Giving Thanks

As much as I like to be original, I'm following in the path of my brother-in-law (Whitt Madden ) and others like him who have made lists of what they are thankful for.


So on this day, the last Thursday of November, I will share a few of the things that make me thankful.

• Salvation from the horrible sickness of sin that is given only from and through the Lord Jesus Christ. "Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free//For God the just was satisfied to look on Him and pardon me."
• The cross. This life doesn't make sense without it.
• The Word of God that is living and active and real.
• My family. I've been so blessed with godly parents who love Him and desire to live in a manner that brings glory to Him.
• Murray. The cute little city and school, but especially for the family of believers God has allowed me to be a part of. I am continually overwhelmed by their faith, testimony and desire to serve the Lord in all things, I'm so blessed to have friends my own age who are seeking the Lord's will for their lives and striving to live according to it.
• God's amazing provision.
• C&C (coffee and conversation) with my sister and brother-in-law.
• Music. Especially worship music like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tenth Avenue North, and others who sing the truth and display God's majesty through song.
• Books; like Radical, 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die, When God Writes Your Love Story, and more.
• This summer and all the lessons God taught me through the experience.
• The Church.
• Scripture that says I am the bride of Christ.
• Fall.
• Spring.
• Baseball (St. Louis Cardinals).
• My iPhone.
• Cameras.
• Christmas decorations.
• Love. Infinite, free, matchless, deep; the Love that came to die so we could live. Love that covers all.

It is so important for us to be filled with thanks before and after we are filled with food. Be thankful today and everyday.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." -Hebrews 12:28-29

How Many Ways Can You Spell Responsibility?

Only one way, really. (R-e-s-p-o-n-s-i-b-i-l-i-t-y.) But it's spelled out pretty clearly in these verses:

""So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.""          -Ezekiel 33:7-9

Thanks to my sweet friend, Lauren for sharing these verses with me.

God's Unchanging, Amazing Character

God is so good. Through my time at Murray (and where has the semester gone?!) God has revealed Himself in ways that I never imagined; He is constantly overwhelming me with His grace and surrounding me with His faithfulness. He is just so good!

I went to my sister's church for "Gathering of Worshippers" Saturday night, and it was so refueling! So many people there just to sing praises "with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it all," and it was such a great time of fellowship. During the laid back time of worship we took communion together and one guy in our group said as he thought about the bread representing the body of Christ this thought came to him: He was broken so we could be whole.

Basically there were instant tears pooling in my eyes at that amazing thought. Since then, that fact hasn't been far from my heart but has been joined with a couple other little ironic thoughts.

• Jesus took on our sickness (sin) and became sick so we could be healed.
• Jesus became death so we could live.
• The Father turned away from the Son so we could be joined with Him forever (separated so we could be joined together).

Little as they are, those thoughts melt me into a puddle of thankfulness. God is just beyond good. Despite our complete worthlessness, He sees value in us because we are hid in Christ.

"Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that Faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

"For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise."                                            -Galatians 3:23-29

I hope you are experiencing the beautiful love of the One who gave Himself for you. If you arent, ponder the words of the Lord:

"Come to Me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David."     -Isaiah 55:3