The Thankfulness Train Day 21. Today I am especially thankful for children and grandchildren to love and be loved by. What a blessing to share in the lives of those we brought into this world and/or raised. Thank God for the precious memories of their childhood and growing years, which eventually brought them to be adults. I am thankful to my God who hears and answers prayers for their safety, salvation and sustenance through all their trials and the joys and pains of coming to responsibility and maturity. I may not always see the answers today but I rest in the confidence that God will provide in HIS time. Thank you Jesus for our lovely family.

The Thankfulness Train Day 20.  Today am grateful for a godly man that loves and cares for me.  That God sent him to me to love and care for.  That we have a wonderful family of children and grandchildren to joy and delight in.  I  thank God for this precious man who has taught me so much about integrity, kindness and character in such gentle ways and mostly just by being those things to me, with me and for me.  A man who loves God, who loves me and his family and gives with such a heart of generosity that sometimes I stand in awe.  Thank you God for this husband, companion, friend and mentor with whom you have taught and shown me  so much.  May our lives and marriage be a reflection of your glory and grace in the next 26 years..

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #18

2 Corinthians 4:14-18 has a wonderful ‘Thanksgiving’ message for us, 

“Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not;

but though our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction,

which is but for a moment,

worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen,

 but at the things which are not seen:

for the things which are seen are temporal;

but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

As we focus over the next week or so on giving thanks, Paul reminds us that our thanks when joined with others brings glory to God.  He also reminds us to keep our minds on things eternal rather than the light and temporary sufferings that come into our lives regularly.  God is at work always.

No matter the weight or burden we bear,

“… my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19.

Our confidence and assurance can rest in the hands of our God completely.  What joy we can experience when we remember to rest in the arms of our all-sufficient God.

And as He has promised in Hebrews 13,

He will “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—!!!!  Look up and thank God for His grace so abundantly showered on us.

So??????  Keep looking up!!!  Develop that attitude of gratitude.  Look with the eyes of the spirit not the flesh.

The Thankfulness Train Day 19.  I am thankful for HOPE!!!  And the precious young people who give me hope when I see them love God, study the Word, live right,  love people and do kind,  loving things for those around them.  Sometimes we get so discouraged by all the horrible things we see and hear around us today that we often miss the lovely people God sends our way to remind us that HE IS still in the life changing business and He’s still calling and equipping men, women, youth and children to love and serve Him in this world of corruption we live in.  Thank you Jesus for the precious young people you have sent to encourage me (the adults too).  Thanks Bailey and Hailey—you are so special to me….You renew my hope in what God IS doing…

The Thankfulness Train Day 18.  I thank God that by His word we can know that “….God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ( 2 Tim 1:7)  I don’t have to be afraid of what comes my way.  I serve the sovereign God of the universe and I know that  “Greater is HE that is in you (me), than HE that is in the world.”  (1 john 4:4b)  Oh, how reassuring and powerful to rest in the knowledge that God has given us power, soundness of mind and LOVE. I can trust to His unchanging grace and His continual working in me to conform me into the image of Jesus. “ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.”  2 Corinthians 2:14