Thankful Thursday - Describing God

Have you ever thought about the words used to describe God? Last night during our Ladies Bible class we looked at some passages that describe God..... here is just a few words we found...

shelter
dwelling place
shield and buckler
shadow
refuge
fortress

Don't you get a feeling of safety and awe of God's mightiness just looking at these few words...He is all these and more! We are told not to have fear in the midst of crisis for God is there to deliver us out whatever difficulties we find ourselves in. He is going to be right there to be our protector and our refuge!




Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (3) For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. (4) He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. (5) You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, (6) nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. (7) A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. (8) You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. (9) Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge-- (10) no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. (11) For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (12)On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. (13) You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. (14) "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. (15) When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." (ESV)


I truly love verse 4 .... the writer says God will cover us with His pinions .... ever thought about what a pinion is? ... simply put its a feather.... God will cover us with His feathers .... and under His wings we can find refuge... but at the same time God will be our shield and buckler. For His children are found in the comfort and the tenderness of God's wing while he is a mighty defender of us outwardly protecting us as a shield and buckler. Is that not wonderful! God grants us so many blessing each moment and even when we face turmoil and crisis He is there to tenderly and lovingly protect us and fiercely defend us all at the same time! God never leaves us... we are always in His thoughts, He is ever ready to be what we need, a tender and loving refuge, a mighty shield and defender..... a deliverer. How great is God's love!

Today and every day I am thankful I can call upon God!

Good Thursday Morning

I do want to post a quick Thankful Thursday note....

I am so thankful for our children! Our kids amaze me sometimes. They have such servant hearts.

This week they have been volunteering for the District Senior Games .... you know, doing judging, score keeping .... encouraging the seniors in the surrounding areas in sports like shuffleboard, horse shoes, basketball free throw..etc... Well, this morning I got news from the Senior Center Director here in Lewis County (aka... my mom..lol) and she was telling me how the whole crowd of seniors ... not just the ones they see here in the county but those from all over just love it when my children volunteer. She also told me that the other judges (some that have been helping for 30 years) are so impressed with my children and have begged mom to have them at the State Senior Games in July this year! Goodness.... makes a momma not just thankful but a bit on the proud side too!

And what has our little Jed been up to this week while his brother and sisters have been gone... well, yesterday he spent the afternoon in the back fields with Momma Sue and Papa Rich as they were clearing out some brush .... and he even got to drive the truck in the field! He sure was excited about that!

Thankful Thursday

God has so richly blessed our family. I could sit here all day and list so many things.... but I am going to limit myself (for time) to 3 things I am thankful for today.

1. The sounds and sights that Spring is upon us... I sit here listening to the songs of various birds in the early morning.... such a wonderful sound!

2. The thoughfulness of my mom.... who is letting me use her new car to drive for a while.... since the weather has been wet, cold or unpredictable... and the truck was in the shop... it was nice not to either get Eric up early or catch a ride to work.

3. Jed, who every time I come through the door ... at lunch or at the end of the day... runs to greet me with a giant hug!

Thank You, Lord for blessing my life!

Thankful Thursday

But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me. Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)

Each and every time I take the time to step back and really look at my life I cannot help but think how much God has done for me. I have been in the lowest pits of despair and God has rescued me... I can bask in His unfailing love because of salvation. I can rejoice in uncertain times because God is good to me!

Its looking busy....

for us these next few months..... I was working on the calendar and with all the youth events, Lads to Leaders practices, work schedules and everyday things ..... we are pretty much booked solid from now until Easter. Goodness!!! But we really wouldn't have it any other way! We feel that we are truly blessed with being able to work so much with our children and other youth as much as we do!!

Dwelling in the shadow....a prayer.

Psa 91:1 (ESV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Lord, let me rest in Your secret place, let me find comfort there. Father, let me find protection under Your shadow and let me continually dwell in You. Lord, grant me blessings today, so that I may be a blessing to others. Let me remember that I am safe from evil while You watch over me. Help me today to ever trust in You, Lord. Open my heart to Your will for my life. Father, God, grant me more understanding of Your Word so that I may be a better witness of Your wonderous grace. Today, Lord, let my day be filled with opportunities to share YOU with others. To be a better servant in Your Name. Lord, let me give voice to the precious gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You ,Lord, for the love You have for me, that You would send Your Son to die for me. Lord, help me to be all that I am in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am so thankful for hard working husbands..... Eric is such a great provider for us....both in our physical needs as well as spiritual leadership.... yesterday he worked all day, then came home and worked until well after dark putting in our little garden for the summer.... what a wonderful man God has sent to me!!!

Deu 6:7 (NKJV) "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. "

Read other Thankful Thursday posts HERE.

Thankful Thursday

1Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.



As I have said in an earlier post this week our older children are preparing to go to the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes convention later this month. The verse above is the theme for this year. All competition is based around this theme. This is the final paragraph of my son's (Travis) speech.


It can be hard not being treated as an equal with older adults, but if you live your life as Jesus lived His, then what can they say? Youth does not matter when you live your life earnestly for Jesus Christ. Do not let anyone try to rob you of your youth. But be willing to set an example for others that says “I may be young, but I serve a very real God.” Remember what Proverbs 20:11 says Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Give people a reason not see your age, but to see your faith and maturity.

I am so thankful that my children are growing in faith.

Thankful Thursday....

Counting Blessings is the fastest way in the world to relieve those deep blues for me.... and with Thanksgiving Just around the corner.... I thought I would get a good head start on the holiday.

* I am thankful that Eric is my husband. He truely is who God sent.

* I am thankful for our 4 wonderful children. They teach me each day to remember that God makes each of us different... even if we are from the same gene pool.

* I am thankful for our families and friends. Its so comforting to know we have shoulders to cry on, people to be there and so much love from these wonderful people.

* I am thankful that we are getting back on our feet with the help of God. He has been with us all the way.

Good start to a thankful heart.......


Thanks to Crystal at *God is in control....NOT ME! for hosting this weeks Thankful Thursday.

Thankful Thursday ~ the clay....

The Potter and the Clay....

Jeremiah 18: 1-6

1 This is the word the Lord spoke to Jeremiah:2 "Go down to the potter's house, and I will give you my message there."3 So I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at the potter's wheel.4 He was using his hands to make a pot from clay, but something went wrong with it. So he used that clay to make another pot the way he wanted it to be.

5 Then the Lord spoke his word to me:6 "Family of Israel, can't I do the same thing with you?" says the Lord. "You are in my hands like the clay in the potter's hands."....



God sends Jeremiah to the house of the potter.... and what he learns there is profound.

Just as the potter is busy with the clay and keeps the end product in sight, God is busy with purpose for us. However, like the vessel is marred, we are stained by sin..... but, that does not mean we are to be given up on....no. Instead, God (just as the potter) remakes us into a new creation through grace in Christ. For we are His .......just like the clay in the potters hands.

I am so thankful that God takes such great interest in the clay.....




Please visit Sting My Heart for more Thankful Thursday thoughts.

Thankful Thursday....how the Lord supplies

Php 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

First let me say... Sorry to have been gone for so long.... it has been difficult finding time the past couple of weeks for me to get onto the computer.

What a wonderful God we serve.... He surely supplies all our needs. How thankful I am to be called a child of God. Always has He been here for me with arms open wide in love to comfort, encourage, and even carry me when I could not go on. Knowing I can always find refuge in Him, I have become more steadfast in my faith and in my relationship with Him. Over and over again He has revealed to us that His time is perfect. And today I can say I am thankful that He has provided the perfect job for Eric. YES. Eric will start work on July 9th and will be working in the office of a small electronics company only a couple of miles from home. God is so good. Eric will be home early enough in the afternoons that he will be able to work on the farm each day and will be able to spend time with our children like he has been able to enjoy these past few months. God is so wonderful in His blessings.

Thankful Thursday....

I am so thankful today that my children are growing to understand better how blessed they truly are.
We have so many wonderful people in our lives as a family that there is a pouring out of prayers, thoughts and well wishes for us during these days of dependence ( as I have started to refer to them ). How wonderful it is to see the realization of the sheer abundance of blessings put before them each day. They have become so much more thankful themselves for the little things in life.

2Co 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.





Please visit Sting My Heart for more Thankful Thursday thoughts....

Thankful Thursday....doubts and comforts

Psalms 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.


During trials and troubles it is so easy to let the world lead us into may doubts and anxieties that can affect our faith.... we often may ask ourselves 'why would God allow _______ to happen' .... we can all fill in the blank.... it may be different to each of us but the thoughts are all to often the same. For me, during this time in our lives I have caught myself asking that same question.... why is God allowing us to be so humbled during these past few months.... how can He bring us to a point that we are so dependent on others at this time.... others for housing, others for financial help, others for just about each aspect of our lives..... then I remember this verse.... 'Your comforts delight my soul.' God wants us to be dependant on HIM.... for HE wants to use others in our lives to help teach us more of HIS mercy and glory.... .we as HIS children have that great and precious promise of the Good News....and then when we have truly delighted in HIS comforts... and learned the lesson we so desperately need from HIM ..... then HE can use us in the life of another to help them learn more..... what a wonderful cycle of grace. I can say my soul is learning daily to delight in HIS comforts. I can say I am more thankful each day for the people in my life, for all that we can say we are blessed with and for God teaching me that my only relief is in HIM. And for the knowledge that adversities will not last always.... that there is a promised rest for all of God's people.

Thankful Thursday

Well, today is going to be my last day to post before we move.... I know I won't have time to touch the computer tomorrow or Saturday..... so this is my last post until we get settled at Eric's parent's house. I hope everyone has a great weekend and I will post again as soon as I am able!








1Th 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

As I thought to join in on this Thankful Thursday (my first) I sat thinking of all I could write.... the little things, the everyday things, my children, my husband, but I kept coming back to this verse.... and my heart was pricked and tears began to flow.... see, as many of you know, we have been having a difficult time these last few months..... Eric lost his job, and now has been without work for the past 6 months.... and this is the thing God keeps showing me to be thankful for. How, you may ask, can you be thankful for something like that.... easy..... it is commanded. My eyes are more open today to this verse (and others like it) so much more clearly than ever before. Oh, its easy to say it when you are not the one going through troubles.... it is another thing entirely when you are the one in the valley. I can name so many things I am thankful about during this time ....

First, I am thankful that God provided a way that Eric could be home to enjoy the first months of our new baby Jed's life.... seeing the pure joy on Eric's face as he plays, cuddles and just being a dad over again has been priceless.

Second, we have been so blessed by family and friends. You really can tell who is pulling for you in this life when you have gotten into a trial... we have had so many prayers, thoughts and well wishes sent our way (as well as other blessings too) that we have been overwhelmed by LOVE.

Third, it has been a great teaching tool for the children. Although they have never asked for much, they have learned in these last few months that happiness really does not mean having lots of things or money to do stuff with..... we have spent more time together as a family doing nothing more than throwing a frisbee or ball and it has brought us so much closer together as a family.

I could name so many more things I can honestly say I am thankful for even while in the midst of this valley..... God knows what we need in life...... and He allows what we need even if we don't really fully understand why we have to go through something...... God is so very good!