Thankful in Everything: November 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

What to do on a sunny November afternoon....

It's dusk in Olathe and Sarah & Mike have finished building Fort Dusk. We'll get better footage in the morning if it survives the Wild Olathe Night!

Rendevouz at the Lincoln Presidential Museum!

What a fun day we had with Jodi, Stan & Stephen in Springfield! Thanks Guys!

Am I ever thankful that my husband is a man of balance.....yesterday he was on the roof, on the top of the ladder, climbing to new heights! .....and I was praying! (and wondering if the insurance card was easily accessible)

The Light of the World

I am thankful for the Light of the World. In these days of "economic crisis" as the headlines put it, I am thankful that I can turn my face to the Light of the World and know that whatever the headlines of today's paper say, it pales in comparison to the Good News of God's word. As a family, our only hope is in God....not a 401K balance, certainly not now!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 lends some perspective...
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

We seek to fix our eyes on the eternal, the Light of the World. As friends and neighbors and we ourselves are affected by the "economic crisis", may God be glorified and magnified! There is a far greater "sin crisis" which is ever present, doesn't make the headlines, and has longer reaching effects than any "economic crisis". My prayer is that God will use our family to shed His light on the true crisis of this day and to give people the Good News!

Monday, November 24, 2008

30 Days Continued...

How quickly time passes! I'll update our thirty days of Thanksgiving.....
Day 10-24 We are thankful for......
10.....time together during the day
11......God's hand in the little and big workings of our days
12......Jim's return from Ohio!
13......our parents/grandparents who God has used to shape us and encourage us.
14......new friends who are coming for dinner tonight!
15......opportunities to be a light in fun ways! Like going to a hockey game!
16......A doctor who called in a scrip for PINK EYE! and a pharmacy that was open at 7pm on a Sunday night!
17......A safe trip to Illinois to visit Grandpa & Grandma German.
18......Grandpa's good health following his surgery.
19......A fun reunion with our friends, the Schwartzes in Springfield. Thanks Jodi!
20......It is no small thing that Jim was able to make it home from Dallas! In spite of cancelled flights, he got home in good time! Phew! God is good!
21......What a blessing to have our home full of people. Tonight we had 4 couples and their kids over for some eats and fellowship. We are thankful to get to know others!
22......Sam is thankful for people who trust him with their pets. He got to take care of Hank the Weimeriner today.
23......Sue is thankful for the upcoming week and the visitors we will have!!!!!! Can't wait to see Brad and Laura.
24......Thanks be to God for his gift of salvation by grace, through faith in Christ!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Backyard Visitor

We were cleaning up the lunch dishes and Sarah ran into the room and said "Look outside!" This big boy was wandering around. By the time I thought to grab the camera he was taking off. We've seen does around the yard, but never a buck.

On day 9 of our 30 days of thanksgiving, Jim is thankful for a big hunk of meat, carrots, potatoes, gravy and for the smell that greeted us as we walked in the door after church. I'm thankful for the boys, who did the clean up detail after lunch!!!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving--Day 8

Today we went with some others from our church to the City Union Mission in Kansas City. The scope of that ministry is quite amazing. They serve a segment of the population whom many others don't give much thought to at all. The people who walk through their doors are at a low point in life and the first thing they receive is the gospel. They are given food, shelter, counsel, health care, but the gospel is at the heart of ministering to these people. It was a humble reminder that I don't deserve what I have and I am not the best "steward" of what God has placed in my hands. I am thankful for the undeserved blessing of God on and in my life.

Friday, November 7, 2008

A first.....a DUET!!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Thanks to a friend for a great idea! This month we are going to post our "Thirty Days of Thanksgiving" In a society that jumps from Halloween to Christmas (Have you checked out the decor at Wal Mart recently?), we as a family want to remember Thanksgiving! We're starting a little late, but we'll use the first few days to catch up.

Nov 1. One God....who created me for a purpose and loves me. One Sin atoned for by One Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nov 2 I am thankful for my husband who is a man of integrity, who loves the Lord and who loves me "even when.....". He is a wonderful friend, partner in life and father to our kiddos.

Nov 3. Three children....three healthy children.....three children who have each accepted Christ as their personal Savior!

Nov 4 Phew....I am SO thankful for the fact that God is sovereign. "The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, he directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases".....somewhere in Proverbs you can find that!

Nov 5 I am thankful that my husband can work from home some days! We ALL love having him here.

Nov 6 Friendships....God has provided some true friends throughout the years. Some we've lost touch with, but are "lifers" just the same. There's that verse in Proverbs that says "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another". What a blessing to have friends that sharpen us!

Nov 7 Sam--is thankful that he had a great sleep last night. He's also thankful for his dog sitting business. Mike--is thankful that we have food to eat---even brussel sprouts! Sarah is thankful for her room (which we are doing a little decorating in this week)

There, we've caught up.....we'll spend the rest of Nov. completing the thirty days of thanksgiving!