Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and others for the 5 Minute Friday where we are given a word prompt and write for just 5 minutes simply for the joy of writing. No editing or backtracking necessary. No need to be perfect. Just words freely flowing from my heart to yours.

Thank You

(photo credit)

There is a chorus that I sing often in the prayer room.  The words go like this:

I just want to thank You, thank You, Jesus.
I just want to thank You, thank You, for You are so good.

Not just today, but every day, I want my heart to overflow with thanks to the One who is worthy of all praise and adoration.  With a grateful heart I say thank You Jesus, for You are good.

I just want to thank you for my husband — compassionate, patient, steady, faithful, forgiving.

I just want to thank you for my children — healthy, secure, strong, artistic, lovers of You,

I just want to thank you for my job — provision, passion, purpose, ministry.

I just want to thank you for my friends — faithful, prayer warriors, laughter, coffee sippers, chocolate indulgers.

I just want to thank you for the hard places — stretched, but not pulled apart, bruised but not broken, mourning for a moment, but joy restored for a life time.

In this season of lack and of want, I thank you that I have everything that I need.  I thank You for drawing me closer to you and teaching me to trust You more.

Today, and every day, I just want to thank you.  For you are always good.

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.  (Psalm 145:9)

I am so grateful for God’s Word.  I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite scriptures through the alphabet.  I am going to use the first scripture that pops into my head for each letter.  I am sure I will have to dig for a few of them.

Here we go!

A-

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”
(Isaiah 60:1)

B-

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:3)

C-

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:38)

D-

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Psalm 37:4)

E-

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young–a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.”
(Psalm 84:3)

F-

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:2)

G-

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
(Luke 6:38)

H-

…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

I-

…..”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6)

J-

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  (Matthew 4:4)

K-

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
(Psalm 17:8)

L-

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
(Psalm 25:5)

M-

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
(Psalm 84:2)

N-

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(1 Cor. 10:13)

O-

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
(Psalm 51:15)

P-

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
(Psalm 103:2)

Q-

Quench not the Spirit.
(1 Thessalonians 5:19)

R-

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
(1 Chronicles 16:12)

S-

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
(Isaiah 12:)

T-

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5)

U-

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
(John 16:24)

V-

Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people.
(Psalm 3:8)

W-

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
(Psalm 27:14)

X-

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
(Romans 8:19)

Y-

You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever.
(Psalm 41:12)

Z-

 Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness.
(Isaiah 1:27)

This was fun!

Will you share with me in the comments a scripture that you are thankful for today?

Praying you have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!

Today is my 46th birthday!

And no, I am not accepting the Lord for the first time. I’ve known Him for better than half of my life.  But I feel as if I am on the verge of something new.  I’ve been feeling a little low over the last few days.  I could blame it on exhaustion following my daughter’s wedding, financial stress, or some recent health issues.  But, I am realizing more and more that although I may not feel good, or what I may see in front of me is not always what I desire, I know this one thing….

GOD IS GOOD!

I feel as if I am on the verge of an awakening and I am excited about it.  God has been calling me, wooing me in the night and helping me to see Him more clearly in the daylight.  I am learning to see with new eyes.

To see beauty that is only revealed when I search it out.

• My messy laundry — and how I am thankful that we have clothing.
• My dirty dishes — and how it reminds me that we have food.
• My kids who fight more than I’d like them to — which reminds me that they are growing and developing their own personalities, each uniquely crafted by their Creator.

I am ready to embrace my life.  Not that I haven’t before.  But with half of my life behind me, I want to press in with enthusiasm as I allow Him to continue to awaken my heart to his beauty.  One of the things that He has been speaking to my heart about is His steadfast love.  I will be leaning in a little closer and posting here on the blog on Wednesdays about my journey to uncover the depth of this love.  Perhaps you will join me?

Another thing that I am excited to dive into this year is journaling.  It’s not new to me.  I’ve always used this online space for that purpose, and have 3 or 4 journals laying around that I take with me now and then to capture what God speaks to me.  But I want to be more intentional.  I want to be more creative.  So I have a little something up my sleeve (if you follow me on Facebook, you have been given a glimpse).  I recently came across this amazing blogger.  She creatively journals and shares her journey on Instagram.  I was instantly drawn into the beauty that graced the pages of her journals.

(her southern charm – used with permission)

I knew this was something I had to do.  I serve a creative God, who wants to awaken my heart to creativity.  So, I ordered the pens she recommended, as well as a journal.

Mine is purple, because I am a royal daughter of the Most High King!

Every day when I meet with God I will have my journal and pens handy.  I will strive to creatively express what He reveals to my heart.  I know it won’t be perfect.  I will probably miss a day or two….perhaps many…but my desire is to be awakened to the colour that He is putting in my heart.  And no, that is not a typo.  COLOUR!

colour (n.) –  the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light; vividness of visual appearance resulting from the presence of brightly colored things.

colour (v.) –  change the color of (something) by painting or dyeing it with crayons, paints, or dyes; make vivid or picturesque.

Beginning tomorrow, on the day of my new birth, this new adventure with God will begin.  My daughter asked me why I ordered so many pens.  Some are for writing, some for coloring.  I want to use a lot of color.  And I want to learn to doodle my thoughts and the imprints of my heart.  I am an abstract painter, but this will be a stretch for me.  I hope to post on Instagram each day using the hashtag #colouringmyheart — because as I lean in and I wait on Him, He colours my heart with the light of His Word, in vivid color.  You can follow me on Instagram at “barbieswihart” or on Pinterest at  “barbies”.

Despite circumstances that could keep me cowering in a corner and desiring a life that is not mine, I choose to receive all that God has for me with open arms.  My life is a gift.  What I choose to make of it is up to me.

Today,
I choose to love, because He loved me first.
I choose JOY because He provides joy unspeakable and full of glory.
I choose to forgive, because He has done this for me.
I choose to accept myself as the fearfully and wonderfully made child of God that I am.

Today,
I choose to laugh with my children, instead of hushing them up.
I choose to cherish my husband, because he is worthy.
I choose to give out of my abundance, even in my lack.
I choose to see beauty, despite pain.

Today,
I thank God that He loves me.  Not “if”, not “but”.  He simply does.
I thank God for my husband and children.  I have been blessed beyond measure.
I thank God for my friends.  Gifts and treasures I do not deserve.
I thank God for YOU, my blogging friends.  How my life has been enriched by each and every one.

I am grateful.  So grateful.  I am His today.  And He is mine.  I am moving forward, embracing this new birth with eyes and heart wide open to see the colour He paints on my heart.

Happy birthday to me!