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

#521

521. Things getting in order
522. Awareness to apologize
523. Weariness ... to sleep

#516

516. Good plans made for re-moving, re-organizing after the flood
517. Friends helping to carry
518. Student volunteers
519. Staff--good team-members
520. Not much else to do tonight...but go to bed!

#511

511. there is still a God who is my refuge and strength
512. this time will pass
513. we are not left without resource
514. hope will rise
515. people who love

Twenty Things I'm thankful for right now! (#485-504)

(Will later come and fill in what numbers these SHOULD be)

1. I get to be part of and responsible for some great events held for students.
2. This time will pass.
3. Parents that love and support to the end.
4. Fresh made cream of broccoli soup.
5. Smiley cousin.
6. Long-term relationships.
7. Long memories.
8. God's Word...always reminding, doesn't let me get away with...going astray.
9. Being taught how to live...I have so many options when trying to figure out where to go next.
10. Nice apartment.
11. Nice bed.
12. Sleep soon! :o)
13. People growing.
14. Good books! Many books!
15. Friends with whom to share thots & life.
16. Grace and mercy...after falling and failing again.
17. Medicated charcoal (if I need it tonight).
18. Three sharp and eager youth workers that want to do well, share the work.
19.  Blogs, and people who tell me to do stuff like this. Michael Hyatt said to write 20 things right now--so I did!
20. God...above all...God--whether I feel You or not, feel able to 'connect' or not...You are there...always loving, always guiding, always watching over. You will bring me safely home.

#454

454. The opportunity to embrace what is (and give up expectations of something else)--Thanks Auntie K!
455. New Administrative Assistant--he's getting into the groove of the role and there is hope for change
456. Mango-banana-strawberry yogurt smoothie
457. Quiet still morning
458. Peaceful heart

Guess I Stopped Counting

Haven't been here for a long time again. And I'm not counting...but I need to come back again and choose to be thankful.

It's another rough patch. Real rough. I'm thinking again of a rather odd "thankful list" I journalled another time. Thankful for all the things I do NOT have, have NOT experienced. It's a list of lots of other pains that would perhaps be much harder than those I face now.

Today

I'm thankful I still have a refuge in Jesus, in the God of this universe. Though I do not know what He is doing, or how He sees things, He promises to guide and protect. I can trust I'll see enough of the picture.

I'm thankful for strength enough for each day. I don't know how I'll make it through. Some days terrify me. But I am learning, as I work it through in prayer in the morning, getting to trust and faith...the day turns out okay.

#356

356. A good sleep
357. Time away at JT
358. You doing things, under the surface, that only You can see (the hope of this)

#348...

348. I have a Goose! Nice!
349. "Fog" lifting toward the end of the day.
350. Vacation plans all set.

#337

337. We made it through yesterday
338. A slower day
339. Vacation coming

Nearly 300

Oooh, it's not so regular anymore.  Sometimes huge gaps in my "I will give thanks to the Lord" journal. 

I've revisited this theme again though--In April, at a low time, and re-listening to a sermon I first heard in 2006 and have pulled out again several times. Now, on the door too my kitchen there is a sign reminding me to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. My cell phone reminds me several times to stop and give things.

I'm a bit of a poophead by dispostion I guess.  I have to fight to be thankful.  I have to learn it.

Today's entries:

295. A good night's sleep

296. Waking up thankful

297. The privilege of knowing people, learning about culture, growing

298. Your presence, here, now

This is only my second post but I'm still thanking pretty much daily.

Recent entries, things I'm thankful for:

Jan. 10, 2010
164. Students who are listening, choosing to be responsible with their lives.

Jan. 11, 2010
165. A day of rest
166. Peace
167. Your Word
168. Your Truth...surrounding me, inspiring me, changing me.

Today I thank You for...
1. a day of rest
2. hope in you
3. sun shining on my arm as I type
4. oranges
5. music
6. Your unfailing love

7. (realizing) You spoke to me about others and the pain they might be in, even in the midst of mine.
8. hope and realizing I need to be thankful--to start this blog...to start journalling things I'm thankful for.

The idea for this came from: