Thankful Thursday

 

Good Morning:

I haven't written a Thankful Thursday post since almost 1 month ago.  But I think it's time to be intentionally thankful today.  How about you?  My friend, Rebecca Jo got me started on this many years ago as she had a link up and it got me to be fairly regular in thanking God for so many things.  She no longer has the link-up, but I know some others have continued on writing their posts and I did for a while, but have gotten lax about it.  Here's to ending the year and hopefully starting the new year thanking God in a Thankful Thursday post each week.

Some things I'm currently thankful for:

* Lunch with some of the local (girl) cousins - Monday a small group of us girl cousins went to lunch at Bob Evans.  We all have such a great time being together and I hope we'll keep on doing this.  We only had a very few that could attend this time, but we talked and laughed and had a great time (at least I know I did and they seemed to also.)  There were four of us cousins, 1 second cousin, 1 third cousin and 2 fourth cousins.  Hoping more will get to come next time.

4 Generations of Cousins - ranging in age from 1 to 80 something

*  My Mother-in-Law:  We went out to see some Christmas lights again Tuesday and I know I say this all the time, but it's true.  We just had the best time talking and being together.  She's got a birthday tomorrow and will be 88.  I can hardly believe that's true.  Her mind is super-sharp and she gets around like she's 60 or younger.  She's full of so much life experience and wisdom.  I loved it that night, Tracy couldn't find his wallet and was so afraid he had dropped it outside the restaurant.  After looking and we couldn't find it, she just prayed out loud and asked God to help us find it.  We went ahead and enjoyed the rest of our drive and Tracy came home and found it had dropped out of his pocket in our bedroom.  He called her to let her know and she was just praising God.  So you can tell, she loves the Lord and depends on Him, as we all  should.  She's an amazing pianist and also has a beautiful voice.  In fact, I want to be like her when I grow up! lol

Here she is with her great-grandson a little over a year ago.

* Creation - I'm so amazed and thankful for all that God created for our use and our pleasure.  The skies, the oceans, the whole earth and all mankind.

Sunset across from our church.

* God - I love God, but He loves me even more.  He gave His son for my salvation and there is no greater gift.

A live nativity we attended a couple years ago.

These are just a few of the things I am thankful for today.  If you would like to share what you are thankful for, I would love to hear it.

Cathy

 

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday and time to be deliberately thankful.  Click here if you'd like to join in too.  Thank you Rebecca for keeping this going each week.  I'm very thankful for you too.

Here are some things I am thankful for today:

**My husband who brings me breakfast to work everyday so I can have a few extra minutes at home to sleep in.  This is just one of the many ways in which he is so good to me.  Love that man and I'm thankful for him everyday.

**Christmas with my girls.  Now why we couldn't be together in person, we did get together to open presents on in the wonderful world of video chatting.  I so love being able to see and talk to them live.  It's the next best thing to being there.  Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on how you look at it) I was so involved in what we were doing and talking, I forgot to snap any pictures of the video.  But I just cherish the memories of "being with them".

**Christmas with my brother, sisters, spouses and nephew & girlfriend.  We  all went to my sister's house on Christmas Eve Day.  Hubby made chili and we had delicious desserts and just a great time talking and being together.  Again, I didn't get any pictures.  But I have those wonderful pictures in my mind of being with each other.

**Christmas with my husband's family.  We had a blast talking and eating and just being together.  I did get a couple group shots of this gathering.  Not because of me because I forgot, but my sister-in-law remembered.

**My Grandson who makes me laugh all the time.  My daughter sent me this picture of him on Christmas Day.  I love it so much.

He sure loves his bananas!

**Jesus Christ - and last but definitely not least, I am so thankful that Jesus came to earth and lived and died for me and through Him I have salvation.

So what are you thankful for this week?

Cathy

Gift of God Advent Box and Photo Challenge-Christmas Tree

I learned about the Gift of God Advent Box at Jennifer Crawford Walker's website Smelling Coffee. I would recommend you go check it out. She's written a book called "Keeping Christ as Christmas". I haven't read it, but she's giving ideas on her blog to help us remember Jesus during this season and not to get all caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

She suggests you take the different names of Jesus, along with a scripture reference and put them on paper (each on it's own slip). One for each day between now and Christmas. She has a list of 100 in her book or she also has a list of about 20 on her blog or she said you can google "Names of God". Then put them in a container (she used a beautifully wrapped Christmas box). Then each day, draw out one paper together as a family and read the name and the scripture and take a few moments to discuss how that particular characteristic of God impacts us.

I chose to put ours in a basket with a big red Christmas bow.

Here is one of the many names of God and the Scripture Reference.

I think this is a great idea to help our family keep a little more focused on Jesus this season.

December 3rd Christmas Photo Challenge  at "This Day" prompt is Christmas Tree. 

This is our tree in 2009.  I don't have this year's tree decorated yet.

Storms - Does Jesus Care?

So many times in life we go through deep, dark storms.  We seem to be living in one of those times now in my family with illness and other things going on.  But this past week, these 2 songs have given me so much encouragement.  Just to know that I'm standing in the hollow of His hand and that He will take care of us has lifted my spirits many times.

I pray that if there are storms in your life right now, these songs may encourage you as they have me Because I KNOW BEYOND ANY SHADOW OF DOUBT THAT JESUS DOES CARE!!!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

What Do You Get For the God Who Has Everything?

My husband preached a sermon Sunday morning entitled, "What Do You Get for the God Who Has Everything?" Quite a thought isn't it? I mean after all it is Jesus Birthday we're celebrating. Shouldn't He get a gift?

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Tracy suggested Hebrews 13:15-16 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (NKJV)

I think that's pretty good. Don't we want to give Him a gift that pleases Him? I know I do.

Matthew 5:16 says Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV) So basically, our desire should be that in anything we do or say, that our friends and family will see Jesus in us.

Just curious what do you think of this? What Christmas Present do you plan to give Jesus this year?

Everything!

Why do we always keep searching and searching for something else. Why are we never just satisfied with Jesus? My girls participated in a drama a couple of weeks ago portraying this searching. Here's a video of that drama. I think it's very powerful.

I need to remember, Jesus is enough! He is all I need.