Thanksgiving 2019

Fun Fridays: Game Day

Happenings...

Drawings...

Working out, at least one of us was...

Game day with lots of Clue!

An art show, another concert, library time, school assignments....

30 Days of Thanks: Day 29 and 30

Psalm 37:32-40

Those who are evil spy on the godly, waiting for an excuse to kill them.  But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.  Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path.  He will honor you, giving you the land.  You will see the wicked destroyed.  I myself have seen it happen--proud and evil people thriving like mighty trees.  But when I looked again, they were gone!  Though I searched for them, I could not find them!  Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.  But the wicked will be destroyed; they have no future.  The Lord saves the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.  The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.  He saves them, and they find shelter in him.  

Psalm 90: 12-17

Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.  O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!  Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so that we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.  Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!  Replace the evil years with good.  Let us see your miracles again; let our children see your glory at work.  And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me.  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.  He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.  He fills my life with good things.  My youth is renewed like the eagle's!  

Thank God for creature comforts.

Thank God for how the story ends. 

Thank you Lord for all the extras in this life--electricity, heat, refrigerators, telephones, cell phones, internet, running water--indoors, toilets that flush, bathtubs/showers, heating blankets, warm clothes, shoes and all those other big and little things that just make our lives easier.  Easier to live, but sometimes a distraction.  Lord, help us not to become so comfortable and distracted that we forget to thank you and praise you.  Thank you Lord that this world is not the end of the story.  Thank you that YOU are coming back again to take us to live with you forever--no pain, no death, no crying or grief.  Even though we struggle in this life and things don't always turn out the way we think they should, you are still working behind the scenes.  You are still in control and will never leave us nor forsake us.  Thank you that this life is not the end of the story, but only the beginning for all who love you and trust in your Son, Jesus for salvation.  Thank you!  

30 Days of Thanks: Day 28

 

Psalm 37: 25-31

"Once I was young, and now I am old, Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.  The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.  Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.  For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly.  He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish.  The godly will inherit the land and will live there forever.  the godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong.  They fill their hearts with God's law, so they will never slip from his path."

Thank God for his protection. 

Thank you Lord for your protection.  There have been many times in my life that your hand has been upon me and kept me from harm--whether physical or emotional.  Thank you Lord for protecting me from people and situations when I lacked your gift of discernment.  Thank you for protecting my family as they go about here and there every day.  Thank you for being our refuge, our strong tower and our strength.  You are bigger than anything we will face in this world.  Thank you!   

30 Days of Thanks: Days 26 and 27

 

Psalm 37: 12-17

The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.  But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.  The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.  But they will be stabbed through the heart with their own swords and their bows will be broken.  It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and possess much.  For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.  

Psalm 37:  18-24

  

Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive a reward that lasts forever.  They will survive through hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. But the wicked will perish.  The Lord's enemies are like flowers in a field--they will disappear like smoke.  The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.  Those blessed by the Lord will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will die.  The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord, He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.  

Thank God for His help.

Thank God for our world. 

Thank you Lord for your help.  Thank you that in good times and in bad times you are an ever present help in our lives.  You are there even before we whisper your name.  You are our Comforter.  Thank you that you say you will never leave us or forsake us and that we need never fear, for you are our help.  Thank you Lord for the world we live in.  You created us in your image and called us to be stewards of the world.  Thank you for being a creative being with an imagination that is beyond our own understanding.  From the intricacies of the human body to the specific degree that the Earth tilts on its' axis, we marvel at your creation of our world. Thank you!  

 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 25

Psalm 37:5-11

"Commit everything you do to the Lord, Trust him, and he will help you.  He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.  Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  Stop your anger!  Turn from your rage!  Do not envy others--it only leads to harm.  For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.  In a little while, the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone.  Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security."

Thank God for your family.  

Words really cannot express how much I thank you for my family.  You have given me a husband who gets me, who understands me and loves me so much.  Thank you that he always puts us before himself, he works so hard so that we can be comfortable.  Thank you for our children that bless us with their obedience and love.  Thank you for my extended family that has always been there for me.  Thank you for those you have placed in my life that do not share my DNA, but are still family just the same.  Thank you.  

30 Days of Thanks: Days 23 and 24

Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 

Psalm 37:1-4

Don't worry about the wicked.  Don't envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.  

Thank God for your life.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit.  

Thank you Lord for life.  For another day to live and spend it with the people that I love the most.  Thank you that you know each breathe I will take.  That you knit me together in my mother's womb and you know the number of each of my days.  Thank you for your hand on my life, how you weave the grand design of your story for my life together.  Thank you for every good and perfect gift that you grace me with every day.  Thank you.  Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit.  You said that you would not leave us alone but you would send us a Comforter to be with us.  Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, to intercede for us, to comfort and counsel us and to be our Helper.  Thank you Lord!  

30 Days of Thanks: Day 22

Proverbs 19:22-23; 30:8

"What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.  The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble."

"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread."

Thank God for public servants.

Thank you Lord for those in our communities that serve.  For the policemen, the firemen, the EMTs.  For those that put their lives on the lines everyday to serve those in distress or in need.  For the case workers, foster parents and counselors.  For those helping children that have no parents to take care of them.  Lord, thank you for giving these people the heart to serve others.  Protect them, encourage them and strengthen them.  

30 Days of Thanks: Days 20 and 21

Philippians 4:11-13; 19

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength." 

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 3:5; 28:25

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

"The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper."

Thank God for your freedom.
Thank God for your job.

Thank you Lord for my freedom.  I thank you that I live in a country where I am free to worship you.  Thank you for the men and women who sacrificed their lives so that we could have these freedoms.  I thank you not only for physical freedom, but the freedom from sin reigning in our lives.  Thank you for freedom in Christ--that you broke the chains that bound us and set us free.  Free to live a life pleasing to you.  Free to serve you.  Free to live and love.  Thank you Lord for the best job in the world.  It's hard sometimes when the laundry piles up and dishes overflow, when no one listens and I feel unappreciated.  But thank you Lord for the job of serving my family, being a equal partner with my husband, homeschooling and raising these kids and for being able to take care of the nice home and things you have graciously given us.  Thank you Lord!  

30 Days of Thanks: Days 18 and 19

 

Matthew 6: 28-34

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 16: 24-27

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."

Thank God for the Bible.

Thank God for His peace.

Thank you Lord for your Word.  Thank you that we have access to your Word, that we can own the Bible and read it for ourselves. Thank you for being able to read and memorize the Word.  Thank you that the Bible is your love letter to us and that is teaches us about you.  The Bible teaches us the way we should live and how to find salvation and forgiveness of sins.  Thank you Lord for the peace you give us.  The peace that passes all understanding.  Thank you that as we spend more time with you the more at peace with you, ourselves and with others we will be.  Thank you Lord for your Word and for your peace!  

 

 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 17

 

Matthew 6:25-27

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more then clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

Thank God for your (true) identity.

Lord, I struggle with this one.  Sometimes I feel like I need a constant reminder of what my true identity really is.  The messages of the world barrage me--not good enough, not thin enough, not skilled enough--just not enough.  But You say that my value doesn't come through what the world says I am.  That my value has nothing to do with skill, or appearance or anything I do.  It has everything to do with who You say that I am and that You created me to be in relationship with You.  You say that I am loved, I am Your beloved, I am never trying to measure up because Your grace covers up my imperfections.  You formed me in my mother's womb and knew me before I took my first breath.  You say I am yours and that makes me enough. 

 

 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 16

 

Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  

Thank God for children.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of my children.  You have loaned me three beautiful miracles.  I thank you for wisdom in raising them, grace and mercy for the mistakes I've made.  Thank you for the joy that they bring to our lives and to the lives of those they encounter.  Thank you that each of my children have accepted you as their Savior and that I was able to lead them through the prayer of salvation.  Thank you for the gifts and talents you've given them and help them to always use those for Your glory!  Thank you, Lord for Tera, Daniel and Michael. 

 

 

Navitat

It was a beautiful afternoon Sunday for Daniel to finally get to redeem his adventure birthday present at Navitat at the Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville.

This is sometimes what I get when I try to take pictures of people on hikes...