A Week of Thanks

Last Sunday my pastor challenged each of us to make a daily post on social media. These were my thoughts.

I am grateful that God is...

   our Protector;

   my Confidante;

   the Healer of both ailments and heartaches;

   my refuge and strength;

   merciful;

   faithful with His promises;

   for us.

Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Happy Thanksgiving! May we keep it in our hearts throughout the year. 

Rain and Cold

I'm a Southern girl and I am accustomed to warm weather, even in the fall and winter. This week was not my idea of fun. For four days we had rain, several inches of rain. That alone was not so bad, however, combined with cold temperatures under 45, I felt like I was in the wrong state!

Now the temps are back in the 60s, but I'm sitting here in a sweatshirt. Now that I've reached that point of being too cold, I fear that I will not be warm again until May. It has nothing to do with the temperature, but rather my mindset. We experienced winter weather so now it's winter, regardless of what the calendar shows. 

I Kings 1:1 Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm. 

I feel like King David, except for that old part. I'll just take my blanket and get toasty. :D

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

Appreciation

Sometimes it's the little things that brighten your day. My favorite is being gifted with something I didn't ask for and didn't know I wanted or needed.

Saturday my 12-yr-old asked what we were doing that day. Usually I tell her we would be cleaning the house, but instead I told her I would be cleaning out the kitchen cabinets, and I didn't ask for her help.

By lunchtime, she had surprised me by cleaning her room, cleaning her bathroom and sorting the laundry. I was shocked! I didn't give her any direction on what should be done. She just knew and did it. I appreciated her efforts so much, especially because she did it out of love!

Sometimes it's good to be reminded to be thankful for these gifts. It is a visible representation of a person's love for you. It is also a picture of God's ultimate gift for you. 

I John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Venting

After working at the same place for so long, I have certain expectations about when I can take time off. I plan those days carefully and never leave the office in a bind. However, I've been there so long that I get 4 weeks of vacation each year and I must take those 20 days so that I don't lose the time. This week I asked off for Thanksgiving week, the same week I've had off for longer than I can remember. It never occurred to me that there might be an issue with it.

Within an hour of submitting the request, I received a message that left doubt that I would be granted the week off. I was so mad! It was close to lunchtime, so I headed out to just get away. After an hour I responded to the message with my reasons for why I needed to be absent and that the office would be fine without me that week.  Still, I got no word about the decision.

Then I did what I should not have done. I began to tell my coworkers how aggravated and angry I was about the request not being approved immediately. I should have stayed quiet and waited, because the next day my time off was approved.

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

As I look back, I realize how petty I was and how fortunate I am for that to have been my big issue this week.