30 Days of Thanks: Day 9

Day 9 and I am thankful for J. David and Jana Panther. David was a wonderful pastor who I miss all the time. I wrote about him a few months ago after his passing. [link] I am so thankful that God led my family to our church!

Last night, David's beautiful wife Jana had the courage and strength to be obedient to a calling - to share a part of her journey -  the year long battle they faced and the 5 1/2 months since. Not afraid to be transparent about her fears and pain, but brave enough to face those fears. A great woman of faith, who hasn't lost sight of who God is even in her darkest days. A great example to us.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 8

Thankful to know so many people who are so generous with their gifts. Giving their time, skills and talents, and their offerings.

Our world is so busy. We expect everything to happen now. For rewards now. If we order something today, we want it tomorrow. If our children join a sport, they are pushed earlier and younger, more and more. We make jokes that we're the teen taxi.

All of that strips away energy, and keeps us focused on ourselves. So it's a great blessing to be surrounded by people who like to give. They restore my energy, and remind me that it's a blessing and a joy to give.

Last night I was blessed to spend the evening with families who gave up their time to pack shoe boxes. We held our annual Operation Christmas Child packing party, and we packed more than 225 shoe boxes of gifts. Thanks to those who helped. That's more than 200 children who will feel your love and the love of God!





To know a bit more about Operation Christmas Child, see my previous post.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 7

I have always been aware how blessed I am to have been born in a free country, that by providence I was born somewhere that I am able to vote, pray, speak out.

As I said a few days ago, giving thanks for what we have can bring compassion for others for what they don't have.

More recently this issue of freedoms and providence has been pressed on my heart. From my visit abroad. From reading. From speaking online with people in countries where they live in fear every day for being known as Christians.

More and more I read of murder, flogging and persecutions of our brothers and sisters around the world. My heart cries out to the Lord for them, for Him to give them strength and courage, to know He is with them. And I pray for the enemies that beat them down, for their hearts to be softened and for them to have mercy.

Today, Thursday November 7, there are diplomatic talks between the new Iranian president and world governments. Please pray for those talks to include discussions about the treatment of Christians, and for the release of those imprisoned simply for professing their faith in Christ.

One such man is US Citizen, Pastor Saeed Abedini. He was imprisoned in 2012 and was recently moved into a very dangerous prison. He needs our prayers. His family needs our prayers.

You can learn more about Saeed at https://www.facebook.com/PrayForPastorSaeedAbedini
You can also sign an online petition, requesting that our government continue to seek his release.
http://beheardproject.com/saeed

30 Days of Thanks: Day 6

Electricity. It is the best. I'll add indoor plumbing and hot running water to that. 

I might be married to a modern pioneer, but that's how close I like to get to oil lamps and boiling water over the fire.

The other night we had a power outage again. Jason is a light sleeper these days and he woke up around 2:30am when he felt something was a little different. Maybe it was because the underlying buzzing of appliances was stilled. Or the bathroom nightlight and the LED alarm clocks and outside lantern went dark. Or the fact that my dog was pacing up and down, panting with worry that something was different.  Either way, it woke him up and he woke me up so I could use my cell phone as an alarm clock in the morning.

I got up to dig out candles and flashlights - they were not in their usual place and I knew I'd have to get Jess up early for school so she'd have extra time as she stumbled around in the pitch dark. I briefly debated throwing her in the car and driving to the Y to use their lights and showers.

Jason was much more enthusiastic and said it was an exciting challenge. I debated thumping him for being cheery at daft o'clock in the morning. And I groaned when I realized I wouldn't get to have coffee in the morning from my automated coffee pot.

I dislike unexpected power outages immensely. More so when it's pitch dark outside and I have to be moving around. Even more so because our well pump stops working so we also have no water. But I knew I'd have to keep my grumbles to a minimum if I wanted to limit the drama of a 14 year old girl who would not be able to take a shower or use her hair dryer.

As 5am rolled around, Jessica sat bleary eyed, staring at me with hope to find a solution. I paced around, and grumbled very quietly. And like that... click.... the lights kicked on, appliances whirred to life, the hot water steams from the shower. The drama was limited to just moments, after all that.

I give thanks for this modern marvel of electricity. Oh, how being without it for a short time (the most I have gone without was 12 days) makes me see the huge divide between the lives of those who have it and those who don't. How different so many small activities become when one doesn't have hot water, or a light to flick on.

30 Days of Thanks: Days 4 & 5

Day 4: Always grateful for the opportunity to work. Even Monday mornings!

I have been extremely blessed to rarely be out of work and I give thanks every time we get good orders to keep us working! Though the jobs I've had haven't always matched what I would want, my mum always taught me that it's a person's backbone, not background, that builds them and that there's nothing beneath me but the ground...

Source: Holypoll

Day 5. I am grateful to have people who love me enough to hold me accountable.

And then to forgive me when I carry on anyway in my own way and mess up.

And then wait patiently for me to eat my humble pie.

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30 Days of Thanks: Days 2 and 3

DAY 2:
Thankful for being able to contribute. Whether it's through giving, sharing, working, gifting, or being exhausted giving up 10 or 11 hours to work at a swim meet.
Glad to be able.


DAY 3:
Thankful for these mild weather days!! 
We've hit some low 30's in the mornings, but back to 50s and 60s in the daytime. It's November in Pennsylvania. I will take it and be thankful!

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30 Days of Thanks: Day 1

From Marcia Furman

I think it's easier to be compassionate about anything when you have a thankful heart. The times I feel less compassionate, well they tend to be the times when I am grumpy or feeling entitled to my comfort or my judgments.

So focusing on our blessings is a wonderful way to also remind ourselves our fortunate we are... and then we can have a deeper heart for those who struggle or who have bigger needs.

For the past few years on Facebook, I've joined friends with 30 Days of Thanks - each day sharing something I am thankful for. This year, I'm bringing it to the blog!

Day 1:

In moving to USA, I adopted two new holidays. In UK, Halloween is hardly observed at all compared with USA, and they don't have Thanksgiving - there is a 'Harvest Festival Week' of giving food, but it's not a set holiday to celebrate.
I am a little fascinated at what y'all do for Halloween but I am not too upset that my kids are now a bit old for it.

On the other hand, I LOVE Thanksgiving. It's a beautiful holiday, and so today, my November 30 Days of Thanks begins with that - this is my 10th Thanksgiving holiday in USA and I look forward to it more each year, a holiday for everyone of every age and culture. 

 If you'd like to join in "30 Days of Thanks", use the image (right click, save) on your blog and link back here!
Then leave a comment below with a link to your blog!