10 Things I'm Thankful For Today, 11/30/05

Today I'm thankful for...

1. The fact that it's the day before December and I'm able to go to an OUTSIDE mall wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Only in Sounthern California.
2. Staying up late and talking to my best friend in the whole world (Mark)
3. Christmas decorations
4. Not living in fear of condemnation
5. Not living in fear of anything, for that matter.
6. Knowing that when I get to heaven Christ isn't going to ask me what church I had a membership at. (Or is He? Any thoughts?)
7. My family's roots
8. Candles
9. The ability to share Christ's love by loving my husband.
10. New friends, like my neighbor Rosa and her daughter Sidney, and Leslie.


I know that there are many opinions on what will be said when those who follow Christ meet Him. I truly believe we will be shocked at who isn't and who is in heaven. I rest in these verses:

-1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit..."

-Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

-James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from beign polluted by the world."

-Palms 103:12 "as far as east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

I know that I serve a God who is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14) There is nothing to be placed higher in our lives. He is to be feared (Dueteronomy 10:20), cherished, and honored (Isiah 26:13) to the fullest extent of the meaning of that word. As confident as I am in those qualities, I am also secure that my God is loving (1 John 5:2), compassionate, patient, and forgiving. Therefore, while I will strive to live in a way that speaks well of Him and shows His love, I will not live in fear of not being good enough for Him. He created me, and knows my imperfections and my perfections (if any). I am thankful, most of all, for His peace (john 14:27). And that's all I have to say about that.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Quick Update

Image
We have been in Idaho just a few days shy of 7 months. That's over HALF a YEAR, people. MUCH has changed. Our daily routine? Changed. Weekend plans? Changed. People we call when we're in a jam? Changed. How we're being fed spiritually? Changed. (But not TOTALLY, because we are still being fed hearty meals from the truth of God's Word, only our "server" has changed, essentially). How we function as a family? Changed. Everything has changed.  Half a year in a new land, with new people, and a new EVERYTHING will change you. And we are okay with that. Matter of fact, we're better than okay! We scorched our way through a brutal, smoke filled August, and we are GOOD! We tip-toed into the school year in new schools, with new teachers, and new everything , and we are good! A couple kids even won awards! (She's one ...  the oldest was another, but conveniently ducked the camera >insert eye roll<). We mercifully made new frien...
Read more

My New Language

Image
My teen challenged me to a game of ping pong. Easy enough, one might think, but this particular teen has been playing for YEARS against GOOD players (my mother-in-law is a champ!). Not to mention his muscles are twice the size of mine and he's a least - dare I admit this - a solid three inches taller than I, probably four. He was so sweet when he asked, and I couldn't remember the last time he had, so of course I said yes. From the beginning he knew he could beat me. He is stronger, faster,  *sigh*  taller , and more skilled. So he, sweet thang that he is, played with his weaker hand, which honestly isn't saying much because the boy is straight up ambidextrous . He was still beating me. So he got on his knees. I kid you not. He put one hand behind his back and he. played. on. his. knees . Aaaaaaaaaand he still beat me. It probably didn't help that I was laugh/crying the entire time. He thinks it was because I was having the time of my life, and I WAS! But r...
Read more

The Post About School

Image
Our family has partially or full time homeschooled for eight years. And, getting really technical, if you think of the years per kid, that's 22 years of homeschooling ! I think it's safe to say we are homeschool fans. Our decision to homeschool, initially, came from three factors: 1. Mark is a big proponent of using time wisely, and neither of us were thrilled with the use of time in our local schools. 2. We don't vaccinate, which wasn't a big deal in the beginning because BACK THEN we could just sign a waiver and it was no biggie. Then CA went all - well, Californiaish- and basically it became impossible for us to legally enroll our kids in a public school. 3. What brought homeschooling to our attention was when a family brought us a meal after Mia was born, and in walked this 8 year old boy who was kind, polite, helpful, genuine, respectful, patient, and more. I asked the mom, "Where does this kid go to school? He is incredible! What are you doing??...
Read more