TOP 10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR

Yeah, I am "borrowing" the Top 10 from a popular late night show on Television, but I have to say this week it is worth it. I hope you enjoy your holiday and for those of you that take advantage of the Black Friday deals, be safe and have fun! 

# TEN

I am thankful for another book review of The Purpose of Chosen. It is nice when other people like your work. The launch is going slowly, but I wrote a book! How can I not be grateful for that? 

# NINE

I am thankful for tow truck drivers who do not try and run me over. This was in fact, in question yesterday and that whole story will be for another post for another day. Suffice to say that it was traumatic and I am still recovering emotionally....lol. 

#EIGHT

I am thankful for budgets. I can hear some of you groaning right now, but for the majority of my married life we did not live with one and we were miserable with money and over money way more than we should have been. Now when my husband and I work out a budget for the next two months together I have peace about knowing what I cannot plan, spend, and or do because it really tells me what I CAN plan, spend and do. The freedom of this simple act and the discipline to follow it is one of the most freeing experiences of my life and it has happened this year. This Christmas season will not be about stress, but about "bless"ing others. Thank you Lord! 

#SEVEN

I am thankful for my home. We are renters. In this economy that may seem crazy, but owning a home (in this tax climate in the US) may be more crazy for some than renting. Regardless of how you may feel about renting versus owning, this will be our second Thanksgiving here and our third Christmas and I am loving how at home we truly feel here. The house is in a great neighborhood on a cul-de-sac, and minutes from my kid's school. The rent is extremely cheap as well, so Thank YOU Lord for your favor! 

#SIX

I am thankful for my blog. This year I started this blog. It began in January and it was something I did to obey God. Less than 30% of bloggers actually stick to blogging more than three months, so I feel honored and a little proud (the good satisfied-with-my-work-ethic kind of pride) of myself. Through this blog I have met incredible people, gained friends from every walk of life imaginable and written a book like I always dreamed of doing. By obeying God in a "little" thing back in January, I have had a year of blessings beyond my wildest imaginations. 

#FIVE

I am thankful for you. You are in fact one of my top five things! I cannot type another word without thanking my Father for you. You have read my blog, encouraged me, challenged me, prayed for me, and laughed and cried with me. You are a benefit of my obedience to God. The impact you have had on me and the other readers of this blog can only be fully measured when we receive our great reward. Thank you for being a part of my life and my ministry. 

#FOUR

I am thankful for my church. Now, no church is perfect. If it was, it would be spoiled the minute we showed up, right? But my church family is kind, welcoming, open and giving. It is an honor to attend there, worship there, laugh there, volunteer there and grow there. My pastor is a great communicator with a huge heart for people, a great wife and kids and a decent sense of humor. The staff is down to earth and I never feel out of place. It has become HOME too and I am so glad my Father has planted us there. 

#THREE

I am thankful for my kids. Sarah (16) and Connie-Lyn (14) are the biggest challenge/blessing that I have ever received. Talk about a mixed bag! One minute I want to pull their hair out and the next I am laughing, loving, and learning with them what it means to be a parent, friend, teacher, mentor, instructor, policeman, authoritarian, and tons of other things that make my head want to explode! No one save the Holy Ghost can strip me so bare as my children. They expose me for the lack luster parent I am on a regular basis and make me hit my knees in prayer more than any other single issue in my life. Because of them I have grown as a person and my life has been so richly blessed. They fill my heart with love and gratitude in equal measure. 

#TWO

I am thankful for my husband Randy Bickham! When I met the man I have spent the last 18 and 1/2 years with, I thought he was a bit dorky. Truth be told, he was. But he is the most loyal, forgiving, gracious and giving man I know. My exact opposite in so many ways he balances me. God gave me a miracle when He brought me Randy. Someone who loves me,  leads me, challenges me, and corrects me, my husband is a wonderful friend, lover, provider and father. My life would be unimaginable without him, and I thank Daddy-God for the perfect fit of a mate for me. 

AND THE NUMBER 1 TOP TEN THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR IS...........................

My Father. God is so good. His mercy is new every morning. His love never fails. He provides food to eat, shelter to sleep, seed to sow, and increase to grow. I am thankful for His love, His kindness, His faithfulness and His grace. I have messed up so many times and in so many ways and my Lord still loves, still forgives and still sings over me. Without God, nothing is possible, but with Him all things are possible. He is amazing. 

I could go on and on. I could fill volumes of books extolling His goodness. Maybe another day.... 

Enjoy your holiday, and be blessed as you are a blessing. Count it all joy and claim your Victory in Christ today! 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Join the Conversation: 

What are you thankful for?  

Living with an Attitude of Gratitude

There is a Reason You are Here! 

God has splendid plans for us, plans full of hope and a future that goes beyond tomorrow, it goes on for generations. 

So many of us become trapped by our circumstances that we become bogged down by doubt and we miss out on what that something is. 

Do Not Miss Out! 

It may be because you are hung up on a lie that you were told as a child- “You’re not good enough” or maybe because you don’t have all the physical advantages someone else may have, like money or good looks, or maybe because you feel like time is running out for you because you are getting too old to be doing those amazing things that you have always dreamed of, and now think it is too late for...

Whatever it is that is holding you back it is never too big for our Father. 

Look At David

David was the youngest kid in his family, always stuck with the stinky jobs like looking after the sheep, and being a messenger for his dad, hauling water and food to the battle field for his brothers to have and then being mocked when he wanted to fight for God against Goliath and the Philistines. He was young, he was small, and he was not what people thought of as ‘king” material, but God had a plan for David! God has a plan for you too. Do not doubt it.  

From a shepherd boy to a king, David was a delight to God because no matter what was going on in David’s life, he was humble and grateful. God says David was a man after his own heart. David wasn’t perfect, but he was quick to repent and always thankful for all God had done. 


As he grew as a king, God’s favor was on him and stability came to the land. David began to realize that God had prospered him with houses and wives and children and all he could desire, but while David and his family lived in a wonderful house, God (the Arc of the Covenant) dwelled in a tent.  

God Has A Sense of Humor! 

If you ever doubt our Father has a sense of humor, don’t doubt it anymore. You can hear God chuckle at David in this passage: much like we giggle at our children when they are being cute.

2 Samuel 7 (The Message)4-7 But that night, the word of God came to Nathan saying, "Go and tell my servant David: This is God's word on the matter: You're going to build a 'house' for me to live in? Why, I haven't lived in a 'house' from the time I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt until now. All that time I've moved about with nothing but a tent. And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, 'Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?'

God goes on to tell David that His true house will be established through David, and through the generations God will bear a son from David’s line that will seal both His love and David’s line forever. That son was Jesus. When the prophet Nathan told David all God had said this is what happened next:

18-21 King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: "Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you've let me in on it.

Can you see it? 

David was humble and he was thankful. He was excited and he did not doubt. He knew that God’s word was established and David was tickled pink to be let in on the secret plans God had for his family and his descendants. (We have talked about the secret things of God before. For that click here)

Having an attitude of gratitude is important. In the little and the small things acknowledge God and He will direct us. Do not let the chance to give God the glory pass by you. When we are thankful we are humble, and when we are humble, we are usable. Now we just have to get out of God’s way and obey, but that will be tomorrow’s blog.

Be blessed and be a blessing and remember thank is a verb. 
What are you thankful for?