Weekly Gratitude Post

I never loved the part of the song, Blessed Be Your Name, that says, "He gives and takes away,"specifically the "takes away" part. In the past year there has been some taking away in our lives and there is more on the horizon-there are a  lot of changes happening for us and in us that I alluded to in last week's post. However, I can honestly say, that even in the hardest parts of the taking away process God is doing something so deep and rich and sweet in us and in the church that we lead, that I can truly say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord" and mean it. There is something better than a life with no loss in it. There is a life where the riches of knowing Christ Jesus are more than enough compensation for the losses we go through in this world. For that, I give Him thanks.

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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 journal.

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

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3-15-2021-

-a phone call from a friend wanting to pray with me right when I needed it

-encouraging messages in our growth group chats

-God's faithful, watchful, affectionate care for us

3-16-2021-

-a fun afternoon with a friend

-beautiful spring weather

-sweet women who invest time to mentor my granddaughter 

3-17-2021-

-the comfort of God's Word showing us the things that are to come 

so we don't have to be unaware or unprepared

-praying with my husband for our children and grandchildren

-a fun outing with our three oldest granddaughters

-St. Patty's Day dinner at our oldest daughter's

3-18-2021-

-the tenderness of the Lord with me in my quiet time today

 as He speaks to me through His Word 

-God's grace in helping me to see things that I'm spending time 

and effort on that are not profitable

-my husband's care for me

3-19-2021-

-the way God is opening my eyes and heart to understand His Word more

-lunch at my favorite spot by the river with my guy 

-our oldest granddaughter laying on the foot of our bed and watching TV with us

3-20-2021-

-the first day of spring

-a walk in the rain in my yellow raincoat

-dancing Ghanaian style in our living room with my granddaughter to some Hezekiah Walker (Oh, how I miss Ghana and our friends there and worshiping with them!)

3-21-2021-

-the amazing unity and presence and power of God as our church participated in a global prayer gathering this morning

-getting to give hugs and kisses to my grandsons who just got back from S.C.

-God's help, wisdom, and insight in talking with a dear one

still following,