Day 52...

Today I am thankful for my new favorite Bible verse... Yup... A new favorite! Okay, so there's a little bit of back-story here... So I'll 'splain! On Wednesday nights my pastor does a Bible study called, "The Secret"... It's about sanctification. I haven't been going very long (in fact, this was only my second time to go!), so I am not sure where they began... Somewhere in Romans! Last time we studied Romans 7:14-25... Tonight we studied Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1-4

Life in the Spirit

¹There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.

²For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free
in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

³For God has done what the law,
weakened by the flesh, could not do.
By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

⁴in order that the righteous requirement
of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.


Which brings me to my new favorite Bible verse... It has to do with verse 3 and what seems to be every one's favorite Bible verse... John 3:16!

John 3:16-17

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶"For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have eternal life.

¹⁷For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world
might be saved through him.

Do you know what the 2 most important words in John 3:16 are? In Him!

"We will never live up to the law - or do good - by seeking to do so. We will keep the law and do good only when we cease seeking to do so and live out our union with Christ as prompted and directed by the Holy Spirit"

Okay, so what about the law? I mean, the ten commandments! C'mon! Are we just supposed to ignore them and not follow them?! Of course not! But the ten commandments will not sanctify us and make us righteous! They were given to us to show that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. If we try to follow the law on our own, we will fail because without Christ becoming sin for us, we would never be made holy or righteous. In Leviticus, sin required an offering of a flawless, perfect, innocent animal. Well, we obviously don't do that now because Christ came into the world, fully God yet fully man, to be that sinless one who would die in our place. We all deserve death, and God sent His only son to live and die to bear the sins of the world. Okay, so now this isn't coming out quite like I had hoped, but it's what I have!

Day 51...

Today I am thankful for a change of seasons! Yes, as much as I love Fall, I'm glad that it is changing into Winter... And I have no idea why! Usually I don't! Maybe God's giving me a change of heart or something! Well anyway, I'm thankful for it!

Day 50...

Today I am thankful for eggnog! What a perfect way to kick off the Holiday season!

Day 49...

Today I am thankful for sleep! I've been sick... again... which means I haven't been sleeping well over the past few nights! Today when I got home from church, I basically passed out on the couch! And I slept for a looooooong time! You never realize how thankful you are for something until you don't have it!

Day 48...

Today I am thankful for having the opportunity to play my harp in my favorite antique store for our town's Dicken's Of A Christmas celebration. I played from 10 AM to 6 PM! That's a lot of playing folks! But the thing that made my day was when a girl named Aubrey came in with her mother. Aubrey is 19 has down syndrome. She was fascinated by my harp, so I offered to let her play it like I had done for several little ones during the day. As soon as I suggested that, her eyes widened in amazement and she whispered, rather excitedly, "Yes!" and she gave me a BIG hug! She played my harp for a good 15-20 minutes! Even though she couldn't play a tune, what she did play sounded wonderful! Her mom is actually interested in buying her a small lap harp to play at home now! After Aubrey finished playing, she gave me THE BIGGEST HUG I have EVER gotten! I wasn't quite sure how to act around someone with down syndrome... But it almost came naturally... And I'm so glad that I met Aubrey, even if it was just one time... I am hoping and praying that our paths will cross again, but I am thankful that I at least got to meet her this once! I'm rather talkitive today, aren't I? But I fell in love with her! She is the sweetest person I've ever met!

Day 47...

Today I am thankful for such an easy job! I take care of a friend's elderly neighbor... (Have I mentioned this before???)... While I visit with him, I can knit, crochet, quilt, cook, and do a lot of other activities! It also keeps me from staring at my computer or the TV all day! It's very interesting hearing his childhood stories, war stories, and stories of the things he has done since then! For instance, he was a member of The Salvation Army Church, and it is very interesting hearing about his work there! (Whenever he asks if he is boring me with those stories, I say no... He still doesn't belive that I find them fascinating!) I have a very special "employer"... The other day he told me, "The world has been made a beter place because of you." Wow! That took me by surprise! He also became good friends with my grandpa before he passed away... I absolutely love my job, and how I got it is a miracle! No seriously! It was a miracle! But I'll explain that on my other blog some other time!

Day 46... Thanksgiving Special

Okay, so today I am thankful for whatever happens in life... Good, bad, and ugly... Two months ago my grandpa passed away. It has been really hard on me, but through this I have grown closer to the ones I love, and most certainly God. I still miss him a lot, and this was my first Thanksgiving without him... I know Christmas will be much harder though! We have chickens, and many of ours have died... We name our chickens too, so we get kinda attached to them... When they die, I take it really hard! But I've learned to be thankful for that because it helped prepare me for losing someone I love. Okay, it's really late and I'm sick, so this isn't quite what I hoped for, but I might edit it eventually... And I'm slowly learning to be thankful in every situation

Day 45...

Today I am thankful for my favorite dessert... It's just plain amazing! Who knows... I might even share the recipe here! Have a happy Thanksgiving, and be looking for a special post tomorrow!

Day 44...

Today I am thankful for the chance I have to go to my first midnight premier of a movie with friends! We are gonna go see The Muppets!

Day 43...

Today I am thankful for rain! We are in a so-called drought, and it has rained all day long! Finally! Unfortunately, it's really cold rain! Oh well! Rain is rain!

Day 42...

Today I am thankful for my college age small group! We join the youth group Bible study, but we have our own small group when they separate into theirs... It's great! I mean, I have no idea how else to describe it! I usually don't like talking with a group of people, especially when it involves opening up about life, but somehow I feel okay doing that with my group. Even though I'm not particularly close to some of them, I still feel comfortable talking to them! And that doesn't happen very often! Unfortunately, our Philippians study ended tonight, but it's amazing to see how much God has changed me within the 12 sessions we did! I honestly have grown more in my spiritual life and have grown closer to God through this study than I ever thought I would inm my LIFE! Well, that's all I'm gonna say 'til tomorrow!

Day 41...

Today I am thankful for the urge I have to get organized at "work"... There are five people who will be coming to work for Mr. G. during the week, and we all need to know what's been going on! So today I got a whiteboard/corkboard combo thing to write down/put up schedules, little notes, grocery lists, etc... I am NEVER this organized at home! Ever! Hmmmm... Maybe this will start something??? I hope so! Well, I am thankful to be organized just this once anyway!

Day 40...

Is this true?! Forty days already?! Boy has the time flown by! Anywho... Today I am thankful for my new job! Yup! I got a J-O-B!  I am working for a 90 year-old man who was friends with my grandpa... I cook and visit mostly... With a little cleaning and laundry thrown in sometimes. I absolutely love it! It's also only 5 minutes from my house, so I will never get stuck in traffic!

Day 39...

Today I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my grandma going Thanksgiving grocerey shopping! I love helping her pick out the turkey and getting all the stuff to make the most fabulous dessert EVER! WEll, technically it isn't a dessert... It's a side dish... But it's good enough to be dessert, and I'd eat it over pumpkin pie any day!

Day 38...

Today I am thankful for a Bible study I went to for the first time tonight that I've been wanting to go to for a while. Our pastor teaches it, and it's about sanctification... If you want to read more about my thoughts on it, go here ... It doesn't say anything about what we are learning specifically, just things that have stuck out to me in different studies I'm doing.

Day 37...

Today I am thankful for a couple of songs that help me keep my focus where it needs to be...

First off there is From The Inside Out by Hillsong United

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
Should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out


And then there is Filter Me by David Gentiles

Holy Spirit rush right through meLoving Father How I wait for You
Patiently.Holy Spirit rush right through meLoving Father How I wait for You
Patiently.
I want to hear Your heart
I want to see Your face Filter every part of me.
I want to touch Your every thought So I can be changed
As You reveal Yourself
I'm longing to find the words
Oh, to give You the honor and the glory
You deserve

And we sing and we praise
You Lord and we lift up our voice
To You, oh God. 
And we sing and we praise
You Lord and we lift up our voice
To You, oh God. 

Holy Spirit rush right through meLoving Father How I wait for You
Patiently.Holy Spirit rush right through meLoving Father How I wait for You
Patiently.

Day 36...

Today I am thankful for my Monday night Bible study group. I don't even know how to put it into words! So I'll be leaving it at that!

Day 35...

Today I am thankful for God having an ultimate plan for my life. This past year, life has been crazy! I mean I literally have thought I was going mad or something! Everything was spinning out of control, and there was nothing I could do... I kept asking God to clear things up so I would know what to do, but His answer was always no. I kept wanting the bigger picture and to understand everything that was going on! And this past week, everything has become clearer and I'm able to understand it more. Or at least that's what it seems like! I actually caught myself tonight getting "upset" with God, saying, "God, you must have my life mixed up with somebody else's, because things are falling into place and I'm seeing the bigger picture! This is NOT supposed to be MY life!"... Then I realized how stupid I sounded! I mean, isn't that what I had been praying for?! So I am very thankful for this happening in my life right now!

Day 34...

Today I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my friend Aleyna today! We walked through the woods around my house and took photos, which you can look at here on Monday! (11/14/11) After that, we went downtown and shopped, then we headed to her house for a few hours. Her nieces and nephew were there, and I completely fell in love! I got my "kid fix" in today, and now I want my own kids even more! But alas, I am only 18, and must wait for God to bring along the right man! I know He will in His timing though, so I'm not gonna worry about it! Although I dare-say I am getting a little impatient! But I'm thankful for Aleyna, active children, and God's timing today!

Day 33...

Today I am thankful for a walk I had with my mom today... It's great to be able just to chat with her about this and that without being at home where I tend to worry about the things that need to be done. We talked of the weather, how we had some rather unexpected color this Fall, and some other stuff... Mom and I don't get that kind of time with each other very often, and I also tend to prefer to take my walks alone (which I did later today, but I got some time with Mom!)... My private walks are usually spent as a quiet time with God, but sometimes gets interrupted by chatting with neighbors... But usually they stay pretty undisturbed, and they last about 30-45 minutes depending on how fast I walk. I am so thankful for these little walks and talks!

Day 32...

Today Iam thankful for answered prayers and lessons learned. God has taught me a lot this week about how to stop worrying and how to trust him more. My life seemed to be spinning "out of control" even though I was trying to trust God and KNEW that He knew what was going on. Every door that God had opened for me in the past few months was being shut in my face... So I began worrying about what the future was going to hold and how I was going to fix everything. In the middle of my worrying, stressing, and planning, God basically dropped the answer into my lap... Well THAT was easy! Again, something similar happened, but with a material item that I "needed". I was very worried that I wouldnt have it when I would need it (in two weeks). Well again, God dropped it in my lap!

Matthew 6:25-34

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Cure for Anxiety

²⁵ “For this reason I say to you,

do not be worried about your life,

as to what you will eat or what you will drink;

nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

Is not life more than food,

and the body more than clothing?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air,

that they do not sow,

nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they?

²⁷ And who of you by being worried

can add a single hour to his life?

²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing?

Observe how the lilies of the field grow;

they do not toil nor do they spin,

²⁹ yet I say to you that not even

Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field,

which is alive today

and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,

will He not much more clothe you?

You of little faith!

³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’

or ‘What will we drink?’

or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things;

for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow;

for tomorrow will care for itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I must admit that I have been "of little faith" lately, and that I do worry about tomorrow's troubles quite frequently! But I heard these verses during youth group (in Matt Chandler's Philippians: To Live Is Christ And To Die Is Gain)... And I kinda shrugged it off as something I've heard my whole life, and I continued on as normal... But appearently SOMETHING stuck! And I'm VERY thankful for that something!

Day 31...

Today I am thankful for Salted Caramel Mochas from Starbucks... It was the perfect mid-day pick-me-up after a long morning! It's what kept me running until after orchestra practice this evening, and now I am ready to crash!

Day 30... (one month!!!!)

Today I am thankful for rainy, humid, breezy, crisp Fall days in the country! You know, the kind of day where you want to curl up in a big chair with a large mug filled with hot tea, coffee, apple cider, or hot chocolate and a good book? Or for me this kind of day makes me want to go for a long walk through my neighborhood... With the leaves falling and the birds chirping, it just feels like a little piece of Heaven has been sent to us! (or maybe just to me if no one else agrees! *wink*) I'm also thankful for the different smells my neighborhood gets on days like this. Some places smell like horses, while others smell like grass. Some places smell spicy, yet others smell like flowers. And then there are the places that smell like rain! What?! They're very distinctive smells! *winks again*And I am thankful for them all!

Day 29...

Today I am thankful for my Monday night Bible study! We are learning about the different names of God, and how each of them is different in meaning and shows a different characteristic of God. For about the first hour of th Bible study, we usually just have a bunch of girl talk though! It's a lot of fun! The ages of the girls who come go from 22 to 12, so it's great getting to know the people from all age groups! I started this study the night my grandpa ended up in the hospital, and I've only missed one night that I didn't have the car and couldn't get a ride! I am so thankful for this opportunity that I've had to go to it, and for tthe group of lovely girls that come too!

Day 28... (four weeks!)

Wow! It's hard to believe it's almost been a month! Well, today I am thankful for several things, but I will only list two or three... First of all, I am very thankful for my church's youth group! It's amazing to see this group of teenagers worship the Lord with all of their hearts, and singing on the stage with the band is wonderful because I get to see it all from a different perspective! Secondly, I am thankful for the study our youth group is doing. It is Matt Chandler's Philippians study entitled: "To Live Is Christ, And To Die Is Gain". It is so powerful and encouraging to hear those messages every Sunday evening! And the third and final thing I will list that I am thankful for today is a song that played in the background during our prayer time after the video:

Before The Throne Of God Above:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A Great High Priest
Who's name is, "Love"
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the Sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the Risen Lamb
My perfect spotless Righteousness
The great unchangable I AM
The King of Glory and of Grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

Day 27...

Today I am thankful for the opportunity I had to play my harp in a gorgous chapel near my house for a wedding... The wedding was wonderful, but the first time I stepped into that chapel, it took my breath away! I immediately felt like I needed to pray! It was amazing! It looked kinda like a cathedral in Europe! It was AMAZING!!!!!

Day 26...

... Today I am thankful for English Country Dancing! I get to hang out with friends and make new ones at the same time! I get a "workout" just doing one fast-paced dance, and it's just plain fun! It's a wholesome activity most families can enjoy together. It gives me a time and place to socialize with other people like myself.

Day 25...

I have to admit, today I didn't feel thankful for much... Anything really. I was having a hard (or hard-ish) day, but then I read my Bible verse of the day on my igoogle homepage... 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Wow! What amazing timing for me to read that verse! That's what I'm thankful for today... That verse/reminder that I need to endure the hard times (and be thankful for them too)

Day 24...

Today I am very thankful for the opportunities I have to serve my church and my God. Sure, preparing my harp music can be stressful (especially with adrenal issues), but I've noticed I only get stressed about it when I'm focused on how I feel about it. When I'm focused on God, everything changes! This was exactly why I started this blog! I wanted a challenge to find the little things I'm thankful for that help me focus and find a new and bigger love for God! And it's working and changing me every day! And I'm thankful for that too!

Day 23...

Today I am thankful for sore legs! Yes, I found out I'm thankful for that! Why? Because today I was complaining about that to a friend, and they said, "Usually if your legs hurt that much, it means you worked hard and had fun!"... And that's true! Yesterday I had some good friends I hadn't seen in a long time over, and we played "Krause Ball" (kinda like football, but no one can tackle the girls, but the girls don't have rules! Very fun!) My legs were killing me this morning, but I had A TON of fun! And this afternoon I was stupid enough to  played Ultimate Frisbee! I won't be able to walk in the morning, jk, but I'll still be thankful for it!