thirty-two random things I am thankful for

HI HI HI HI IT'S ALMOST THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND YAY I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

:)

I'm linking up with my lovely friend Hayley over at Victorious Heroine for a special thankfulness hootenanny and it's going to be awesome. I've never linked up before so can you tell I'm excited?! :)

Since it's almost thanksgiving and since I want to give thanks, here are some thankful quotes and a list of what I'm thankful for. I'm grateful that God has given me so much, and that he has enabled me to know from whom all of these good things come from - him! He's so good to me.

(all pictures found on Pinterest)

what I'm thankful for, in no particular order.

one) my Bible

two) my phone :)

three) TV shows (Once Upon a Time and Downton Abbey, mainly)

four) my lovely family

five) laughing and my family's special sense of humor

six) my friends <3

seven) my blog and the way it allows me to share my heart and experiences with people, because we all need each other in this great big world we're in. 

eight) food. just, in general.

nine) good, good books

ten) dreams and ambitions

eleven) a God who says "yes"

twelve) my bed (haha)

thirteen) the gift of writing

fourteen) hope

fifteen) teachers who don't give tons of homework

sixteen) beautiful things that reflect Jesus and his beautiful mind

seventeen) the ability to create

eighteen) my school that allows me to not only attend classes from my bed, but also helps train my mind and challenges me so that I grow mentally and spiritually. 

nineteen) my parents, who love and support me in all of my dreams and aspirations

twenty) my lovely french teacher, who inspires me to love Jesus even more

twenty-one) my wonderful church, who has accepted and loved me and helped me heal and grow. 

twenty-two) my youth group. these people make my life. 

twenty-three) thunderstorms and rainy days

twenty-four) puddles to jump in

twenty-five) christmas! 

twenty-six) trains
twenty-seven) music
twenty-eight) musicals 
twenty-nine) disney
thirty) nail polish
thirty-one) sweaters
thirty-two) veggie tales

Just a super random list of things I love and am so grateful for. What are YOU thankful for?

Oh and also, I would totally put the link-up thing at the end of this post so you could link up with me, but I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. :P Anyway. You can put what you are thankful for in the comment section if you'd like. Because I would like that very much. :)

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overwhelmed 2.0

     I know I just posted earlier today about how I was overwhelmed and just generally down (see post below to understand what I'm talking about). To be honest, I'm still not doing so great. But I'm so grateful at the same time.

     This morning I kind of complained more than I should have. Needless to say, my friends knew how I was feeling. I got lovely notes and encouragements from them, saying things like "Feel better!" and "God loves you and thinks you are awesome!" Some of my friends weren't even aware that I was having a bad day, but they were just so nice and kind and friend-like and that cheered me up, too. :) So I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of my dear friends because they are wonderful and I love them very much. 

     Being overwhelmed now by the love my friends show me, I was thinking about what a blessing from God friends are.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Philippians 1:3-5

   

     I think the following verse is used in regard to friendship almost too much without it's content being really considered:

 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 

Proverbs 17:17

       This verse means that your friends are there for you when you are facing adversity, and they love you all the time. How amazing is that? And God is the epitome of a perfect friend - the friend that "sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)

Sarah

 

an oprah quote for your friday

     You know how sometimes when you get a planner/calendar thing they'll put quotes on the pages of it? That's how I found this:

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

 - Oprah Winfrey

fiery trial - part 4 (revelation)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

     for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who made the great lights,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and brought Israel out from among them,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who divided the Red Sea in two,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who led his people through the wilderness,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down great kings,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and killed mighty kings,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

Sihon, king of the Amorites,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and Og, king of Bashan,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and gave their land as a heritage,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

a heritage to Israel his servant,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and rescued us from our foes,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

he who gives food to all flesh,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

I have had a revelation.

God's plan is good!

     I'm finally realizing this. Before, I tried to say it over and over in an attempt to convince myself that it's true, but God is being so kind and helping me to believe it. 

     I'm not all the way there - it still hurts to think that I'm not going to get my own way. Things that remind me of it pop up everywhere. But God's giving me grace! He DOES love me! And that is why I am giving thanks to the LORD - because his love endures forever!!! 

-Sarah :)

     

My Parents

     I am blessed with two loving, godly parents who seek to train me in the way of the Lord. I am so grateful for their wise counsel and their help through difficult times and choices that I need to make as I grow up.
     One such choice is what I'm going to do after highschool. I used to know exactly what I wanted to do; I still want that, but I'm starting to realize the extent of what I have to do as "prerequisites" for that career. My dad encouraged me to pray about it diligently, seeking my heavenly Father's help just as my earthly parents are helping me do this. I am excited to see what God will do in my life in regard to my future! I am so glad my parents are wise and want to help me with things I'm unsure about.

Why are you grateful for your parents?

-Sarah :)

P.S. Just in case you missed it, today's "Wednesday Verse" is just below this post. :)

Give Thanks. . .

     Since this blog is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, I thought it might be appropriate to post on this verse yet again. :) Verse 18, "give thanks in all circumstances," is probably one of the hardest commands for me to follow in this passage. It's hard to remember to not only thank God for the "good" things, but also for the things that don't seem so good. I think, for my sake (and hopefully this will encourage you to do the same), I'm going to post a list of a few things I'm thankful for (the good and the bad!). This is going to be a really random list, with the things I'm thankful for in no particular order. Here we go.

1. Acts. I am participating in a musical of the story of Acts (the book in the Bible), and I am really enjoying the rehearsals, as well as learning a lot about the story of Acts.

2. My iPod Touch. I got it for Christmas. It is amazing. :)

3. My braces. This is one of the "not so good" things. I got the wires tightened yesterday, and my teeth have been hurting SO badly pretty much ever since. But I get to thank God for them because they will not only straighten my teeth, but they will also hopefully cultivate in me endurance when I'm in less-than-comfortable situations. :)

4. Ice cream. Helps when I am experiencing the number 3 thing I am thankful for. :)

5. Snow. We haven't gotten a lot of it this winter, but it's snowing right now so I'm hoping it'll pile up pretty high. :)

I just realized I put a smiley face after all of them except for the first one. Oh well. They belong there. :)

What are you thankful for? Let me know by commenting on this post! I'd love to hear from you!

-Sarah :)

Oh give thanks to the LORD. . .

". . .for he is good; his love endures forever!"
1 Chronicles 16:34


"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Colossians 3:15

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"
Psalm 100:4

     I love Thanksgiving. I love all of the activity going on in the kitchen; the crackling fire in the fireplace; the laughter of family and memories in the making. I love staying in the warm house while the cold wind blows through the bare trees and leaves carpet the wet, muddy earth outside. 

     I love taking time to remember all that God has blessed me with, and thanking him for it. He has blessed me with so much: my wonderful family, my lovely friends, a warm house, good food, and so much more. 

     My sister had the idea to write down one thing we are thankful for every day of November (My four sisters and I do it; our list is now a few pages long!). We have listed everything from God's grace, to new mattresses, to bananas. It's a wonderful way to cultivate a thankful spirit and attitude towards our gracious God who gives us everything good. 

     So my challenge for you is: make a list. Write down even just 10 things you're thankful for (I promise you, once you get started, you'll end up with way more than that). And thank God for all that he has blessed you with. Even thank him for the times of trouble and hardship, and the things that we just don't naturally feel thankful for; because ". . .we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." I thank God for hot chocolate even though I burned my tongue on it yesterday. :)

    And bless his name, like Psalm 100 says! Our all-powerful, loving God is worthy of our praise and thankfulness! Also, please read Psalm 136 (below). It's a wonderful song about all the wonderful things God has done and about giving thanks to him, for he is good!

    What are you thankful for? Let me know in the comments box!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

-Sarah :)

Psalm 136 - 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who made the great lights,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

and brought Israel out from among them,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

with a strong had and an outstretched arm,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who divided the Red Sea in two,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who led his people through the wilderness,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down the great kings,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

and killed mighty kings,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

Sihon, king of the Amorites,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

and Og, king of Bashan,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

and gave their land as a heritage,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

a heritage to Israel his servant,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,

for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and rescued us from our foes,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

he who gives food to all flesh,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven, 

for his steadfast love endures forever.

a prayer answered

Argghhh!!! This isn't a post about Worthy. I am SO busy with school and the like that I have not found the time to finish that long-ish post. :) I promise it's coming soon, but while I'm waiting for a chance to finish it, I thought I would just share something that happened last night at a 10:31 meeting (10:31 is my church's youth ministry).

After the meeting, one of my friends asked me and another friend to pray for her. Then we all started sharing prayer requests, and we prayed for each other and just talked about God. :) It was SO encouraging, and the answer to a prayer I have been praying for a while. I've asked God to help me to talk about him with my friends, because he doesn't come up nearly as often as he should in our conversation, and sometimes it can be awkward when he does. But last night wasn't awkward at all. I'm so thankful that God answers prayer!!!

-Sarah :)

Music. . . and the Gospel

I love music. LOVE LOVE LOVE etc. music. I play violin and piano, and I also enjoy listening to music, especially worship songs. I think God uses my love of music to speak to me. One song in particular by the Annie Moses Band called "Tough as Nails" is really amazing. Please watch the video below to hear the song. Both their songwriting and musical talent are amazing.

Did you listen to it? Good. Did you hear the line "But he did not fight when the hammer fell; his love was tough as nails . . ."? (amazing line, by the way!) That line got me to thinking. Jesus didn't fight when he was being nailed to the cross. He could have just spoken, and legions of angels would have come to his aid! But he didn't. He let them kill him, because in his death millions would be restored to life.

And, in turn, this got me to thinking about something else. Whenever I go through a difficult time, I know I can always count on God to see me through it. He never forsakes me. (The only reason that is true is because of the Gospel . . .it all connects in the end, you see!) But when Jesus was on the cross, he didn't receive help from God. He cried out to his Father, saying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But God had turned his back on him.

Jesus was utterly alone. For the first time ever, he didn't have God right there with him.

Imagine what you would feel like if you were forsaken by God. But very quickly after imagining it remember that God promised never to leave you or forsake you! OK, good.

Jesus had a closer relationship with God than any of us have. And he was forsaken by God!

But there's some excellent news coming up. Because he was forsaken by God that night when he hung on the cross, we will never be forsaken. Ever. In my life. (get that... you know, from Up? :) Never mind.)

I do believe this marvelous news calls for a celebration. An outburst of thanksgiving. Aren't you so thankful that Jesus has saved you?!?!? (If you happen to be reading this and you don't think you're saved, I would encourage you to ask God to help you believe all of the above. The Christian life is a wonderful life.)

I hope you are encouraged by this!

Sarah :)

HAPPY 4TH!

Happy Independence Day! I was thinking about how great it is that we have so many freedoms in our country. I am especially thankful for the freedom of religion! But I think that we take all of our rights and freedoms for granted. We are so used to having them, that they are normal. We just assume that things will never change; that we will have these rights always. So, today, I challenge you to thank God constantly for everything you have! I am going to ask God to help me do that, too!

Sarah :)

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Here is the final part of my 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 study. Sorry it took so long!

Verses:

Psalm 118:1 – Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 118:1 tells us that we should be thankful for God's steadfast love for us. If we pray for thankfulness, and dwell on how much God loves us, God gives us thankfulness. Colossians adds that we should be thankful in whatever we do. We take a lot of things for granted; most things we have, actually. If we stop and write down all the things we have and should be thankful for, it would help us be more thankful. We should also be thankful for things that may seem bad in our lives. Please read this section from "The Hiding Place" about this. (For those of you who haven't read it, the "I" is Corrie ten Boom.)

"We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!"

I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul-aired room. "Such as?" I said.

"Such as being assigned here together."

I bit my lip. "Oh yes, Lord Jesus!"

"Such as what you're holding in your hands."

I looked down at the Bible. "Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women, here in this room, who will meet You in these pages."

"Yes," said Betsie. "Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we're packed so close, that many more will hear!" She looked at me expectantly. "Corrie!" She prodded.

"Oh, all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds."

"Thank You," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for–"

The fleas! This was too much. "Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea."

"'Give thanks in all circumstances,'" she quoted. "It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us."

And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.

Later in the book, we see the good that came from the fleas.

One night I got back to the barracks late from a wood-gathering foray outside the walls. . . . Betsie was waiting for me, as always, so that we could wait through the food line together. Her eyes were twinkling.

"You're looking extraordinarily pleased with yourself," I told her.

"You know we've never understood why we had so much freedom in the big room," she said. "Well–I've found out."

That afternoon, she said, there'd been confusion in her knitting group about sock sizes and they'd asked the supervisor to come and settle it.

"But she wouldn't. She wouldn't step through the door and neither would the guards. And you know why?"

Betsie could not keep the triumph from her voice: "Because of the fleas! That's what she said, 'That place is crawling with fleas!'"

My mind rushed back to our first hour in this place. I remembered Betsie's bowed head, remembered her thanks to God for creatures I could see no use for.

This is an example of how God uses things that seem to be bad for our good. Isn't it so cool? :)

Something to remember when we don't feel thankful is that Jesus died for us so that we can go to heaven forever. If, with God's help, we can be thankful for something as big as that, we can remember to thank God for the little blessings (and trials, little or big) in our lives.

I hope reading this has left you encouraged!

Sarah :)