God's will for us...

"How do I know what God's will is for my life?" is a common question ministry couples, like us, get asked.

We always point people back to the Word of God and urge them to study what it says about God's will.

One thing that God makes very clear is that His will for us is that we give Him thanks.

In everything is the part most of us stumble over.

It's easy to give thanks when all is right with the world, but in times of trouble, trial and testing

 it's a lot harder, isn't it?

I've been deliberately giving and writing down my thanks for almost five years now,

  and it's still a challenge to do so in some situations and circumstances.

But, while I still struggle to thank God for the trial itself,

 I can thank Him that He is with me through it all and that He is working everything out for my good.

I can thank Him for all of His faithful blessings I see even in the middle of hard times.

 I guess the honest truth is, I still have a lot to learn about giving thanks.

But, I intend to keep trying!

********************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#4719-#4748

4-2-14-

-fresh local strawberries!

-grocery shopping - having an abundance of choices and food

-$5 worth of thrift store fun

-our church leaders

-a "Jesus date" (what I call buying a coffee and finding a lovely place to sit and have devotions)

6-3-14-

-Brienne Kristen photography taking amazing photos of our grandson!

-stock flowers from Trader Joe's

-walking around the fitness trail with my hubs

-a simple supper of egg salad sandwiches and fresh watermelon

6-4-14-

-making jam

-our daughters

-my three week old, (born premature), grandson, (who isn't even "due" for two more weeks"), rolled over four times!!!

6-5-14-

-working in the yard

-an old ironstone pitcher filled with flowers

-prayer and worship

6-6-14-

-our granddaughter's graduation from preschool

-lunch with our oldest daughter and her family and our second born and the baby

-"the graduate" so excited because Papa took her to Target and let her pick out a box that locks

-Wendy's Frosties for our two youngest granddaughters after lunch

-buying flowers and plants for the yard

-working in the yard together

6-7-14-

-going to our grandson's baseball games with all three granddaughters

-salty peanuts in the shell

-cold, juicy, ripe cantaloupe

-"deep conversation" with my five year old granddaughter

-playing in the backyard

6-8-14-

-a full class for our book of Acts study

-wonderful worship

-communion-remembering Jesus' broken body and shed blood

-our grandson's first Sunday at church

gratefully yours,