~Thankful 30~

1. I am thankful for JESUS. I am so thankful for the price he paid so that I would have a chance to make heaven my home.


2. I am thankful that Jesus shows me everyday that He is my best friend and with Him I can do anything.

3. I am thankful for Eddie Lee. He was heaven sent just to me and I couldn't ask for more in a husband or father to our children. He is the closest friend I have and I wouldn't want it any other way. God gives us the very best when we turn it over to Him. <3

4. I am thankful for Thomas. He is my first born. My first hand witness to the miracle of life.

5. I am thankful for Zachariah. He is my go getter. My second miracle.

6. I am thankful for Andrew. My Baby Lewis and my third miracle.

I am thankful for each one of my boys. They all have their very own and very different personalities and I am so proud of each one. I have already seen God move for each one of them and I can't wait to see how he uses them in the future.

7. I am thankful for my Godly parents. They are living examples of awesome parents, a great marriage, true friendship, being a Christian and so much more. I have been so blessed.

8. I am thankful for my Grandparents. They are AMAZING and I love learning from them.

9. I am thankful for all of my family. Everyone of them, natural and married into. God gives the best and he weaves us together in love.

10. I am thankful that I know right from wrong.

11. I am thankful that I have no problem standing firm on what I believe. Some call it stubborn, opinionated, or rude. I call it important. You see, there was a time when I didn't and I know how miserable I was and how ashamed I was of my life. I have no desire to go back there because that is not who I am. I may not always be right, but I am doing my very best.

12. I am thankful for true friends. You are God sent jewels in my life. I love you all!

13. I am thankful for my church. I am sorry if you are a part of another, but mine is the BEST! ;) It helps me, makes me laugh, makes me cry, steps on my toes and even hurts my feelings at times, but it is helping me on this Jesus journey. Making me who I ought to be and I wouldn't have it any other way.

14. I am thankful that I live in a country that was founded on Christian morals and Godly principles.

15. I am thankful for PEACE. Not the peace the world gives, but the peace that only comes from God. It is priceless.

16. I am thankful that we still have family dinners at Grandma's house.

17. I am thankful that God always provides. He is our way maker.

18. I am thankful for the hugs and kisses my boys give me and that I can hear them tell me that they love me to the moon and back, and back, and back, AND BACK!

19. I am thankful for health.

20. I am thankful for LIFE.

21. I am thankful for Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. I love each one and welcome the change.

22. I turn 30 in a couple months. I am thankful that Jesus has kept me and brought me this far. I don't know exactly where I would be, but I have a pretty good idea where I would be if it hadn't been for the Lord on my side. He kept his hand on me. ~He picked me up, turned me around and placed my feet on solid ground.~

23. I am thankful for real LOVE.

24. I am thankful for modern day conveniences (electric, well, showers, microwave, dishwasher, hot water, inside bathroom). They are not things I HAVE to have, but I sure to enjoy having them. :)

25. I am thankful that after 6 years my husband still kisses me good bye and tells me he loves me every morning before he leaves for work. And even though I am a stay home mommy and no one may ever see them, I still get beautiful flowers every now and then. <3

26. I am thankful for friends who take me as I am.

27. I am thankful for rainbows. I feel like God is making me a promise(other than the one he promised Noah about not flooding the earth again) every time I see one. I like making them personal.

28. I am thankful to have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep on, clothes to wear, and food to eat. I AM blessed!

29. I am thankful for answered prayers and that God is ALWAYS faithful.

30. I am thankful that I have enough sense to be thankful!! I THANK YOU LORD for all of your blessings on me!

We have soooooo much to be thankful for everyday.  Take extra time this month to count your blessings.  It is a time for Thanksgiving after all. 

~Fruit~

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

I have read Galations 5 a few times and always see these huge words listed with the works of the flesh. I always tell myself that I need to look those words up so I will know exactly what they mean and I finally did. So for all of you that are like me (a little slow), here ya go. My definitions came from http://www.webster-dictionary.net

I want to be filled with the fruit of the spirit. I do not want to be a hindrance or a stumbling block to anyone on this journey. I want my heart to be right that others may see and want to know Jesus. I need my heart right, so I can be a help to those in need and to those searching for the answer. When I allow this flesh to get in the way, I want to be quick to repent and keep on going. There is NOTHING worth missing heaven.

Galations 5:19-26

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Lasciviousness - The state or habitual condition of feeling an excessive or morbid sexual desire.

Variance - Difference that produces dispute or controversy; disagreement; dissension; discord; dispute; quarrel.

Emulations - Jealous rivalry; envy; envious contention

Seditions - Dissension; division; schism

Heresies - Religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine or truth; heterodoxy. - An offense against Christianity, consisting in a denial of some essential doctrine, which denial is publicly avowed, and obstinately maintained.

Revellings – To feast in a riotous manner; to carouse; to act the bacchanalian; to make merry. To move playfully; to indulge without restraint.

Luke 6:44

For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

~Age to Age He is Still the Same~

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. While getting older scares me, I still see such beauty in age. The other weekend at church I just looked around at all the hands in the air praising God and I thought about what a message you could get just out of hands. My middle boy was raising his hand(he is almost 2) and then there were hands around me raised. Some my age, some a little older and then the elders of the church. It was beautiful.

You have the babies hands so soft and smooth. Hands that haven't seen the reality of life, but they are doing what they see. Those hands around my age or a little older that may have some scars or a few calluses from a little work and some are still soft and smooth, but have lost that innocence of a child because of life. We learn that at times life is difficult and not at all the perfect place that we would all love. Then you have the hands with those beautiful wrinkles, some a little twisted and yet they are lifted up to their Heavenly Father. Their hands alone seem to tell some of the stories of their lives. Those hands that have seen trials that some of us can't begin to imagine and they made it through. Those hands that have come to depend solely on their Savior because they have seen not only with their eyes, but with their soul that we can't make it without Jesus.

I have been so blessed to see in my own family the love of God from generation to generation. God's faithfulness on those who love Him and serve Him with all they know. When I was young I had 3 Great Grandmother's alive and I still have one living. One thing I don't remember is hearing God left me or He didn't see me through. I remember seeing God's faithfulness and their dependence on Jesus. I have seen in my own family and others how God works all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose. I don't remember one time hearing my Granddaddy pray with out saying at some point in his prayer 'Help us to love you, serve you, walk uprightly before you. Having no other gods...' I can't remember a time that my Grandparents or parents haven't been in church and lived what they so strongly believe. Jesus comes first, above all else. From generation to generation HE is still the same. Age to age HE IS STILL THE SAME. His mercies endure forever. He is FAITHFUL. He is no respecter of persons. What He has done for me, He will do for you.

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Proverbs 20:29

The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

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Deuteronomy 32:7

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

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Proverbs 6:20-22

My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

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Proverbs 14:27

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

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Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

~Faithfulness~

Psalm 36:5

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

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Lamentations 3:22&23

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

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We serve a faithful God. On this walk, I have not always been faithful to him, but he has always been faithful to me. I left him and went my own way. I made more than enough mistakes on my own and had people make up even more (like I needed the help)! Thank God that once we have ask him to forgive us of our sins, he wipes the slate clean and we are once again new. Old things have passed away and all things become new. PRAISE GOD! We are given another chance to become a faithful servant. Oh, to hear him say my good and faithful servant! The question I leave with you .... how on my walk with Christ, can I become a more faithful servant?

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1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.