Thankful Thursday

Is it really Thursday??? How did this happen? Where did the week go?

As I write, I'm sitting in our study, our "school room." The sun is just peaking out over the houses, and outside the french doors of our study I can see school children with their backpacks in tow, making their way to the corner where the school bus stops. Oh, how I pray they've had a good week! Each morning this week I have been working in our school room and three times each morning the bus rumbles by. Back to school! What an exciting time! For us, that will be next week, after Labor Day. (That was my birthday present to myself: T-I-M-E. I needed more time to get our school all together!)

As I'm sitting here planning school, sipping my La Madeleine coffee (SO good!) and listening to the neighbor kids chat on the way to the bus stop, my heart is naturally very thankful. Not just for a beautiful morning and great coffee, but for so much more! And it's Thursday! Time to write it down. Thank you Iris!

Today I'm thankful for....

• God's lovingkindness. That word has been recurring over and over in my quiet times for the past couple of weeks. It seems as though God is trying to impress that on my heart. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness." Psalm 103:8 Abounding in lovingkindness. Oh, how I don't want to forget that. How I need that!
  


• God-honoring curriculum for my kids. As I've been planning our school, I have been gripped with gratitude for textbooks and materials, such as my daughter's Geography book which says: "Bible verses such as the one above (Prov. 3:19) remind us that God created our world. Every mountain and valley is exactly where He wanted it to be. This planet did not "just happen." As we behold the earth's amazing design and provisions for life, our hearts should praise the Creator." Wow! I just do not think we can hear or read statements like that enough, even as adults. That awareness should permeate every aspect of our lives, but especially our kids' as they are learning. There is no neutral ground in any area, school subjects included.
  
  
• My sweet sister-in-law Mary, and what God is doing in her life. Many of you stopped by to offer her prayer support back in December. She has gone through an unspeakable time of grief in the months following the death of her boyfriend, and she has allowed it to lead her straight into the arms of her Heavenly Father who loves her. She is a set-apart young woman, and I've known it since I met her. God is doing a mighty work in her life, and it is a privilege to see it and be a small part of it. She, along with my sweet mother-in-law, myself, and my daughter all started attending Beth Moore's "Jesus the One and Only" study this week, and Mary is going to volunteer in our Awana Club this year with our jr. high girls. It's so awesome to see her responding to God's love for her by wanting to go deeper in His Word and to serve in a ministry. God is good. All the time.
  


• A new mission opportunity. We are looking at a trip as a family in November. I'll post more about it (including the location!) soon. God is so faithful to bring about these opportunities to serve Him as a family.

There is oh-so-much more I could write about. (For instance, I'm still thankful for my "maidservants" who will be hard at work for me today and tomorrow as we end our week and head into the weekend!) I've been giving them their portions this morning already. :)


I hope this day finds you experiencing God's lovingkindness like never before. Have a terrific Thursday, and thank you so much for stopping by!


To read more Thankful Thursday posts or to add your own, please head on over to Sting My Heart.