Giving Thanks in November

 

It's hard to believe that November is nearly over and that we are on the brink of December already.  I like November; it's like the calm before the storm that December has become for all too many of us.  I'm thankful for the slow passing of the month and the time to concentrate on the many, many blessings in my life and to deliberately give thanks to the One Who has given each one to me.

Some things I'm thankful for on this last day of November:

 I'm thankful for my husband, my boys, my daughter-in-law and the new grandchild that will arrive in June. Our family is close and loving and our home is truly a haven of peace (and fun!) There's no place I'd rather be than with my family.

I'm thankful for my extended family and I'm looking forward to going home soon to spend time with the people I love that live so far away.

I'm thankful for my church and my friends.  I haven't shared this yet, but we've joined several other families with the hopes and dreams of starting a new church. We've been meeting in homes since September, looking forward to joining the OPC as a church plant soon.  The petition for membership was drawn up and signed last Sunday and this Sunday we will be meeting in our new, rented location for the first time ever!  I'm thankful for God's guidance, protection, and provision as we've grown and developed and for the vision He has given us to establish this  church on Christ and His Gospel.

I'm thankful for my furry friends, too, Eve and Ivy and of course, Buster, our cat.  I can begin to see Eve aging before my eyes--her face is nearly all white now, her eyesight and her hearing is failing, and she seems confused sometimes. It's beginning to really come home to me that we won't have her forever, so I'm grateful for every day that she's still here with us--a part of our family.

I'm thankful for God's sustaining grace, His patience, and His forgiveness.  This has been a year full of stress and heartache and deep sadness.  And yet, even in the trials--no, especially in the trials, He has given us strength and courage to get through each day and in His mercy He has given us a measure of peace and comfort that can only come from Him.

I'm grateful for the study of His Word, most especially for what I've come to call the aha! moments when He opens up a passage of scripture (or sometimes my heart) in an extraordinary way.  I'm grateful for the insights but more than that I am grateful for His presence during those times.

I've been listening to some Desiring God conferences while I've been working at my drawing board the past few weeks.  I've listened to speakers addressing the lives of such godly and influencial men as Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, John Owen, and of course my favorite, Jonathan Edwards. I owe so much to the writings of these men and others and I'm thankful for their continuing influence in the church and in my life.

Speaking of my drawing board, I'm thankful for each person who has visited Bookworm Bookmarks and placed an order for a bookmark or two, a poem, a quote.  It's been a good start and I've had great fun working with so many of you.  It's a very satisfying feeling to know that literally hundreds of my bookmarks are scattered all over the US, Canada, and even in Australia, doing their jobs and holding places in favorite books.

I'm also thankful that my friend, Rebecca, will soon be back and blogging again after her blogging break.  It's been fun collecting the thankful posts in her absence.  I've met a couple of new blogging friends through this month of thankful posts.

________________________________________________

Here is my last installment of thankful links:

Connie, from Practicing Theology, writes "This morning I've been reminded afresh of God's endless and matchless forgiveness, for which I am not only in great need of, but so very thankful for."

My new friend, Annie B, from Whatever Things, is thankful for the gift of a Christian friend.

O Give thanks to the Lord!  Call upon His Name!  Make His deeds known among the people! 

Comments

[Ann]

Thank you for all the thanksgiving links. I hope you don't mind me adding Hiraeth to the sidebar links.
I read some of Hiraeth Blogger Archives last evening, your youngest son and my son share a birthday, Sam is just a few years older than Jonathan. They share a birthday with Tolkein.

[rosemary]

Thanks be to God for all His blessings!

I hope you'll be able to blog at least a little about the planting of your church. How exciting! May you all be a source of many coming to know and grow in the love of our Savior!

[Pam]

Your Thanksgiving posts this month has helped me over many humps Kim. They have been a blessing in their own right. I will be praying about your church plant in the OPC! I have never been more pleased in our move to our OPC church. Maybe someday we will meet at a Women's Conference! Those of us with animal loves know what you are thinking and feeling with Eve. I can hardly believe the year is almost gone but it has been good visiting here at Hiraeth, growing in the Word with you, laughing and crying along the way. Blessings dear Sister to you and yours in the new Holiday Season!

[Mummymac]

Thanks for the extra time taken to host the "Thankfulness posts"

I've been a little lax but have appreciated reading all the others.

[Rebecca]

I'm always glad to see the end of November, actually - maybe it's not having a cheerful holiday in it, but I just find it a long cold haul. And December is so nice and festive and hectic.

[Lisa writes...]

I've decided that thanksgiving is contagious, and I am grateful for your giving of thanks that has overflowed to my own. Our God is so good!