Thanksgiving Comes Out of a Heart of Joy.

Hello friends.
Being that my word of the year is thankfulness- I can't very well NOT post on thanksgiving..right?

It's been a tough week, and it would be easy for me to focus on places I'm not thankful.
As I wrote last time: thankfulness is God's will for us. That is a lesson that has amazed me in the last few weeks. When I'm uncertain about where I should be or what I should be doing I come back to this truth. This beautiful beautiful truth that He has called me to thanks in all circumstances. And it's that calling that got me through this past week. Was I thankful in each moment. No. far from it. But have I grown in my ability to be thankful. Absolutely. And it is as thought God knows I need a little nudge in the right direction that He provides so much.

After the roughest day of work so far- my last patient ended up being a blessing. I was able to share love and encouragement with her. I was able to see that God had me there for a reason even when I feel like I'm in over my head, God is there giving me hope to hold on to.

In a morning of frustration with an uncooperative patient, where I felt like I knew nothing- - I was given a kind woman who thanked me for my wisdom.

He gave me some of the best people in the medical field to work with. The woman who helps me with billing is so kind and encouraging. The nurses are so willing to help no matter if they are "my" nurse for the day or not. The providers are helpful and the staff overall is very sweet. Are they perfect: no. But no one is. I'm thankful for them and how they teach me even when they don't know it.

God sent me a dog to warm my spirit in September of 2011 when life was hard, my faith was trying to grow, and my life was a whirlwind that I was trying to make sense of. It's a cold day and we are ignoring the "no dog on the couch" rule. She's cuddled up beside me and I can feel her cold nose pressed against me. Every once in a while she takes in a deep breath and her legs twitch with puppy dreams next to me. She's past due for a hair cut but she's the best 4 legged friend I've got. She truly is a joy and a light to my life.

God sent me my husband in 2012 and what a gift that has been and what perfect timing. I have grown so much in our marriage. It's been tough at times, but it's never been tough to know that God chose us for one another. Hands down I could not have picked someone as amazing as my husband is without help. Nor do I deserve the love he gives me each day but I can't be thankful enough for it. Even on our toughest days we grow stronger and what a blessing that has been.

And in all He has given me over the years there much He hasn't. I don't have a family to call my own truly outside of my husband and puppy dog. I don't have parents that will be grandparents to our kids. I have debt not riches. I have asthma and hearing loss and a continual battle with skin issues. And if I focused on these things..the things I don't have... it would be easy to not be thankful for the good I do have. It would be easy to blow the have nots out of proportion to what I do have. If I have learned anything at all it's to know that we are all missing something. There is not one perfect family, one perfect situation. God carefully allowed what He has in my life to shape me and grow me and give me a testimony that can bring glory to Him alone. What's the best is He brings me moments to share this testimony and proclaim His love and provision often and when I get to do that for a moment I can see why each imperfection was perfectly allowed.

Wisdom 5:21 says "Bolts of lightning will strike right on target as if the Lord had made a bow out of the clouds and was shooting arrows." What a beautiful image that God knows not only the hairs on our head, but He orchestrates each strike of lightning. Sometimes lighting illuminates a summer night sky on the beach. Sometimes it accompanies a strong rain storm. Either way, God is in control.

As advent approaches and the church prepares for the celebration of the birth of our Lord, we have much to be thankful for. No matter how many lightning strikes or joy and devastation in our lives, Christ came to redeem us. The greatest gift of all.

So friends lets not buy into the cheap commercialism the world is selling you this time of year. There is so much more that God has for us than food and objects. Let's not settle for the things of the world but rather have our hearts renewed with a sense of gratitude and joy that comes only from the Lord.
Praying for that blessing for you friends. For joy and peace for you and that you will see how much there is to be thankful no matter what the circumstances. Let's let the next lightning bolts God allows to light us on fire with a thankfulness that makes us overflow in a way that is uncontainable. The very essence of this day is thanks-giving. An overflow of thankfulness that leads to giving. A heart of such gratitude that praise is all we have.

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Happy Thanksgiving to you.