Thankfulness
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger to a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~Melody Beattie
i am thankful for . . .
Warm, orange sun on a cold, snow-white day
The sound of passing birds over the frozen lake
The next breath
Freedom to meet at church
Friends and family that do right
My own apartment, and independance
God's promise to never leave me or forsake me
A job that teaches responsibility
An apartment to live in
Food to eat when I need it, and when I don't
Chocolate: in nearly all forms
Computers: Good for business, good for life.
People: I enjoy fixing things and helping people know how to use them
Music: "Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life."
43things.com: For helping me keep my goals in front of me and providing a way to help cheer others toward their goals.
Open Source Software vendors for supporting and encouraging community involvement in technology and allowing new ideas to be adapted to fit my needs.
The Phonetic Alphabet for making tech support phone calls fun and assisting in communication that leads to success.
Sleep: preferrably several hours at a time
RSS: For making news simpler to read and use
Google: for making cool stuff to make life online easier
A cell phone that works where I do, backed by a company that stands behind their promise to provide service everywhere I live and work, and does it better than anyone else.
A home where I can go to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer
Microsoft: For making a product that's easy to break so others will ask me to fix it.
Fireproof: I am thankful for God giving these movie-makers a gift of expression to allow them to create such a thought-provoking film that hits home . . . early.
Rain: Waters the ground, rinses the car, relaxes the mind, produces growth. Bring it on.
Job: I've been working with a few absolutely wonderful people at a local recruiter to get into a new phase of work. Thanks guys, this is working out great!
Job: Actually more of an opportunity than a daily grind, I have a new chance to get closer to my goal of working in IT. I've been offered a position in a local network monitoring and service company that offers a substantial increase in pay and allows me to use what I've studied in school in a work environment.
Facing the Giants: A movie that helps inspire others and myself to be better people in life, and never to stop trusting God.
Ministry: I love being able to minister to others by using my skills that God has given me.
Ministry: I am very thankful for others willing to cover my costs sometimes when I minister, even when I'm not asking for pay.
High Fives: Not the fake ones that executives have you do to make you feel good. I like the spontaneous ones that erupt out of completing a project, meeting a friend or telling a great joke.
Times of Testing: However difficult and painful they may be, the tough times make me who I am. The way I treat this experience is how I will wither grow or stagnate in my relationship with God. Lord, help me to trust you.
God's Faithfulness.
I am very thankful for my friends who don't mind staying around to listen to me talk or express myself on the piano. Some help with words, others with their thoughts and most with a smile. To those friends, please know that I don't mind doing the same for you, as well.
I am thankful for God's plan, although it may not match my own. I know He is faithful and will always do what's best for me. The people he brings into my life have impacted me in ways they may never know.
I am thankful for His Love, which is extravagant.
I'm thankful that I believe in God. I'm even more thankful that He believes in me.
Surprises. I am thankful for His surprises.
Moving Forward: I am thankful God allows us to move on and get a fresh start on things once in awhile.
Mysterious Surprises: The surprises that you don't know are surprises until they sneak up on you. Or the ones that you do see coming and they turn out better than you could ever imagine...
Road Trips: The days where you can simply relax and drive. Maybe walk, maybe talk, but just generally hang out.
Friends: The ones who know you too well and love you too much to let things slide. Go on ahead and keep pestering me...I need it.
I am thankful for heroes young and old who have laid down their lives in sacrifice for my American freedom. I do my best to remember each time I pass an American flag that there was a person that fought with all their heart, mind and soul to make it possible for that flag to be flown. God Bless America. Please forgive us where we sin and help us to strive to be One Nation Under God.
The Challenge is in the Moment, the Time is Always Now - James Baldwin
Sacrifice is only momentary, but you can't know that
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20