Really thankful?

I tucked in the sheets, and smoothed out my bed cover, eyeing the basket of freshly washed clothes that sat next to my bed.  Those would need to be put away.  Several chores crossed my mind that I'd like to get done today or the next,... begin the grout cleaning, scrub down the shower, finish making bedroom curtains... on and on the list goes.

I wasn't thinking of it as overwhelming, just going over it in my mind, and then a thought occured to me.

Every chore that I have on my list is a reminder of a specific blessing in my life.

I am so very blessed to have clothes to wash fold and put away...there are many who have very little.  There are many who have no shoes, no washer or dryer, no soap...no laundry basket to sit by the bed...no bed.

I am so very blessed to have grout to clean.  I have a home with tile floors, I have a roof over my head, walls to keep me safe and warm...or cool.  There are so many who have dirt floors, a sheet of aluminum for a roof, ...or no home at all.

I am so very blessed to have a shower that needs a scrubdown, a potty to clean, and sink to wash out.  I have not one, but two bathrooms in my home.  There are many who have no place for such a private luxury.  No plumbing or pipes to take away the refuse, no soft towels to dry off with, so soap or shampoo....no clean water to bathe in.

I am so very blessed to be making new curtains for my bedroom.  I have fabric, money, a sewing machine, and a home with glass windows that let in sunshine but keep out rain.  There are many who can't even imagine that kind of life.

Every day, do we take for granted the "normal" things in our lives?  Or can we take a moment to remember how blessed we are, and to thank the gracious God who has given us those gifts. 

If you have a home, you are blessed. 
If you are struggling with finances, you are still blessed.
If you think feeding your family is expensive, you are feeding them, you are blessed.
If your have a toothbrush, a plate, a cup, a mirror, a brush, a pair of socks, you are blessed.

Have you ever stared into the pantry and wondered what to make for dinner?  I have.  Have you ever noticed how much food is in there, and yet you still say "There's nothing to make for dinner"?  We are so incredibly blessed.  How do I know I can include YOU in this?  Becuase you are sitting at a computer reading it.  If you can do that, you are blessed.

We are rich beyond belief when we compare ourselves to those who go without what we would consider basic necessities each and every day.  Our homes are mansions, our cars are chariots, our food is lavish, our clothing like that of royalty.  When you look at your life that way, chores become a gift. 

We are blessed to be given the opportunity to care for these things we have been given.  Fold those clothes with honor and delight.  Make that shower sparkle, no matter it's size or the materials it is made from, it is an amazing gift that you have been blessed with.  Tuck in those sheets and make those beds with a song in your heart for you are blessed that at night you can lay on a mattress, pull those blankets up over your body and feel safe, warm and blessed.

Thank you Lord Jesus for all your precious gifts.  Help us to always remember to be thankful for those things that we have become the norm for us.  Help us to see that even our very basic items are such a huge gift, from You.

"He who is generous will be blessed..." ~ Proverbs 22:9a

Thankful Thursday - The Word

I am thankful for the Word of God...

Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. Psalm 119:89-91

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalm 119:160

Have a blessed day!

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Grace-Alone.

Thankful Thursday - My Dad

Thankful Thursday - I am thankful for my Dad - Lee E. Ewing Sr.

(High School Graduation)
(Father's Day - 2007)

I felt compelled to dedicate this Thankful post to my Dad. Many of you have been blessed with Christian parents, I was not, but that will never change the deep love and admiration I have for the parents God has given to me.

(Daddy's baby girl)

Born and raised in the border town of Laredo, TX, my father lived through many tough times. During the WWII, he and several other family members lived in a tiny house on his grandfathers farm, they supplied power to the farm using a windmill to run a generator, which ran car headlights to light the home! After that time, the farm became quite prosperous, shipping food all over the country.



As do most little girls, I always thought my Dad could do anything. He could fix anything, he was the strongest man alive, the smartest man alive, he could tickle in all the right places and make the funniest faces. To top it off, he gave the strongest and best bear hugs ever - he still does!

(My Hero)

My parents divorced when I was 12, and my Dad spent 5 years raising two teenage daughters on his own. It was a difficult time in his life and I am certain he was presented with many challenges which he had never faced before. I commend my Dad for never giving up on us, and for working full time while he went to school full time to earn a Masters Degree in Political Science. He went on to begin his second career after we left home.

(Fatherly Duty)

He spent 3 years in the Marines, before he retired from the Air Force after 22 years and recently enjoyed his second retirement from being a High School Honors teacher at the age of 70. Whenever I look at the old photos of my Dad, I can only imagine that every girl in town must have thought he was the best catch around! :) What a handsome young man!

(Marine)

(Air Force)

Last year, all 6 of us kids were able to surprise him for Father's Day (in honor of his retirement, and 70th birthday as well). We travelled from Florida and parts of TX, so it was certainly a HUGE surprise to him that we were all there. It was so great to see his face full of happiness at seeing all his kids together.

(El Paso - 2007)

(Approx. 1972)

I Love You Dad!!!

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit GraceAlone.

Have a blessed day!

Thankful Thursday - Thankful that I am nothing

I am thankful that I am nothing. In this day and age, these are "fightin' words". Our society is so keen on telling people they are "something", in lifting up "self-esteem", in "empowering" ourselves. Who are we that we think we can be anything on our own? Did we create this world? Did we create ourselves? There was a time in my life when I certainly thought a lot of myself. Oh yes, the world must have revolved around me. I am thankful that my eyes have been opened and I now know that without Christ, I am nothing.

It doesn't matter what job we do, who we know, how much we make, how big a car we drive, how expensive a home we live in, what clothes we wear, where we vacation, how much we donate to charity, how much time we spend "doing good", it all boils down to nothing in the end.

The good news is, that because of the power of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and through His power to forgive sin, I am someone. Someone loved and someone special. Someone created with tender loving care. Someone with a purpose and meaning in her life. Someone who desires to please God, but still makes mistakes, and knows she will be forgiven. Someone who has been pulled from the pit by the hand of God, and who knows what it feels like to be there. Someone who can love others without wanting anything in return. Someone with hope.



Who but our great Lord has the power to save us from our sins? Who but our great Lord has the power to turn a life upside down and completely change a heart inside and out?



I am so thankful for the precious gift of salvation that God has graciously given to me, one who doesn't deserve a thing....

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103:1-5

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed He remembers that we are dust."

Psalm 103:8-14

I shudder to think of where I would be, and what my life would be like today without Him.

For more thankful posts, please visit StingMyHeart.

Have a blessed day!

Thankful Thursday - Anniversary

Today is my 9th Wedding Anniversary, and I want to say how very thankful I am that God has blessed me with a most precious gift - my husband.



When my son was 4 years old, I went through a not-so-fun divorce. I then lived as a single Mom for 6 years. During the later part of those years, I was introduced to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and my life was made new and fresh and complete,...but I still desired a godly husband in my life and father for my son.




VERY long story made VERY short...One day, I was called in to see the Sunday School teacher because my "precious son" (LOL) had been acting up in class. Well, that Sunday School teacher, 2 years later, became my most wonderful husband and I am forever blessed. Although he had never been married or had children, he rolled up his sleeves and wholeheartedly took on the role of Dad. He worked hard to learn what God requires of a godly Father. Two years later he adopted our son, and now we share not only our love, but our name as well. I am so thankful for the life that God has provided us with, and the abilities he has given to my husband to be our early provider. He is truly a blessing in our lives, God knew exactly what I needed, and He graciously gave me more!

He has always worked hard and provided us a wonderful home. He made sure that I would be able to stay home and homeschool our son, that I would never have to worry again about taking care of myself. He is the love of my life and has been my earthly Lover, Provider, Protector, Best Friend, Superhero, Personal Comedian, Mr. Fix-it, Mechanic, Carpenter, Mentor, and Godly Leader of our Household. I love this man, and I am ever thankful to my Lord for giving him to me. :)
Have a blessed day!

Thankful Thursday - Hope

I am late getting online today, but I wanted to participate in Thankful Thursday, as there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for... :)

This is a word of encouragement for those Mom's out there who are a little weary about disciplining their sons. Sometimes, as a Mom, it is difficult to punish our children, and often times, we have a hard time when our husbands see fit to punish them. Many parents today are far too concerned about what the world thinks about discipline, but we need to keep our eyes on God's Word in all areas of child training. Don't be overly concerned with "crushing their personlities" or the too often used phrase "choosing your battles", God's Word gives us hope in one thing for certain - discipline.

"Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death."

I am thankful for God's Word, through it there is hope for my son's future.

Have a blessed day,

Go here for more Thankfuls...http://www.eph2810.com/?p=820

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the days when I wake up with a praise song in my heart...today I woke up singing...

Give Thanks with a thankful heart
give thanks to the Holy One
give thanks, because he's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now, let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done
Give thanks....

AMEN! :)

Have a blessed day,

Thankful Thursday - Trust

I am thankful that God has blessed me with a husband I can trust without even giving it a second thought. He is the most honest, upfront person and doesn't beat around the bush, or give false hopes. He is a solid godly man, who himself trusts in the Lord, and that comes out through who he is. Thank you Jesus for the gift of Mike, my precious husband - trustworthy.


Kathy C.

I am thankful for the beauty that surrounds me

I am often in awe of the wonders of God's creation. When I sit and look around at a clear starry night, perfectly blue skies with beautifully formed puffy white clouds, vibrant colors streaking through a sunset, the delicate sounds of birds at sunrise, the amazing complexity of each different variety of flower, the smell of a rose...

I am reminded that God didn't need to make these things as beautiful as they are. Food could have simply been nourishing for our bodies, it didn't have to be as sweet as a fresh picked strawberry, or as succulant as a warm peach right off the tree. Birds have a job, but God chose to make so many varieties, all different colors and shapes, all with unique and beautiful songs. Every thing in creation, great and small is so filled with magnificent beauty and I am thankful that our graciuos God made them that way - in my heart, I am certain that He has done this for our pleasure, and that we might see his handiwork through them.



Have a blessed day!

Today I am thankful for the blessing of my son! He has recently graduated from Air Force Basic Training, and is about to start his job training. We are very proud of him and love him so much. I am especially thankful that he will be coming home in 3 months for a visit!!! :)

Happy Independence Day!!!!