Thursday Thanksgiving

I am thankful how God's word speaks to me what I need to hear.

I am thankful for God's forgiveness.

I am thankful God calls me His treasured possession.

I am thankful for good health.

I am thankful all our children made it home this past weekend.

I am thankful I can be in Colorado with PH.

I am thankful for beautiful fall days.

I am thankful for laughter.

Thursday Thanksgiving

It's been a while since I've gushed about how much I love my Monday night Bible study group--so I think it's about time (again)--because I am so very thankful for them. These ladies are teaching me so much about what community means. I think everyone of them would risk getting a speeding ticket just to get to me if I needed them. When we pray together--sometimes we rejoice so hard we just laugh during our prayers--other times we grieve together and we just all bawl. I am thankful they pray for me during the week--they are powerful pray-ers. I am thankful for their encouragement--God just pours through them the things He knows I need--and He's got me figured even when I can't figure myself. I am thankful that what we have in common is Jesus--and we are women. We are fairly diverse otherwise--in just about every category. I am so very thankful God has blessed me with these precious women!

Thursday Thanksgiving

I am thankful my mom is here for a visit!!!

Sacred Marriage

This book changed the way I think of my marriage--my relationship with PH. It's not a how to make your marriage better book--but how to use your marriage to come into a more intimate relationship with God. In limited ways, I had already experienced a small bit of this--the author (Gary Thomas) just shows specific examples of forgiving, serving--other things--that should be used to help us know God better that somehow I have missed. I admit things that have made me mad or disappointed--were probably chances to allow me to trust God more.

The sub-title is "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than make us happy?" Of course, the serendipity of it all--as I've put it into practice--when I've allowed God to use circumstances--I end up closer to Him, closer to PH and almost crazy with happiness!

This will be on my must read list for anyone who is married--or is thinking about getting married. I will be re-reading this one on a regular basis.

Thursday Thanksgiving

I wish I could understand the Bible perfectly--I would believe 100% right, I would worship God totally correct, I would know exactly what to do in my life to please God all the time--I can do my best to allow the Holy Spirit to teach me and guide--but I still know I won't get it all right all the time.

I am thankful it's not about my perfection, but about His.
I am thankful it's not about getting a high enough percentage to please and honor God--it's about His free gift of grace.
I am thankful my salvation does not depend on my understanding of theological things--but simply having faith that Jesus is my Savior.

" do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Galatians 2:21

Music That Ministers

Most every weekend at my church family's assemblies, we have kind of a theme song. I am not sure the worship minister would call it that--but I am for blogging purposes. We usually sing the chorus of that song about 20 times. Last weekend on about our 18th time through, I had this not-so-holy thought that probably about 16 times of this particular chorus would have been enough. We sang it a couple more times and it was over. Kind of. That song has started playing in my mind the past couple days at just the right times. Now I am so glad we sang it 20 times. That song has ministered to me so much.

Some of the time, it's not the theme song--but some song comes to me exactly when I need it--and I have to run and google the lyrics so I won't miss out on anything the Holy Spirit wants to share with me. I love those melodies that go on over and over in my mind. I just love the Holy Spirit works in that way.

Here are the words to this weekend's song--sing it really loud about 20 times and just wait for your socks to blessed off!

"We love You Jesus 4 so many reasons
for death and life and freedom even now we love You
We love You Jesus in and out of seasons
thru valleys and on top of mountains even now God we sing."
Shane and Shane

Most every week, I end up going to i-Tunes and downloading the theme song for my i-Pod so I can sing along with it about 2 million more times--2o times truly is just not enough!

I have so graciously been given this award from two of my blogging buddies: Paula and Niki. "This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award."
Thanks to both of these sweet friends--and now it's my turn to try to encourage seven of my blogging friends:
Tina
Terri
Erin
Jacinda
Jenn
Janice
Kristen
Of course, all my blogging friends are really sweet =-)

This is my sixth day in a row off from work. I am not away on a big trip (even though I did go to College Station one day to help Aggie-ed finish moving into his apartment)--I obviously have not been blogging too much--I have been fall cleaning house. I suppose I missed the spring cleaning thing this year. I've been planning on this all summer--now that the kids are out--it's time for me to scrub it all down--toss all the junk. While I consider myself quite gifted at planning and taking trips--I am not good at all at cleaning house. I am a pack rat. A really bad one. I was able to throw away the extra napkins that said "Congratulations Class of 2000" (year Aug/Critter graduated from HS) on them. I hope that means I am making really huge progress. Back to the fun. Hope ya'll are having a fun Labor Day!