Thankful Thursdays

Thankful Thursdays

/ Heather Davis Nelson / Leave a comment

{I’m thankful for} the wisdom of God shown through the “foolish” love of a crucified Jesus. Really looking forward to exploring more of the depths of this wisdom as I prepare two retreat talks – “God: The Source of All Wisdom” and “Love: Wisdom in Action.” 

{I’m thankful for} the opportunity to speak at WRPC‘s fall retreat on “Get Wisdom” and the great team of women I get to prepare and brainstorm with throughout the process.

{I’m thankful for} a fun new tradition-in-the-making of gathering neighborhood moms for “happy hour” once a week during what’s usually otherwise known as cranky hour or what I’ve heard termed “arsenic hour” – yep, post-nap, pre-dinner period between 3:30 – 5pm.

{I’m thankful for} new neighbors who are good friends who moved in a few houses down from us last weekend.

{I’m thankful for} a break in the oppressive summer heat and humidity.

{I’m thankful for} a royal baby! How fun to hear the news of this new real-live Prince George and see the excitement generated around the world.

{I’m thankful for} finishing a really great novel, The Thirteenth Tale, about twins and story and writing … many familiar subjects to me.

{I’m thankful for} a quiet weekend ahead, full of beautiful beach days (I hope) and good family memories built – especially excited to see some of Seth’s cousins who are in the area. I *heart* living in a place people like to visit in the summer.

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Want to join up with me for “Thankful Thursdays”? If so, grab the button above; leave your blog address in the comments below, and link back to this post. I’m thankful for “Loved and Lovely” for such beautiful artwork that I’m using. No rules on this as far as how many “thank you’s” or that it needs to be profound and deep. Let’s practice together opening our eyes to the grace that we’re showered with daily.

thankful Thursdays

/ Heather Davis Nelson / Leave a comment

It’s easy to be thankful when it’s gloriously sunny, all seems as it should be, and your heart is happy. What about a day (like today) when it’s a bit more on the rainy/gloomy end of things? Much is as I’d want it to be … but not the two-year-olds who wake up crying because one bit the other (and it’s 30 minutes earlier than usual rise-and-shine time); nor my heart in its stubborn anger at having “my” plan for my morning interrupted. The result? A heart that feels a bit sluggish and less-than-happy about the day.

I think it’s days just like today that I need to be thankful even more so than others. It takes faith. Faith in a God who continues to be good even if I don’t *feel* it. Faith that there is beauty hidden in (or emerging from) my frustrations. So in faith, I take up my thankful Thursdays practice tonight. (Better late than never.)

{I’m thankful for} learning that what’s central to the gospel is union with Christ (thank you, Seth, for his great training on Romans yesterday for all of us women’s Bible study leaders). This means that I am more than only right with God (as important as justification is), but that I am beautified in Christ.

{I’m thankful for} a quiet evening after days and nights that have felt too full this week.

{I’m thankful for} my daughters who have caught on so well to potty training this time. What a relief to be able to consistently celebrate their success! Not perfect, but nearly.

{I’m thankful for} my first ever Cheerwine float from CookOut. Oh. So. Good.

{I’m thankful for} a beautiful movie watched with Seth this weekend, Silver Linings Playbook.

{I’m thankful for} my friend Belinda who is encouraging me to keep writing and blogging.

{I’m thankful for} Friday tomorrow!

Want to join up with me for “Thankful Thursdays”? If so, grab this button:  leave your blog address in the comments below, and link back to this post. I’m thankful for “Loved and Lovely” for such beautiful artwork that I’m using. No rules on this as far as how many “thank you’s” or that it needs to be profound and deep. Let’s practice together opening our eyes to the grace that we’re showered with daily.

Thankful Thursdays: Independence Day edition

/ Heather Davis Nelson / Leave a comment

On this day of celebrating and commemorating our independence as a nation, there is much for which to be thankful.

{I am thankful for} our freedom purchased with the lives of all who have fought for us and continue to fight to maintain and guard the freedom we hold so dear.

{I am thankful for} a nation where peaceful elections are the norm.

{I am thankful for} a country whose freedom allows for a diversity of views, opinions, perspectives, and political parties. Even those I don’t agree with. It’s evidence that we are in a truly free nation.

{I am thankful for} freedom to worship God openly without fear of arrest.

{I am thankful for} a small neighborhood parade to celebrate our red, white, and blue this morning.

{I am thankful for} the right of every American to vote regardless of gender or race.

{I am thankful for} a fireworks display tonight to celebrate our country’s birth, and a friend with whom to enjoy it. (Since my husband doesn’t like them so much … see this post.)

{I am thankful for} the hundreds of rights and freedoms I take for granted and don’t notice because they’re there. In their absence, there have been (and are) wars and political unrest and persecution.

{I am thankful for} living in a country whose wealth compels us to give and serve the nations and whose freedom allows us to pursue such international endeavors.

{I am thankful for} the imperfections of this nation that remind me of the true Home I await.

Hebrews 11:16 speaks of this Home –

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

 

 

 

 

 

Want to join up with me for “Thankful Thursdays”? If so, grab this button:  leave your blog address in the comments below, and link back to this post. I’m thankful for “Loved and Lovely” for such beautiful artwork that I’m using. No rules on this as far as how many “thank you’s” or that it needs to be profound and deep. Let’s practice together opening our eyes to the grace that we’re showered with daily.

Thankful Thursdays

/ Heather Davis Nelson / 2 Comments

Psalm 149 calls God’s people to thankfulness with these words:

Praise the Lord! … For the Lord takes pleasure in his people.

Isn’t that astounding? Read it again – it almost sounds too good to be true.  That the God who made everything and upon whom we are dependent for every breath takes pleasure [enjoys, delights] in you and me. We are to praise God because he takes pleasure in us. And so we praise him because he is pleased when we praise but even more so his pleasure in us causes us to praise him.

And so I move into thankful reflections today, thankfulness that’s not object-less but thankfulness to a present God who receives it as praise.

{I’m thankful for} my husband who enjoys house projects and home repairs and keeps all of us females steady with his presence.

{I’m thankful for} my friend Ellen and the ministry of Harvest USA during such a poignant time in our country where there is much confusion and need for loving, compassionate, wise ministry in the arena of sexual brokenness.

{I’m thankful for} friends and family near and far who cheer me on in this journey of faith and motherhood. (Many of you reading this now!)

{I’m thankful for} the baby BOY that my youngest brother and his wife will be welcoming into their family in early December (their first!).

{I’m thankful for} sunshine, summer breezes, living in a place surrounded by water and close to the ocean.

{I’m thankful for} my in-laws’ visit this weekend as they will love and delight in all of us, showing us in 1000 ways the delight of God our Father in us, his children. We can’t wait to see you, Grandma and “P-pa”! Now on to making up your bed …

Want to join up with me for “Thankful Thursdays”? If so, copy this icon:  leave your blog address in the comments below, and link back to this post. I’m thankful for “Loved and Lovely” for such beautiful artwork that I’m using. No rules on this as far as how many “thank you’s” or that it needs to be profound and deep. Let’s practice together opening our eyes to the grace that we’re showered with daily.

I just read Lisa’s “Thankfulness on Thursdays” post here – she was also an inspiration to this practice.

 

Thankful Thursdays

/ Heather Davis Nelson / Leave a comment

Want to join up with me for “Thankful Thursdays”? If so, copy this icon:  leave your blog address in the comments below, and link back to this post. I’m thankful for “Loved and Lovely” for such beautiful artwork that I’m using. No rules on this as far as how many “thank you’s” or that it needs to be profound and deep. Let’s practice together opening our eyes to the grace that we’re showered with daily.

{I’m thankful for} a church who loves mercy and justice enough to do something about it, and run a high-quality sports and arts camp for those who wouldn’t usually have access to it. By going to their neighborhood, not making them come to us [except for the youngest kids ages 3-5 who ride by a chaperoned bus to our church for “Camp Jr.].

{I’m thankful for} a children’s minister who is energized by this week and loves all of these kids so well.

{I’m thankful for} God’s grace and strength to love 4 and 5-year-olds when it’s probably a little outside of my preferred area of service/ministry in the church.

{I’m thankful for} a daughter who wants me to open the blinds as she’s falling asleep, “because I want to see the clouds, Mommy!”

{I’m thankful for} generous friends from church who let me loot their kids’ gear and clothes that they weren’t going to be able to take with them to their overseas military assignment. We are now having *so much fun* with princess dresses, board games, little people sets, tricycles, and – the highlight – a kids-size “Little Tikes” washer and dryer. You know who you are, so THANK YOU!

{I’m thankful for} coffee in the mornings, summer birds greeting the day, new picture frames for $1.99 from IKEA, and doing a job I love.

Ok, now it’s your turn!