Thankful ... June 11, 2017

I am thankful for God's grace and mercy. I am thankful for His patient pursuing of us. The way His patient kindness leads us to His goodness, and faith. May I decrease in the next coming days, weeks, and months in the ways that I take that for granted. It seems sometimes on my selfishness I waste God's grace. But I am ever so grateful for it. Even the way He withholds things we need until we can humble ourselves and submit.

I don't know if it is right for this thankful exercise to keep saying I am thankful for Shawn. But again, I am. Today/tonight especially for his lavish love for me. Maybe that is a self serving thanks, but time and time again God uses Shawn's role in my life to give me a glimpse of Jesus' love for the church (and for me). Shawn loves it when I am happy. He loves to lavish the little (and sometimes big) things on me. He can make me feel beauty even when I am a mess, and insecure. These are things that I know that my identity as a daughter of God should do for me, (and does when I "abide"). Shawn's love is tangible and audible ... and I am thankful for it. He had done this yesterday and today, by telling my hair cut looks good; like retro 1020's pretty. The way he jokes around with me before he left for work. His gentle loving teasing with my forgetfulness and the way I left parts of unfinished things on the counters. He was sweet and gentle with me, even though I recognize that what I was doing was annoying absentminded.

I am thankful to see evidence that God's Word and our investment of time, and energy is impacting the kids at church. It makes my heart happy, to hear the little ones tell me something they are learning and have it be real applicable things from the Bible lesson and for their lives. To hear them pray sincerely to God. ... oh dear Heavenly Father watch over these little ones and their faith. Guard it and protect it, and help their church family to recognize your work in them, and help us to equip them for the battles against desertion, temptations, "lead them not into temptation, but deliver them from evil.
Thank you again Father, for the joyful glimpse of the difference our efforts in Kids Church and Family Ministry are making. We don't always get to see these things.

I am thankful for your hand of protection and guidance over my life. Here I am about to celebrate 50 years, and I love you God, and I am still seeking you. Thank you for growing me up spiritually. I know I have so much further to go. So much so that i have been disappointed with myself a lot lately. But tonight God I am thankful ... for all those years ... I am thankful for the 100's of thousands of details you arranged to challenge me, help me, for the people you put in my life, for the churches, and so much more. God I have been so lavishly love by you, so blessed with so very much. Lord please continue to take my life and grow it up more and more. God may I have a great deep revelation of your love and my salvation and redemption. It is too hard for me right now to think of the next two decades, so God may I be extra mindful and thankful for all you have done to save, keep me and redeem me, so much so that I grow in self control and joy and knowledge and boldness, that I would honor you God daily in this next day, week, month and months to follow. Thank you Lord! Thank you so much. The more I think about the more I see your hand of guidance and protection and abundance on my life. Thank you for forgiving, and abundant eternal life. Thank you for another day to enjoy life, make a difference, be a blessing, and worship you. Thank you for so lavishly loving me.