family- my niece, and my nephew- and that my step mother is still okay. I am thankful for my dad and his love for me. I am thankful for my mom and how much she believes in me, even when I don't.

I am thankful that God has saved me for my future husband, even though my patience sometimes wears thin, God has beautiful plans for me, and I am very thankful for that.

I am thankful for my amazing friends, and Pastor Brian and Pastor John Miller. The Lord has blessed our church with great leaders.

I am thankful that I get to be a part of the Becoming Girls Conference.

I am thankful for my bed and my home and my car.

There is so much more to be thankful for, and if we just take a second and think of those things, the real meaning of this day will surely come to life.

Love,