Being Thankful

I was awake most of the night last night, due to a little one inside kicking, and running. It appears I have another runner in the family. :)

But as I awoke my with my 5 or so hours of sleep under my belt for that night, realizing I was going to have to call that "good" as my 2 year old was screaming for me. The clock blinked 6:20 and I arose. As I did though, I felt peace. I'm not sure why...normally when I have little sleep, I'm a wreck. But today, as I rolled from my "happy place" I found myself saying, "this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Why? By the grace of God. And a thankfulness for the idea that peace can come in the storm...and goodness can come from trial...and that coffee no longer makes me throw up. :) (I had to throw that in there because it's true)

So, as I drank my cup of beloved coffee and opened up my Bible, to get my other source of caffeine...I realized, the difference is the peace of God. Not, the peace of man. And I also have sensed a shift in my perspective. As I talked with my Mom the other night, we just talked of how sometimes the situations does not change, but our perspectives can, and that in turn, changes everything.

It's not by our own power this happens though, it is of course because of Christ that this can happen in our lives and hearts. And this is why I am thankful. I may be tired, and out for the night early tonight, but I recognize that He is carrying me.

I always "know" He's holding me, helping me and carrying me through tough times, but believing in it is where the power the lies. If I don't believe that He actually will do something within me to help me, then I might miss the pearl of hope.

This is not a "sunshiny happy attitude" that I've got, this is a "I have not other way to live but through Him" and in that, He gives me peace and thankfulness for this day, even with the grimmest nights of sleep behind me.

I know it's a day by day dependence, and that's what keeps me coming back to Him each morning for more insight...more understanding...more encouragement. He truly is my strength for each day. The biggest difference has come from spending time with Him. I can say many things of how I need Him, love Him, and desire to be with Him...but until I actually open the Bible and read His words to my heart, then I am still missing so much.

And drinking coffee helps too. :)

SO, if this is true for me, it is also true for any of you. If you call upon His name, open His word, read His words to your hearts, you will be filled, fed and uplifted. Searching Him out in kinds of circumstances is your best bet for peace and hope, even in the storm.

And this of course, causes me to me to be so very thankful that I have the gift of searching out this great God, this source of all joy, peace and hope anytime, anywhere.

He's my SOS, my first choice, my in-between and the one who never fails. And the fact that I have the option of Him is amazing. That's why life with Christ is called a gift. Because it was freely given, when we did not deserve and we are offered it at always. Isn't that amazing?