15 Things I'm thankful for today

1. awesome and interesting dinner
2. cooler days
3. rest days
4. beautiful garden atmosphere
5. a friend to share time together
6. still a teeny-weeny bit of hope
7. new music
8. air conditioning
9. strawberry smoothies
10. cappuccino
11. mattresses added to bed
12. bedtime soon
13. no wake-up deadline
14. hope that God might speak
15. sister who loves

Now, and last week

Things to be thankful for--now, and from last week:

• Your affirmations, several times. Oh how I needed that.
• A visit from friends--that they took the time, spared the expense, invested.
• She seemed to note that it was the prayer that helped, hopefully she caught that it was YOU that helped.
• Seeing that staff are growing, and the privilege to work with them.
• Seeing inspiration light up their eyes--the students as we reflected on their stories, especially the negative parts--realizing that the "conflicts" are the makings of a GOOD story.
• Visiting a home, meeting supportive grandparents.
• A group coming together to pray. What a beautiful time what was...
• Feeling supported, energized.

Little things

Written June 12, 2014
 
My thankful things are often just little thing.

Today it's for being pulled out of myself, and the things I feel are a struggle. Yeah, I was thinking about how to face some things when, in the supermarket, noticed the cashier--nothing that I can really put my finger on (maybe she just didn't look quite as "up" as usual), but as I was going thought to ask, "How are you?"  "Okay" she said. Then I asked, "just barely?" "Uh" she said, (that means 'yes' in this language :o)). "Sometimes life is hard isn't it" I said as I left--hope she felt some understanding. I was saying it for her, but also what I was trying to work through. But left at least with a prayer for her and thanksgiving that He led me to notice her and her struggle.

As I walked home, it led me to realizing how little I had really turned to God, looked to Him as the source of all in this day. It wasn't at all a condemning thought, just an invitation, and a realization about how I can live these next busy days--why not choose time with Him as the first and most important thing! (It's amazing how quick I can get out of the habit sometimes!)

#615

I ended at 540, then the last one had 75, so...that makes this...615

615. 8 hours of sleep in one night
616. Places to go for help
617. Friends
618. God's presence--true whether I feel it or not
619. God--always a refuge--no matter how I feel, how badly I've fallen, how poorly I've lived
620. Babies on the way
621. Music
622. Whispers, God speaking...

You Count Fish

A reminder from where this "being thankful" thing all began--aholyexperiece.com...and an article I've read before too.  Ann...sometimes I love your stuff. Sometimes not so much :o), but this one IS really good--highly recommended: How to Live Through Anything:  The Fish Principle.

“You pull in your life and you see that though you felt ripped open —- the net actually didn’t tear."


I feel ripped open, but I have survived...so now, I count the fish.

1. Willing and able teaching partners last week.
2. Presenters with FAR more experience and Far better activities than I could have pulled off.
3. Vulnerability, that made the way for vulnerability.
4. Awareness--that course IS now transferable.
5. Students' growth:
6. -->courage to speak in front of others
7. -->words on a page--the pain of 'no man's affirmation in my life' (after dad died)
8. -->acknowledging struggle
9. a place to rest
10. air conditioning
11. quiet
12. novels
13. tears
14. tissue
15. Promises:
16. -->broken but not crushed
17. -->this too shall pass
18. -->Pursued by His goodness and unfailing love
19. -->He renews my strength
20. -->He restores my soul
21. -->I will never leave you, nor forsake you, will walk close beside you
22. Always enough:
23. -->Money
24. -->energy
25. -->staff
26. -->ideas
27. -->grace
28. Long-term colleagues
29. So much learned in the struggle
30. Those so patient with me
31. Trust from so many--their stories and deep pain shared
32. Those that didn't kill themselves
33. Some that have taken to heart, and applied to their lives
34. Storms that strengthened
35. Sun through the clouds, rays right now shining on the bars of my 'cage'
36. Rays breaking through, demanding more and more space
37. Hope, always hope
38. You--my Refuge and Strength
39. Others to think of and comfort, rather than just think of my own pain
40. Others ahead...giving hope for the journey, calling back over hard paths
41. Friends that share the journey:
42. -->M.A.
43. -->A&L
44. -->G.Z.
45. -->L.C.
46. -->M&D
47. 17 years, when I didn't know if I could do 1
48. visas, every year
49. a beautiful language
50. a life shaped
51. people I wish I'd never met--I would never have learned lessons otherwise
52. many people I'm thankful to have met
53. books
54. students
55. insight
56. a heart that feels
57. eyes that can weep
58. grief groups
59. team
60. learning my gifts, strengths
61. if and when I go, still with You
62. protection, again and again, from:
63. -->the snake
64. -->the centipede
65. -->the fall--head & back hit...
66. -->the guy by the river
67. -->on buses
68. -->those who would say 'no'
69. -->fear
70. -->lonliness
71. -->routine :o)
72. Shower Meditation breaking through last Friday
73. story of an orphan given a home, prayers for fatherless and motherless to know Father
74. family
75. technology--inspiration

...and that's all I can think of for now.

#535

535. Repenting of my attitude, apologizing, asking forgivenes, receiving.
536. Friends to share "The Journey"
537. A more hopeful day.
538. Colleagues that help make it work (the schedule changes I need to make this week)
539. God, Your love, from which I cannot be separated.

#524

524. Hope returning...again
525. Transformed lives--Joy marvelling at the difference in herself--now versus 3-4 years ago
526. Community being created for them
527. A clean house
528. The privilege of knowing these students!
529. God hears and answers prayer