"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:3); "Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 5:20) [both ESV]
With Thanksgiving only a week away, I am following the example of many others who have been sharing what they are thankful for. There are so many blessings that I could name, but here are some that come to mind first and foremost.
I am thankful for the love of God which surpasses understanding, and for His grace and mercy that are sufficient to forgive even me! It overwhelms me to remember that He continues to bless me even beyond the greatest gift He could give me, salvation.
I am thankful for a wonderful family; for parents and older siblings who have taught me about the Lord by word and example. I am thankful for a father who has always worked hard to provide for his family, and for a mother who has dedicated her life to her husband and children. I am thankful for the fact that each of my siblings love God and are living to serve and honor Him.
I am thankful for children; for my nephews and nieces, and for every other child who simultaneously humbles me and makes me happier without even trying to.
I am thankful for the friends I have made throughout my life. I am thankful for the friends I made at college, who have encouraged me, and who have each opened my eyes to things I would not have seen on my own.
I am thankful for the teachers I have had who have taught me so many valuable things about God, His Word, and living for Him in an ungodly world.
I am thankful for those friends who have become as close as siblings to me; for their patience and love, for their loyalty, for the many fun times we've had, and for the conversations we have had about all kinds of things.
I am thankful for little acts of kindness done by family and friends when they can see that I am overwhelmed or sad. Hugs from people I love, coffee, walks or drives, movies, ice cream and having a small task already done for me are all things that warm my heart.
I am thankful that I have a job that allows me to be creative, to have a balance between being alone and being with people, and that gives me the necessity to learn more history.
I am thankful for music, which often expresses my thoughts in ways that I never could, and which can alter my mood almost instantaneously. I am thankful for movies, which help me get lost in imaginary worlds and which can inspire me in unexpected ways.
I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets, and for the various beauty that comes with the changing seasons; for flowers and green grass, for ocean waves crashing against the shore, for colorful leaves falling in the rain, and for snow falling from pink skies.
I am thankful for everyone who has encouraged me in my endeavors; in baking and cooking, in music and dancing, in art, writing and sewing, and so many other things that I have pursued during my lifetime!
I am thankful that I live in this century, because though I wish some things could be how they were seventy years ago, there are so many people and things that I would have missed out on if I had grown up all those years ago!
And finally, I am thankful that I live in a country that is still free to a great extent, and where Christians can worship the Lord without fear. I am thankful that I have never truly known hunger, danger or prolonged suffering.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I hope that this will encourage you to consider all of the blessings that the Lord has given you. Each of us can remember, as Bing Crosby sang in "Holiday Inn", "I've got plenty to be thankful for!" Let us not skip over Thanksgiving in the excitement of Christmas coming soon afterward!
With Thanksgiving only a week away, I am following the example of many others who have been sharing what they are thankful for. There are so many blessings that I could name, but here are some that come to mind first and foremost.
I am thankful for the love of God which surpasses understanding, and for His grace and mercy that are sufficient to forgive even me! It overwhelms me to remember that He continues to bless me even beyond the greatest gift He could give me, salvation.
I am thankful for a wonderful family; for parents and older siblings who have taught me about the Lord by word and example. I am thankful for a father who has always worked hard to provide for his family, and for a mother who has dedicated her life to her husband and children. I am thankful for the fact that each of my siblings love God and are living to serve and honor Him.
I am thankful for children; for my nephews and nieces, and for every other child who simultaneously humbles me and makes me happier without even trying to.
I am thankful for the friends I have made throughout my life. I am thankful for the friends I made at college, who have encouraged me, and who have each opened my eyes to things I would not have seen on my own.
I am thankful for the teachers I have had who have taught me so many valuable things about God, His Word, and living for Him in an ungodly world.
I am thankful for those friends who have become as close as siblings to me; for their patience and love, for their loyalty, for the many fun times we've had, and for the conversations we have had about all kinds of things.
I am thankful for little acts of kindness done by family and friends when they can see that I am overwhelmed or sad. Hugs from people I love, coffee, walks or drives, movies, ice cream and having a small task already done for me are all things that warm my heart.
I am thankful that I have a job that allows me to be creative, to have a balance between being alone and being with people, and that gives me the necessity to learn more history.
I am thankful for music, which often expresses my thoughts in ways that I never could, and which can alter my mood almost instantaneously. I am thankful for movies, which help me get lost in imaginary worlds and which can inspire me in unexpected ways.
I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets, and for the various beauty that comes with the changing seasons; for flowers and green grass, for ocean waves crashing against the shore, for colorful leaves falling in the rain, and for snow falling from pink skies.
I am thankful for everyone who has encouraged me in my endeavors; in baking and cooking, in music and dancing, in art, writing and sewing, and so many other things that I have pursued during my lifetime!
I am thankful that I live in this century, because though I wish some things could be how they were seventy years ago, there are so many people and things that I would have missed out on if I had grown up all those years ago!
And finally, I am thankful that I live in a country that is still free to a great extent, and where Christians can worship the Lord without fear. I am thankful that I have never truly known hunger, danger or prolonged suffering.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I hope that this will encourage you to consider all of the blessings that the Lord has given you. Each of us can remember, as Bing Crosby sang in "Holiday Inn", "I've got plenty to be thankful for!" Let us not skip over Thanksgiving in the excitement of Christmas coming soon afterward!
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