I'm Thankful For...

 

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” ~H.A. Ironside 

In the craziness of this life I tend to forget to be thankful. It's not that I'm not thankful but stress, frustration, anxiety and everything in between is taking triumph over the little things that I look over. So, with thanksgiving coming up I figured "What better thing to blog about than thankfulness?" I'm praying that this blog will stir up a thankful heart in you.

First, I am thankful for my family. Anyone that knows my testimony knows that my family life is crazy, but it's a reminder that earthly families aren't perfect. They have crinkles, dents and bruises, but that's what is a blessing! Because it's that blessed reminder that the only perfect family is not on earth, it's in heaven, but God chose me to be in this family for a reason. He gave me an opportunity to be a light for Him. He gave them the opportunity to pour into me and help build me.  It's also a beautiful reminder that I, too, am a flawed human being but my maker still loved me to death.

Second, and most recently, I am thankful for the friends that God has placed in my life. Throughout high school and middle school I had only two friends that pushed me towards my relationship with God out of the thirty plus friends that I had. Now, God has blessed me with more Christian friends than I could have ever imagined. I am so blessed to have so many people a phone call away that will pray over me in any time of trouble. I was so overwhelmed with joy when I was praying for an opportunity to go to Passion, the money to go and someone to go with. God exceeded that small prayer by giving me a means to go and not just one person to go with but FOURTEEN people to go with! Talk about thankfulness!

Third, even beyond the Christian friends, I am thankful for the support group I now have. I have been blessed with so many people who are willing to read my silly blogs, give me advice on starting my little scarf business, and remind me that I shouldn't drop out because math makes me insane. A little recognition, there is someone who swims at the Y that I have known for a little over a year now. He has given me so much advice on how to advance my sales including picking things up that he sees that would help boost my profit. I can not even wrap my head around that blessing alone! 

Fourth, I am thankful for my classes. Even though some of them make me want to cry, there is no denying that I have been blessed with amazing classmates. In the beginning of the year I prayed that God would give me a friend in one of my classes, so that I wasn't alone if I needed help. Once again God took my tiny prayer and did a little "I'll show you one better", and out of those four classes three of them I can say that I have made some amazing friends. Ones that are a message away in any type of trouble. Can we just rejoice in God's faithfulness?

Fifth, I am thankful for my youth girls. As cliché as it sounds, they have blessed me more than I think I have blessed them. They have blessed me with their openness, and their willingness to be prayed for and how much they want to pray for me, too. God used each and every one of them to encourage me to keep my eyes focused on Him no matter the trial. I can not be thankful enough for all of them!

Sixth, I am thankful for my church families. Yes, I said families. This is because I went to my home church for fourteen years, I was saved baptized and went on my first two mission trips there. I grew there, I went through struggles there and I still can say that they are a big part of my life. They have poured into me and encouraged me to pursue Christ, forever, and I am thankful for each and every one of them. A little over a year ago I started my own journey with Christ and changed churches. I have been blessed with friends, opportunities that I never imagined, and a fire for my Savior!

As I go through this list I am thinking about all the ways that my Father has blessed me. I am amazed with all He has done and will do. Thank You, Lord!


Philippians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."