Thankful: Looking Up

When stop to look around and count my blessings, my heart explodes with I have been given, but it is only when I look up that my heart is truly satisfied. 

I look around and see so many blessings that He has bestowed upon me.  None taken for granted, yet it’s so good to reflect and be reminded that He gives and takes away.  Nothing is guaranteed, only His goodness and mercy all the days of my life.

So, this weekend, I pause and thank God.  When I look up I realize that my thanks go beyond anything that I can comprehend or even deserve.  His love for me, His forgiveness for me, His life given for me.

When I look up, I know I am saved by His grace, and for that I’m eternally thankful.

I'm also very thankful for my family. I look around and see my supportive, loving and patient husband who I would simply be lost without, and two beautiful healthy children, who bring me incredible joy.  I look around and learn from amazing examples of marriages in both my parents and my in-laws.  I look around and see sweet friends that I have laughed with and been encouraged by throughout the year. I look around and see a church family that I am grateful for as we ‘do life together’.  I look around and I know that the people who surround me are such blessings.  I’m overwhelming grateful.

This year has been one of the most life-changing years I have ever experienced.  I’m thankful that I am not the girl that I was this time last year.  I’ve grown in my walk with the Lord and its been a sweet journey, my heart has loved more than I thought it was capable, and my eyes have been opened to praying for and serving the needs of the world. 

The need of a Savior.

I'm thankful for the peace that only He could provide as I left to share the gospel and make disciples.  If I looked around, the world would say to stay, to take care of my needs and let others take care of the world. But when I look up, He tells me to go. I’m thankful that His love gives me the strength to look beyond what’s around me, but rather to look up and be convicted of the lostness that exists outside of my home, my city and my country.

As I gaze upward, I know that His grace is sufficient no matter where my footsteps lead and that's worth being thankful for, in and of itself.  

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations.”  
Psalm 100