Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my parents. Yesterday was their 20th wedding anniversary! They love each other so much; they are committed to each other and to God, and they continually work to build both of those relationships. I also appreciate the fact that they clearly demonstrate their love for each other. They don't hide it...that's for sure! :-) Mom and Dad are also wonderful parents. They've homeschooled my brother and I for 13 years now and have proven to be excellent teachers!! I'm so grateful for them and for their wisdom and guidance.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I love you so much!

Iris is our host. Click here to visit her blog and to see other people's Thankful Thursdays!

P.S. I'm also thankful for my beautiful new blog design! Isn't it awesome? Thanks to Ms. Judi from Doodlebug Designs for creating it!

My Brother

OK, so I guess this is kind of a "Thankful Friday" post...because today I'm thankful for my brother! Caleb is 14 and a freshman in highschool. He loves soccer, Lego's (he currently owns a set that is comprised of over 3,000 pieces!), and computer games, and he also enjoys hanging out at the gymnasium where our dad works. He has a wonderful sense of humor; there is never a dull moment when he's around! He's wonderful with little kids and loves making people laugh. He has a sensitive heart that wants to do what is right, and we love him very much!
Here are some pics of my awesome bro...also known as "Ferd" (yes, there is a story behind that nickname... :-)!

The Goofy man himself.

Partners in Crime!

"Wow man...this is, like, a majorly big chair!"

A mama's boy...and proud of it, too!

Sis and Bro...

Bored in the car...

...very bored!

Love you, Caleb!! Thanks for being a great brother!

Today I am thankful for God's love, God's wisdom, and God's perfect plans.

My family and I have been facing some "unforeseen" and difficult changes lately, and these changes could lead to even more difficult ones in the near future. It's interesting because a couple of years ago, I would never have dreamed that these changes could possibly take place. They DO NOT coincide with my plans...and even though these changes aren't tragic or unbearable, they are still stressful.

However...

It's been sooooo comforting to realize that God's got it all under control! Even though I never saw these events coming, He's known they were coming since before I or my parents were even born! When I focus on that concept, I feel so much better! BELIEVE ME, I have NOT controlled my mind perfectly. Yes...there have been times of hyperventilation!! But God's truth is still truth!!

Last week, our pastor spoke about Saul's conversion. He, as well as several of the men who shared, pointed out how Saul's/Paul's story was timed by God. For example, why didn't God appear to Saul before he had traveled 5 out of the 6 days it took to get to Damascus? In fact, why didn't God appear to Saul before He started arresting and killing all those Christians? The answer, Pr. Gerry pointed out, was that God had a plan. He works all things together so that He is glorified!! That means that the changes that my family is going through are for God's glory...He has it all figured out!! Thank you Lord!

I just read this Psalm, and even though plenty of people care about me (vs 4) and no one is hunting me down (vs 6), I can still take it's main message personally.

Psalm 142

1 I cry aloud to the Lord;

I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.

2 I pour out my complaint before Him;

I reveal my trouble to Him.

3 Although my spirit is weak within me,

You know my way.

Along this path I travel

they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see;

no one stands up for me;

there is no refuge for me;

no one cares about me.

5 I cry to You, Lord;

I say, "You are my shelter,

my portion in the land of the living."

6 Listen to my cry,

for I am very weak.

Rescue me from those who pursue me,

for they are too strong for me.

7 Free me from prison

so that I can praise Your name.

The righteous will gather around me

because You deal generously with me.

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Thankful Thursday

Today I read Ps 138, and as I read, I noticed many things which I should be very grateful for.

Verses 1-3: "I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name FOR YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. You have exalted Your name and Your promise above everything else."

His love and faithfulness never falter! They are consistent and perfect, no matter what I do! It's also encouraging that He has "exalted...[His] promise above everything else." He keeps His word.

Verse 3 is awesome: "On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me."

He gives strength when I ask for it! I don't have to wait; David says, "On the day I called, You answered me..."

Verses 4-6: "All the kings on earth will give You thanks, Lord, when they hear what You have promised. They will sing of the Lord's ways, for the Lord's glory is great. Though the Lord is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from afar."

I should be praising and thanking God for His promises, because they aren't just empty words. He WILL FULFILL THEM!!
I also see a challenge to humility in these verses. A haughty attitude distances me from a close relationship with God! But a humble attitude draws God's attention; He "takes note" of that kind of attitude.

Verses 7-8 conclude this Psalm:"If I walk in the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me. The Lord WILL FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR ME. Lord, Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands."

Isn't that so cool? His love is eternal, and because His love is eternal, I can be sure that He will fulfill His purposes for my life! He knows that I am a work in progress, and He will not "abandon the work of [His] hands." He will allow nothing to happen to me that will prevent His plans from being carried out.

That's a lot to be thankful for!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Thankful Thursday

Yesterday was my 18th birthday! And so...today I am thankful for:

~18 years of life~

~18 years of being raised by two godly parents~

~15 years with a great brother~

~The many wonderful friends who helped me celebrate this past week~

~CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE!!!~

~13 years of sound education~

~13 years attending a sound, bible-teaching church~



So...this morning I am lying in my bed (my cat lounging besides me)...and I see my brother peeking through my door. Then my family bursts through my door, Caleb vigorously clanging a ceramic pot with a huge spoon (this thoroughly traumatizes our cat, who races as fast as he can out of my room! :-).

Then they all start to sing to me (of course, at every pause in the song, Caleb clangs the pot again). I opened my presents, and then headed out to the kitchen to eat my mom's chocolate chip pancakes. For lunch, we all went out to lunch with our friend Ms. Deena, and then we came home and ate the CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE that Ms. Deena brought...it was AMAZING!!!!


We finished up by watching Anne of Green Gables and then going to church that evening. Over all, it was a very special day!

Thank you God for birthdays, family, friends, and chocolate!!


SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful that God doesn't show favorites!
I just read in Matthew 19; in this passage, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a scenario in which a master hired workers at different times during the day. At the end of the day, he payed them all the same, even though they had not worked for the same amounts of time. As I think about this story, I'm really grateful that God doesn't show favorites! It's not like a game: we don't have to earn a certain amount of points to achieve a certain level of blessing! In the end, all Christians, both "new" and "old", will spend eternity with Christ!! And while we are here on this earth, He won't treat some believers better just because they are more "spiritual" than other believers. If that were the case...I'D BE IN TROUBLE!!! :-) I'm definitely not as "spiritual" as I should be!!
Thank you Lord!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful that I'm GRADUATING!!!

I'm so excited!!

It's so weird to think that I'm DONE with high school!! I'm so thankful for the great education I've had, and for the great parents God has given me for teachers. Sometimes I'll think about how amazing it is that God placed me under the parents that He did...PTL!

Anyway, this weekend is my graduation party...and I am SOOOO excited!! I've had so much fun shopping for decorations with my mom!! I'll have to post later on and tell you how it goes!

We'll also be going to FLORIDA for my graduation present/our family vacation...I've never been there, and I'm very excited!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the Holy Spirit...and for God's power! Last night at church our pastor spoke about "being transformed by the renewing of our mind" (Romans 12:1-2). Renewing our mind means to change the way we think from worldly thinking to spiritual thinking. He explained that the verb "being transformed" means to "allow yourself to be transformed." We don't have to do anything special to transform our minds...it's not about us! All we have to do is listen to the Holy Spirit...it's about choosing to let the Holy Spirit control our lives and minds! Thank You God that I don't have to change in my own power!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!

LOVE~BRIANNA

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

EVERYTHING THAT

I DON'T DESERVE...

which is EVERYTHING!

Here are just a few of those blessings:

~Forgiveness of sin,

~A guaranteed eternity with Christ

~A God who hears ALL of my prayers,

~Wonderful Christian parents

~A great brother with a sense of humor,

~A very cute kitty named Leo,

~A safe home in a free country,

~A solid education,

~A huge family of Christian brothers and sisters,

~God's Word...in my language,

~A great piano teacher,

~A wonderful English teacher,

~A great Christian college to attend next year,

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

THANKFUL THURSDAY

As you saw in my first post,
I've been blessed with a wonderful mom.
And as you saw in my last post,
I also have a wonderful dad who served in N.O. last month!
I'm also blessed with a wonderful church.


I am so grateful to God that He brought us to our church 13+ years ago!The elders have sought, with God's help, to model our church after the New Testament church. Our Pastor has been serving there for about 37 years, and I appreciate him SO MUCH! He is one of the most humble and wise people I know. He teaches straight from God's Word...no personal opinions. And when gone to for council or advice, he points you straight to the Bible. My church also seeks to encourage family worship, and there are many kids (0-18yrs) in the service every week. As I've gotten older, I've really come to respect and cherish my church and our Pastor, as well as the fellowship at the church. We're known as the congregation that stays for a long time after the service to TALK, TALK, and TALK some more! :-) I love that! It's also neat because we have a wide variety of people in the congregation, and I've noticed that when I step into a group of girls to talk, we can all fellowship and enjoy each other, simply because we are sisters in Christ! Isn't it awesome that the body of Christ as a whole has that one common factor that draws all believers together?!?

Thank you, Lord, for my church...
and thank for Pr. Gerry
and all of the other Bible-teaching, godly pastors out there!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Thankful Thursday

Soooo....this is my first post!! YAY!!

Today I want to thank God for my mom. She helped me set up this entire blog last night (she's good at it too!). She is such an INCREDIBLE mom, and I appreciate her so much!

One of the many things I appreciate about Mom is that she always strives to be an encouragement to her family (and she succeeds!). Whether she's making special chocolate chip-pecan pancakes for dinner, talking (and listening) to me as I bring up my frustrations, or taking my brother and me shopping for spring clothes, she's a constant example to me of how a godly mom should act.

I also appreciate Mom because she has a servant's heart for others. My dad works at Christian college, and a lot of college-age girls come to mom to talk about ALL KINDS of stuff!! And mom ALWAYS LISTENS!!! Even if someone stops by to talk just when Mom's about to do something else, she stops and serves. She reminds me of Jesus in Matt. 4:13-14. Jesus really needed to be ALONE, and yet, when He saw all those people who were in need, He gave up his much needed alone-time, and served! Mom practices that kind of serving regularly, and I'm very thankful for her example. Thanks Mom!!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!!
LOVE~BRIANNA