Things I'm Thankful For

*Family

*Friends

*Accountability

*The Word of God

*The ability to think on my own

*Home

*Music

*Theater

*Movies

*Books!!

*The ability to read and write

*The ability to help others

*A heart that has been broken and softened to look more like Christ's

*The knowledge that my heart will continue to be broken and softened

*My residents

*My past residents

*My job

*My staff

*My classes

*My professors

*(some of) my assignments

*A wonderful university

*Texting :) :)

*My pastor

*My church family

*The chances I get to share Christ

*The ability to learn

*The ability to function normally

*The ability to drive

*My car

*My parents

*My nephews and niece

*Being a girl :)

*The ability to reason

*Being given the chance to (Thanks, Dr. Bates) "set forth the reasonableness of the Christian faith."

*Encouragement

*Correction (in love of course!)

*Sleeping

*Naps
*Random Starbucks/Carl's Jr./7-11/food runs

*Quality time with those I love (My love language!)

*People who agree with me

*People who disagree with me

*The great country I live in

*The chance to share my thoughts (my blog!!)

*God's work in the lives of people all around me

*The hard times when I grow and learn

*The ability to emote

*Being able to share with others

*The ability to relate

*The ability to build relationships

*The ability to love

*The fact that I am loved

*Smiles

*Laughter

*Tears
*My bed

*My computer

*LOVE

*Languages

*Caution

*Reckless abandon for Christ

*AIR

*Water

*Food

*Jokes

*Stories

*Jesus Christ (and all that entails)

*The ability to sacrifice for others

*People sacrificing for one another

*Flowers

*Plants

*Trees

*Creation

*Animals (specifically our pets!)

*Dreams

*Thoughts

*Happiness

*Emotions

*JOY
*The consistency of Christ which is incomparable to the consistency of anyone else

*Variety

*Unity of the Body of Christ (we may not be perfect but we do strive for this)

*My feet

*My wrists (even though one is sprained)

*My teeth

*Random Acts of Kindness

*The love of Christ being displayed in others

*Humility

*Prayer

 
 

 
 

This by NO MEANS is an exhaustive list of what I am thankful for.

 
 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE feel free to add to it. I would enjoy seeing what else people are thankful for :)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Reality

This evening my friend Luke and I got the chance to be involved in someone's everyday life. God really gave us a chance to show His son's love to someone. I'm not going to go into details simply for the fact of me being tired (so feel free to ask me) but I will share some of this.

We got the chance to feed and help a homeless man who has lost his faith in Christ. How sad is that?! He has lost his faith because of Christians and Christian organizations who have refused to help him.

Christ really worked in me tonight. He broke my heart. I am depressed and somewhat faithless in humanity tonight. There is still hope because of Christ. I must keep my faith and hope. I must change if I expect others to change. I'm praying for Christ to change hearts.

Pray for me to be patient and compassionate.

Sometimes...

you just have to let God work. Step back, let go. Give it all up. And then He works...far beyond your expectations.

I'm just waiting.

And having faith.

And He IS working.

Pain and Reality

God is so good. He always provides and He never fails us. Sometimes we obviously think He does because we don't get what we want. But He doesn't. He knows what is best for everyone.

But sometimes things just really suck. There is still pain and there are still tears. When our emotions are all gone and we are numb, what is left? We have His promise that He is here and we can rely on that but sometimes it would be so great to have something tangible. I believe at those times we have to rely on faith because nothing else will get us through. Sometimes there is nothing tangible to grasp on to. Sometimes all there is is His word.

But that doesn't change that we want something tangible. So what do we do then? That is a question I am just throwing out there.

Psalm 147:3 says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

This verse is true because God is true. But sometimes I think Christians expect this to happen overnight.

It doesn't.

TIME is required for healing. A LOT of time. And God never promises that it will happen overnight. So when someone is hurting why do we look at them and say, "Hey, it'll be ok. I'll be praying."

I think sometimes a more appropriate response is being honest and saying, "I don't know how you feel; I can't even imagine it. But I'm here. I'm willing to listen. I'm here to pray with you, listen to you, and just sit with you. Whatever you need." But we avoid these situations. Why?

Because we don't like pain?

Because we don't know what to do?

Being a friend to someone or loving someone is not always easy and comfortable. Sometimes it's awkward. The less you know someone the more awkward it is, but we are still called to love. Do something tangible for someone.

Be the tangible love of Christ when nothing else can be.