Thankfulness

Thankfulness
the language of love
does not deny reality
brings us closer to the Lord,
where we can hide
under His wings,
protected

He will give us stamina
for the troubles ahead
and keep us safe
from the troubles that come
our way
when with Him we abide

Feeling thankful
may be absent
we must step beyond
and give glory and honor
and praise to the Almighty One
who gives us life

Our faith is in God
and in His Holy Son
He deserves our praise
regardless
of what our emotions
say of us

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

I am:

• GRATEFUL for my relationship with Jesus
• GRATEFUL He is always with me - in every event and circumstance that comes my way
• GRATEFUL for the people He has placed in my path
• GRATEFUL for Pastor Dan who listens and obeys God's commands
• GRATEFUL it was God's desire for Jim to serve the congregation at First Baptist - Dunkerton following the unfortunate death of their pastor Tommy Rucker
• GRATEFUL for continued service to Him through pulpit supply at Wilton Baptist - Wilton
• GRATEFUL God has wakened an intensity in Jim to go and preach His Word wherever sent
• GRATEFUL for our adopted family - Rocky, Christina and Austin
• GRATEFUL we can provide a place for them to stay as long as they need
• GRATEFUL for Austin, their son, our 3-year-old grandson, who brings joy and wonder and love into our lives
• GRATEFUL God knew they would come and we would open our home  and we would have so much we didn't have before
• GRATEFUL for learning experiences
• GRATEFUL for the freedom to worship when and where we please, to study God's truths, witness His blessings of days pst, present and future
• GRATEFUL for His love - His love that is patient and kind, that never gives up, this is always with us every step of the way to guide us, to show us the more excellent way for us to be and do
• GRATEFUL for His Spirit within me
• GRATEFUL for my Christian brothers and sisters all over the country
• GRATEFUL for prayers - given to others and received for me, for my husband, for all our loved ones
• GRATEFUL for my adopted mommy Anna, who also is my mentor, my dear sweet friend
• GRATEFUL for medical procedures that prevent cancer cells from growing
• GRATEFUL for humane doctors and nurses and technicians and thousands of others who give care daily
• GRATEFUL for all those who serve, paid and volunteer, past and present veterans of wars fought on our land and foreign soil
• GRATEFUL for those who share of their experiences, of what they have, of what the Lord has blessed them to provide for another - food, clothes, time - to visit or to listen, lodging, bills paid, extra funds
• GRATEFUL for Jimmy who came into my life at God's direction 
• GRATEFUL for the up and down travels in our lives, for without them, how would we ever know or come to understand God's plans for us
• GRATEFUL for memories, for shared dreams, for standing alongside each other through everything, for trusting in God to see us through the dark days that have come and gone and returned and will go away again
• GRATEFUL for the hope of heaven, our eternal home
• GRATEFUL for pets, for stuffed animals, each with their own personality
• GRATEFUL for laughter
• GRATEFUL for warmth, electricity, running water
• GRATEFUL for eyes that see, ears that hear, hearts that understand
• GRATEFUL for the pain that strikes with a vengeance, for without it, how could we be ever so grateful for the pain-free days? Christ endured so much.

With thankfulness, there is joy. With joy, there is peace.  With peace, there is love. With love, there is God. Always. And God is Good. All the Time. 

Amen. 

(c) November 24, 2014