Thankful Thursday

 

Happy Thursday, friends! I'm joining in with Rebecca Jo for today's blog post. I hope you join us at the end! 

As odd as it sounds, I'm thankful for the cooler weather we've had again this week. I love soup and I took advantage of the opportunity to make it one more time before the warm weather arrives to stay.

Our favorite is taco soup. I posted about this on Tuesday when I shared a dinner inspiration post.

I am thankful for the gift that good communication is. I know I've mentioned this here before, but we're a close knit family, both with those in our own home and our extended families. I'm grateful that I get opportunities to text or carry on a phone conversation with a member of our extended family. This happened on Wednesday afternoon for me, and I was on the phone for over an hour with a loved one. I also love that our sons come to me to talk. I don't try to solve problems or offer solutions, but I listen. I feel like this is a rare thing, the way they come to me to talk.

Speaking of that, we had a great discussion at Bible study yesterday, and one friend shared that about her grandmother during our talk. We were talking about the characteristic of responsibility in Titus 2 and about the ways we've been influenced by family members. She shared with us that her grandmother would just listen to her talk. Isn't there something consoling about a conversation? I consider this one way that I minister to those around me—I'm always available for chats and I get lots of phone calls in which I get to practice that trait. I'm grateful for those moments and the distance that our talks make seem shorter.

I'm thankful for life changing Bible studies and how spending time in the Word of God renews my heart and mind. You know it's good when you're convicted and you get up the moment you're finished to start making changes. 

I am thankful for motivation. I've been lacking in that area for quite some time, but I feel myself finally coming out of it and I've been more productive this week. I have some things that I've been needing to finish, one of which is the next Bible study that I'm helping write. I finished it last week! I don't say that lightly, but I am so thankful that the Lord led me every step of the way, with every word. I'll make some changes here and there as I edit and tweak, but it won't alter too much from what is in the document we work within. I praise God for this, because I struggled immensely all throughout the studying for this.

I'm thankful for morning prayer time. I love that time from about 6:45-7:30 that I spend in prayer. It feels holy and sacred each day and I almost always sing a little during that time as I worship the Lord. 

I'm thankful that I get to serve in the worship ministry at church.

A photographer took this during the service last week. It's a blessing to be able to do this and I love the technical side as much as (if not more than) the singing/helping lead in worship side. I am always way more comfortable behind the scenes than I am when I'm front and center. I don't mind that too much and I no longer get all shaky and nervous like I used to, but that's never my comfort zone. It's funny how we do things in life that take us out of those comfort zones that we so love. It's good for us to step out of that and to rely fully on God to get us through. 

I'm thankful for the nights that Todd and I spend watching old episodes of Survivor.

I'm thankful for good shows to watch, like Downton Abbey that I just finished. 

I'm thankful for my friend Donna who works at my local grocery store and who is such a great friend to everyone she meets and who also shines the light and love of Jesus. I always try to find her line so that we can catch up for a few minutes. Everyone in my town loves her and she was actually named our town's woman of the year. She is such a sweetheart.

It's your turn! What's one thing you're grateful for this week? I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for reading my blog and as always, love to all. 

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