Thankful in Thought and Love

I would have to say that I am most thankful for love.

Because love can cover just about everything.  It was love that sent our Savior to the cross to pay for our sins.  It is love that unites family and friends together—knit in harmony.  It is love that is the greatest of all virtues (1 Cor.13).  It is love that says "I love you and I'm willing to deny myself for you" (John 15:13).  It is true love that is not just a feeling but a commitment.  It is love that God gives everyday in His mercy, grace, and forgiveness, in giving us life and health and raiment and shelter.  I'd say that love ranks tops on my list.

It is hard for me to fathom the depth of love.  And when I say love, I'm not talking about this modern Grecian-version of love that happens between a guy and girl at first sight—you know, the head-over-heels type.  Of course there will be romance and all that goo in courtship and marriage (c'mon, every girl likes it!), but I am referring to: A father's tender embrace.  A mother's warm smile.  A sister's giggle.  A blossoming friendship.  A brother's silly joke.  A gathering of thankful hearts.  Worship and praise to God.  A baby's cherub dimpled grin.  Commitment.  Encouragement.  Faithfulness.  Devotion.  Inspiration.  Joy.  And many other such blessings.  The simple yet most profound things of life.

Thanksgiving is most definitely a time of praise and thanksgiving to the Creator, even though every day ought to be the same.  Now is a time when we sit back and thank God for all of the blessings He has imparted to His humble subjects.  Because the truth is, He has done so much for us and we barely even recognize His presence in our lives.  Many times we take God for...heaven forbid...granted.  How in the world could such lowly people, basically scum in God's sight because of our sin, take the Most Holy One for granted when He has done so much for us?

In fact, it is very easy.  We get caught up in our own little worlds of selfishness and pride, and forget that it was God who made us, God who gives us breath each day, and God who could take away everything we hold dear in a heartbeat.  Simply because He is God, completely sovereign, and He has every right to do what He deems best.  Simply because He is God.  And that is why I am most thankful for love because I see love in the grace of God that He would give us even a tiny morsel of bread, or a glimmer of light in darkened lives, or forgiveness amidst our sin.  Or so much more that we don't even deserve.

It was love that shaped our individual lives.  It is love that continues to shape our lives according to His will and plan.  It is love that I hold most dear, and I believe that love sums up our entire lives.  Love is salvation and sanctification all rolled into one.

May y'all have more than just a blessed Thanksgiving—may it be full of the richest and deepest love imaginable.  May God shine His love upon you and your families, and rain down many blessings upon each individual.  Remember that it is love that keeps us going, so I believe it is our duty to love in return.  And not just an ordinary type of love either.  An incredible, sacrificing, amazing, forgiving, inspirational, joyful, heroic love.  And let us rejoice in the goodness of God, because of His love.

"But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: 

let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: 

let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee." -Psalm 5:11

A Lot of Catching Up To Do...

I'm back!...with lots to post. Daddy and Mama's 18th anniversary came first, Christmas flew by, and finally the New Year showed its face.  It's surreal the way so many things have came and went!  Even more astonishing is that today we are living in 2011.  Just where did all the time go?  The holidays season was a joyous time of family, friends, and fellowship, unforgettable memories, and best of all: laughter and love, especially the love of God.  We have had so much to be thankful for.  There were more goodies to bake, plenty of beautiful home-made gifts to wrap and open, annual Christmas movies to watch, lighting advent candles, the Christmas Story reading, etc.  And now today, January 4th, little Clara Mae's 7th birthday.  My, how times flies...

 

 18 years of a blessed and happy marriage

 Twue wuv!

 Ready to distribute...

 Goodies, of course

 Wide-eyed and innocent....if you don't notice that wee bit of chocolate around the mouth...

 Little candy bags

 Liberty really enjoyed opening presents

 A sweet little mommy!

 Wrong way, mommy!

Finally, a sword with which to protect his weak "little" sisters.

My lil sister growing up...

Happy Birthday, Clara Mae!

Now that the busiest time of the year has passed, hopefully I can get back on schedule.  I never really realize how much I miss blogging until I've gone weeks without a post.  I pray everyone had a splendid holiday season, but are now ready to plunge back into "normal" life with all its ups and downs, chaos and happiness.  Farewell, my readers, until next time...

Maybe then I'll have something more interesting to post...

An amazing gift: A New Year

I know, I know, I know.  I again have to catch back up on my blog writing.  If I would just keep up, then I wouldn't have to worry about cramming all that has gone on, in one post.  Of course, I could make it really long, but that might be overwhelming, on both sides.

So now the holidays are over.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, then the new year flew right on by.  Our company came and went (we had loads of fun, by the way!), and now we are back to school (how does one go back to school after a two-week vacation?).  Yes, everything is getting back to normal. (normal?)  However, I have a confession:  I actually liked being out of the norm. 

All the excitement and hustle bustle that went on was, well, exciting.  Of course, a little rest is much appreciative, but after things settle down, life can seem a little...boring?...no!  Not really.  Seriously, after certain times pass, then we can look forward to the new things God will bring along.  That also brings excitement.

Now it is 2010.  It almost seems odd to me.  I have now been born for fifteen and a half years.  Fifteen years doesn't seem that long, yet...it is a long time!  God in His goodness and grace has so wonderfully blessed us with more than we could ever need.  True, in this world we may not be considered rich, but we do have the almighty Lord over all.  He is the richest blessing we could ever have.  He has given us a new year in which to live for His glory.  All praise to Him for that!  Isn't life such a precious gift?  Now He has given us more life on earth.  A new year is a bright, shining example that He still loves us.  Isn't He wonderful!

We should strive to serve Him more this new year, for didn't He give everything for us?  We can at least give Him a little in return!  Of course, nothing we do will ever pay the price He paid for us, but we can still serve Him, give Him all glory and honor, and praise His name to all people!  He loves us so much; let us love Himin return!

But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."  -Ephesians 2:4-9

A Wednesday pick-up

Monday night we put up our tree and decorated it!  Exciting!  Christmas is just around the corner!  That reminds me - I really do need to get busy and finish the Christmas gifts I'm making.  I'd like to have everything done a week before Christmas so I can feel like I have some "spare time" before the big day.  Yeah right.  Just like every year, I'll probably have at least one thing I'm still trying to get finished in that week.  But maybe I'll make a new world record!  ...I highly doubt it.

Pretty, "ain't" it? =D

Now that we have started back to school this week, I find that I don't have as much time as I had during our break.  There.  It took a lot of thinking to arrive at that point.  Seriously, if I want to be organized and get everything done, I need to stay on my schedule.  Then I know I'm not wasting any precious time that could be used for something.

Also, I have a couple of links I want y'all to check out.  My dad has been writing some recent articles on Baptist Vision and I tell you, wow! He has outdone himself.  Please go read this article and this one, and then this one too!  Awesome job, Daddy!

Then, I just can't get enough of Jasmine Bauchums' blog.  I read it everyday!  Her latest is this one.  Check it out! She is one amazing young woman with a true heart for God!

Now that the Christmas season is approaching I have changed my blog background again.  I like this one a lot!  Old-fashioned, yet a little bit of Christmas in it.  Couldn't be better! 

That is all for now, I guess.  Oh yeah! I still have to write about Advent.  Coming soon, I promise.

Random Rambling

Today I'm afraid I don't have a book review.  Sad.  But this week I haven't so much as touched a book except for my Bible.  I know, I guess I've been pretty lazy this week.  I have been working on my Christmas gifts I'm making though.  Give me a little bit of credit.  So today I'll just do a little bit of Random Rambling. 

I haven't talked about Liberty in awhile.  The latest update is that she is "20 lbs of pure baby fat", Mom says. And only 3 months!  Well, as I've said before, I like chubby babies the best.  Liberty just keeps getting more cute every day!  Don't you think so as well?

I think she is the most adorable baby!  I tell Mom that in different faces she makes, her little cheeks remind me of puppy cheeks.  I love that though.

So now Christmas is only 27 more days.  I'm afraid that from now on I'll be counting down the days.  I'm sure no one will mind.  Everybody has to be ready for Christmas.  I know I am!  Actually, although we live in Georgia, it has started to turn a little chilly.  I don't mind though.  When we first moved down to Georgia from Indiana I was quite glad of the warmer weather in winter, as well as the "no snow" thing.  But now, alas!  I would love to have a White Christmas this year!  I have actually been praying for one.  Don't tell my mom though - I don't think she really would like any snow.  But perhaps she has changed her mind too.

Yesterday we kids went outside for awhile, and although is was a little chilly, I know others in the "Northern" states probably have it a lot worse. (I really feel sorry for all you Northern people - in more ways than one.)  But I like the chilly weather sometimes.  At night I can snuggle under the blankets, keeping warm and happy.  I love that about chilly weather.  Besides, the chilly weather really tells me Christmas is coming!  Yay!

I guess that is enough Random Rambling for now.  Maybe some more later?  Depends.  Right now I need to get ready to head out to the store with Mom.  This Sunday we start Advent and we need some candles.  So off we go! (I'll talk more about Advent later if I get the chance.  Anyway, I'll tell you sometime.)

Thanksgiving is over...now comes Christmas!

Well, Thanksgiving is over.  I for one had a very blessed Thanksgiving day.  I hope everyone else did too.

 Yesterday we had so much food!  I just had to take a picture of our turkey.  Look delicious?

 

I didn't take a picture of all the food...that would've been too too much.  But I did take another picture - of Grace's peach cobbler!  It sure was yummy!  But everything was.  I had no complaints.

 Now I am especially ready for Christmas.  Actually, we have started listening to Christmas music today.  What fun!  Now I need to get very busy and finish all my Christmas gifts I'm making.  Only 28 more days!  Christmas, here we come!

I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving, one they will never forget!  This was our first Thanksgiving in Barnesville, GA, and I know I will never forget it! 

Here are a couple pictures I have taken recently. Fall 09.

      Mommy's Little Eskimo

Fall Sisters!

Mom's Decoration. No, it isn't fake! These are real right off a tree!

Cousins! Both very sweet!

Yep, it's fall time!

Thanksgiving, anyone?

I am ready for tomorrow.  Are holidays ever busy at your house?  Thanksgiving - nah, (well, we'll see tomorrow) but Christmas - YES.  As much as I can recall, Christmas at our house has always been pretty busy.  But that is beside the point.  Thanksgiving is one of my second favorite holidays.  Thanksgiving and Christmas pretty much tie together for me.

Thanksgiving is special.  We all are thankful for the many blessings which God has given us.  Yes, I agree we should all be thankful, but we should be thankful every day, not just on Thanksgiving.  Whether rich or poor, sick or in health, we can still be thankful for everything God has done for us.  Truly, if we started counting our blessings, we wouldn't be able to stop!  There is so much!  As for whether some may be poor, we can always be rich in God's love and mercy.  That is something to think about.

I won't go through every single thing I'm thankful for (I'm afraid I wouldn't have enough room for that) but I would like to list the five top things that God has given me.  Of course, every blessing is very important, but like I said, there isn't enough space for everything.

1. The love of Jesus Christ wherewith He loved me so much that He died for me.  I think that kind of love is amazing!  It is the only true kind of love. If we all had that kind of love, nothing could hinder us.  But, we are not perfect - only He is.  I am so thankful form salvation.  Sometimes my sins and doubts get me down, but He is always there to lift me up.  That You, LORD God almighty!
2. I am also very grateful for my wonderful parents and siblings.  Even though all families have their own share of troubles, we are under the law of God - He is always leading us through fire and through water, through peace and through war.  We as a family have a responsibility to shine forth Christ in this crazy world.  Although it may be hard a lot, we still have that duty.  Besides, families are great!  Even though we go through our own share of difficulty, we still have lots of fun!  We can be ourselves, (which is hard to do in this day and age) act goofy, giggle, laugh all the time, joke around, just having a good ole time!  As for a big family...we can build our own baseball, kickball, football, etc. teams.  Everybody has at least one person around all the time, most times no one is left out - it is so good to have so many family members around all the time!  We need never be lonely.
3. Friends are also very important.  Many a person would be very unhappy indeed if there was not a friend to help them through.  Whether Jesus Christ, the ultimate Friend, or a friend on earth that God has placed us in our lives.  Without Jesus Christ my Saviour, my oh-so-wonderful family, and true loving friends, I would be nothing.  Absolutely n.o.t.h.i.n.g.
4. Who doesn't love food?  I could roll my eyes.  Unfortunately some of us love it too much...just kidding!  Thanksgiving is one of the times where so much good food! is torturing us with the delicious aromas. Plus, without food and nourishment, we would die.  Thankfully God supplies us with everything we need.
5. To sum it all up, I am so thankful for every blessing God has bestowed upon me.  Although I don't deserve anything, He has still richly blessed me with so much more than I deserve.  Hallelujah!

Just in case I don't get to write a post tomorrow, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  May this Thanksgiving be more bountiful and blessed more than any other on your life.  God bless!