Thankful

I am thankful for so many things that I am sure I will leave something off of this list.

I am thankful for my family...
for a son-in-law who works hard to provide for his family and serves our community as a law enforcement officer.....
 I am thankful for my two daughters that I am very proud of and that I consider my best friends....
 I am thankful for the beautiful grandchildren they have blessed me with and the joy they bring to my life....
I am thankful for a job, with a retirement plan and good health insurance, when I know there are so many people unemployed and less fortunate than I am....
I am thankful to have a good relationship with my sisters and though we have our differences, always make up...
I am thankful for many friends who keep in touch with me to let me know they care...
.I am thankful for my cat, who keeps me company, curled up on my lap at night.....
I am thankful that the mail still runs every day (except Sunday)....
.I am thankful that I have a good boss and great co-workers that makes it so easy to go to work each day....
.I am thankful that I can worship God openly and for his daily blessings......
I am thankful for Thanksgiving and Christmas, my two favorite holidays of the year....
I am thankful for the mild temperatures that have kept my utility bills down....
I am thankful for libraries....for the written word.....newspapers and the Internet, and Amazon.com....
.I am thankful for afternoon naps, flannel robes and slipper socks, and hot cocoa, for cold nights....
I am thankful for Hallmark movies, all Charlie Brown re-runs and Christmas songs on the radio, even before Thanksgiving...
I am thankful that I have one pair of boots that I can wear....
I am thankful for the spirit of Christmas, wishing it would last a little bit longer...
I am thankful that the elections are over....
I am thankful that my mother-in-law celebrated her 90th birthday...
I am thankful that a friend finished her radiation treatments...
I am thankful for this blog, where I have met some incredibly nice people.

Procrastination

            Why should I do it now?

Why can't it wait?

I'm in no hurry

I won't be late

I put it off yesterday

Now today is here

Tomorrow sounds better

What is there to fear?

But what if tomorrow

 never comes?

What if I had the chance

and didn't take it?

What if I dressed for the dance

but didn't make it?

What if I looked at my watch,

but time slipped away?

What if I waited...and waited

for yet another day?

 What if that day

 never comes

to right a wrong,

 to hug someone,

to read a book,

to sing a song

to go some place,

and watch the setting sun

So today is all we have

There is no guarantee

Every second is a gift from God,

a gift for you and me

(c) 2010 Anita M. Ashworth

Ordinary Faith; Extraordinary God

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet."

I've been thinking a lot about God lately. Have you ever noticed how you can find God in the most ordinary way, and how he will make an appearance, out of the blue, and surprise you with a dose of grace when you least expected it? And then I remember how my faith can be as small as a mustard seed and it is enough for God. That gives me great comfort, because there have been times that my faith has dangled from a thin thread and yet God gave me the strength to hold on, and guess what, the longer I held on, the stronger that thread became.

I talked to a friend yesterday. She is going through a difficult time, and is scheduled for back surgery for the third time this upcoming week. Her husband is also having health problems and his position at work is at stake. He's worried that he'll lose his job and his health insurance, and possibly, their house. But after church yesterday, he felt renewed hope and felt his faith restored. "I can live without a job and without insurance, but I can't live without God," he said.

Children, too, think about God and surprise us with their innocent reflections. My granddaughter, Teka, saw a picture of 'The Last Supper" at her other grandparent's house and asked her mother, "Mommy, is that God and his friends?"

A few days later, Little Sister was playing with the miniature manger that she found in the bedroom. Teka scolded her, "No, you can't play with that. That belongs to Jesus."

My oldest daughter has been having severe neck and shoulder problems. On her way to the doctor she stopped at Burger King to grab a bite to eat. When she arrived for her doctor's appointment and checked her purse she realized that the cashier had given her too much money back, so on the way home she stopped and returned the cash. The manager stated that the cashier was short in her drawer and she'd already left work. She was genuinely surprised that someone would return the money.  My daughter thought that the employee might be in trouble, or she might be new and need her job, but now the employee can return to work tomorrow knowing that there are still honest people in this world. Little things do matter to God.

And one more...At work we gather in a huddle each morning to start our day on a positive note. This week we are discussing positive experiences we have had in the workplace. There are too many to list here. but I think of all the little things we do for one another to lift each other up. It may be a hug or a prayer when a co-worker is going through a rough time, or it may be simply sticking around to help a fellow employee during a busy time without looking at the clock. Ordinary faith; extraordinary God.

"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Blessings,

"I Had a Choice Today"

I had a choice today

to feel sorry for myself

or wake up with a smile

I had a choice today

to speak with anger

or stop a careless word

I had a choice today

to break a promise I had made

or keep my word and follow through

I had a choice today

to lie, cheat, or to deceive

or be honest and tell the truth

I had a choice today

to hold myself in high esteem

or humble myself before the Lord

I had a choice today

to turn my back on someone who needed me

or bend over and help them back up

I had a choice today

to speak words of hatred

or speak encouraging words

I had a choice today

to nurse a grudge and carry a chip on my shoulder

or forgive as the Lord as forgiven me

I had a choice today

to wish that I was someone else

or accept the person God wants me to be

I had a choice today

to cry bitter tears for things I cannot change

or hope for a brighter future

I had a choice today

to reject my faith and turn my back on God

or accept him fully in my heart

I had a choice today

Did I make the wrong choice?
 Or did I choose the right way?

I had a choice today

because it's never too late

to get down on your knees and pray

Blessings,

c Anita M. Ashworth 2010