Thankfulness

The holidays are fast approaching and I wanted to take the time to list some of the many things that I am thankful for.  We always say we are thankful but do we every really take the time to sit down and Thank God for all the many blessings that he has given us? 

Thanksgiving:

• I am Thankful for a loving, merciful Lord and Savior that sent his only son to die on the cross for my sins
• I am Thankful that God's Grace is more than enough for me
• I am Thankful that God is always patient with me and loves me UNCONDITIONALLY, even when I have done wrong, taken the wrong path, have not so nice thoughts, and many other times!
• I am Thankful for being able to completely Trust in God for everything and know that he is taking care of me and my family!
• I am Thankful to live in a country where I can openly and freely declare my faith and love for God
• I am Thankful for our Soldiers (past and present) that fight for my right to live in a free country 
• Thank You Uncle Mid, Clay and Lee for all that you have done and continue to do for our country by serving in our Military!  There have been many sacrifices ya'll have been through, but you continue to give it your all for your family and our country!
• I am Thankful for the best husband that I could ever ask for. He is so selfless, giving, caring, protecting, encouraging, loving and generous! He amazes me everyday with his loving kindness
• I am Thankful for 2 handsome precious boys that God has given Ryan and I to raise, I can't imagine my life without them! They are my world!
• I am Thankful for the best family and friends.  They are always there for me when I need them in the good and the bad.  They are supportive, encouraging and very loving.
• I am Thankful for the jobs that Ryan and I are blessed to have, especially during the economic hard times this country is facing.
• I am Thankful that I have a place to call home, that keeps my family safe and warm.  A place where many memories have taken place and will continue to take place.
• I am Thankful for the opportunity to be able to further my education to better myself and  my family.
• I am Thankful for the love for others that God has given me!

There are SO many things to be thankful for!  So many times I take things for granted and then I am reminded of all those people in the world that have far less that I do and it puts things in perspective!

Count Your Many Blessings!
Happy Thanksgiving and may each and everyone of you be blessed in all that you do!
God Bless!

Transformation

There are times that I have prayed for things that I felt like I never got an answer from God.  I know that he answers them in his time and not mine, but as humans, it is easy to get impatient and want to rush him.  The truth is, you can't rush God.  He has a perfect plan, and things will go according to his will! 

A lot has been going around our house.  I am taking classes in preparation for nursing school.  Ryan is looking for another full time job so that I can going to nursing school.  The boys are in full swing with school.  There has been a lot of worrying about money and worrying about if/when Ryan will find another full time job so that we can start saving for me to quit work.  Time and time again, I have worried and tried to figure things out on my own and with Ryan.  And time and time again, God has brought me back to these verses:

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which

exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds

as you live in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7

Man, that makes you really stop and thing, after he brings you to these verses.  He is reminding me that he is in control of everything and I need to put my complete faith and trust in him!  There are times that the enemy tries to tell me that I can do it on my own, but I have to remind myself, that I am completely trusting and believing in God to see me through all the good times and the bad times.  I am told as a christian that I am to trust in God. 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own

understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will

make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Everyday he reminds me that he has everything taken care of, I just have to let go and let God! 

I have also been praying a lot for my family.  I didn't like the way that things were going with us.  Don't get me wrong, I have a great marriage and 2 precious boys.  I just didn't like what I saw within myself as a parent and the way that I have been doing things.  So I started praying for a changed heart and attitude when it came to my children.  I want to be able to show them what love really is.  Love isn't hollering at them, or being quick to anger at them.  It's not about being ugly about something they did wrong.  Love is about loving them unconditionally, guiding them in the right direction when they do something wrong, its about letting them see God's love through me and my actions.  And as hard as it is to admit, I haven't always done that.  It is something that God has really been convicting me on and reminding me that I need to seek him for guidance in raising my children.  He reminds me that his Grace is enough for each one of us and there is nothing that we can do, that will make him stop loving us.  He has been reminding me that when I do wrong, that he isn't quick to anger at me, or he doesn't say ugly things to me.  He gently picks me up, dusts me off, puts me back on my feet and guides me in the right direction!  WOW!!  I am to do the same thing with my boys.  God has entrusted me with 2 precious boys for our time here on earth, and I am to raise them to be great Might Men Of God! I want them to be boys/men that have a heart for God, to seek him, and to allows follow him! I want them to think of others first!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when 

he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

I am trusting, believing and claiming the many great things that God has done, is doing and will do in my life as well as in my family!  I am contending a breakthrough in all these areas!

Gracious heavenly Father, I want to thank you for all the many blessings that you have given me.  Thank you for your mercy and grace.  Thank you that your Grace is ENOUGH for me! Father God, I want MORE of you!! I want to seek you more and know you more! Help me to seek you with my everything! In Jesus Name, Amen!