MY THANKFUL LIST
Oh, how much we have been blessed.
How far back shall I go?
What is most on my mind is the awesome love He has for us and how no misfortune in life can overshadow His love, care, and guiding hand.
Romans
8:35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Holy Spirit ministers to us where ever we are in any situation in sorrow and pain. In confusion and in enlightenment!
When we first moved away from longtime friends and family we were unsure exactly what the Lord had planned for us.
Would we find that He would give us just as good or better relationships?
He chose not to; at least not in the form of close neighborly relationships.
What He did give us is a deeper bond with himself, a deeper love for the Church, and a deeper sense of the value of our immediate family.
John 14:16
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
When He allows hardship, loss, confusion, or loneliness there is always blessing to follow.
This last year or two has had a mix of events that have been really profitable to us.
Yes, we were blessed with our first home, property; and managed to get moved in... I did not say settled in or completely organized but we are here making adjustments to the place for our needs, enjoying the privacy that comes with having control over our own space and the luxury of a community where we can enjoy parks, libraries, as well as drives in the country!
We also have the greif of having been misinformed about the true condition of the house and have the burden of repair and PRAYER for help for the expense and labor are great.
Yes, Michael has been blessed with a decent job. It hasn't always been stable but has given us our basic monetary resources for six years.
Though there has been stress over being frequently laid off, being told the whole operation was hanging in the balance, lost opportunity in position and job duties that were better suited and more enjoyable... why does it matter ? We have been provided for and what does matter is that through circumstance there has been faith built in the One that does matter!
Psalm 65:9-13
9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Yes, we have each other! Our marriage is stronger, our family growing. Have we had loss? Yes, we have two babies waiting in heaven for us. Do we miss what might have been? Yes, do we still morn upon fleeting thoughts... " Baby would have been a third of the way to greeting us at birth today!" Sorrow, yes. Trust even more!
Revelation 21:4 KJV
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Do we have every area in our lives perfected? No. Is it our sole responsibility to do so? No. We have a helper the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Trust, again is our companion as we battle frustration. We do have beautiful, loving, guidelines for life and godliness; keeping them ever before ourselves we move forward. Trusting. Leaning on the strength that does not come from self but given as a gift from Him who is able.
Hebrews 13:12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,
Hebrews 6
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3And this will we do, if God permit.
1 Peter 5:9-11
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Are all men our friends? Do others always bless us? Who shall we fear?
John 10:27-29
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
1 Peter 3:9
9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
2 Timothy 1:12b for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Like in the days of Ester we Americans can have a day of thanksgiving and sharing
Ester 9:22
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
Revelation 7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
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