Thursday Thankfulness ~ Low maintenance girl...

Yep, today, I am thankful that it doesn't take me long to get ready. After sleeping on the couch last night (the hubs had a tummy thing going on and I don't want it!) I woke up less than rested. Needless to say, my morning moved slow. Both the girls have awards assemblies today...one at 9 and one at 1:30. Well, at about 7:20 this morning, I realized that I needed to shower and get dressed before taking the girls to school...ha!

Well, I am happy to report that I am sitting here showered, hair (almost) dried, make-up on, and fully dressed for the day...at normal morning devotional time. Oh yeah...from start to finish, 20 minutes.

So, thanks God for making me one of those no-fuss, low maintenance girls.

Thursday Thankfulness ~ No major injuries!

Today I am thankful that we had a successful soccer season with NO MAJOR INJURIES!! That's kind of a big deal when you think about it. My Big Girl had a sore achilles tendon for the last few weeks, but I've seen some games where the players get seriously injured. And considering we had just enough girls to play 6 games in the tournament, I'd say we did pretty well.

So thanks God for keeping all our girls safe and injury free!

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Hebrews 6:10

Thursday Thankfulness ~ My Other Half

Yeah, I know that sounds totally cliche, but really, he does complete me. He is everything I am not. He's my perfect match.

We met through a mutual acquaintance 13 years ago. I was in a failing relationship (looking for a way out) and he was recently separated and almost divorced. When we met, I knew he was the one for me. When we talked, I could see us growing old together. I can't say that it was the same way for him, but hey, God can work with anything . . . LOL! Long story short, we dated for a year, he PCS'ed, I got out of the military and somehow we survived it all. I met his family the day before we married and he finally met mine 4 months later.

I can't say that our life together has been perfect . . . far from it, actually. What I can say is that we have been through a year long separation (thanks Uncle Sam), a couple of deployments, lots of arguing over little things, infidelity, two kids, several moves and many other things. Once we finally figured out (the hard way) that God needed to be at the center of our everything, things got better. Not easier, just better. We went through a refining period both as individuals and as a couple. We are by no means completely refined, but a heck of a lot better than we were.

So, today I thank God for this wonderful person He has blessed me with. This man that I get to wake up next to until the day death separates us. This man that I get to enjoy my life with.

Thanks God . . .

I am a lucky girl!!                                              Photo credit: Howard Timberlake

Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Mark 10:9

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Just a little reminder

You know, the majority of humanity is very selfish. Face it, especially in America, people are looking out for number one most of the time. So, that said, one can become very skeptical of people who do 'nice things' or who act 'too nice'. Trust me on this one. Holding the door for a stranger must cause a second head to grow . . . or at least that's how people look at me anyway.

I have become accustomed to strange looks as it is my second nature to be kind to others. That being said, it's not often that I run into others who share my 'put others before self' mentality . . . at least not out of my circle of friends. Sure my friends are great and think similarly, but strangers usually do not.

Angel and I were walking to check the mail the other day and we ran into a new 'neighbor'. (We live in an apt complex, so neighbor is a relative term) He had a French Bulldog who was just dying to check us out! We stopped chatted for a bit about both of us being new to the complex and he mentioned something about Craigslist and needing furniture. We just bought a new dining set and still had the old table . . . just waiting for someone to bless with it. I mentioned it and he said he had a few other leads to check into first, but if they fell through he would be delighted to have the table.

Long story short, he came and knocked on our door to say that he would indeed need the table after all. We helped him load it in his car and learned that he and his mother just moved here from Florida. We said our farewells, thank yous and you're welcomes and we all went about our evening.

I thought that would be the end of it.

I was wrong.

While doing something in my bedroom yesterday, I heard a knock at the door. Now we still don't know a whole lot of people here yet, so I had no idea who it could be. I got to the door in time to see this 'new neighbor' walking away with his dog. Strange. Fast forward a couple of hours and I'm taking out the trash. I open the door and I'm surprised by a plant on my front stoop with a note attached.

What I saw when I opened the door

The note

Needless to say I was quite surprised. Why? Why was I surprised by the kindness of a stranger? Should I be? God ever-so-gently reminded me that He shows His love and kindness in some of the most unexpected places . . . just like He does through me. Don't be so surprised next time someone does something unexpectedly nice for you. Accept it as God showing you His love. Sometimes we all need a tangible reminder.

Thanks God . . .

This is a pic with my real camera not my phone...aren't they gorgeous?

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Muscle Soreness

Yeah, you read that right. I'm thankful for muscle soreness. Why? Well, I just started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred again and well, it's kicking my butt. But all these sore muscles means that I have the ability to exercise...I can still move my body. That's nothing to laugh at! I could lose it all tomorrow.

But I haven't yet, and for that, I am thankful!

Thanks God...

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect 1 Peter 3:15

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Blessings

This may sound completely cliche, but I don't care. I am so incredibly blessed by all of the blessings God has chosen to bestow on me and my family. We have some amazing friends, an awesome church family and a family that is beyond anything we deserve. All these things are what I am thankful for today.

Thanks God . . .

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Thursday Thankfulness ~ A Faithful God

Today I am thankful for a God who is faithful to His promises. When we come to Him with a pure heart and a desire for more of Him, He is always faithful to give us what we can handle. As much as we sacrifice to receive from Him is how much He will give to us.

Our youth ministry had an amazing night of worship last night. Even though the enemy tried to throw some wrenches into things, God prevailed and the service was incredible.

Thanks God . . .

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. Proverbs 14:22

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Spiritual Family

I have a pretty fantastic family. My Mom is one of my best friends ever! She and I had a pretty good relationship growing up even, and for that I am grateful. I have some awesome siblings, too! I know that any of them would do just about anything for me and my family. (and I the same for them) This list could continue on forever, because like I said, I have a fantastic family.

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Blood is thicker than water," right? In most cases I 100% agree with this. But you have to stop and think. What about those 'non-conventional' families out there that don't have children born from their own bodies? Do those parents love their children less just because they didn't birth them? Absolutely NOT!! I have several friends (and even family) who are/were foster/adoptive parents. And I know for a fact that they adore their children as much as I adore mine. They would go to the same extremes that I would to protect their children.

Now, that being said, what about our spiritual family? Is that not the same kind of situation as an adoptive parent/child/sibling situation? Are we not adopted into God's family when we make Jesus Lord of our lives? Yes. So, that makes all believers, you and I, brothers and sisters . . . by adoption.

Ok, so we have a pretty huge family . . . LOL! Do I love my natural family more than my brothers and sisters in Christ? I don't know, I can't really answer that. There have been some situations in my life where my biological family was right there by my side all the way until the end. There have been some situations where my spiritual family has been right there. God has given me these 2 fantastic families and I am so grateful for them both!

At this point in my life, I am not physically close to my natural family. I live about 700 miles away from them and I miss them more than I can even describe. I am so incredibly grateful that God has sent some great sisters in my life while I am away from my own. They lift me up in prayer, laugh with me, cry with me, celebrate with me, learn with me, grow with me . . . all those things that a sister is meant to do.

Sometimes I take these sisterhoods for granted. Sometimes I forget how important they are to my life, my Christian walk, my sanity and my testimony. But God, as usual, reminded me how important these relationships are . . . and that in those, He is right there in the middle.

Thanks God...

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:11

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Routine and Interruptions

Sometimes I wish I could be a 'fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants' type of person, but alas, I am not. I am a person who thrives on a routine. This is mostly a good thing, but can at times be a not so good thing. For example:

1. Incorporating new things into my routine can be hard. I have, at many points in my life, attempted to add things (like Bible reading) into my routine and FAILED . . . miserably. Why is this so hard? Well, I guess I just don't like change. It takes much discipline and diligence to add something new. I must be intentional. I must rely on God to show me those things that need to be added, and those things that need to be removed . . . and then I must lean on Him to help me. That, for me, is hard. I don't like needing anything, or anyone. I'm working on this in myself. Good thing God doesn't give up on me as easily as I do.

2. When my routine is interrupted, I get grumpy. Yeah, I said it, grumpy. Just ask my kids, it's true. For someone who likes structure and dislikes change, interruptions (like, oh I don't know, 5 snow days!) really don't sit well with me! I find it hard to stop worrying about my routine and just enjoy the company of the people I love. I know, shocking! This is another area in my life that God has really been working on me. He intentionally interrupts me to see how I will handle things. Will I not freak out and let Him direct my steps? (maybe after a little foot stomping)

He is constantly guiding me on this path He has placed me on. He is always fixing those little imperfections in me to make me more like Him. While it's not always enjoyable, it's welcome. I am grateful for the discomfort of the pruning process . . . it lets me know that He hasn't given up on me yet.

Thanks God . . .

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Shelter

You know, as much as I want to (and do) complain about our crappy, drafty windows and our front door you can see light through (when it's closed), I'm thankful for them. I'm thankful that we are so blessed and have a roof over our heads. We have a heater that works. We have an electric blanket. We have a wood burning fireplace.

Even though our cold water pipes in the kitchen have frozen, we still have water. Even though I know the bill is going to be ridiculous, we still have electricity.

I can't help but think of all those out there who don't have running water that can freeze, electricity that can get shut off, windows and doors that shut or a roof that can keep them from the elements. My family and I pray for them often . . . but especially now.

Thanks God . . .

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Justice

I've been reading this week in Jeremiah and I must say that this may be my favorite book I've read so far. I haven't read them all, but I'm working on it.


The prophecies of Jeremiah really show the heart of Father God. This book shows that God truly loves His children, Israel. It shows that He is dedicated. You see, He loved them enough to remove them from captivity in Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land. No matter how poorly Israel treated Him, God loved them. He loved them enough to discipline them when they did wrong . . . and boy did they ever do wrong. In the progression of the Old Testament, you see how poorly Israel treated God. You see just how many second chances He gave them. You also see that He is just. You see here in Jeremiah, that after so many second chances, God realizes He must discipline His beloved children.


I can also see the love He shows them after the discipline. Kinda like the hug after the spanking. At the end of Jeremiah 32, you see God's justice and His love. In verses 26-35 you see that He must, for the sake of Israel, discipline them . . . give them over to the Babylonians. For their sake? Yes. For all you parents out there, think about when your child does something wrong that requires you to discipline them. You don't want to, but you know you have to . . . for their sake. It's the same here. But when you discipline your children, you do it with love. You may remove a privilege from them or spank them, but you make sure they know that you love them still. That's exactly what God does here. In verses 36-44 God tells Jeremiah that He will once again restore Israel.


This is the same way that He feels about you and I today. He loves us, but must discipline us when we sin. But thankfully we have Jesus to help keep us in relationship with God. What about those who don't have Jesus? It hurts my heart to know that for some it may just take God pouring out His wrath on the Earth before they realize their sins and turn from them. It hurts my heart even more to know that some will have hearts so hard that no matter what happens, they will never choose to repent and turn to God. For them, it will be like the Israelites. He gave them so many second chances but still had to discipline them. And in that discipline, some of them perished without the hope of Heaven.


Therefore, I will not stop sharing this love that I have with others. Those I know who don't know God. Those I love whom I don't want to see go to hell. Those I don't know . . . whoever God tells me to share with. It is our responsibility as believers to share with everyone we encounter, the love that God has shown us. I dare you to . . . see how it changes you.


Thanks God . . .

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Church Home

Have you ever been at the place in your life where you feel like you don't belong...to anything? I've been there. It's not all that fun to be honest with you. There is an innate desire deep within all of us to belong. I believe it's no accident that the enemy loves to make us feel as if we don't belong. I think this is one of his strongest and most used tactics to pull us away from God.


During the time in my life when I felt like I belonged to nothing and no one, I spent my every moment (subconsciously) searching for that one place where I belonged...the one person to whom I belonged. I found where I thought I belonged, but I found myself still searching. Why? What was I searching for? 


God...


You know, hindsight is a pretty funny thing. I became a believer while my husband was deployed. Coincidence? I don't think so...now. I really didn't think much of it then. Looking back, I realize now that God had to remove what my life revolved around in order to get my attention...to rearrange my priorities. And I'm so thankful He did. I found Him. I found my faith. And I found a new family. I found my (then) church home. God brought me to the place where I was to learn the basics of this Christian life. I grew up Catholic and He had to basically erase all that I knew from that and give me a whole new belief system. The church home He brought me to at that point in my faith had (and they may still have) amazing discipleship programs for new believers. It was where I needed to be at the time.


I would love to tell you that we felt the Lord calling us away from that church to another, but sadly, the call of the enemy was the one we heard the loudest. We just kinda started missing a Sunday here and there until eventually we just stopped. Finally, about 2 years later, God gave a word to a dear friend of mine that HE was grieved that I wasn't worshipping with His body...that I was the missing piece of this new church home. (A church I had never been to before!) Again, coincidentally (HA!), my hubby was deployed...and so I went. Oh the first time I walked in those doors!! I knew I was home. And so we stayed...for the next 3 years. Until God called us, via the USAF, to The Falls.


So you can imagine how important it was for us to hear the voice of the Lord about where our new church home would be. We sought and we listened...and we heard. If you'd like to read more about that whole process, check it out here and here.


I feel that it is crucial, especially in these end times, that we meet together and uplift one another. . .and worship our Creator together! I've heard it said that 'going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car' and I would totally agree with that...but I also believe what the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." So I encourage you, if you don't have a church home, ask God where He wants you to be. If you do have one, take the time to encourage others and make them feel like they belong. I know I like belonging.


Thanks God...


Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

Thursday Thankfulness ~ Jesus

With this being my first 'thankful' post, I think it's only appropriate that it be the thing I'm most thankful for. My best friend...my hope...my joy...my Redeemer...my Savior...my Jesus. Boy, would I be an even bigger mess without Him...and I'm a pretty big mess right now.


While taking my girls to school this morning, we were listening to KLOVE. The news came on and there was lots of talk about the memorial service for those who lost their lives in the terrible shooting in AZ. Now, I don't normally listen to or watch the news because it usually makes me angry. Some of the things that make the news just appall me. And others, I wonder to myself, "How is this news?" Mostly, it just saddens me. It saddens me how much the enemy has perverted the world. It saddens me to see how many lost people there are out there. But at the same time, it brings a bit of gratefulness and thankfulness.


I'm grateful and thankful that I am no longer lost like many in the world. I'm thankful that Jesus came and met me where I was...and didn't leave me there. I'm grateful for the reminder of what He's done for me. It warms my heart to hear stories of others' triumph over sin in their lives.


After dropping the girls, the DJ's were doing a 'Headline of Your Life' segment and were taking calls from listeners. There was one in particular that moved me to tears. This caller (just so happened to?) called from Arizona. Her headline was something along the lines of...had the privilege to pray with her 78 year old mother to receive Christ as her Savior and Lord. I'm not kidding you, it moved me to tears...I was crying like a baby! (still am, actually) I love that the Lord knows just what I need. He didn't want me stewing on all those things wrong with the world. He didn't want me to be angry about the things on the news. He wants me to live a life focused on Him...so, He redirected me with this caller's headline.


Thanks God...


"that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:19-20