30 days of Thankfulness: day 10&11

Today I am thankful for new kids at story-time, maybe a fancy new work shirt, new aprons for work, a day off, an adventure to the science center, a silly kitty greeting me this morning, carrot cake, lessons from God, and remembering our Veterans!!! 

30 days of Thankfulness: day 8&9

Today I am thankful for found keys, my learner's permit, getting everything accomplished, a lovely tea party at church, and getting lots of steps in the past few days...as of now I'm over 16,500 for today alone!

30 days of Thankfulness: day 7

Today I am thankful for the hot tub for sore muscles, swimming a few laps, acing practice questions for a driving permit, and ending the night with my exercises while watching "Its a Wonderful Life"!

30 days of Thankfulness: day 6

Today I am thankful for seeing God place a burden on the teacher's heart for a story that was going to be skipped, generosity in every corner, a beautiful fall Sunday, a sweet memorial service, an unexpected nap, and a good clean murder mystery movie!

30 days of Thankfulness: day 5

Today I am thankful for spending an hour on ballet exercises without knowing it! I'm thankful for a long and busy day at work! I'm especially thankful for hot water as I can now go relax with a shower!

30 days of Thankfulness: day 4

Today Im thankful for music; for using it to worship, to dance, to sing, to listen to, and to recondition your body. Slowly but surely I may dance in these again!

30 days of Thankfulness: day 2&3

Im thankful for a trip to the Y, a soak in the hot tub, a walk in the rain, a good day at work, and a little kitty who always makes me smile 

30 days of Thankfulness: day 1

Today I am thankful for getting shows scheduled, friends visiting, music planned, cinnamon buns made, laundry done, and an excited 4yr receiving a pre-k book to do schoolwork like her big sisters!

Fully See

I looked out just now and saw the moon! A faithful witness of the hope God has bestowed upon John and I. (Psalm 89:37) The beauty was overwhelming, and should you be up later tonight, stay up to see it!

As it disappeared behind a cloud, I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV) - For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

We may not know the future, what it holds, what will happen, but God is faithful. Just like the rising of the sun and the setting of the moon. So when I see the moon, I'm reminded of the hope I have in Him.

Hebrews 6:19 (ESV) - We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain....

Do not despair, or be discouraged. He is faithful to care and provide for you. He will send someone out of no where to hold your hand and pray for you when you cry. He will orchestrate things in ways that leave you in awe. He will provide hope when life is beating you down.

I shall leave you with this:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Shadows of hope!

I encourage you to read Romans (particularly chp 4, the beginning of 5, and chp 8). I did so the other day, and it brought such inexpressible abounding hope, that I became misty eyed. To read stories of the ones who walked in faith before us, and see ourselves living in the same way is incredible! Abraham and Sarah are quickly becoming my favorite people in the bible. As I was reading Romans 4, verses 20-21 jumped out at me. They are a powerful poignant reminder of God's promises to myself, to John, and to the world around me:

Too often we don't give God enough credit. God is God; He is the ultimate supreme King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Compared to Him, we are nothing. We truly are. He created us, and He knows what our lives shall be like from this day forward. If we cling to Him, and those shadows of hope that linger during the hard times, we shall emerge victorious!

Two more verses I'd encourage you to look up are, Romans 8:37, and Romans 16:20. Romans 8:37 is my favorite verse. In fact, I wear it on a necklace quite often to remind myself that God knows what's going on, and I need only to trust Him. Romans 16:20 made me misty-eyed again when I finished reading through Romans. To see God's sovereignty over all is a humbling thing. To know He intercedes for us, is another.

Romans 8:24-28 (ESV)

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)

 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

I encourage you today to read the Scriptures, to not lose hope, and see the Lord working in the shadows (not the literal form, but behind the scenes) to bring us closer to Him!