In light of my last post and how some things got taken out of context, I thought I would post on some of the things that make me most thankful.
1. Yahweh Shammah. It means The Lord Is There, the Lord Is Present. I am most thankful for this because it means that no matter where I go, or what happens to me, or even what I do, the Lord does not leave me. There is no hiding place from Christ - he knows everything about me, every last quark, every part of my temperament, every feeling I have...He even knows those things I tell no one. And you know what? He loves me the same - despite myself - He loves and accepts me.
2. My husband. He is the most amazing man I have ever met. He helps balance me out in a way no other person could. He takes all my bad with the good and shows me tons of mercy. He is also not afraid to lovingly tell me when I am wrong, or when I may have overstepped my bounds. He also supports me in a way I had never known before I met him. Making him happy, makes me happy. Adam, is also an awesome father and has taught me a lot about what it means to be a boy. (I obviously have no clue!) Our three boys thrive because of him and he makes them a priority.
3. Elijah, Isaiah, and Josiah. I have been blessed 3 times over! God is so good. I live for their smiles and hugs and kisses. I love to watch and listen to them playing with Adam. How can you not enjoy seeing a child, especially your own, learn something new or develop a new skill? What is better than looking into their beautiful eyes and telling them 'I love you'? Absolutely nothing.
4. My family. Not just my own family, but my In-Laws the whole way around. They too love and accept me for who I am. They have also shown me more support than I could ever ask. It's a great feeling to walk into a home, that is not your own, and feel just as loved as if it were your home.
5. My friends. The Lord has placed some truly awesome people in my life. A woman just plain needs other women in her life. It's more than just having fun, it's true fellowship. We share the same faith, the same beliefs and the same morals. It is someone other than your spouse to confide in. Couples also need other couples. I can go to my friend's homes and not be worried about what my kids might see or hear.
6. My church. Harvest is a great place for kids. They actually learn there - it's not just the same stories over and over again taught in a surfacy manor. The Pastors and leadership not only have hearts for Christ, but hearts to truly minister to all types of people.
7. Nature. Seriously. How can anyone look at the leaves changing into magnificent colors in Autumn, or a fresh blanket of sparkling snow in the Winter, or a sweet smelling, beautifully budding garden in the Spring, or a fiery sunset that goes from yellow, to orange to purple in the Summer and not be thankful for all that God created? He made this Earth and the universe, for that matter, for us to enjoy the splendor. To enjoy His splendor. That deserves, at the very least, great thanks.
There are many things that make me, me. But above it all God created me, He knows my name, and he had me in mind before time began. But, I am NOTHING without Him. I am thankful for His grace, kindness, mercy and compassion. I am thankful that He is slow to anger and quick to forgive and I am thankful that He has a plan for me and He only wants me to prosper. I am also thankful that He reminds me of the things in me that still need work. No one is good enough to save them self.
Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
- 1 Corinthians 1:31
13 comments:
Beautifully said - and totally from the heart.
Beautiful. Inspiring and motivating. Makes me reflect on all that I am thankful for. THank you for the awesome post.
Thanks Aunt Kathy - I was motivated by the comment in my last post to let everyone in on a bit more about who the real Bre is.
Thank you for the nice comment Mandy C! God is wonderful isn't He?
it's quite sad to me that you are only willing to surround yourself with people who are just like you. you say that your friends have to be of the same faith...wouldn't you and your children learn more and grow as human beings if you let "others" into your life. it's just so, so sad.
Anonymous -
There is no reason for you to be sad; I never said in this post that I am ONLY willing to have Christian friends. In fact, I have several friends who do not share that faith and I don't hold it against them - it's not mine to judge. Only Christ can do that.
As far as my children are concerned, you don't need to bother yourself with their needs - my husband and I do a great job of that.
What is truly so, so sad to me is that fact that you are so desperate to try and make my day miserable. It just isn't going to happen. The other thing that makes me sad is the fact that you won't even give me the chance to get to know who you are. If you feel comfortable enough to leave garbage on my blog, then you should feel comfortable enough to let me know who you are. It gives off the impression that you are just ashamed.
I was not trying to ruin your day. I was reading your posts, and it is very clear that you only surround yourself with Christians who are just like yourself: maybe if you read your own words, you will see where I am coming from...
"My friends. The Lord has placed some truly awesome people in my life. A woman just plain needs other women in her life. It's more than just having fun, it's true fellowship. We share the same faith, the same beliefs and the same morals. It is someone other than your spouse to confide in. Couples also need other couples. I can go to my friend's homes and not be worried about what my kids might see or hear."
I have many friends who share the same morals, however our faith's are very different. I guess you meant your only "real" friends are exactly like you. I am confused. I am not trying to make you angry, just thought you may be a little less closed minded if you educated yourself and your children a little more. In fact, it seems as though you are a great mother and wife, I just thought you might be even better if you broadened your horizons.
As for me, My name is Erica, I am from California. I found your blog through a blog a friend of mine shared with me. Wasn't sure why it mattered if I left my name.
I am sorry for getting you so upset.
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Erica, I think it is just human nature to surround ourselves with people we have things in common with. Bre is not trying to limit her family. I think you may have misunderstood her, that is a problem with typed conversation, it doesn't express emotion. I do agree that we should broaden our horizons, however we need to keep strong to our own convictions. Have a beautiful day!!
Erica -
First let me be clear, I was not upset and I am not upset. You are judging me based on this blog and nothing else. You do not know who I am and you have never met me.
Yes, my best friend is a Christian. I would not want it anyother way and I make no apologies. Being a Christian is not something that I just do once a week and it is not something that I take lightly. I love that my best friend and I pray to and worship the same God - the ONLY God. Sharing our faith is part of what makes our friendship so strong. It by no means makes her "exactly" like me. Wow! That wouldn't be much fun would it?
It does get very tiring to constanly hear people saying Christians are closed minded. Please tell me what standard of morals you hold that makes sense of and gives you authority to tell me how to believe. Is that not closed minded and judgemental of you?
I am not closed minded, rather I am God minded and if that makes me closed minded in your opinion then so be it. ... 'narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it'. - Matthew 7:14. I am not ashamed to love the things God loves and to be intolerant of the things God is intolerant of.
The reason, Erica, I asked about your name is because many times people just leave nasty comments on blogs to try and hurt feelings. Yet, they don't have courage enough to state who they are. They hide under 'anonymous' so they don't have to feel so embarrassed. This recently happened to me and I was not sure if you were the same person again.
Thank you for the compliment. I do try very hard to be a good mother and it is only by God's grace that I can do anything.
Again - there is no need to apologize, for I was not upset.
Thanks Janette! I agree, the more knowlege a person has the better. Yet, we do need to hold fast to that which we are passionate.
This is actually a great open for a discussion as to why Christians like to hang out with those who are like minded. I honestly call it my bubble. I hope some truth and honesty is heard. I too live in Ca, the OC and it can be a tough place to live. There is a lot of judgement and pressure and people who are living far from God's standards. So for me personally, when my family hangs out with non-Christians, I often get questions from my kids like....why are they getting drunk mom when you say it's not the thing to do, why are they talking about others when we shouldn't gossip, why are they using bad language? My kids are getting older and will continue to be around those who are not trying to live by the standards of God, and in the end, it will be their choice how they choose to live. But right now, it's my duty as His daughter to train them up in the Lord and show them the path that I believe to be the right path. And in the end, whatever they choose, I know I did my "job". I feel safer in my Christian bubble. My passion is to talk about the things of God and praise Him for all good things that come my way. When I give Him glory in front of those who don't believe, I get the "looks" and it's ok, but like I said, honestly it feels safer in my bubble. It's tough living in the world and being surrounded by temptation daily (materialism, drinking, anger, gossip, the pressure to be thin and look young, etc.) I try each day to live my life as God would want me to and some days I do well and other days I fail. I'm so thankful on the days that I fail that God pours down His Mercy on me and forgives me and loves me right where I am. I lived so many years without Him and still remember the emptiness, loneliness and condemnation that I constantly felt. So Erica, with a heart filled with love, this is a glimpse into one woman's reason for surrounding herself with people who are similar to herself. I imagine that most people, Christians or not, choose to hang out with those who are similar to themselves - it's just more comfortable.
Well put Lisa!
So true Lisa! Of course our closest friends have similar likes/dislikes as us and that's why we hang out together, but that's not to say that we are not still friends with those who have different views. I miss you out in CA!
Thanks for sharing Lisa. It is so hard when there is so much temptation out there. Having Christain friends helps keep me accountable and I know they aren't going to judge me when I do mess up.
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