Day 8 - Feasting on the Word

I tell my kids what to eat (ok sometimes Harper Ann tells me what she will eat) but I try my best to get them to eat healthy.  It’s something we parents realize, the better you eat the better you feel.  What, you have an upset tummy, well perhaps you shouldn’t have consumed your weight in smarties and mint oreos (I have said this to Jonathan before).  That said, as I was reading this morning I was struck by on verse in Matthew that led me on a search and to this thought which I know but too often ignore - what I consume goes into my heart and what comes out reveals my heart.  If, like my kids and junk food, I consume garbage (note, I am not saying everything outside of the bible is garbage - so many of the books and so much of the music I love doesn’t fall into this) but if I am filling my day with everything but his word, of course by heart will sour and what comes out will reveal that.  I guess what I am trying to say is that I hope that my heart is humbled and encouraged by his word so that the people I meet and am around (Christian and non-Christian) will see what I put out so that they are moved to have some of what I am having.

Today and everyday I am thankful...

81. For being able to feast on God’s word and the impact it has on my heart  

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

9 Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart       
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Proverbs 4:4-13

4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Matthew 15:16-20

16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ ”

82. That I live in a place where the strangers I pass on the way to work wave/raise a few fingers to say hello when I do the same.

83. That Alabama beat Auburn in Basketball and were presented with the Iron Bowl trophy tonight



84. For my Cousins - all of them

85. For all my friends who have just had or are expecting babies

86. That our taxes are done

87. For Jonathan's Job

88. For Wednesday Nights at Covenant and the plate of food Jonathan brought home to me even when I couldn't go

89. For our babysitters who take such good care of our kiddos

90. For the Rolling Stones

Day 7 - Freedom

I went to a funeral today.  Dwight Smith, one of the courtroom security officers at the federal building lost a years' battle with lung cancer this past weekend.  I remember when one of the other CSO's told me about his cancer and the prognocis and others told me that he had elected to forego treatment.  I was terribly nervous about the first conversation I would have with Dwight after hearing the news.  I shouldn't have been, he certainly wasn't phased.  I found the words after a few days to tell him how sorry I was to hear about his cancer (that word alone carries a weight on the tongue that makes it hard to say) and that he was in my prayers.  I was caught off guard (although I shouldn't have been) by how calm and measured his response was.  He simply told me that he appreciated it, but that he trusted his maker.  He then spent the next few minutes waiting to open up the courtroom for a hearing telling me that he knew where he was going a long time ago and that he was alright with his future.  His outlook was beyond encouraging.  It was incredibly uplifting and a powerful testament to the comfort a relationship with Christ can give you in the face of true difficulty.  I was incredibly humbled by Dwight's courage and quite strength. 

Today and everyday I am thankful...

71. For God's covenant of Grace that has redeemed me.  As unnatural as death is, I find immeasurable comfort in freedom from death knowing that it doesn't have control over me.  Jesus has paid the ransom for my soul that was condemned and is now free. 

Jeremiah 31:31-34. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Matthew 20:28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 1 Corinthians 11:25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Hebrews 9:15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

72. For Dwight Smith and his humbling trust in the Lord

73. For my co-workers who are such positive and encouraging people to work with.

74.  For having the BCS National Championship Game on DVR - yep, I'm watching it as I type.

75. For a video baby monitor so I can watch JC sleep. 

76.  That Holt requests the Midnight ride of Paul Revere as a bedtime story

77.  That Harper Ann lets me rock her and sing to her at night, but tells me when she is ready to lie down in her bed and go to sleep on her own.

78. For Wireless internet

79. For Holt's teachers at Hayes Cooper who love him so much

80. For Elvis

Day 6

Today and everyday I am thankful:

61. That I have been adopted by the Father and what a perfect father

Titus 3:4-7

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

62. That Holt loves history as much as I do (my little patriot)

63. For a healthy checkup and meeting all our developmental milestones

64. For this face

 

65. For Friends reruns on nick at nite

66. For getting to decorate Easter Eggs with my kids tonight

67. That Harper Ann loves Shirley Temple movies as much as her mama

68. That Holt can make Jane Cannon laugh by kissing her toes

69.  That Holt requested a "toasted jelly sandwhich" on "Alabama" bread for supper

70. For Steve Earle

Day 5

Today was absolutley beautiful and the sunshine was warm enough to make me forget the wind.  Jane Cannon still has the sniffles and I have the crud full fledged, but I got to spend the morning with her while Jonathan took the big kids to church.  It was nice to have some just us time.

Today and everyday I am thankful:

51. That God is unchanging and solid.  No matter how chaotic and crazy this world gets.  No matter who the president is, or who is in congress, or if nations rise or fall, he is constant and unchanging. I find immeasurable comfort knowing that my securinty is in him and not in this world. 

Deuteronomy 33:27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Psalm 90:2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 102:12, 24-27. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.... I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Psalm 33:11. The counsel of the LORD stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Malachi 3:6. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

52.  For getting to take a two hour nap. 

53. For Turner Classic Movies and memories I have sprawled out on my Grandparents livingroom floor watching old movies when I was a child.

54. Jane Cannon's nap nanny

55. For Holt's love of cowboy and western films

56.  That we have a couch long enough and deep enough Jonathan and I can both fit on it.

57. That Alabama beat Mississippi State last night

58. For nyquil

59. For Sundays and a day to worship with our church family

60. For Johnny Cash

Day 4 - Sanctification

It impossible to not be completely humbled when you realize that God and God alone has done it all.  I am humbled and joyful and grateful for my continued Sanctification through the holy spirit.

Today and everyday I am thankful

41. That God sanctifies me through his Holy Spirit

Ezekiel 36:27. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Philippians 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Ephesians 4:23-24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

42. For a husband who will dance with me

43. That Jonathan takes care of me when I'm sick

44. For my mama and her selflessness for my sake

45. Lazy Saturdays

46. How Harper Ann makes up songs about anything and everything

47. For Fine Motor Skills

48. For warm days in February

49. For Mrs. Bourke, who surprised all my children with a thoughtful gift

50. Wilco

Day 3 - Unexpected Joy

I think that I tend to look only for joy in certain places or only in "happy" places.  When instead I should rejoice and be thankful in all things - in work and in play.  The weather got cold again last night, but the sun is out and at the risk of sounding very trite, it takes cold to make you appreciate warm.  One last thought on the note of thankfulness in the unexpected, I think I tend to think of a "happy" God, and he is, but I so frequently limit that happiness and his benevolence to happy things, when His sovereignty itself should give me great joy.  Particularly his laws.  God's word gives us guidance and I have too often overlooked the wonderful blessings of his law for how we should live our lives, because in it there is freedom I never knew.

Today and everyday I am thankful:

31. For God's Law

Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

John 15:8-11

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 John 1:4 And these things we write unto you, that your joy may be full

2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

32. For Harper Ann's Independence - She must do everything herself.  She's headstrong, that one.

 33. Washable Marker

 34. That I am able to bathe my kids

35. Family time before bed

36. Our Johnny Jump-up

37. For this Article that does a nice job summing up why I like (admittedly peripherally) NASCAR

"I watch NASCAR because some vein of backwoods asskick runs sidelong with the engineering and the sponsorships and NASCAR's desperate attempts to sanitize the sport. I watch it because some small part of me is from that, even if that little bit of me has been thoroughly urbanized and domesticated, and may have been all along."

38. For the NFL Combine giving me a little Football Happiness in the Month of February

39. For coffee with a little cream and sugar

40. For Gram Parsons