THANKFUL THURSDAY

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”~ Romans 6:4 (ESV ~ emphasis Iris')

Iris, at Sting My Heart (http://www.eph2810.com/), has come up with a wonderful thankful theme and list today. She talks about "change." Oh, sometimes, to some of us, this can be a dreadful word! Who likes change? But think about it. If the caterpillar never underwent change, how would we be able to cast our eyes upon the beautiful butterfly? Aren't our lives as Christians similar? For all of you who have already given your lives to Christ for eternity, let's imagine the caterpillar was our pre-saved state. Let's imagine that we gained the knowledge that our life was spotted, tarnished, ugly, sinful, we were unable to change it, out of control, etc., whether we appeared to be moral caterpillars or not. Something should tell us that we were in need of a major change. So we agree that change needs to happen. Like the caterpillar goes into a cocoon, we go into prayer, asking the God of second chances to do what only He can do--change the old creature into a new one. We go into prayer one way, and like the metamorphosized (changed) caterpillar now turned butterfly, we come out another way, something beautiful, something that will never be the same as it was before, our chains of bondage from sin are gone. We've been set free. We've been rescued from death to life. We've been ransomed. Our tarnished surface is polished. Our inward stains have been washed by the blood of the Lamb.

"Thank You Jesus for change!! If it had not been so for me, I'd be destined for an eternal hell, permanent separation from You. I would be useless for the Kingdom, even now as I live on earth. Good morals or not, I could never see You face to face, as these character traits can't get me to heaven (good character is just the outward manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit because of salvation). I would have no eternal rewards. You would never be able to say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Even as a moral human being, all of my good works would be counted as filthy rags. But oh faithful and good God, not so for me. Because of the miraculous change that I underwent in my prayerful cocoon, because of your loving me and pursuing me first, because I answered, because I realized that I'm nothing without You and You're everything to me and for me, some day, I will go from this life to eternal life with You. I will, like the butterfly, get to try out my new body and live eternally sinless. I will behold the beauty that is You, Lord. Thank You Abba Father." Well now, CHANGE is good!

For the sake of Iris's theme, I used change, because we are new (or changed) creatures when we are redeemed by the blood, but let's look a little deeper. Are our lives changed or EXCHANGED? In all actuality, our lives are exchanged with Christ's. We exchange our lives for His. We willingly give ourselves over. Jesus paid it all and in return, we give it all--our lives for the paid ransom. It's like an exchange done at the agreed upon meeting spot in a kidnapping--the person for the money. Picture the kidnapper shoving the person toward the person with the suitcase full of money, and at the same time or simultaneously, the person with the suitcase shoves it over to the kidnapper. "I'll give you what I have in exchange for what you have." Jesus went from life as a man to death on the Cross in exchange for our sins. He took our sins upon Himself. In exchange, we earned freedom. In salvation, we give our lives to Christ, He gives us eternity and life with Him. "Thank You Lord, for the EXCHANGE! What a gift!!"

These are the things that I'm thankful for today. What about you? Click on Iris' link above and see what others are thankful for as well.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~ John 8:31-32 (ESV ~ emphasis Iris')

Iris at Sting My Heart has a wonderful Thankful theme today--TRUTH or being thankful for the truth. What is truth? If you took a survey on the street, you WILL get all kinds of answers, but the TRUTH is, THERE IS ONE TRUTH, ONE WAY, ONE JESUS! Are we being religious fanatics, elitists, snobs, etc. when we say this? Well, like Iris said, we didn't say this (and we didn't have to), Jesus says this about Himself. There are no other false gods that have been introduced to man that can make the same claims and assertions about themselves as God and Jesus could and did. Not only did God make the claims about Himself, He literally lived them out. He still does today. No other false one has, nor is, doing that. Won't you praise Almighty God with me today for who He was, is, and will be! Aren't we thankful for the truth that He left behind!!!!

• I am thankful today for TRUTH, good old, unadulterated, uncompromising, loving, transforming TRUTH!!
• I am thankful that the TRUTH set me free!!
• I am thankful that the TRUTH set my whole household free!!
• I am thankful for Truth-Seekers.
• I am thankful that the TRUTH stands on its own and needs no help, additions, or subtractions.
• I am thankful for God whose Spirit helps us recognize truth and distinguish it from error.
• I am thankful for the TRUTH that God allowed to be left behind in His Holy Writ for us to read.
• I am thankful that the TRUTH is being carried to the ends of the earth everyday by those who are on God's mission, whether that's foreign, domestic, or right in our homes!

What are you thankful for today? How does the TRUTH impact you? Join Iris and many thankful-hearted others and see what God has placed on their hearts about being thankful. Go to http://www.eph2810.com/ and read and/or post your own. Thanks Iris, for today's theme.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Iris at Sting My Heart (http://www.eph2810.com/) invites us to share how we're thankful every Thursday. Won't you join us? Click on the link above and see what Iris and others are saying. See how they're giving credit and praise to God for what He has done. Her verse for the week is “I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”~ Psalm 52:9 (ESV ~ emphasis Iris') And now, it's my turn to be thankful and praise Him.

• Lord, I am thankful today for the wonderful, in-depth studies at church you've lead me to take, so that I may draw closer to You and do what You ask of me.
• My God, I am thankful again, as I have been so many times before, for the man of God, who is my husband, that he is a man after Your own heart, and his desire is to please you first and then me.
• Father, thank you that you have chosen me and my household to be Your children. You love us, lead us, guide us, convict us, take care of us, have mercy on us, and so much more, just like a father would.
• Prince of Peace, thank you for the peace that you give that surpasses all understanding, when we can't muster it for ourselves, when we need it the most.
• Thank You that You've given us the hearts and minds to praise Adonai (our sovereign God).
• I'm thankful that You're omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
• Thank You today and everyday that You live up to Your promises because You are El Shaddai (The God Who is sufficient for the Needs of His people)
• And last for today, but certainly not least, thank you that you're Jehovah-Rohi (our shepherd-Psalm 23), that because of You, we shall not want, You lead us beside still waters, You restore our souls, You are with us.

Oh Lord, thank You today for ALL that You are to us and for us. I am so grateful and will be eternally.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Iris (www.eph2810.com) picked a wonderful subject to think on and write about today--PEACE. Who doesn't need peace in their lives? Who doesn't need to draw upon that quiet, precious peace that surpasses all understanding, that only the Lord can give? Who knows the feeling of God's peace right in the middle of the storm? I know He has done it for me on more than one occasion, and it certainly does surpass my understanding. On my own, I would have been miserable, and I would have failed in my efforts to summon the peace on my own. Sometimes, things are so oppressive, you couldn't bring peace if you tried and gave it all you had. Sometimes, you have nothing to give. But God...

“There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ~ Psalm 4:6-8. This is the Scripture that Iris referred us to today. It is so fitting.

Today, speaking of peace then, I am thankful for:

• The peace that surely surpasses ALL human understanding.
• Where my help comes from; my help comes from the Lord.
• The peace He has given me, even in my illness (a virus) this week. The virus forced me to rest and think on Him.
• The peace He gave me in my sleep after I felt like I had been under attack that night (earlier). My husband and I laid awake and prayed together and read Scripture, after I had been going through some things earlier with a friend, finally drifted to sleep, only to be startled awake like I was being attacked in my sleep.
• The peace that He gives me after I pray and just leave the request at His feet and the results up to Him.
• The peace that He gives me when I just simply trust Him.
• The peace I feel (even when our budget is so tight that I can't see how a certain bill will be paid or a proper meal will be served) that God will take care of me. After all, He promised, and I trust Him. If He dresses the fields, takes care of the birds and animals, am I not more than they?

"Thank you Jesus, today and any other time, for the peace that you give and have so generously given. I am reminded by what You do, of who You are and who I am not. I am reminded of the things that I cannot do on my own. I like that, because if I could solve all of my problems and summon necessary peace, I would not need You, and I would become my own God. That's not the way it is though, nor the way it should be. I need you and am daily desperate for you. You are God."

Click on Iris' link above and see what others are so thankful for.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Is there not always something to be thankful for? Iris at Sting My Heart (http://www.eph2810.com/) discusses how she is thankful for the ministries that God has called us to. Specifically she sites one that is close to her heart--Harvest Ministry with Greg Laurie.

Think about it, some of us would not have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ without someone's obedience to be called to head or found a ministry. With that ministry, they spread the Gospel, our hearts were tender toward it, and we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. That's not the only thing ministries do. Some ministries specialize in giving provisions for people who wouldn't otherwise have them, some feed the homeless, some house people, and the list can go on and on. Thank God for ministries and the people who love Jesus in them.

Did you know that we're all called to do missions work of some sort? No, I'm not saying that we're all called to the domestic and foreign mission field. I'm saying that the mission field you've been called to could be right at your job in the office, your backyard, your neighborhood, your child's school, etc. There is work to be done for the Lord. We are so privileged to be called to join Him in His work. We're all called to shine our lights, have the aroma of Christ, and be loving and giving, whether we're giving of our time, resources, money, or whatever. You can share Christ in many ways, and there are opportunities, probably more often than we realize or recognize. We're not called to do it all, but we are called to do what God has assigned us. Listen to His voice and His leading. He will be glorified, someone will be blessed, and you will be rewarded. Now, on to what I'm thankful for today and everyday.

• I'm thankful for the ministries that God has called my husband and I to: Christ-Life Community Church (our church in our home twice a month), WiSeSHILD (Wives Serving and Supporting Husbands in Leadership and Development), co-fascilitator of a woman's study on Biblica Womanhood, and starting a new group on women in the Bible. To God be the glory for the call to these groups and any success from them.
• I'm thankful for the ministry back in Hawaii that explained (better than I had had explained growing up in my church back home) the Gospel to me clearly and that I could have a real, personal relationship with Christ. My life hasn't been the same since, thank God.
• I'm thankful for any future ministries that God would call me, my husband, and/or the children to. "Here I am Lord, send me."
• I'm thankful for the ministry of homeschool. I love the responsibility of teaching my girls.
• I thank God for the new Homeschool Assoc. (name: Hearts Toward Home Christian Educators) and Co-op that our family and two others (possibly a 4th one coming soon) were blessed to form. This is a ministry to our children and whole family. We are so grateful.
• Finally for today, I thank God for the ministry of our outside-of-the-home church. We attend, most times, twice a month (sometimes more for special circumstances), and we love where God has called us to worship right now. We have grown a lot there as a family in Jesus. We thank God for all of those who give of themselves for the church's growth.

I'm off so that I can wrap up homeschool for the day. I'd like to go over and read some others' blogs for this Thankful Thursday. I love hearing about grateful hearts.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I am off this morning my friends, to the missions trip in New Orleans, where we will be working with a church there and working together in a neighborhood. Pray for us, if you're so compelled, while we're there (Peculiar's family--God knows who we are). Pray that God's light is a blinding force that the people can't help but be drawn to. Pray that we're abased while God is exalted. Pray that His plan and His will be done.

I won't be here to know what Iris' theme will be for TT, so I will just be thankful in general. There is always so much to be grateful for.

1. I am grateful that God chose my family and I to join Him in His work to witness to and love on others, whether it's in New Orleans or anywhere else on earth.
2. I am thankful that He has given me the gift of service, giving, and the boldness to tell others about Him.
3. I am thankful that His Spirit in me has compelled me to use those gifts for His glory and someone else's good, and not for selfish gain or pride.
4. I am thankful that God has given my children a heart for missions
5. I am thankful that Iris has given us an outlet or forum on which to express our thanks to a good and gracious God.

I pray that the rest of your week goes well. We will be returning Sunday, so pray for safe travels to LA and back home for us and our team of servants for Christ.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

THANKFUL FOR RELATIONSHIPS

Iris at Sting My Heart is using one of my favorite verses, in fact, the one that I use as my theme verse (in my left sidebar under profile). 1 Peter 2:9-10. This is her theme verse for today's Thankful Thursday. She is thankful for the relationship we have been called to with Christ and relationships with other people. This is a wonderful verse, reminding us of who we are in Him --what we've been called out of and in to. What a friend we have in Jesus! It's the best relationship we can have!

With that verse in mind, I so thankful for:

• Being a friend of Jesus. I've posted this fact before, but it still blows my mind! Thank you Jesus, for calling me friend.
• The new relationship my oldest sister now has in Christ. She got saved this year! The heavens rejoiced. Oh, thank you Jesus! Another one in Your Kingdom!
• The relationship I have with my parents. I talk to my mother daily, see her as often as possible, talk to Daddy as often as possible, but don't see him nearly as much as I'd like. Thank you Jesus for my parents.
• The relationship I'm developing with my girls as they grow older. It's important to me that God lives through me, that they might see what God is pleased with as a young lady.
• The virtual relationship (over the internet) I've recently formed with women that just strike me as women after God's own heart. This is daily encouragement from the blogsphere.
• The relationship I've been blessed to have with my accountability sisters in Christ. We meet every Wednesday morning to do studies together, talk, pray for one another, admonish one another, boost each other up, and support each other in many ways. Thank you Jesus for hand-picking us and placing us together. We need it and you knew it.

You've got to have something you're thankful for today, I know. Go to www.eph2810.com and read some others and/or leave your link there so that others might come by your place to see what you're thankful for.

Thank you Iris, for doing this. It keeps our hearts toward Christ, with a humble and grateful spirit.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

What are you thankful for this Thursday? Iris at Sting My Heart reminds us that no matter how much the water rises, God always throws us a lifeline. Isn't that so true? There is ALWAYS, no matter what situation you find yourself in, and no matter how much trouble seems to last, something to be thankful for. Here's what I'm thankful for:

• I'm thankful for the women's group we had last night. Two new women attended, and one said that she felt like there was HOPE for her before she left.
• I'm thankful for the benefit of prayer. It makes a difference.
• I'm thankful for the people at my church that don't just want to learn the Word, but apply the Word to their lives. We don't always do this do we?
• I'm so very thankful for being cancer-free now for 9 years.
• I'm thankful for our little, tiny humble abode.
• I'm thankful for the promises God made in His Word, like providing us food and shelter. I'm glad that He makes good on anything He promises.
• I'm thankful for simple things like toiletries and other things that keep us clean, fresh, and presentable. We take these things for granted, but these are really very important, and I'm thankful we can afford these things.
• I'm thankful that God allowed me to be born and live in the USA.

Go to www.eph2810.com and look at what Iris and others are thankful for. You can even add your thankful post there. We'll be glad to share in your thankfulness. Bless you today.

THANKFUL THURSDAY #2

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”~ Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

This is the theme verse that Iris from Sting My Heart chose for this week. Isn't it a wonderful verse to ponder on? Do we trust Him with ALL of our hearts? Can we? Yes, if God calls us to do it in His Word, with Him and in Him, we can do everything He has called us to do. I thank God for showing me how to trust Him and leading me to do so. Where would I be without it? Anyway, in keeping with our "trust" theme, I'm thankful for the following:

• I'm thankful for a great husband that God has shown me through dating, engagement, and marriage that I can trust him. This is so important.
• I'm thankful (and this should have been first on the list) that I can trust EVERY word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
• I'm thankful that I can trust the writers of the Bible to have heard from God and wrote things that He impressed on them.
• I'm thankful for the men of God mentioned in the Bible, who obeyed Him, trusted God, stood on His promises, and did such wonderful things that our lives, even today, in some way or another, were changed for the better because of it.
• I'm thankful that I can trust that my immediate family will stick by me and love me.
• I'm thankful that my children trust the work of God in me and therefore trust me as a parent to love them, lead them, and guide them.
• I'm thankful that my friends trust me to be just that--a friend.
• I'm thankful that my husband totally trusts me as a wife. That's a big deal. May God help me to keep his trust and be the wife that He has called me to be.

Aren't you just thankful this Thursday!!!!!

"Thank You, God, for the gift of trust and that we can trust You. Who else could we really trust if we didn't trust You? We'd be hesitant with anybody else, because there would be no assurance of REAL trust if we didn't have trust in You first. I thank You for all You've done for me, and not just in a pat or cliche' prayer kind of way. I really thank You that, if You let me see tomorrow, I can trust that You'll be God again, and again, and again, that You can be trusted to be who You say You are in my life and in the lives of others. I thank You for that assurance. In Jesus' precious, Holy name I pray."

THANKFUL THURSDAY (in place of Thursday Potpourri)

Usually, if I do anything at all on Thursdays, it's Thursday Potpourri, just kind of a hodgepodge of subject matter that I found interesting or fun. It has been my "off day," kind of. Well, to bring more meaning to Thursdays and give one more opportunity for us all to be thankful, I've made the decision to make a permanent switch from Thursday Potpourri to Thankful Thursday. You can still view my posts from Thursday Potpourri in archives or the label that says the same name. From here on out though, it's Thankfulness for me! How about you join me and we all do the same! There is literally always something, even on our worst days, to be thankful for. Iris, at Sting My Heart (http://www.eph2810.com/) created this meme for the purpose of reminding us to be thankful on more than just Thanksgiving. She wants us to be mindful of being thankful weekly, well, on our blogs, but really daily in our lives.

There is usually a theme on TT, but she says for this week, there is no theme that she could come up with, so she wants us to just be "plain thankful," as she puts it. That should be easy right? Nothing to think about. Just let your mind and heart be thankful. I'll bet you'll be flooded with things to say. Here's what I'm thankful for (I don't know if there is supposed to be a set amound of things to be thankful for so, I'll take my cues from Iris' post and just do 9.):

• I'm thankful for the hearts of my children who have decided to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
• I'm thankful for my sister's salvation just a few months ago
• I'm thankful that my mother is a living testimony of God's grace and mercy after having been run over by a car.
• I'm thankful that I live in a free country, where I'm free to worship my Lord and Savior (so far) without persecution.
• I'm thankful for my special, private time with the Lord. I sometimes wish I had more of it.
• I'm thankful for hymns and praise and worship (and other types of Christian genre) music. It lifts my spirit and focuses my attention and affection on an Almighty God.
• I'm thankful for the gift of giving. I love to give whatever God has provided and prompted me to give. The more you give, the more you grow in your heart toward giving, and ultimately, you give more.
• I'm thankful when people's needs are met and God gives me the privilege to find out about it and bless His name because of it.
• I'm thankful that Jesus calls me FRIEND.

What are you thankful for today? There is plenty to choose from:)