Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for...

My husband who is steady, dependable, funny, patient and kind. Who cares if he plays his video games too much. Everyone needs a break from all the estrogen in our house. Poor Man!

Alicia the Ace student, worker, wife, and daughter. Thank you Lord that she is steady like her daddy and gentle and kind and intelligent like her mother...LOL. Just kidding. But she is all those things.

Sara the Sparkler who is bubbly, cheerful and fun-loving and who is becoming a mature young lady. I am thankful God that you have brought us through hard times and will continue to help us grow together.

Katie the Kitten who is sweet as a kitten but can roar like a lion. Thank you Lord for her strong determination, her strong opinions (even if they frustrate me sometimes...wonder where she got that stubborness) and her beautiful smile.

Lord, I Ask, Seek and Knock on behalf of these girls.

I am thankful for a full life. Full of wonderful friends & family.

I am thankful for the opportunity to serve you in whatever capacity you call me to. whether it is cleaning toilets or praying with the girls at Heart Connection or laughing and singing with the kids in Children's church which by the way...I love those kids. They are so full of life. And each one is so different. Some are quiet, some are loud, some are sweet, some not so sweet but they are ALL yours God.

I am thankful for strong Pastors who love you, Lord. Not perfect pastors...But strong, passionate, leaders who want to do things your way even when they fall short sometimes.

And Lastly but most importantly, Lord, I am grateful for YOU. I am grateful you took me out of a miry pit and put my feet on the solid foundation of Christ Jesus...on Jesus Christ the solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. Thank you for paying my debt on Calvary.

In your Grip of Grace,
Dorothy...

He can make the lame WALK

God this journey we are on together is full of well...how do I say it...full of frustrations. But God you did it again. Just when I think I can't do it anymore, you ALWAYS come through. Thank you for helping me to reach out once again and not allowing me to give up because you NEVER give up on me. You are patient and loving. You are a Good Shepherd. I can not LOVE people the way you LOVE them. I want to...But the GREAT BIG YOU living inside of me gives me everything I need to overcome. "Greater is HE that lives in me than he that lives in this world". I will not give up. I will move forward with YOU. "I press on toward the goal of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus". Onward and Upward to the High Places.

I don't want to be so easily distracted by these circumstances but that requires me to spend a lot more time with you. You took care of each situation today one by one as I presented them to you. You nudged me when I did not want to do what you were leading me to do. Thank you for the nudge and thank you for helping me to be brave. Give me hinds feet to the High Places...I don't want crippled feet anymore. You can make the lame walk...

LOVE NO MATTER WHAT

So today I tried to reach out to a friend through FaceBook to let them know they were in my thoughts and prayers over a tragedy that happened in their family only to find out that I am no longer her friend on FB. All I could do was cry...Sometimes you just can't make things right. No matter how hard you try and no matter how much you pray, it just does not get fixed. So Lord, I put it back at your feet once again and ask you once again to help me to LOVE. No matter what. No matter how hard. My flesh cries out that it is not fair...But what good does that do. My heart cries out for justice, my mind wants to fight the battle MY way. I want to defend myself and I want to SPEW it all out and not care what anyone thinks or even what you think, God. BUT once again...I am called to LOVE. Love is patient, love is kind, love does not demand its own way...Wow, God this stuff is HARD. I think you might have to do this through me, I don't have it in me anymore. I HURT!!!

Life is but a vapor

Heard of a death of a young man yesterday. Early death...early 20's... I wonder where is he now. Where did he go? What is he doing right now? Did he know you Lord? Did he reject you during his lifetime? Did he think he had "plenty of time for YOU later"? Then I wonder...How is his family? Do they have any peace despite their loss? Do they know you, Lord? Do they want to know you? Or are they just angry at YOU but never serve YOU?

Lord, I want to serve you ALL the days of my life. I don't want my loved ones to wonder where I am when I leave here. I want them to have peace even in their grief. It would be the best gift I could leave them. I pray my family makes a decision to live for you God. If they left this earth unsure of their relationship with YOU, I would be devastated.

Lord, give this family peace tonight, comfort them, and help them to RUN to YOU not run away from you.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

My dear friend, Shay, celebrates "Thankful Thursday" and so with her permission, I think I will join her.

Person I am thankful for today - Shay - she has helped me so much with my computer skills and has been so patient with my old age...okay...middle age. That seniors ' citizens discount was just a fluke...right? Also, Shay has been such a blessing to watch grow in the Lord...ups and downs...she is growing. I am excited to see God's plan fulfilled in her life.

Words I am thankful for today - "Mom, we have become friends"... My grown daughter, Alicia. Thank you God for your faithfulness to me and my family. Thank you for a daughter who is seeking you. Thank you that you have loved her freely no matter what. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Prodigals do come HOME!!!

Steps I am thankful I took today in this journey - Had to make a hard decision today but I feel like the decision was made by faith and not by fear. Thank you God for guiding in that decision. Parenting is so difficult. I want to do it "right" but who knows what "right " looks like exactly. Should they go, should they stay home. Should I shelter them, should I let them go. It is hard not to be double-minded. But we walk by faith and NOT by sight. I trust you God to protect and draw my kids to you by your Holy Spirit, and I trust you will cover all my mistakes with your love.

Mrs. Duggar

I am watching the TV show 18 And Counting, and I am constantly amazed at the sweetness of this family. They are genuinely kind to each other. Mrs. Duggar is so sweet to everyone and you can tell she would not have an unkind word to say of anyone. I want be like that. Good Shepherd please make me sweet.

My Protector

Tonight I am reflecting on the protection God provides us each day. Do we even recognize his hand at work in our lives? Do we even know how many times a day he has kept us safe from harm and danger? Our times are in HIS hands. He knows the day we will leave this earth to be with HIM. Thank you God for your protection. Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you for your ever abiding presence. Thank you that you are near even when we don't FEEL like you are.