Tag: Thankful

Thankful February 22, 2018

Yesterday was an interesting day here in the little town of Bridgeport, Texas. First we had an ice storm move in, so I had to leave work after only working 2 hours and as desperately as I need every penny and cannot afford to miss work, I knew if I did not leave when I did I could end up missing a lot more work than a day or two. So I warm up my car and scrape off the ice that was already covering my windshield and head home. I didn’t make it out of the driveway of the apartment complex where my client lives before my windows were icing up, so I stopped and scraped the ice off again. I didn’t make it a block before the ice on my windows would not be moved by my windshield wipers, and unfortunately the road I was on there was no where I could safely pull over and since there were cars behind me I had to slowly trudge along using the lights on the car ahead of me to make sure I was on my side of the roan. A five minute drive turned into a 20 minute one, but thankfully I made it home safely without any incident. Thankful to be home safe and warm a power surge hit. Electricity went out. I was told ice on the power lines were to blame. Thankful to own thermals and sweats I layered up. Reports of accidents and hearing sirens from ambulances I was thankful to be home safe. Hours later still no electricity I was thankful for my little French press. I had decided to see if any work was being done to fix the electric for the apartments I live in and to see how other neighbors were doing. One neighbor said they were dealing without having power but they sure wanted some coffee. I told them I had a French press and could make them coffee. All I needed to do was boil some water and thankfully our stoves are gas. So they brought over some coffee and their coffee pot. So thanks to my little press we had coffee and they could take some home. Just as I finished pouring the coffee into their pot the lights came on. They took their coffee home and I went to blowing out candles. The second I blew out the last candle there was a loud bang. The transformer blew. Once again we were in the dark. It was hours later before it finally got fixed and the electricity came back on.

There are many lessons that can be learned from this day.

1 The true source of power comes from God alone. Jesus told His disciples He had to return home but that He would send us His Helper. This being his Holy Spirit.

John 14:26  (NKJV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

2 That even in the darkest hours of our lives when there is little light or none can be seen at all He is with us.

John 8:12  (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

There are many more I could share with you but today the one that is important to me is this. Be thankful always. Not only when the sun is shining and you are happy and do not have any worries. James tells us to count it all joy when we face trials and tribulations.

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

December 20, 2017 / What is my purpose?

Tonight I was able to study with some women at church and the study was Rick Warrens ‘The Purpose Driven life’. I have enjoyed reading this book in the past and the Bible studies I had previously done with others. Some may say if you have done this before, why are you doing this again? For me the answer is simple, going back is like hitting the refresh button. It is a good way to remind ourselves of things we have learned and how important those lessons are still today.

I enjoyed going through day one of this book with these wonderful women, and being reminded that the purpose of my life is not for my own self but to serve the One who created me with His purpose. He has already taken care of my needs, and given me more love than I will ever deserve. If I can do anything to show Him my love in return that is a good purpose for my life and that is to serve Him in whatever way He asks. To share His love with anyone I meet, not just friends and family, but my neighbors and the strangers who I meet everyday.

I am thankful for all that the Lord has done for me and for the love Jesus gave to me when He died on the cross to pay for my sins, saving me from myself. I am to lean not on my own understanding but trust God with my entire being.

I am alive so I do have a purpose, thank You God that You have chosen me.

October 29, 2017 Rambling thoughts

Back in July I had to move from an apartment in which I had lived for nine years into a smaller apartment. I was not happy about the move since it was not my choice, I was also no happy that the move was in the middle of summer. I also did not like that even though I was being moved into a smaller apartment my rent was raised. I had to seriously down size. Now here it is the end of October and I am still trying to find place to put my belongings and still having repairs made to my new apartment. I have also had the fourth change in clients since May, which took at least two weeks each change to be assigned new clients, which meant that I did not get paid for the time of transition. Change is inevitable but it is something we all most deal with. We may not like the changes that are happening in our lives but I have to accept that there are things which I cannot control, but I can find things to be grateful for.

I am grateful for the friends who came and helped me move. I am thankful to have a place to live. I am thankful to my God who is with me through it all. I am thankful that He is merciful when my frustrations over my circumstances get the best of me. I am thankful for those who love me and care for me. I am thankful for a gracious and forgiving Savior who loves me as I am, and for His transforming love. I am grateful that He has helped me become a new person, that I may not be perfect but I am not the person who I used to be and that His love continues to mold me into a new creation.

Life is not perfect, but I am loved perfectly by the One who created me.

Giving Thanks February 3, 2017

Psalm 77:11 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” (ESV)

I am thankful that I am not who I used to be thanks to the transforming love of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV)

I give thanks to God for keeping a roof over my head that I have an apartment to call my home.

Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (NLT)

I thank You Jesus that you brought to me the gift of salvation and that it is not something I could have ever earned but that You love me so much You gave your life for mine.

It is easy to forget in our busy lives the importance of giving thanks for the blessings we receive every day. Being someone diagnosed with PTSD I have to make an effort to give thanks everyday because it helps me to find the good in each day, Being thankful is a choice. So by giving thanks for the blessings God gives to me helps me find joy because I know He loves me and cares for all of my needs.

Proverbs 17:22(NKJV) 22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Giving Thanks December 26, 2016 – Thankful For Salvation

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

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Art and poetry  by Julie Sheppard

Today and everyday I am thankful for the gift of salvation. It is a gift given by our Heavenly Father through His Son and our Savior Jesus. There was nothing that I could do to earn this gift. It is a gift given in love and all you have to do is receive it by receiving Jesus. Thank You Jesus for being the perfect gift, I would be lost without you.

Acts 16:30b-31 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

 salvation  (săl-vā′shən)  n.

1.  a. Preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil.

b. A source, means, or cause of such preservation or deliverance.
2. Theology

a. Deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption.
b. In religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, deliverance from the cycle of rebirth and suffering.
c. The agent or means that brings about such deliverance.
[Middle English savacioun, from Old French sauvacion, from Late Latin salvātiō, salvātiōn-, from salvātus, past participle ofsalvāre, to save; see salvage.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Giving Thanks December 25, 2016 – Thankful For The Birth Of Jesus

merry-christmas

   Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus.

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Today I am thankful for the hope

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and joy that the news of this birth of our Savior  brings.

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Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from Bridgeport, Texas.

Luke 2:1-20 (NKJV)

Christ Born of Mary

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,[a] who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[c]

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Giving Thanks December 22, 2016 – Thankful for the gifts of the spirit

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

1 Corinthians Chapter 12: 8-10  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Thankful for gifts from family and friends are gifts we hold dear to us but the gifts of God’s Spirit are eternal treasures that I am forever grateful for. They are gifts that we get to share and never lose.

What gifts are you thankful for?

Giving Thanks December 20, 2016 – Thankful for Light

Light

אוֹר

Hebrew

Candlelight1

Candlelight

1 John 1:5-9

      This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

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Moonlight

John 12:35-37

    Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Sun

Sunlight

Ephesians 5:14

 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
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photography by Julie Sheppard

James 1:17

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

   Candlelight, moonlight, and sunlight are all lights but they cannot compare to the One True Light who is Jesus Christ. Today I am thankful that it is Jesus who lights my path.

What lights your world?

What song brightens your day?

What are you thankful for today?

Giving Thanks December 18, 2016 – Thanking God For My Mother’s Bible

Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

This Bible is one of my favorite treasures. I grew up not knowing that my mother had ever known or believed in Jesus. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I learned that she had been a Christian. Unfortunately after she married my father and he became very abusive, her relationship with Christ had been left behind. You cannot lose your salvation but you can turn your back on it and walk away. Finding my mothers Bible was the way I had found out about her faith. She told me when she met my father it was in her church’s rectory and she was a part of the youth missions. Unfortunately after they moved to the mainland their marriage turned to the worst and she stopped going to church and lived as if she never had attended. Yet this discussion led to others and over the years she talked more to me about praying for me. Then almost 5 years ago she died suddenly of a stroke. I was heart broken not knowing if she had repented and  returned to Jesus. It was hard enough to lose her in this life but I wondered if I ever would see her again. Then the year after she died just before Thanksgiving I received an email from my Auntie Mary who had written to tell me that my mother had received Jesus as her Savior some months before she died in her church New Hope Oahu, and then she included a clip of the praise and worship. Although I missed my mother terribly this was the best news. I watched the video with tears of joy and danced as I watched them hula as my mother used to love me to dance for her. I still cry when I watch these, but not with sadness of loss but because of the beauty of His love and mercy and the knowledge she is with Him waiting for me.

Her Bible is old and fragile but it is a map of the words she read and what ouched her heart and now these words comfort me.

I am thankful for the Word made flesh that saved my mother and for her Bible which is now mine.