Thankful Thursday....lost and found.

Welcome to Thankful Thursday, a day to praise God and thank Him for all He has done in our lives! I have a GREAT story about a GREAT God that I want to share this week.

I was walking/driving home from school with the kids. Because we live SEVERAL blocks from the kids' school, I drive part of the way and then walk the remainder. It's too far for Abigail, so I bring the stroller for her to ride in.

Well, when we had reached the van and was packing up the stroller, three kids got my attention from across the street. They held up a black item and yelled over, "Do you know who this camera belongs too?"

As I squinted to get a better look, I realized it was MINE!

It had been in the stroller from a school activity the day before and I had forgotten all about it. It must have fallen out of the stroller when I had unpacked it and put Abigail in. I had not even noticed that it fell out!!!!!!

So, excitedly, I screamed, "Yes! It's mine!!!!!"

Oh......I was THANKING God! He had been looking out for ME! I wouldn't even known where to begin looking for the camera if/when I realized it was missing. The kids were so honest. I know it was God who prompted them to ask me. They didn't even know me! Oh, how GOOD our God is!

He is an "EVER-PRESENT HELP"! Please scroll down and read the next post that celebrates how God helps us in our times of trouble...

and please visit my very good friend Lynn for more THANKFULNESS!

Thankful Thursday

Since it is late Wednesday night while I write my "Thankful Thursday," I have to say what comes to my mind first is being grateful for an awesome day today with my kids. Because it was a rainy day, we had lots of fun playing board games.

We had a Monopoly championship, then played my favorite, Life.

Lord, thank You for a time of rest and relaxation today. Thank You that we didn't have to "GO" anywhere or "accomplish" anything. In today's world of hurry here and go there and finish this activity and accomplish this goal.......it is so WONDERFUL to just do NOTHING- but laugh together, have fun, and PLAY.

Why don't I allow myself to do this more often? And, why do I get irritated when my family has no problem in this area of resting/relaxation/playing? I sometimes get frustrated at their (Brian's and the kids) LACK of being upset that things AREN'T "getting done." They don't feel "guilty" when our never-ending to do list "ain't" done.

I know, Lord, that I need to rest in You more often. I need to NOT focus on the doing and just focus on the being. I am not measured by how good I am or how much I accomplish or how together I am. I am good because You are good. My life is hidden with Christ in God. I am "all right" because Your Spirit lives within me, because I am Your Child, and because the blood of Christ has done all that needs to be accomplished.

So, as I ponder how fast "Life" happens when playing the board game- you finish college, choose a career, get married, have kids and retire all in an afternoon- I realize that REAL LIFE happens at equally break-neck speed and I need to slow down and enjoy it! I have awesome, wonderful kids who WANT ME to play games with them. I know this is just a season and before a blink of an eye they will be grown.

So thank You, Lord, for an afternoon of refreshment. And, more importantly, God, thank You for wisdom in teaching me to slow down and rest in You. Enjoy my time each day. Enjoy my kids.

Thank You for rainy days.

Please visit my friend Lynn for more Thankfulness!

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to a day devoted to praising our amazing, beautiful, wonderful Lord! Please visit Laurie at Women Taking a Stand to link to others who are joining in this adoration.

I am so thankful for an awesome day last Saturday fellowshipping with my sisters, laughing uncontrollably with Liz Curtis Higgs. She is hilarious!

I am so thankful that God saves us! Listening to her story, I am so thankful that our gracious God so loves to take the LOST-messed up, screwed up- and totally turn lives around. God truly turns our messes into miracles! He makes all things NEW! What once was dead is ALIVE. We are a NEW CREATION!

I am also SO THANKFUL for God's Word! I am so thankful for the Gospel of Luke. I have been reading studying it the last few weeks (come back tomorrow to read what God is showing me in it!). Oh....HOW I LOVE HIS WORD! It truly is alive and works within us.

And, finally...I am so thankful for Jesus Christ. Through Him all things are possible!

Have a BLESSED Thankful Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for all of the wonderful blogging Sisters out here! I have been so encouraged by their faith and LOVE for the Lord, and have been humbled by the opportunity to encourage others as well. These relationships have been such a blessing to me! Thank You, Lord!


Thank You, Lord for taking what the enemy meant for evil (the Internet) and using it for Your GOOD!!!!!

Even though I am not able to sit with my Internet Sisters and laugh, I have been so blessed by the many giggles, tears, stories, and encouragement we have shared.

Please visit Lynn for more Thankful Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

Our dear friend, Iris, is taking some time away from blogging and hosting Thankful Thursday. For the month of March, Lynn will be hosting...please stop by to check out all of the other Thankful Hearts.

I want to begin my Thankfulness the same way Lynn began...thanking God for blessing me with such a wonderful friend in Iris, and thank Iris for all of her hard work.

Lord, I am so THANKFUL for You prompting me to post the Bible Study, A Make-Over of the Heart! It is exciting and humbling to see how You are using it to encourage women. Thank You, Lord!

I am thankful that I had such a wonderful visit with my parents last week. The best part of the visit was a very special conversation I had with my mom. We had gone to Target to get a broom, but never made it out of the parking lot and into the store! We began talking about my mom's faith (I don't even know how we got started on this conversation!).

I learned a lot of things I didn't know about her. She was the oldest of two girls in her family. Her parents didn't go to church. So, even though she was a little girl, she walked to Sunday School by herself! She said she had a desire to go and learn about God! And, then, when she was a little older, she went to church and Sunday School on her own. Wow! I can't even imagine. When she had polio as a little girl, she developed a strong prayer life.

Thank You, God for placing in my mom such a strong faith for you, that no matter what her circumstances, she turned to You. Thank You that she loved(s) You. Thank You for her simple faith that inspires me.

I thank You, God for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ! We had a wonderful Lenten service tonight (Wed.) and a time to worship You. Again, we turn our hearts to You as we ponder/focus/meditate on the incredible sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Thank You, Lord.

Thankful Thursday

O, Lord, as we begin this season of Lent....

I am so thankful for Jesus.

Thank You, Lord for what You have done for me.

There are no words adequate to express what You've done.

Please scroll down for "Ash Wednesday" and "Word-Filled Wednesday" posts.....I have written more there....

Thankful Thursday

In honor of Valentine's Day, I am going to thank God for my sweet honey! I am so thankful for this wonderful man who has blessed my life in so many ways.

I am thankful that he is patient with my immaturity, my selfishness, my self-centered-ness!

Love is patient.

I am so thankful that he forgives me. I am so glad that he overlooks my flaws...my mistakes...my sin!

Love covers a multitude of sin.

I am so thankful that even though there was a time in my marriage that I would not have blamed my beloved for asking for a divorce, God gave him the grace to stay with me! I did so many stupid things in my youth! And, I would have told you that I was perfectly justified, the one who was "right." I thought HE needed to change, needed to do for me, needed to be different.....

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Looking back, I see that I was so WRONG!

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other
and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the
Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity.

And, I am so thankful that by the grace of God we survived those difficult days and that now we have a healthy, strong marriage with no possibility of divorce. I am thankful for the commitment and the "forever" attitude that we both share.

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this
reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and
they will become one flesh.

Lord, thank You that even if I didn't have Brian, YOU call ME Beloved. You love ME with an unending LOVE. You are my TRUE LOVE and the hero of my love story.

Please visit Iris at Grace Alone to read more Thursday Thankfulness!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am so THANKFUL for the amazing women's conference I had the honor to speak at last Saturday. God was so GOOD! Many women recommitted their lives to the Lord. God healed hearts and touched lives. His Spirit whispered love and encouragement. He healed the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds. It was an incredible time of worship. It is always such a privilege to bring a message from the Lord.

Our Jesus came to set the captives free, give sight to the blind, heal the lame...

He does this TODAY and it was so AWESOME to witness Him do it last week!

Thank You, Jesus.

What was so tender and precious was that last December I had "lost" my passion for speaking. It was such hard time in my life. (You can check out my December and January blog posts for details.) I was certain that God had closed the door to speaking and that this season of my life was over.

The panic came in knowing that I had to speak on January 31!

I cried out to God, "Lord, I am willing to accept that this season is over. I am sad about it. But, I trust You. But.....what I am going to do for this conference?????!!!!"

I prayed. I sought God. I fasted. I prayed. I washed myself in the Word. I prayed. I sought God. I fasted.

And.....God restored my passion! He FILLED me with His Spirit. He "opened wide my mouth" and HE filled it!

I am AGAIN sure of my calling! Until He closes the door...

I'M BAAAAAAAAAACK!

I would love to come speak at any of your ladies' events. Please email me for details!

Please visit Iris as she shares exciting news this week as well!

Thankful Thursday

Lori is again graciously hosting this week's Thankful Thursday. Thanks, Lori! She asks us to ponder the idea of security in Christ Jesus.

This week, I want to share a wonderful experience I had with my 12 year old son, Andrew.

A few night ago when I was tucking him in, Andrew said, "Mom, you are so happy all of the time. And, it's weird because all of these bad things happened to you- your friend died, you lost a lot of money in the stock market, your dad got laid off, and your mom fell- and you shouldn't be happy. But, you're the happiest person I know."

WHEW! THANK YOU, GOD!!!! TEACHABLE MOMENT!!!

I explained to Andrew that I have a JOY inside me because of Jesus. And, this joy is NOT DEPENDANT on my circumstances. Jesus gives me such a peace that can't be shaken, no matter what is happening.

And, the strangest thing is, I would never have guessed that he thought this. I don't think of myself as "the happiest person I know." I make mistakes all of the time. I lose my temper. I get upset. I struggle.

But, I am so thankful that God is shining through me.

I know this joy that Andrew can see, it is Jesus Christ in me. I give God ALL glory and credit! It is nothing about ME and what I can do or how "good" I am. It is all about HIM in me!

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him
now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.-1Peter 1:6-10

Thank you, Lord!

Please visit Lori for more TT!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for God's wisdom!

"For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in
store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He
guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-
every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."-Proverbs 2:6-10

I have been so THANKFUL for the blessing of WISDOM.

I have been more purposeful in praying for wisdom as I parent my kids, and God has been SO faithful! He has been pouring out wisdom as I teach and discipline them and answer their questions.

How do I know it is HIS wisdom and not mine, you ask?

Because the "stuff" He has given me is so GOOD that it has to be Him and not me! I could never come up with it on my own!

Here's an example....

Last week on the way to school, the kids and I got into a wonderful conversation about being naked. I don't remember exactly how we got on this conversation, but we were talking about modesty and not looking at naked bodies of the opposite sex unless they are your husband or wife.

Then....the kids began talking about how gross it is to even look at someone naked. With a completely STRAIGHT FACE I told them that Mommy and Daddy love to look at one another naked...that we think each other's bodies are beautiful. ("Do you think Daddy is hot???")

We talked about how Adam and Eve were naked. I told them how excited Adam was when he saw Eve for the first time. We talked about how God's plan is for a HUSBAND and WIFE to love one another's bodies. But, when the "world" shows us naked bodies, we feel "icky" because this isn't God's plan for us. We're only meant to enjoy each other in marriage...

so the conversation went.....

I don't remember all of the details, but the ride was wonderful and after I dropped them off at school, I was thanking Him for His wisdom!

God has been faithfully answering my prayer for wisdom with my children and I have been SO thankful!

Another awesome blessing of wisdom came from my friend, Edie this week.

She shared how she gives a prize to her grandchildren when they learn a bible verse. Click here for the details.

We began doing this as well in our family and it has been so FUN! Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Edie.

Thank You, God that "You give wisdom to ANYONE who asks and that You give it generously without finding fault."

Please visit Lori's Reflections for more Thankfulness!

Thankful Thursday

FORGIVENESS!

I am so thankful for God's forgiveness! Monday and Tuesday the kids had shortened days due the weather. Wednesday we had ANOTHER full snow day....

and by afternoon I had "lost it" with my middle schooler. (How does he know just what "buttons to push???")

Ugh. Yelled. Said words I regret. Ugh.

Thankfully, Andrew forgave me.

Thankfully, God forgives me.

Jesus forgave ALL of my sins....past, present, and future.

Thankfully, the blood of Jesus washes me clean. God's Word empowers me and His Spirit helps me to live it out.

I pray that "no unwholesome talk comes out of my mouth, only words that are used to build others up." (Ephesians 4:29)

I am thankful that I am "slow to speak, slow to get angry and quick to listen." (James 1:19)

AND, I am thankful for 2nd chances!

I have found that when I make mistakes, God gives me plenty of opportunities to try again. So...there's another snow day tomorrow!

Please visit Iris for more thankfulness.

Thankful Thursday

Today Iris talks about being thankful for His precious Word. Oh, I too am SO thankful for His Word. I am so thankful that it offers wisdom, hope, promise, love.... I am thankful that His Word is NOT just words on page, but that it is ALIVE. I am thankful that He speaks through His Word. I am thankful that He guides me and encourages me through His Word.

I am also thankful for new beginnings (see At the Well and Don't Waste.. posts below).

Thank You, Lord, that You are a God of new beginnings. Thank You that Your mercy is new each morning. Thank You that when I am in a "funk" and haven't been seeking You with all my heart, that I can "start over." All I need to do is turn around and turn towards You. I find that You are right there waiting for me.

I am SO thankful, Lord for my small group bible study and all of the precious women. How wonderful that You bless us with friends/Sisters to encourage, sharpen, and challenge us!

What are you thankful for today? Won't you take a few minutes and "count your blessings?" Take a few minutes to ponder what you are thankful for. Then, stop over at Iris' to check out more thankfulness. Also, please visit Laced With Grace for a super giveaway!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, I am so overwhelmed by the gift of Jesus coming to this earth to walk among us. He came as a humble babe in the manger- helpless, sweet.... Jesus brought us hope. He brought peace. He brought joy.


And today, .
He still brings hope.
He still brings peace.
He still brings joy.

Jesus is the Light in a dark world.

"I think sometimes I forget to sit and ponder just how much Jesus means to me.

Jesus knew He was Savior BEFORE the beginning of time. Before creation, He knew “the plan”. He knew Adam would fall in the garden. He knew would have to die for my sin, to BECOME sin for me- the Spotless Lamb- to take away my sin. He would take on my punishment. BEFORE He created me, He knew in order to spend eternity with me, He would willingly, joyfully choose to be my Savior, to take my lashes, to take my punishment, scorn, ridicule, and death on the cross. Knowing ALL of this, He still chose to create me.

The love He has for me.... and you.

Jesus is the Creator of the universe- “through Him all things were made- without Him nothing was made.” He is the Word made flesh. He is the Living Word. He is the Written Word. Genesis through Revelation tells the “story” of Jesus. The Word- the Word that leads me and guides me…… Immanuel- “God With Us”- Jesus never leaves me, never abandons me, never is too busy for me. Jesus is with me in my trials and my joyful celebrations. Jesus is part of me- “I am in Him and He is me.”

Savior- Jesus is my Savior, saving me from my sins, saving me from myself, rescuing me over and over again…….. Healer- Jesus is my healer, healing me from ALL my diseases- body, soul, mind, and HEART.

My Deliverer ,My armor- (Ephesians 6)- my protection, my guard……..

Author and perfector of my faith- my biggest “cheerleader.” Jesus, you want me to succeed, you want me to grow and mature. Jesus, you don’t condemn me, but challenge me, encourage me, guide me and perfect me……..

Bridegroom- waiting in eager expectation to return in glory for ME. As a bridegroom, you rejoice over me with singing (Isaiah 61), Jesus, you are “enthralled with my beauty.”

Jesus is my Intercessor- Jesus is praying for me every day!

Redeemer

Friend, a friend that sticks closer than a brother, my best friend……

Freedom! I no longer am in bondage to anything!!!!!!!!

Lover- Jesus, you love me with an everlasting love that never ends……

Way- Jesus, you are the only way to the Father……….. I love you, Jesus."

Taken from a post last January.

Please visit Iris for more Thankfulness!

And please take a minute to scroll down and read "Christmas is Hope."

Thankful Thursday

I am SO thankful for my computer! Oh, I am soooooo glad to have a power cord back!

Lord, I am so thankful for my beautiful family. I am thankful for an amazing group of ladies in small group with me. I am thankful for Your graciousness, goodness, PATIENCE with me!

This week Iris is having us ponder the theme of "life." She reminded us of John 3:16 and how our amazing God has given His life to give US life! I thought of "life" in a different way this week. I am so thankful that God has given us life to the FULL. I want my life to be full of LIFE! I want to have fun. I want to enjoy every day. I want to "rejoice and be glad" in every day that God has made!

All this to say, I am so thankful that my family is taking a vacation! Thank You, God!!!!! We are going to Disney World next week! What a blessing this vacation is. We were not planning it, but God has made it possible. He has so blessed every detail of the trip. Yay, God! Lord, I am thankful that that You fill our lives with "LIFE"- joy, fun, memories, (roller coasters!).

Please visit Iris for more thankfulness!

Thankful Thursday

This week Iris has reminded us of the importance of special friendships for her week of gratitude. I was thinking of a very special friend for my TT....

the Holy Spirit.

Last night, I was honored to come talk to the youth in our church about the Holy Spirit, and who He is to me. My passion is that they would know Him!

Sometimes we can get confused about this part of God. The Holy Spirit is also God! God is made up of the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, as Christians, we know and love the Father and Jesus, but we forget about the precious gift we have in the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God LIVING IN ME! He is the very Presence of God.

He is my Helper. My Counselor. My Friend.

He leads me and guides me.

He comforts me.

He fills me joy unspeakable!

He fills me with boundless love and peace and joy.

I couldn't live without His presence daily!

I pray daily to be sensitive the Holy Spirit.

He is always here whispering to me, gently leading and guiding me.

But, I know that I need to spend time with Him. I need to get still and quiet before Him, or other voices begin to crowd Him out- Satan's, my flesh, TV, the radio, phone calls.....

I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit!

When Jesus was preparing the disciples for His death, He told them that they would be thankful that He (Jesus) would be leaving them, because when He did, then the Holy Spirit could come. "It is good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." And then, Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth. John 16:5-16

"...Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance of those who are God's possession..."
Ephesians 1:13-14

"...If you then now how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13

And Paul tells us in Ephesians, "Be filled with the Spirit." (5:18)

And, when we don't even know how to pray, "the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express!" Romans 8:26

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for posting late on Thankful Thursday!

Why, you wonder?

Well.....first because I am late due to a crazy morning! (Will tell you about it in a minute..) But, also because I spoke at a MOPS group this morning. If you would like to learn more about MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers, click here.

I am thankful for the incredible opportunity to share my beautiful Jesus with these precious women.

I am SO thankful for the organization MOPS, which connects women with other women who have young children. It gives them an opportunity to meet with other "grown-ups" a couple of times a month, fellowship, do a craft together, and listen to a speaker. Because they offer childcare, mothers are able to have a couple of hours of uninterrupted, "Mommy" time.

Today, I am thankful for a crazy morning. You know, one of those "every thing that COULD go wrong, DID go wrong" mornings!!!!!!

One thing that I haven't mentioned is that since the end of September, we have been "doing life" with 1 van (Brian's brakes went out)- which means taking the kids early to school, taking Brian to work (15 min. drive each way), picking him up, or getting him at lunch, HIM bringing me home, and me walking to school to walk kids home...... It hasn't been too bad, just a little hectic.

So, today, because I am speaking, I need to "get ready."

Andrew is the 1st one out the door. He came downstairs carrying Abigail, who had an EXPLODING poopy diaper. What timing, Abigail! Didn't have time for that!

I had forgotten to put Andrew's jeans in the dryer! OOPS! Got them in quickly.

Now, Andrew missed the BUS.... That means I have to run him to school quickly.

When I checked on the girls to make sure they were on time and on track, I noticed that Buddy, our Golden Doodle monster dog had eaten the kids' breakfast- scrambled egg sandwiches- off of the counter!

AAHH! Make another QUICK breakfast (do oatmeal raisin cookies count as breakfast? Oatmeal.....raisins....hmmmm)

Get the garbage out- it's garbage morning!

Take Andrew and get home before Brian panics- he can't be late for work!!!!!

WOW! But, on the way to Andrew's school, I realized that the devil was trying to STEAL the joy from our day- especially me getting ready to speak in less than 2 hours! He wanted me to be flustered and stressed.

I LAUGHED! I told Andrew what I was thinking and we prayed over our morning. I explained to Andrew that because I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me, I have the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! He that is in me (Jesus) is greater than ani of the devil's schemes! I didn't have to get upset! I didn't have to lose my temper! I didn't have to scream! I chose to laugh! I chose to WALK in the Spirit and not the FLESH! It had NOTHING to do with ME, but all to do with HIM!

Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit! Thank You that when we walk in the Spirit, the fruit of Your Spirit flourishes! Thank You that You offer me peace and joy, no matter what irritating circumstances the devil will bring against me!

Thank You God!

Please visit Iris for more thanksgiving!

Thankful Thursday

Today is the "Day of Atonement" in the Jewish calendar.

On this day of the year, the Jewish priest would bring the lamb and lay hands on it, confessing all the sins and putting the sins on it. There was a bull sacrificed to take away the sin of the priest and a lamb sacrificed to take away the sin of the people. And, there was a lamb let go into the wilderness, a scapegoat, in case they had forgotten any sins....

I was reading Numbers and Leviticus this morning with all of the Law...

I am so thankful that Jesus came and BECAME sin for the forgiveness of my sin. He was the perfect sacrifice. We no longer live under the Law, but we live under grace.

Jesus has done it all.

He has taken away the sin we are aware of AND the sin (like the scapegoat) we aren't even aware of...

He has forgiven ALL.....

I am so thankful for Jesus.

I am so thankful that I live under grace and not law.

My true Thankful Thursday is contained down below in

"Wow! God is so AMAZING!"

Please take a minute to scroll down to read.....I am so thankful for this encounter. Please pray for James!

Thankful Thursday

Today's Thankful Thursday is in honor of Iris' birthday!

Iris, I am so thankful for you and your gentle heart for the Lord! Thank you for all the dedication and love you put into Laced With Grace. Thank you that you host a place each week where we can be so grateful to our Lord!

Happy Birthday, my friend!!!!!!!!!!

I am also soooooo thankful for last weekend speaking in Platteville. God is soooo good. He is AMAZING! Thank You, Lord, for "showing up" and showing up in a BIG way! Praise Him!

Please visit Iris if you have time. Wish her a Happy Birthday (Sat.) and share with us what you are thankful for!!! Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

I am soooooo thankful (and excited!!!!) that I get to go to see....

Sarah Palin

tomorrow!

I am taking my girls to see her at a rally at the airport in the morning.

I am also so thankful that I am going to speak at a women's retreat this weekend. Oh, how thankful I am for our sweet Lord who woos us and draws us to Him to spend these wonderful weekends with Him.

Please visit Iris for more grateful hearts.

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for the wonderful, hard-working teachers we are blessed to have. I am thankful that they are KIND, LOVING, and DEDICATED! I am thankful they are positive encouragers.

Aly is the Super 2nd Grader this week and I get to come into her class to tell them about myself and my hobbies. I am going to introduce them to the world of "blogging" and show them my blog. Check out my post to her class about 10 AM Thursday.

Since Thursday is 9-11, I can not help but think about the horrific tragedy our country endured 7 years ago. I am so thankful for all of the dedicated firefighters, policemen and women, and first responders who so valiantly gave their lives trying to save others.

I am so thankful for all of the stories of triumph over tragedy, the miracles, and all of the people who came to call Christ their Savior because of this event. God truly can bring good from what the enemy means for evil!

And, I am so thankful that our country has not suffered from any more attacks. According to the experts this IS a miracle. Terrorist experts fully expected another attack on our soil by now. Whatever you think of President Bush, he truly has kept our country safe, and for that I am THANKFUL!

I am thankful for a precious God who loves me so much. I am thankful that He is a personal, present God who desires relationship with me. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit who leads me and guides me, comforts me, and teaches me.... I am thankful for the grace of God which enables and empowers me to walk in the Spirit, living a life for the Lord!

For more thankfulness, please visit Iris at Sting My Heart