I'm Thankful for My Frineds

When I think back over the last nine years of living in Jacksonville, the Lord has blessed me with friends that I most definitely DO NOT deserve. These friends have spurred me on to be more like Christ and to run after Him as hard as I can.

I’m grateful to God for all the fun times we have had laughing and making great memories. For the fruitful times we have spent having biblical fellowship and encouraging each other in our walks with the Lord. And most of all for the ways they have been so faithful to hold me accountable when I am in sin and not honoring God.

I’m also very thankful for all my friends that don’t live in Jacksonville. God has used you all in my life almost just as much as my friends here in Jacksonville. Your caring hearts towards me in the way you all consistently ask, “How I’m doing?” makes me very grateful for you all!

Thank you ALL for the steadfast and caring friends you are to me. Know that I thank God daily for how He has blessed me with you all!

Daily Bible Verse:

1 Corinthians 15:57- “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I'm Thankful for My Family

I thought I would tell you all a little bit about each member of my family and the blessing that each of them have been to me. Enjoy!

Dad- Dad is the ultimate dad… Not only is he fun to hang out and joke around with but, he is a VERY and I mean a VERY Godly man. He leads his family in a God honoring way and is always looking for what is best for them. He is always faithful to follow and do what God is calling him to as he devotes himself to God in every situation he is going through. He encourages all his children to be more like Christ and has spurred me on ever since I was little to follow Christ and not be drawn into the ways of the world. He rejoices for everything God has given to him and never complains about what God has given him. Whether it is work or finances, he always has his trust in God.

Mom- Oh dear, where do I begin? This lady…. well let’s just say she is the ULTIMATE Proverbs 31 women. I have never met anyone in my life that joyfully submits to her husband, serves her family, and trusts God more then my mom does. She is someone I am striving to be like one day when I grow up and have my own family!

Jonathan- Something that I appreciate about Jonathan is that he has a fear of God. He is always honest with others and doesn’t worry about what others think of him.

Amber- Amber has always been such a blessing to me! Even from a young age, I have always looked up to her as a role model of someone’s footsteps I want to follow in. She has such a passion to glorify the Lord! Her passion to honor him in all she thinks, says, and does has been such a wonderful example to me.

Joshua- One thing that I love about Joshua is that he has a very sweet and caring heart. He has the biggest and greatest imagination of everyone in my family and is always the one coming up with new ideas.

Victoria- Victoria is always a very joyful person. Almost every time I walk into the room she is in I catch her laughing. This joyful heart encourages me to cultivate one as well.

Karah- Karah is the person in the family that one would go to in need of a hug. She is always very tender and caring at heart. Don’t get me wrong though… You most definitely don’t want to get her mad!

Well, that’s my family for ya! As you can tell, I love each and every one of them dearly. I don’t even know where to begin to thank God for the blessing my family is and has been to me!

Daily Bible Verse:

Psalm 106:1-“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Happiness and Thanksgiving

As I sit here and meditate on all that God has given to me… A wonderful Church, a family that I get to spend Thanksgiving with, and friends that I can count on to hold me accountable when I am sinning and ultimately not honoring God, all I can do is thank God for being so gracious to bless me with all the things that I mentioned above.

Since Thanksgiving is next week I thought it would be fun to tell you all, all the blessings God has given to me and all the events that took place this past year that I am undeserving of and thankful for.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that I have been reading 1 Samuel for my devotions every morning. The 2nd chapter of 1 Samuel starts off with Hannah exalting God with praise and Thanksgiving and ultimately finding a happy heart in Him. I have been so convicted of how often I fail to find a happy heart in the Lord when I need to offer up things to Him instead of worrying and dwelling on them myself.

1 Samuel 2:1-2 says, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none Holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness. I bless thee for the should thou hast created, for adoring it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil; for the body thou hast given me, for preserving its strength and vigour, for providing sense to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my limbs, for social joy of relatives and friends, for ability to serve others, for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities, for opportunities of spreading happiness around, for loved one in the joys of heaven, for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly. I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures. Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity. –Valley of Vision-

Please join me as I give thanks to God for all He has given to me and done for me in this past year!

Daily Bible Verse:

Psalm 79:13-“But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, we will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount you praise