I'm Thankful for

Thanksgiving is just a week away. As I consider all the things I should be thankful for, I am often drawn to some thoughts that were written by a lady who considered her life and all the things she was grateful for. I read it almost every Thanksgiving. It reminds me of the all my blessings that come disguised as “bumps in the road” of life. Here it is:

I'm thankful for all of the things we are all thankful for -family and home and job and country and its freedoms, food and clothing and material blessings, salvation and the church and the fellowship of believers.

But the things I'm especially thankful for are the lessons I've learned from life.

I'm thankful I was born and reared in poverty, for I learned to live simply and to appreciate what I have.

I'm thankful for my infirmities, because they taught me to better enjoy my health.

I'm thankful for fire and flood, because in losing my possessions I learned to "lay up treasures in heaven" and to share what I have as others have shared with me.

I'm thankful for my goings astray, for they taught me to trade my self-righteousness for understanding and compassion.

I'm thankful for my miscarriages, for they taught me how special my children are.

I'm thankful for a failed marriage, because I learned to fully appreciate a strong and loving and caring marriage.

I'm thankful for my losses, because they taught me which gains are really important.

I'm thankful for my failures that taught me humility and my successes that gave me the will to try again.

I'm thankful for criticisms and reprimands and the truth spoken in love, for these have keep me on the straight path.

I'm thankful for hate and indifference, for I've learned to love and accept love.

I'm thankful for friends who never gave up on me, for they are more precious than gold and taught me about real friendship.

I'm thankful for the roads I've traveled, however muddy and potholed, for they have led me to the foot of the Cross. Through the lessons I've learned and by the grace of God they shall lead me day by day closer to the One who loves and forgives and draws all men unto himself.

Spiritual control

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God…” (1 Corinthians 2:12) The question is not, “Do you have the Spirit?” But, “Does the Spirit have you?” It is a question of control. What does it mean if the Holy Spirit is in control?

It means that you are growing spiritually and are not stagnant. Stagnant water stinks and brings death to those who drink it. Growth brings life and health to you and those around you.
If God’s Spirit is in control you are beyond the world’s opinions. It no longer matters what people think of you, it only matters what God thinks of you. You have a spiritual backbone. You are bold, courageous and will share your faith with anyone.

When the Spirit is in control you realize that when you are weak you are strong. You must draw not from your own power, wisdom and strength. You must draw from God’s. His power, wisdom and strength is much greater than yours and so you are much better off.

When the Spirit is in control and life brings storms into your life you are peaceful and calm. Why is this so? When the wind blows across the ocean, it creates huge waves. They wash away the sand and sculpt the beach. Yet, just a few feet below the surface, all is calm. The storm is the wind of The Holy Spirit blowing across our lives. If we are only one inch deep, our entire live is in turmoil. Yet, if we are extremely deep, then most of our life is calm.

The waves created by God wash the sand and dirt out of our lives. The wind driven waves display God’s power and make it difficult to walk against God.

When the Spirit is in control we are not anxious about this. We are refreshed by the cleansing of the Spirit driven waves that wash away the stains of life. If we should turn against the tide of God’s Spirit we immediately notice the change in pressure against us and quickly turn back in God’s direction. Just some thoughts about the Spirit controlled life.