Prayer and Thankfulness

Before you go any further today, please read the blog post that I have linked for you.

Thirty-fifth Tuesday

I hate to admit it, but sometimes I have been "bugged" by things that are prayed for and things that people thank God for. 

But after reading the post above, my perception changed.  I contacted Beth and received permission to link to her post.  I must remember to send her the link to mine.

The point I want to make is that we are told "... In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5

So with this new perspective I am trying to give thanks in literally everything.  What does this look like? Well, first it has helped my attitude when I hear my child thanking God for the chance to watch a movie.  I must remember that it is the thankful attitude that is most important. 

So Thank You God for:

a computer

the Internet

our library

our librarians

a warm home

running water

music

beautiful flowers

a baby's cry

a tender kiss

the love of my husband

my 2 bright, energetic, imaginative, loving, wise children

our "monster-dog" Oscar

my car

food to cook and eat

bills to pay

my migraines, I don't know the why, but I do know the Savior and that's most important

And I will continue to say, " I am doing better than I deserve."

I deserve eternal hell, but Christ has redeemed me for His own and I am no longer a slave to sin.  Now I serve the King of kings.

The Couch Prior

Apparently the timeline in my mind is running backwards... or I didn't put all the reupholstering photos in the same folder.  (Yeah, that's it)  So here are some photos of the job being done. 

BUT you must first picture a couch up on sawhorses in the dining room, while the dining room table was shoved into the living room.  Working on this project are 3 adults, 2 adult-size kids and 1 big dog who loves my Dad and insisted on being in the middle of the 'action'.

Various tools of the trade, plastic to protect the carpet from becoming embedded with staples, an air compressor with its hoses to operate the staple guns, a sewing machine, actually 3 were used, mine, Sarah's Singer and the real upholstery sewing machine at the shop.

Nuff said....Enjoy

this is the chair, the couch was in the same horrible condition

torn down to the springs, only a little structural repair was needed

Mom sewing welt on my machine.

starting to put things back together

Do not for a second think that reupholstering a couch is an easy job.  My parents have done this for years.  They are professionals!

If the furniture had been of a simpler design, I might be more confident in my newly, semi-acquired knowledge.  But it has this odd curve on the back wings AND I wanted the back cushions to be smoothed out.  

All in all we did it.  AND I am so thankful for my parents help.  It (and my daughter) has sparked an interest in sprucing up things around here.  Using fabrics from my stash, I think we might accomplish a lot this summer. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: give thanks unto Him, and bless His name.

For the LORD is good; His mercy endureth for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations.

I hope everyone  had a wonderful day of giving thanks. We certainly have plenty to be thankful for.

• A roof over our heads.
• Food to eat.
• Clothes to wear
• Books to read
• A library close by with GREAT Staff!
• Heat in the winter
• Air conditioning in the summer
• Freedom to worship
• Freedom to homeschool
• Freedom of speech
• Parents that love me
• America is free
• Computers games for pc (son)
• The internet and the ease it allows me to find and share info
• Alarm clock
• To have made it through 1 year of a job that is more demanding than I ever dreamed (husband)
• That I was diagnosed with asthma before it killed me (after many years of symptoms)
• Our new church family and their genuine love for us and each other
• Christian friends that love me in spite of the problems I have
• Honest friends that don't judge us for moving on and leaving 'their' church, these are true friends
• God is in still in control in the World, in America and in our lives
• Cars that run
• That our children have both claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and are starting to bear fruit
• That my husband loves me, encourages me and challenges me no matter what.
• Twenty years of marriage and looking forward to many more.

There are so many more things to be thankful for. Too many things to list all at once. Let us not forget to give thanks in all things. Give thanks in the good times. That is easy. Give thanks in the bad times because it is ALL in His control.

He Gives AND Takes Away

my heart will CHOOSE to say

"Blessed be the name of the LORD"

Being Thankful does not always come easily. But every day is a new chance to make a new choice to be thankful.

The Apostle Paul put it this way in Philippians chapter 4, "... I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content..."

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I've been thinking more of how to be thankful in all things.

My Strongs Concordance lists 73 verses that have to do with giving thanks.

Ephesians 5:20 Always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ...be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants of you , in your life in Christ Jesus

These are 2 verses that I really try to cling to. It is so easy to be thankful when everything is going smoothly. But what happens when there is not enough money to buy groceries? What happens when the price of gas sky-rockets and the lines to get gas are 2 hours long? What happens when your pick for political office is NOT elected?

We sang a song a couple of weeks ago, it was new to me, (I don't listen to the radio much). The words keep running through my mind,

.
You are God Alone by Billy Foote (2004) © Billy Foote Music/Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

You are not a god created by human hands.

You are not a god dependent on any mortal man.

You are not a god in need of anything we can give.

By Your plan, that’s just the way it is.

You are God alone;

from before time began,

You were on Your throne,

You were God alone.

And right now,

in the good times and bad,

You are on Your throne,

You are God alone.

Unchangeable, unshakeable, unstoppable,

That’s what You are.

You’re the only God whose power none can contend.

You’re the only God whose name and praise will never end.

You’re the only God who’s worthy of everything we can give.

You are God, that’s just the way it

Listen to it here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkjEscy05Yc

Enjoy!

What are you thankful for?

1. That this morning when the furnace wouldn't work, we had some alternatives to help keep us warm.
2. That our dear friends who move to Minneapolis blessed us with a couch a dining room table before they left.
3. That my wonderful husband goes to work every day to provide for us.
4. That I am able to stay at home with my children.
5. That we can homeschool and allow them to learn the way they need to.
6. That 5 hours after we discovered the furnace wasn't working, it came back on.
7. That the God who parted the red sea and saved Daniel from the lions den and raised my Savior from the dead , cares enough that the furnace is now working.
8. That my children love life and people.
9. That my children love to take care of the little people in our lives and of our elderly widowed neighbor.
10. That we recently celebrated 19 years of marriage. It gets better every year.