Thanksgiving 2014

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name."

-Psalm 103:1

This year I decided to write 10 of thanksgiving topics, but with a twist. For each topic, I wanted it to be outside of the box, and I also wanted to add something about God that I could be thankful for.  

1. Glasses- Without glasses I cannot do anything productive, because everything is unclear and unfocused. I thank God that He is my “glasses”- everything becomes clear and focused when I look through Him.

2. Job- I am thankful for my job, not only because it gives me money, but because I learn so much through it. While working there I learned about patience, hard work, patience, kindness, and patience. I thank God that He is continually working in me with great patience. 

3. Clucksters- I love the chicken at Clucksters. Pretty self-explanatory. I thank God that He is my portion and bread of life. 

4. YDJ- I am so blessed to be a part of YDJ. I’ve been especially blessed to be a leader for YDJ. With Abe leaving to Vietnam, more responsibility has been put on the rest of us, but it’s a joy to serve my friends in YDJ. I thank God for being a part of my life and for leading me.  

5. Music- Music has always been a big part of my life, whether it be praise team, piano, band, or orchestra. Music is so unique in that everyone can enjoy it, even if they are not a musician and cannot fully understand it. I thank God that I can enjoy Him, even though I do not fully understand Him. 

6. Messenger Bag- Before I got this bag from my work, I always had trouble finding the right bag for church. This bag perfectly carries my things for the weekends. I thank God that He carries me through life, especially in the hard times. Here’s a poem I really like by Mary Stevenson called “Footprints in the Sand”. 

“One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints. 

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

 So I said to the Lord,

‘You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?’

 The Lord replied, ‘The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, 

is when I carried you.’”

7. Earpods- I use earbuds every day to listen to music on my iPod or computer. I thank Jesus because just as the headphones connect the source of music to me in a form I can understand, Jesus connects the source of life, God, to me in a form I can understand- love.

8. Bed- I love to sleep. Just like Clucksters, it’s pretty self-explanatory. I thank God that in Him, I can find true rest. 

9. Basketball- Basketball is my favorite sport, and is a great way for me to exercise and have fun at the same time, which is not natural. I thank God that although having a relationship with Him may seem like exercise and hard work, it is always enjoyable. 

10. Time- Time is extremely valuable, since no one is guaranteed tomorrow. I thank God that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He holds time in His hands, and graciously gives me time, even though I waste so much of it. I pray that I would use my time to glorify Him.