Thankful Thursday

 Good Morning: 

I love to take time to say thanks to God for all He does for me.  This scripture is a favorite this week. The Lord is definitely good and I don't understand how people can go through hard times without Him.  I'm so glad I can talk to Him anytime and anywhere.  You can trust Him for sure always and forever.

**I am really enjoying my journaling/coloring Bible.  Here are some pages I colored from the book of Ruth.  I love the book of Ruth.  It really shows how God is working things out in our life before we even know about the problem we may be facing.

**I'm thankful to have had the time to watch a movie and have a cup of hot chocolate because of a snow day on Monday.  For the first time in many years I am enjoying snow (not necessarily being in it, but looking at it from inside.    It's so beautiful and I don't even mind shoveling it.  Since I no longer have to get out and drive in it to go to work, I can just enjoy the beauty.  And that is what I'm doing.

**Believe it or not, I'm thankful for having a good dentist.  Now, I really, really hate going to the dentist, but I'm thankful that my dentist is good and takes good care of my teeth.  Actually, I've been seeing him for years, but now I'm seeing his daughter.  Nice to keep it in the family.

Waiting Room

That's it for today.  The link-up is here.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a blessed day.

Cathy

Update

I think my husband said it best on FB, so I thought I'd share it here.

"UPDATE: We got the results back from the scans Cathy Sempsrott Stephens had done yesterday. Both scans came back clear - NO signs of metastasis!

The doctor says at this point, we are "going for the cure."

We want to express our deepest appreciation to the hundreds of prayers that have gone up on Cathy's behalf across many states. Your well wishes and encouraging words have sustained us through some rough days and nights over the last couple weeks. It is humbling to know how much folks care. We love all of you. Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement.

There are a couple more tests that are still going to be run. They are not really looking or expecting to find anything. Just wanting complete information before the "battle plan" is formulated. We know that the journey ahead will be difficult, but we know that "He who began a good work is faithful to complete it!"

Thank you again, and keep praying!"

Still Counting One Thousand Gifts

I'm still counting my blessings and I've got a long ways to get to 1,000.  But my God has so richly blessed me and I can never thank Him enough.

66.  Enjoying watching "One Night with the King" as I just finished reading Esther in my morning devotions.

67.  I'm thankful I'm relearning to knit, even though I haven't spent much time at it lately, but hopefully will pick it up soon again.

68.  I'm thankful for my friend who always talks me into trying new things.  She's the one who started me blogging three years ago.

69.  I'm thankful for the home God has given us.  A place where I can go for peace and rest.  A place where I can just be me.  A place where I don't have to change to please others.

70.  I'm thankful for a husband who never tries to change me, but just always loves me.

71.  So thankful for the opportunity to go out with my husband to dinner at Outback, using a gift certificate he got for Christmas.  Talk about a nice gift; dinner with just the 2 of us and it didn't cost us anything!  That's what I call the good life.  :)

72.  A wonderful day of worship and a nice long nap this afternoon.




Why don't you click on the One Thousand Gifts Button above and join in counting all the blessings of God in your life. You won't regret, looking back on your week and remembering the wonderful things He's done for you. Some are small and some are huge, but it's good to remember them all.

Praise

The other day I posted that my word for 2012 is "Praise" and I quoted a scripture from Psalms about God inhabiting praise. I was talking to my husband about this scripture and he is the one who helped me find it. Then he also directed me to this blog post at "Ron's Thoughts on Scripture and Life."  I'm so glad he did.  He shared a song from the Imperials about praise and that God inhabits the praise of His people and he said He was praying to God and felt God told him to "Praise me and see if I show up."  Pretty simple isn't it?  Just try it and see if it's true.  I know it's true because the Bible says so.  But I say I want more of God in my life and it seems to me this is a good way to have Him.

So in 2012 I plan to be more deliberate in my praise.  I will continue with my 1000 Gifts/Blessings list which makes me want to say thank you and praise him.  I plan to listen to praise and worship music more and to keep looking for Him throughout my day and trying to see Him at work, even in the small things.  I think this is my New Year's Resolution (if you want to call it that). 

Jesus, I praise You for who You are and for all You've done for me and I ask You to help me keep focused on You in 2012 and see You at work in my life and to remind me to praise You in all things.  Amen 

Word for 2012 and Still Counting 1000 Gifts

On this first day of 2012 I've been thinking. Kind of scary right? I've been thinking about what my word for 2012 might be. 2011 my word was trust. 2010 was an extremely hard year for our family and in 2011 I was trying to learn to trust God through all things. 2011 was a much better year and the Lord has blessed us so much. I believe I've learned to trust Him more, although I know I have a lot further to go.

I think for 2012 my word will be praise. I just want to praise God for all He has done, is doing and will continue to do in our lives. A scripture that comes to mind is Psalm 34:1 "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." NKJV Another verse is Psalm 22:3 "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." KJV  I love the thought that He inhabits our praise, which means He lives there.  I love the idea of Him living in my praise which means He's really close, if I keep praising.  Now I know His spirit lives in us if we are His child, but I just love this thought too.

I was considering the thought of praise this morning and then after church we got some upsetting news about some friends. I thought some more and realized that even in the bad times, I still need to praise Him. My husband and I were talking and I told Him I realized that we could have some bad things happen this year in order for me to truly learn to praise Him in the bad times. But even if that happens, I know that He is in control and He will be with us as He always has been, so I plan to try to praise Him anyway.I know I'll have failures, but I know He will continually remind me to praise Him through it all.

I think this also goes along with the Multitudes on Mondays I've been participating in, where we count 1000 gifts or blessings from God.  It would be hard to count the blessings and not praise Him at the same time.




61.  a wonderful Christmas celebration with our family, my family, my husband's family and our church family.
62.  getting a Kindle Fire, which I am learning to love
63.  being reminded that we have been given the greatest blessing of all, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ - the very best that God has He gave to us in order to redeem our soul.
64.  Extra days off during the holiday to run around and rest and relax and spend time with my family at home.
65.  Finally having all the Christmas decorations put away (I love them, but I'm always glad to get my house back in order).

Why don't you click on the One Thousand Gifts Button above and join in counting all the blessings of God in your life.  You won't regret, looking back on your week and remembering the wonderful things He's done for you.  Some are small and some are huge, but it's good to remember them all.