Thankful Thursday
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
And go here if you 'd like to read my devotion today at CWO - "A Hot Cup of Compromise"
Thankful Thursday
* LB and TJ - My Sis and Bro In Law - I am so grateful they are always willing to lend a hand. TJ came up to install our carpet in the kids' den we are remodeling for Christmas. We had a great time letting the kids play together. They live about an hour away so we don't get to see one another as much as we'd like.
* Our health and blessings - I could recount so many griefs here that have happened with personal friends and acquaintances just recently. Illnesses, Injuries, Loss of Loved Ones. All these remind me once again how fragile life is and every moment should be embraced as a blessing from the Almighty. I pray for you, my friends, who are shattered right now. Your broken hearts break mine.
* Deb's (Miss Corinthians) work with the children's play - My friend Deb courageously directs the kids' Christmas play each year. Last year's performance at our church was brilliant and played to a packed house. Deb is so patient with all these little ones and they flourish under her care. Thank you, Deb, for doing what I certainly could not. :) I'll just stick with financing the little actor who feels he needs to be paid for all his hard work....lol
* Scripture that is God-breathed. This morning I had the most specific prayer for God and He specifically answered back with Psalm 145. I have to admit I go through significant periods of time feeling I am nothing but a major disappoint to Him. This spoke directly to me from The Message: "God is all mercy and grace - not quick to anger, is rich in love. God is good to one and all, everything He does is suffused with grace." And that word grace reminds me once again it isn't about me being enough, but about Him showering me with an abundant love I can't even fathom. He knew I was a screwball when He called me so I can't imagine He'd change His mind now. Oh I love Him so....
* The Blog Sisterhood - This is my first Christmas season connected with you online and the spirit you are all exhibiting on your blogs is phenomenal. Last year I was SO not in the mood. Does anyone else get that way? This year I am anticipating the season more because you girls motivate me to keep it all in proper perspective. What a wonderful group of friends you are. I love you dearly!
Oh how I could go on but you have other girls to visit. I'm thankful you dropped by today. :)
Visit Laurel Wreath for more TT!
Thankful Thursday
7. I am grateful Jennifer reviewed the 'I AM' Study at 5 Minutes for Mom today. Go here to see what she had to say! She also reviewed 3 other study books for which there is a giveaway...Don't miss out!
Thankful Thursday
I had to miss last week because we were in Montgomery on our missions trip - needless to say I have much to be grateful for!
"Dear God, Thank you for dying for my sins. Help me to obey my parents and not to steal stuff. Help me learn to be like You. And Lord, I know if I mess up I can ask you to forgive me, because you are a God who gives second chances. I love you, God."
Can I get an 'AMEN'??
I am always leary of childhood confessions of faith because of so many factors which way on their decision. Are they doing it because a friend did? Are they truly aware of their sin? Are they just scared of hell? I never tell a child a specific prayer to pray, only the elements of what a salvation prayer should contain. This prayer was the most genuine I've ever heard from a child and the 'I love you, God' was completely spontaneous. To say I cried bucket loads of tears is an understatement!
Here is Cedric, me and Jasmine. Jasmine's aunt Shon is the woman I told you was in my 'Girl Talk' group who was saved.
I was going to write much more but the phone is ringing off the hook and I have to leave in a bit.
I will also ask you to pray for our church. Anytime a body is doing a work that is effecting the souls of men, women and children, Satan stands and takes notice. Warfare is and will continue to take place. When you pray, please ask God to dispatch an extra regiment of angelic protection to our little home in North Alabama~ :))
Have a great Thursday!
Thankful Thursday
What I am thankful for today is life - all 36 years of it. There was a time I would have told you I wasn't so grateful for the first 22 years because I was not born again. I still literally cringe over the cold-hearted person I was back then. Up until the past year, I would have described my life prior to 1993 as wasted. However, I now can understand you can not be grateful for light unless you have been in pitch black. I think of the Egyptian plague of darkness - so dark it could be felt - and how overjoyed they must have been when daybreak finally came. This blotting of the sun was God's way of showing them their most powerful deity - Ra the sun god - was impotent before Jehovah God. I feel the same way today. Those 22 years of blackness are something I can still feel from time to time, but my El Elyon reminds me the power of those years hold nothing over me now. From here on out, the occasional thunderstorm will come, but there will always be a Holy Spirit breeze blowing to reveal a beautiful, endless, blue sky.
I have arrived in a place where I am comfortable in my own skin. The hair may be getting gray. I may never lose those last 15 baby lbs. I can't shop in the Juniors department nor buy anything but age-defying makeup. But that is SO okay with me. I embrace the good life God has chosen for me and look forward to what He has in store.
So today I am thankful for my husband who loves me unconditionally. For my kids who love me with all their muscle. For a family who loves me despite my quirks and hangups. For friends who dwell on my good instead of my insufficiencies. For you girls who are an endless source of inspiration and encouragement. And to my God, who redeemed a life that wasn't worth living.
It's not much, but its Yours.
My dear friend Laurel is hosting Thankful Thursday today...Go run see her and get in on the Gratitude! :)
Thankful Thursday
3. I am thankful for my new friends Shelly and Mandy. They are the hippest, Bible-loving college girls, ever! They almost make me feel cool again. Almost. Shelly is an OT Nerd like me and Mandy - she rocks. Literally. (And I think I've got her talked into letting me play the tambourine in her band...) Go see them! You won't regret it..:)
Go visit our wonderful host, Iris at Sting My Heart, for more Thankfuls!
Thankful Thursday
I can never get over how quickly Thursdays roll around and how much my Thankful list can evolve from the week before...
Here are just a few things for which I am grateful:
1. College friends. Luke and I have talked to two different sets of friends from college this week...One of which is coming to visit us for a few days next week! I am so grateful there is nary a place in the USA I could travel and not have a friend there. I am BESIDE MYSELF over our upcoming visit...I'll tell you all about it when it is over..:)
2. All your encouraging comments on the 'I AM' study. You girls truly make a girl want to love Jesus more and learn more about Him...Thank you for blessing me by participating.
2. Early morning walks and a husband who lets me take them before he goes to work. This is such a great time for praise/prayer/worship and when I am about to speak or teach, a way I can talk out loud to make sure things flow like I want them to...And, while the kids are out of school for the summer, a girl needs a few minutes in the morning to collect herself before the madness of the day begins.
3. Provision. God knows.
4. My friends Iris and Linda who have given me awards for which I have yet to respond by post. I AM WORKING ON IT! :)) I've been working like mad trying to get some projects done before our friends come to visit, so the blogging has been weak..:)
5. Ball season is over....we finally have our evenings back! Not that we are any less busy, but now at least we have a little more choice in our activities. We were tired and I was ready for it to be over...I say that now...The fever will be back full force before long.
6. Our churches upcoming missions trip to Montgomery, AL. We went to this area last year and received much more of a blessing than we gave. I can't wait to go back!
I know as soon as I post this, I will think of many more but I'll save it for next time.....
For more Thankfuls, go see my precious friend, Iris, at Sting My Heart!
Thankful Thursday
1. This truck! Luke and I have NEVER in our lives received such a gift. I hope if you are reading this and had anything to do with contributing or if you were just able to give your well wishes and prayers towards this gift that you know how very much we appreciate and love you. If you are not a part of my church family, you have to know that the people of our church are the most gracious, loving congregation we have ever been a part of and that was BEFORE they did this for us. Our church is one who believes in giving - not hording - and we are so proud of the heart it has for missions and providing for those in need. We could not possibly ever deserve to serve this body! I am also grateful for a husband that was never ashamed to drive the old truck. He has always given me and the children a nice vehicle to drive to his own sacrifice. I asked him yesterday, "Don't you just feel better pulling up somewhere in that truck? (You know, a pride thing) And he said, honestly, "No Lisa, I don't. I love that I have it but I am not ashamed of my car". And ya'll, he really isn't which is convicting to me, because I hated driving Goose. It embarrassed me to death! :)) I could learn a thing or three from that man o'mine...:)
Go visit Iris at Sting My Heart to read other Thankfuls or to participate yourself!
Have a blessed week! :))
Thankful Thursday
It's Thursday again? It's amazing how each week my Thankful list evolves from the week before...Here goes!
1. I am thankful for VBS next week. I pray children's lives are changed by the Scripture they will hear during this week. I pray that in a sea of Alabama/Auburn decorations, my Georgia Bulldogs will stand proud.
2. I am thankful my dear Mamaw is head over heels in love with Darla, her new caregiver. I still have to tell ya'll that story..I'll do that soon. Mamaw actually called Darla 'wonderful'. She has never used that word about another human being in her life. There is some miraculous stuff going on around here...
2. I am so thankful the kids our out of school and my brilliant new rule for preventing them from turning into lazy slugs. When they wake up, they can eat breakfast before they dress and do chores. However, there is no other eating until they are showered, dressed, and chores are done. They didn't eat lunch yesterday until 3:30 p.m. If you see them and they are looking a bit peaked, just know they didn't get their beds made. I'm thinking I could use this rule on myself.
4. I am thankful my hubby cleaned out the garage. It is getting a little cluttered again which makes him a tad bit unhappy. My response? 'Welcome to my world.' And no matter how messy it gets, its a good world to be in..:)
5. I am thankful for my friends M and K who gave us GLORY REVEALED!
6. I am thankful for the kid's ballgames all being at one field tonight. I am also thankful they are not charging gate admission for children...We spend a small fortune at tournaments!
7. I AM THANKFUL FOR VACATION!!!
8. I am thankful for Jesus Christ who keeps me sane in my chaos, is my strength when I am weak, is the voice of reason when I am unreasonable, is enough for all I lack. Praise and Glory and Honor are reserved for Him alone!!
I hope you have a blessed week! Go visit Iris at Sting My Heart for more Thankfuls...:)
Thankful Thursday
Wow...another week! My list is quite random today...Hope you can hang with my stream of conciousness! :)
1. I am thankful for my friend Melody at Kids, Cakes, Dishes, Laundry who is the real life Ace of Cakes. She did one for a Coming Out party that you simply have to see. No - it's not that kind of Coming Out party...Just go here and scroll down to the last cake...trust me, you'll be so glad you did. And if ya'll don't already visit her on a daily basis, you just have to! She has me belly laughing every single day...You Rock, Melody! :))
2. I am thankful for a husband who prays for me... He is constant encouragement to me and I indeed am blessed. I am also grateful for a few more speaking opportunities that seem to be arising out of the ones I have just completed. I love my God and I surely love bragging on Him so any chance I get to do it, I'll suck up my nerves and go! :)
3. I am thankful today is the last day of school - I think (I am positive it is the last day of school - I think I am thankful about it :)) I'll be praying for a measure of sanity this summer and for some fun, free things for the kids to do. Ya'll got any good ideas for the North Alabama area? Just don't suggest this zoo.
4. I am also thankful that all my kids had wonderful, godly teachers this year...I know opinions differ in the public/Christian/homeschool debate, but I have to say that God has called our family to a wonderful place where the darkness typical of many public schools has not yet reached. I am able to have the 2-6th graders come to our church once a week for Bible Classes, for Pete's sake! Where else do you find that??
5. I am thankful for my brilliant little children. (They take after their mom) All three of them won top Reading Honors and my oldest got High Achievement (Highest GPA) in every single subject for 5th Grade.....Keep it coming baby, mom and daddy need some scholarships..:))
6. I am grateful for AWANA. This was our first year at our church..We averaged about 80 kids per week and they have learned sooo much. Our awards program is this Sunday...If I can get through that and ball season and I will honestly lay in bed for a week..:))
I hope ya'll have a week full of immeasurably, unexpected joy! :)
For more thankfulness, go see Iris at Sting My Heart!
Thankful Thursday
UPDATED TO ADD:
"Mrs. Lisa, Thanks for helping us. I wanna grow up and be just like you and teach kids about Jesus just like you do. Thanks for helping us pay
for our field trip. Your the best."
You don't think there was some leaking going on over that one??
And my son's card?
"Mom, Flowers are sweet and it was sweet that you worked so hard on the Carnival."
Be still my heart.
Thankful Thursday
1. I am thankful that my car engine has been paid for! Yes, ma'am you heard me right. Through a miraculous blessing, we were informed the repair was being made and that we no longer had to stress over it. Those involved have our families' deepest thanks. Your extravagant gift has resulted in extravagant praise to our Father! "We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father." 1 Thess 1:2-3