Thanksgiving Days 28-30

Today marks the completion of the Give Thanks challenge by KBR Ministries. Taking a month to sit down and really think about all that God has blessed me with has been humbling. Who am I that God should so richly bless me??? And yet He has. Over, and over, and over again. Even in difficult situations, God sprinkles His blessings throughout. What an amazing God we serve!!!!!

I am thankful for . . .

November 28

   190. Friends turning their backs on us - it strengthens our relationship with God and each other in the family

   191. The challenges that grow us

   192. Chocolate!

   193. The guidance and reassurance found in God's Word

   194. Another year to live, learn, and grow

   195. Money - not to hoard, but to use wisely and bless others; to learn hard lessons by

   196. The strength to stand alone

November 29

   197. The ability to sing together as a family and minister

   198. Council on Aging and Grace Nursing Home, who have endured us learning instruments and singing with love

   199. The blessing of being home-schooled all my life (thanks for the reminder, Patience!)

   200. Iron-sharpening friends

   201. Godly authors whose goal is to write to please and honor God

   202. Old hymns and new, solid Christian songs

   203. Trust in God for my future

November 30

   204. Theological discussions (not to be confused with heated debates :))

   205. The cross of Christ and Jesus' blood

   206. Truth - the world is full of lies, but God's Word is total truth!

   207. Pillows

   208. Devotional books

   209. Things God has been teaching me

   210. The Lord allowing me to get most of a project done yesterday

Did you do this challenge or one similar? If so, comment and I'd love to check out your blog.

Thanksgiving Days 24-27

I am thankful for . . .

November 24

   162. God's guidance and wisdom

   163. God's protection on His children

   164. God leading me in talking with a hurting friend

   165. Counter-point . . . and its frustrations and challenges

   166. The lessons I've been learning about Spirit vs. flesh (Romans 8 and Galatians)

   167. The strength to do extra cleaning -- and the blessing that comes with it

   168. Christmas lights - bright and cheery

November 25

   169. Rest last night - though interrupted with coughing fits

   170. Those who fought and died for my freedom
   171. Peace that God gives
   172. A way to escape temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13)
   173. Faithful men and women who serve Christ
   174. Paul and his letters to believers
   175. The cold running through our family

November 26
   176. God allowing piano lessons to go well today
   177. God giving us (my students and I) an excellent Hymn Night practice
   178. Time to do my chores
   179. The ability to play violin
   180. "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers
   181. A cleaner bedroom
   182. Lessons in patience :)

November 27
   183. Late night sister chats
   184. Adorable little students (and the older ones, too)
   185. Rain last night
   186. Peace that God gives
   187. Bible studies
   188. The challenge to stand alone in what is right
   189. The example of perseverance by my parents

Thanksgiving Days 20-23

I am thankful for . . .

November 20
     134. Housecleaning days – especially the end result :)
     135. Comfy sofas
     136. Blogs – both my own and those of sisters-in-Christ
     137. God’s unending patience with me
     138. Precious promises I can cling to when discouraged
     139. The ability to read and write
     140. Cereal and milk – not only is it yummy, but it eases the burden of breakfast prep on busy days!

November 21
     141. Modesty of the heart and body
     142. God seeing only the blood of His Son when He looks at me
     143. Creativity in baking and cooking
     144. God’s answers to everything in His Word
     145. Journals
     146. The gift of writing
     147. God’s provision of work for my Dad and brothers
 
November 22
     148. A day set aside to be thankful (though thanksgiving should be daily for believers)
     149. Grandparents and our great aunt and uncle to spend the day with
     150. God’s provision so that we could have a good Thanksgiving meal
     151. Our family being all together another Thanksgiving
     152. The sweet tradition of our family spending time reflecting on God’s faithfulness and blessings
     153. God’s many, many, many blessing!
     154. Good health . . . no food allergies

November 23
     155. A close-knit family with good relationships
     156. The blessing to grow up without the world’s junk
     157. Family-centered traditions
     158. My baby sister getting better from her cold – that it didn’t turn into pneumonia
     159. Having to be dependent as a woman – dependent on God, my father, and one day, my husband
     160. Slow, relaxing days to “catch-up” after busyness
     161. God’s Word being alive today – piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit.

Thanksgiving Days 16-19

I am thankful for . . .
November 16
     106. The sweetness of God’s Word
     107. Coffee
     108. Fun photo-shoots
     109. My brother’s electricity work
     110. My Dad and brothers’ carpentry work
     111. My sisters’ and Mom’s crafting skills
     112. God giving diverse talents and gifts to our family

November 17
     113. Vehicles that run
     114.       Our big van’s problems – God has kept it up and running with a “skip and a prayer”
     115. Music recitals – the ability to see students’ improvements
     116. The ability to preserve videos, pictures, letters, etc.
     117. Color
     118. Music books – and the ability to read them :)
     119. My 100+ year-old violin that God gave to me

November 18
     120. A beautiful time reflecting on God’s grace and blessings at church today
     121. Everyone that attends Old Paths Baptist Church
     122. Purity – and how God gives strength to stay pure physically, spiritually, and emotionally
     123. “Cast all your cares upon Him” – we don’t have to bear our burdens alone!
     124. God being in control over my life, my family’s life, and my friends’ lives
     125. Hymn-books – a treasury of Gospel songs
     126. Walks down the road

November 19
     127. Volley-ball games
     128. Good time spent with our friends, B and C
     129. God’s protection during travel
     130. Piano students who give me a little trouble – they teach me much-needed patience!
     131. How God directs me in each lesson – random ideas that He gives!
     132. The thrill of seeing students “catch on” to a concept
     133. Check-lists and routines

Thanksgiving Days 12-15

I am thankful for . . .
November 12
     78. Lessons that God has for me sprinkled throughout His Word
     79. The ability to sing
     80. The ability to think and discern
     81. Journals
     82. Daily freedom to serve God
     83. God’s character – even though we have His Word, “the half has not been told.”
     84. Beds

November 13
     85. Cameras – the ability to capture sweet memories and God’s nature
     86. God’s faithfulness
     87. Instruments to play and praise God
     88. Hand-made quilts
     89. Traveling and sight-seeing
     90. Meeting new people
     91. God’s sunshine

November 14
     92. Rod and Staff Little Jewels books
     93. Reading to my baby sister
     94. Pastors leading us
     95. Musicians
     96. Little girls to play and laugh with
     97. Desserts . . . my weakness! :)
     98. God’s sufficient grace – no matter what the trial is

November 15
      99. Freedom to learn from God’s Word
     100. The encouragement of a 2 1/2 day Bible Conference
     101. Fellowship with like-minded believers
     102. Piano and how God allows me to use it for His service
     103. “Jamming” bluegrass with friends (Godly music, of course! :))
     104. God bowing down to think of ME!! (Psalm 139:17-18)
     105. My Canon Digital Rebel XTi

Thanksgiving Days 8-11

I am thankful for . . .
November 8
     50. Thought-provoking, “painful” books :)
     51. Thrift-stores (especially when I can find what I need in less than ten minutes! :))
     52. God’s hand of safety as we travel
     53. God reaching down and saving my Mom and her brothers – creating a new godly generation
     54. My “second-set-of-grandparents” – Uncle Reuben and Aunt Iris
     55. God allowing me to know my Dad’s mom for 21 years, and the assurance that she and Grandpa are now in heaven
     56. The way that God answers our prayers – according to His will, not mine

November 9
     57. The ability to memorize Scripture
     58. Hot water
     59. Missions’ conference
     60. Sweaters – keeping warm in cold weather!
     61. The Psalms
     62. God’s ways being perfect . . . always!!!
     63. Self-Confrontation – a Bible course by BCF

November 10
     64. The ability to read God’s Word every day!
     65. Green plants – freshness!
     66. God’s grace that is able to help us keep commitments
     67. The protection God has given us in traveling to the Bible Conference in Mississippi
     68. The peace that God gives
     69. The ability to understand God’s Word
     70. God allowing me to be just a little “techy” – I know that He has a reason for it! :)

November 11
     71. God allowing our family to sing at Enon Baptist Church and Shiloh Baptist Church
     72. Brothers and sisters in Christ that we meet
     73. Pizza! :)
     74. The ability to breathe
     75.  Daily devotions
     76. Teasing and light-heartedness
     77. Sleeping in . . . after l-a-t-e nights!

Thanksgiving Day 4-7

I have not been as faithful to share my thanksgiving for the month as I would have liked to have been, but here I am, trying to catch up. I'll share a few days each day and hopefully get them all "done with" by the end of this month. This challenge has been a super blessing to me!!! I am very grateful that the Lord gave King's Blooming Rose this idea.

I am thankful for . . .
November 4
     8. Beautiful, cool weather
     9. Memories
     10. Grand pianos to enjoy :)
     11. Word games with family and friends
     12. The Gospel of John
     13. Freedom to go to church today
     14. Pastors, preachers, and evangelists

November 5
     15. The ability to teach piano
     19. The piano students God has given me
     17. Cool, breezy days
     18. Walks down the road
     19. Difficult times in which God grows me
     20. The book of Galatians
     21. Children 

November 6
     22. God being in control and allowing nothing to happen that He cannot control
     23. God being a merciful God – but also a just judge
     24. Laughter – the spice of life
     25. Cool, breezy days
     26. Hot chocolate
     27. The ability to see
     28. Good health

November 7
     29. Sisters and friends to go out with
     30. The ministry of letter-writing
     31. God’s provisions
     32. Sunshine
     33. Late nights with good family discussions
     34. Missionaries who surrender their lives to God
     35. My Dad, who is my pastor

Verses 43/44 of 52!!!

I have been continuing my memory of Romans 8, by God's help.

Romans 8:5-9

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

This passage makes us pose the question: am I in God's Spirit, or in the flesh? Am I born-again, or am I simply living life how I see fit?

Thankfulness Days 1-3

I do not know how often I shall post this month as we have a b-u-s-y schedule ahead of us, but I thought that I would share my first three days of this thanksgiving challenge.

I Am Thankful For . . .
November 1
     1. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ
     2. God’s Word to hold in my hands and learn from
     3. Godly parents
     4. Eleven siblings on earth and two siblings in heaven
     5. Prayer – an open channel to God
     6. Religious freedom
     7. Bible-believing churches

November 2
     8. The way that God works in issues – even if it goes beyond my understanding
     9. For God allowing me to be a tiny part in ministering to others
     10. A house to clean
     11. God’s daily provision 

     12. Music – Godly music :)
     13. The ability to play piano and how God has used it in my life to humble me and dedicate it to Him
     14. Good, Christian friends (“iron sharpening iron”)

November 3
     15. God using me, even though I am FAR from perfect!!!
     16. My friends, Brianna and Courtney, coming for a visit
     17. Safety as our family busily goes 101 different directions
     18. God opening the door for me to take private music theory classes
     19. Another open door in which to learn American Sign Language
     20. Sweet grandparents who love me
     21. Emails and letters from friends

Give Thanks! Challenge

Last fall, I saw this challenge by KBR Ministries and thought it was very neat - though it was towards the end of November so I did not get to participate in it. This year, I found out about it before November actually started and by God's help, would like to take the whole month jotting down 210 different things that I am thankful for. As I have time, I might share a few on here with you.

Will you join me??