Be Thankful Always
2009 February 18
I haven’t had a chance to blog the last couple days. Just time for a brief note right now.
Today I’m thankful for:
- friends who remain through the years and through the miles;
- scripture (when I have a day to read I realize that the more I dig deeply, the more there is to explore — and the more there is to shape/alter/challenge my life);
- my son’s 12-point loss last night to North Crowley in 5A JV basketball (because the last time we played them we lost 103-30);
- soothing music . . . familiar music . . . and good Southern rock;
- outbreaks of beauty in creation (and YES, it’s in Abilene, too);
- the continuing support and guidance of loving parents;
I’ll try to continue the list through the day. How about you? Today’s thanksgiving list?
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Children who constantly delight.
My good friend and brother made it through his kidney transplant surgery without a hitch. Great story:
http://sskelton.wordpress.com
The smell of rain
a new day
- My new office in a beautiful setting of serenity
- A cup of Community Coffee this morning
- The two geese that taught me such a great lesson the other day: http://www.hopeforyourfamily.com/2009/02/06/i-got-your-back/
- My grace-filled church family, and how excited I am to invite others and to share The Good News
- My wife’s patient commitment to me
- My son’s enthusiastic love of life
- The joy of good blogging
- Men’s Fraternity http://www.mensfraternity.com
adults who love my children
shepherds who pray for me
my electric blanket
jeans that fit
past struggles of faith and life (I’m working on being thankful for current struggles of faith and life)
My thankfulness centers around my oldest daughter:
- she’s almost 18 and I cannot believe how mature she is.
- she loves her little brother and sister… and shows it.
- she talks to her mother and I; about everything.
- she is a greatf friend to her friends.
- she has goals… real, tangible ones!
- she loves God and wants to serve him wherever she goes!
I could go on…
Jim
My thankfulness centers around my oldest daughter:
- she’s almost 18 and I cannot believe how mature she is.
- she loves her little brother and sister… and shows it.
- she talks to her mother and I; about everything.
- she is a great friend to her friends.
- she has goals… real, tangible ones!
- she loves God and wants to serve him wherever she goes!
I could go on…
Jim
I wanted to emphasize my point but not with a double entry… sorry.
Remote control
Cold beer
A great game
Friends that you can really talk to and know that even though they might not understand, they are listening and are there for you.
Kindred friends, God’s lessons, the certainty I have in Jesus, Spirit-filled parents, a wonderful, Spirit-saturated church home, relentless and godly mentors that help cultivate and grow and deepen the maturity of my character. Thanks for this today!
** N. T. Wright’s mind-blowing _The New Testament and the People of God_
** Forgiveness extended in writing from a 13-year-old son to his astonishingly stupid father
qb
My 42 year old daughter got good news from her exploratory surgery today.
Waking up to the soft rain, ducks and geese staking out territory in the lake today and making the spring ruckus.
Meeting with my Brothers and Sister in Fresh Faith class today.
My wonderful, caring, Steve.
the warmth of God (the sun) on my face each day on my way to work.
having a job (even at HU)
being blessed with children that are more spiritually mature than I was at their age (thank goodness!)
having a dog that loves unconditionally
A God who loves me enough to send His Son and leave the Scriptures for me to follow
Wonderful church family and devoted elders
Parents and grandparents who taught me to love the Lord
Husband and children who love the Lord…a delight
Grandchildren who are being led in the paths of righteousness…double delight with a cherry on top
Good health
Friends who’ve encouraged me in life’s ups and downs
Pure clean water, good food, safe environment, heat in winter, AC in summer, good cars, clothing…more than the basic necessities of life
Living just blocks from a wonderful Christian college
Blessings which could go on and on…much like John said of Jesus (21:25) that if all He did was written down, the world could not contain the books. I could count my blessings for hours/days, and there would always be more to add to them.
The sun shining today.
The birds singing.
Getting to take a walk in the middle of the day.
Seeing jonquils on the walk.
For a faithful, godly husband.
Four beautiful, sweet, hard-working, compassionate sons.
God’s written Word.
God’s currently spoken word into my spirit as needed.
For peace and joy, two things that have come after years of renewing my mind with God’s Word.
The calming sound of a roaring ocean.
A sound mind. If you’ve gone without one for any period of time, you’re so stinkin’ grateful when sanity returns.
Good health
Chris Tomlin’s music.
Beth Moore’s teaching.
Mike Cope’s blog.
A healthy, vibrant church, with godly, wise men in the lead.
The red tulips blooming on my kitchen counter.
A good stereo system with loud, clear speakers.
Jackson Browne CD’s.
Pre-school age children who love so honestly.
The way little girls still innocently feel pretty regardless of how they look.
Parents who have stuck together through a bunch of crap that tears most people apart.
Friends who stick around even after they’ve seen “the real you”.
The powerful comfort of the Holy Spirit in earth shattering moments.
The ability to “tell on people” to God, and then the strength to let it go after I do.
The way the Holy Spirt takes God’s Word and causes it to be alive and active, sharper than a double edged sword, and makes it apply perfectly to my current need, whatever that may be.
Morning times, right before the sun comes up.
Strong cups of coffee.
Peanut butter brownies
Good Mexican food. Those us from CA & TX know the difference.
A good night sleep.
A good book, like “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan that makes me think and get outside of my small, selfish world.
The ability to rest in the fact that I’m God’s and He’s crazy about me. That blows my mind.
OK, I don’t want to take up any more space here…….just so much to be thankful for.
Thanks, Mike. I needed to focus on a list of things to be thankful for this afternoon!
Good friends who love me even when I’m far away.
The privilege of watching God’s work and the wonders of winter in these North Carolina mountains.
The joy of being with my daughter and granddaughters.
This ‘bad weather day’ that gave extra time for building memories with my granddaughters on this mountain.
Living next door to 3 of my grandkids
47 years with a wonderful wife
watching the geese fly from pond to pond
watching birds at the bird feeder
privilege of holding a humming bird in my hand and reviving it with sugar water
working part-time at Mardel Christian bookstore with wonderful fellow workers
BY the way those in Abilene, TX should rejoice that Mardel has opened a store there Monday morning. You will find wonderful prices on Bibles and you can get your name imprinted on it free. All the other prices are comparable to CBD as well. Sign up at Mardel.com to get notice of special sales
my wonderful son…
a job that seems secure even in these tough times…
a great church family…
good health…
signs of spring…
my cat, who adores me…
tea…
the internet…
my wonderful son.
My loving, forgiving, caring, compassionate, funny, tender, beautiful, nurturing……wife of nearly 22 years.
She has been the steady influence for our kids all these years while I travel and work long hours. We’ve been incredibly blessed that she has been able to be a full-time mom to them. I’m sitting in a hotel room in San Francisco tonight saying a prayer for her as she prepares to speak at her women’s retreat this weekend. She’ll do great I know, but she’s stressed nonetheless.
Early hushed mornings with God’s beauty all around me. Exotic flowers and flame trees and jacaranda throwing off bright red and purple flowers. A community of believers who nurture and hold me up to prayer. Children’s wonder and smiles as we drive by in our pickup….their first time to see a car or Makuwa’s{white people}in Africa.The absolute gracious hospitality of the Zambians who open their homes and offer part of the little they have. God who has already gone before me here.
Today for a calendar with nothing on it that requires me to be anywhere at anytime with anybody. And so, I can leisurely take my time getting chores done, catching up on reading and just being. What a gift today is.
Mercy
God’s daily blessings:
A New Morning
Talks with Him
Moments with Him in His Word
My children, grands and great-grands
The open, unabashed loved shared by two special little girls at church – their warm hugs, the notes that tell me “I love you, Kathy” [God is SOOO good to me]
Friendships
Highland,(including you, Mike!)
My parents and grandparents – they brought me to God, teaching me of His love.
A good book
Beautiful music
Evening musings of today’s happenings, thanksgiving to God for that day’s special blessings, then – deep, restful sleep. Oh! Yeah!!
I am thankful for a community of people who bear witness to God’s love and faithfulness in the midst of tragedy and loss. Southwest Church of Christ, Jonesboro, AR. God’s little colony of Heaven.
I’m thankful that there are still some coaches (besides our own Don Hood and Chris Thomsen) who know that winning is not all there is to sports. See this great story:
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/feb/19/amid-the-grieving-a-rare-act-of-sportsmanship/
That Kent Hance and Mike Leach got together and worked out the contract!
For the news of Lanette and I becoming grandparents for the first time this year – October 2009.
i’m grateful that God is good to my life, He is faithful and will remaain faithful to me and to my family,..I trust him at all times..