Thankful, Day Eighty-Four

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before His presence with thanksgiving.

Know that the LORD, He is God.

It is He who has 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 to Him, and bless His name.

For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100, NKJV

If I had blogged every day, my 100 days would be over. Not that I want it to be, I'm just saying, in the process of this exercise in thanks, I've missed a few day posting something. It has become such a part of my everyday life that everywhere I go people are asking me, "Are you still thankful?" Some even miss the daily blog and say, "Hey, how come you haven't blogged today? Or yesterday? Or even the day before?" The truth is, if I don't sit down and do it first thing in my day, I may not find the time later to do it. But that's true of so many other important things in our lives. If we don't find the time early in our day to pray, or worship the Lord, or read our Bible, or give thanks...we might not find the time later.

I have not blogged every day for 100 days; nevertheless, I have found myself giving thanks every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I may not always right it down, but I have discovered a new attitude toward God, toward life, toward prayer. Giving thanks daily like this has given me a different perspective; it has truly changed some things in me. It has repaired my faith, restored my hope, and refilled my life with love toward God that I didn't know I was lacking. It has made me aware of the riches that God has given me, the good things He has filled my life with. And for this reason, I give thanks.

I'm thankful today for the breath in my nostrils, even though those nostrils are clogged with springtime. I've never had springtime allergies before, and that's not what I'm calling them now. But I am so thankful that I woke up this morning, able to get out of bed, able to move and walk and talk and hear and see and touch and taste and feel and smell...and breathe.

I'm thankful today for the house I call home, and the family God keeps filling it with. Through the years, I've had lots of people stay with me, some longer than others. I've often wondered why--the real reason why--I bought this house, why the Lord wouldn't let me sell it when I could have, and why it hasn't sold yet. I can't help but think it was because He knew there were going to be people who needed to stay in one of my four bedrooms. I have a family again...as one of them said the other day: the pastor, the Persian, the produce clerk, the post-partum woman, and the poopy-diapered baby (all P's, notice). There's only one thing that would make my family more complete, but thank God He's promised good to me!

I'm thankful today for belonging to God, for being His adopted son, His chosen servant, His growing saint. I'm thankful that He saved me and put His Spirit in me, that He called my name and gave me a new one! And He never lets go; He never gives up; He never forsakes nor forgets, and He always forgives. He is love and mercy and grace and truth. His power is at work in me, perfecting, changing, helping, transforming. And I just feel like something good is about to happen...

Thank you Lord, for your blessings...and your promises.