Official Gratefulness Day
Sometimes blogging can be like passing a kidney stone. Not really. I’ve never had a kidney stone, but from what I hear, they’re pretty high on the pain spectrum. So blogging is nothing like passing a kidney stone. I just wanted to throw that line out there.
But blogging does have its challenges. For example, today I have absolutely nothing of importance coming to mind. No profound insights, no prophetic pictures of when the rapture might occur, no idea why the show Survivor is still on television. But I do know this: I’m grateful. So today I’m simply going to share with you some reasons that I’m grateful, and then you’re going to share your reasons. In fact, I’m officially declaring that today is gratefulness Friday. I’m grateful that:
- God saved me from a life of crime, drugs, people-hating, and life-ruining laziness at the age of six.
- I have a wife who loves me so much that she’s willing to play silly video games with me, like Lego Star Wars.
- I have a little girl who is so happy that she often interrupts her grandpa’s Sunday sermons with joyful outbursts.
- I go to a church that believes in Jesus as Savior first and example second.
- I have a body that’s healthy enough to play basketball, go for hikes, and hate jogging.
- My stomach is full of food when so many people are dying of hunger.
- I have the real words of God sitting on my end table.
- I have the words of John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, John Stott, and other evangelical giants on my shelf.
- Someone invented: Hot Pockets, the Internet, Crocs, Yamaha Scooters, XBox 360’s, and Starbuck’s.
- That my dad is my pastor, and my friend, and my hero. And that he laughs at himself.
This list could go on for pages. But now it’s your turn. What are you grateful for? Leave a comment, or post it on your blog if you’ve got one.
Posted in Thankfulness
June 13th, 2008 at 7:24 am
1. I’m grateful for that the God of the universe sent His Son to die for rebellious ole me.
2. I’m grateful for the best family on the planet!!!
3. I’m grateful for Sovereign Grace Church, the dearest place on earth.
4. I’m grateful for more friends at one time than some people have in a lifetime.
5. I’m grateful for my incredible, loving, godly, and cross-centered parents. My best friends and my heros!
6. I’m grateful for my sister and brother (and that they put up with me!).
7. I’m grateful for good health.
8. I’m grateful that I can have 3 Bible sitting by my bed when folks around the world don’t have one.
9. I’m grateful that God graciously and sovereignly decided that I would grow up in Sovereign Grace Min. churches.
10. I’m grateful God gave us the ability to read and then gave folks the ability to write really amazing books.
I’ll stop now.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:45 am
1. i’m grateful that God saved me from drugs, sex and alcohol at age 25 instead of age 52 (or not at all).
2. i’m grateful that God’s grace was so evident in my friend’s lives that day at Carowinds (amusement park) that I saw the gospel being lived out in evident ways - ways that made God’s kindness appealing! thanks guys! I love you!!!
3. i’m grateful for the love that my church family sacrificially displayed to me time and time again when i used to come to church with hangovers.
4. i’m grateful that, by God’s grace alone, I no longer do come to church with hangovers but instead am in a place where I can serve and love my friends who serve and love me with such excellence.
5. i’m grateful that yellerdaisy’s family (which really is the best family in the world!) chose to move to my town and plant a church and share with me the wondrous love displayed by Jesus on the Cross.
6. i’m grateful for the greatest place on earth (my church -Sov. Grace church in Greenville SC). I could write a book about this one.
7. i’m grateful for my Bible. (make that Bibles - I have 5!). I’m grateful for William Tyndale and the work He did in translating it so that I have an English copy. I’m grateful for Martin Luther and the work He did too so that I can have a copy in German too!
8. i’m grateful that God has given us the ability to love Him.
9. i’m grateful for the trials from the past 6 months that God has graciously and lovingly carried me through. i’m grateful for His evident grace that has been there each step of the painful way.
10. i’m grateful for the admonition of Stephen to think of 10 ways we’re grateful. what a great way to start my day! thank you!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I’m grateful…
1) that the sun is shining outside, and I’m alive enough to notice it.
2) for my little sister who will undoubtedly ask me to play with her today.
3) for the ways God has used books in my life recently to help me realize I need to get more involved.
5) that it’s a Friday with no obligations but lots of responsibility.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:01 am
We should turn to gratefulness as our first option rather than an “I don’t have anything else to do” option. We’re all guilty to this big time.
It’s amazing how God works. Just when we think we don’t have anything to say, He shows us what’s truly important.
Thank you for the reminder, Stephen.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Psalm 98:1,4
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for him… Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, break forth into joyous song and sing praises.”
Some of the things I am grateful to God for today:
1. Salvation through my Lord, Jesus Christ
2. My loving husband of over 30 years!
3. My 4 children
4. My son in law – I love how he loves and takes care my daughter
5. My daughter in law – I love how she loves my son and how she waited for him so faithfully to return from war.
6. That God brought my son safely home from Iraq
7. Flowers… I LOVE flowers
8. My eyesight, I LOVE to read
9. Books, I LOVE to read
10. My church! We LOVE our church family!
11. My friends. God has given me so many godly friendships!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:50 am
-my church community & outreach
-the Bible and that we have access to it
-the music at my church
-relationships
-when Christian concepts/verses jump out at me
-catching glimpses of God’s sovereignty
-sometimes seeing little life happenings through a lens that causes me to ponder more spiritual concepts
-blessed to live in America
-my cat
-sunny days
-salvation
-that God is ultimately in control
-that I am nothing on my own
-heaven
-the deposit of the Holy Spirit and His strength — how cool it is that the God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in me through His Spirit
June 13th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I am greatful for:
Jesus Christ
Salvation, Redemption, Forgiveness and making me a new creation.
That my children are growing up to know the truth of the Gospel.
I live in a country where my daughter can receive good medical care for her Sickle Cell Disease and how merciful God has been to her and us, through multiple hospital visits, treatments and a stroke.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to have been taught by a sound biblical teacher.
Moody Radio.
and so very much more
Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is in me. And forget not all his benefits.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
What a great post! Steven, you’ve knocked another out of the park …
I’m grateful for a Savior who calls me to live for him and not waste my life.
I’m grateful for senses that work: ears that hear music, eyes that see the words of Scripture, the joy of smelling the sweetness of late spring, the taste of turkish grind Peet’s french roast, the electric feeling that comes with kissing my wife of 29 years.
I’m greatful that Jesus not only took my sin but gave me his righeousness.
I’m grateful that God doesn’t leave me alone, that he has surrounded me with people that I love and who love me.
I’m grateful for the greatest expectation of worshiping my God with a great multitude from every nation, forever.
Jesus, thank you …
June 14th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
really thankful for so many things - thank you for making me think. love you.