Thankful for...

So, 8 days until Thanksgiving (or 5 days until deer season here in WV). Sometimes I wonder which is the bigger day....

Anyway, I just wanted to make a quick list of things that I am thankful for. Of course, I have all of the "usual suspects" when it comes to praises, and then some that are more specific to me and where I am in life right now. Obviously I am thankful for my family. I have the greatest wife and the three best kids in the world. I thank God for them every day. I am thankful for my freedom. Regardless of what we think of any election outcome, most Americans should be ecstatic to call this land home. I am thankful for my needs being met. Food, shelter, clothing, transportation.....for the most part, no worries there. I have a great church family, an amazing extended family, and three jobs that I like (yes, I have THREE jobs, and I really like all of them). So, there is my list of "usual suspects".....more specifically to me now.....

I am thankful that God never stops listening, and never stops guiding. I have been praying recently for His leading in an area that I thought was going to be an easy thing. Everything within me saw what I wanted to see...an open door into a ministry opportunity that seemed like a no-brainer, but through prayer and a couple of situations that He used to cause even more prayer, God showed me that it wasn't His will. At least right now. Maybe not for a long time. Then He reminded me of an answer He had given me a few months ago, that I had not acted on. God is so good, and loving, and kind, and patient (REALLY patient). I don't deserve for Him to even care about my prayers, but He does. He waits for them. He covets them. He WANTS to talk to me.

Psalm 40 tells us that God THINKS of us. Let that sink in......YOU are on HIS mind. Amazing.

Zepheniah 3 tells us that God loves us so much that He joys over us with singing. God loves me so much that He SINGS about me!

If you can't be thankful for that, just throw the turkey away and do something else next Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving.