1000 Things...

It's been way too long since I've been contributing to this blog. I really need to step up. I was inspired anew when one of my co-workers asked me for the web address last night.

So, here's what God has had on my heart lately. Now that we have begun a family, I have been in the throes of researching, thinking, and praying about what family traditions the Lord may be leading us to so that Christ is glorified in all our celebrations. After all, He is the only reason to truly celebrate.

I've honestly never been much for the holiday season after I became a believer. Thanksgiving, though a godly concept, seemed to me to be celebrated, at least in the traditional sense, in a very odd way. How are we thanking God when we gorge ourselves feasting on abundance while half of the world doesn't have food? This year, I have determined that with the help of the Holy Spirit, our family is going to begin to redeem the holiday season.

So, November marks the first of the holidays- Thanksgiving. The cultivation of gratitude is extremely scriptural and is something that I certainly need improvement on in my life.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." [1 Chronicles 16:34]

"I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." [Psalm 69:30]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." [Philippians 4:6 ]

So, in honor of Thanksgiving this year, I/we will be compiling a list of 1000 things that we are thankful for between now and the end of December. We will be taking time to praise God for each one. And we will be asking the Lord how we can give as an expression of thanksgiving for his rich blessings upon our lives. We will be asking how we can serve out of our abundance and asking that the Lord would mercifully grant us a greater ability to see every gift He has poured out in our lives.

So, here are a few things on my list of 1000 things today:
1. I am thankful for the salvation I have in Christ Jesus, apart from whom I have no good thing.
2. I am thankful for a husband who loves Christ and loves me.
3. I am thankful for the privilege and responsibility of a beautiful daughter to raise up to love Christ.
4. I am thankful for supportive parents who love me and encourage me.
5. I am thankful for a sister whom He has given me the grace to grow closer to as the years have passed.
6. I am thankful for co-workers who I truly enjoy working with.
7. I am thankful to have a job where I have the ability to care for people in their most vulnerable moments.
8. I am grateful that the Lord has heard my prayer and given me a better attitude to said job.
9. I am grateful for an apartment to live in that keeps us warm and sheltered- an everpresent reminder of the refuge that is our God.
10. I am thankful for the church and the fellowship that we have among believers that challenges us unto more of Christ and fills us with joy in His presence.
11. I am thankful for the Lord's provision of food to eat.
12. I am thankful for all the beautiful cultures and peoples that the Lord has made around the world, and all that we have to learn from each other.
13. I am thankful for the Bible, the word of God, which is living and active.

What are you thankful for this season? How will you make the holiday season about knowing and glorifying Christ? I'd love to hear.