• Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer. Without Him, everything else loses its value.
• My family – husbands who make us laugh and cry and sometimes question our sanity, kids who make us laugh and cry and make us question our sanity.
• My daughter, who always has time for a kiss for me.
• My autistic son. God knew the incredible blessing our boy would become to us.
• For grandchildren.
• Being able to stay in touch with family and friends via email and Facebook.
• Being hungry only by choice, and having a nutritious selection of food every day.
• The lovely fall colors I see outside my bedroom window/on my daily walks.
• The wonderful children I get to care for every day (from a daycare provider).
• My church family
• My dog, who snuggles up with me when I sit or lie.
• The dried hydrangea flowers in my front garden that I can pick and keep all winter.
• The cooler nights that make sleep easier.
• Pretty earrings. They are a “pick-me-up” on an “I-feel-ugly” day.
• A second chance at life after having a kidney transplant in 2008 – and for my husband who without hesitation said, “Test me for compatibility.”
• The opportunity to participate in the ministry of Ratanak Foundation which rescues children sold into the sex trade in Cambodia.
• The ability to express myself in spoken and written words, in deeds, and in music, with hugs and smiles.
• The knowledge that I am loved by my faithful, loving heavenly Father and by countless family and friends.
• For a new and more comfortable place to live.
• The freedoms we have in this country. Right now, I appreciate most the freedom to homeschool our children, to keep them home and watch them learn and grow as we learn to live a Christ-honoring life together.
• To wake up in good health.
• For my daughter’s safety – she survived a roll-over accident last week.
• For my husband’s learning to speak new words daily after surviving a stroke three years ago.
• For a job to support my family.
• For being able to have a relationship with one granddaughter, especially after a broken family relationship made it impossible to spend time with my other grandchildren.
• For God’s ability to bring blessings from adversity.
• The beauty of children’s laughter
• The beauty of God’s endearing voice that whispers in our ears every day.

Here are a few thoughts of my own. I’m thankful for…

• Immediate and extended family members.
• Good health – eyes to see the beauty of creation, ears to hear a child’s giggle and birds sing, legs to walk, arms to hug.
• The privilege of having God’s Word in my own language.
• My friends from other cultures. Last evening we celebrated Thanksgiving with a Romanian congregation – a ton of fun!
• A warm house and a reliable car.
• Nice neighbors.
• Everyone who prays for me as I write and speak to women’s groups.
• Those who financially support me and my husband in our role as career missionaries.

I’m sure the list could go on and on for pages. What are you thankful for today?

BTW, you can subscribe to “Growing With Grace” by filling in the little box on the right side of my website home page.

The first lesson was about using the sword of the Spirit. Each camper received a Romanian New Testament and was encouraged to read it. Brian explained that simply owning a Bible isn’t enough to fight the enemy; one must be familiar with what God says.   

The second lesson was about wearing the helmet of salvation. Each camper received a knitted winter hat to stress the importance of wearing this armor. Without it, Brian explained, we’re vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.

The third lesson was about wearing the breastplate of righteousness. Brian explained that this means walking in obedience to God’s Word. Knowing what He says isn’t worth much unless we apply His truth to our lives. Each camper received a tee-shirt as a reminder to be obedient to God in everything.  

I believe God’s Word was presented clearly and in a relevant way this week. Several kids placed their saving faith in Jesus Christ. What a joy to see the peace in their eyes and the freedom on their faces. The kids have much to think about and we’re praying that they’ll remember these three simple but life-changing truths.

Bible-teacher Brian and hubby Gene demonstrating the "fight." Brian was dressed in his helmet and breastplate and used his sword. He won!

I was reminded that God is involved in every aspect of our lives and has issued commands for our well-being. I dare not change His commands to fit my whims, nor alter them to suit my circumstances. If I don’t cling to His Word as absolute truth, I’ll run into trouble.

I was challenged not to accept societal norms as “right” just because many people are putting their stamp of approval on them. Here’s an example: society (and the media) says I have the right to be happy. If that means divorcing my husband because I think I’ll be happier in the arms of a different man, then so be it.

God’s Word says otherwise. I’m to remain faithful to my marriage vow until death parts me and my spouse. That might mean enduring very difficult days or weeks or months, or even years. It might mean caring for him if he suffers a crippling injury or illness. It might mean denying my desires for a nice house and financial security so my husband can pursue a job he loves rather than spend most of his waking hours toiling at a task he doesn’t enjoy simply because it pays well.

Statistics show that society approves of divorce. In fact, I read a newspaper article recently that says there are “divorce fairs” in the U.K., designed to help making splitting up easier. But Scripture says that God hates divorce. Is that simply because of the pain inflicted on everyone involved? Not necessarily, although I believe He grieves over it. His hatred for divorce flows from the fact that it goes against His character. He is a God of unity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three separate beings in one. It’s a mystery, I know. He’s designed marriage to reflect that unity, by a man and woman – two separate entities – becoming one flesh. Another mystery. Divorce destroys that unity. It goes against His very character, and that’s what makes it wrong. That’s also why it has such negative effects.                                                                                                                                                                           

“The Truth Project” contained so much good information that I hope to study it again in the near future. For now, I’ll summarize by saying there’s a cosmic battle going on between good and evil, and its forces are fighting for our souls. The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy, but our Creator God has plans to give us a future and a hope. Those plans were revealed in the person of Jesus Christ who declared Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life.” When we live life His way, according to His truth, we enjoy intimate relationship with our Creator. What a gift!

As the new year dawns, I’m filled with a sense of anticipation about what God wants to do in and through my life in 2009. While I don’t know the details, I’m confident that He wants me to enjoy a more intimate relationship with Him and to bear fruit that will last for eternity. And so, as I opened my Bible this morning, I asked God to bring this to pass.

Typically I use the One Year Bible in the New Living Translation for my devotions. This morning, I read Psalm 1, and its words seemed to leap off the page.

“Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.” (vv. 2,3)

What’s the secret to having a fruitful life? One of the major keys is obedience. When God has a plan and asks me to participate, I need to say yes. And I need to do so with delight.

I think of a teenager being asked by his mom to take out the trash. He can respond in either of two ways. He could whine and moan and complain — “Aw, Mom, do I have to?” or he could say, “Sure, Mom. No problem. I’ll get right to it” and obey cheerfully. Which response brings greatest joy to his mother? The latter, of course.

And so it is with God’s children. When He gives us a task, we need to say yes with a cheerful heart — even if we don’t understand why He’s asking us to do a certain thing. By doing so, we show Him respect. We demonstrate our love for Him, and He is pleased.

The other key, I believe, is filling our minds with God’s Word. When we do that, we begin thinking His thoughts and valuing the same things He values. That will transform our behavior, and that will impact the world around us for Jesus Christ.

The natural result of living life with God’s values in mind is fruitful living. It’s not something we have strive for, it just happens when we’re walking in obedience to His will and thinking His thoughts.

That’s the kind of life I want! How about you?

“Lord, grant us hearts that take delight in obeying You even if Your directives seem difficult or hard to understand. Give us the strength to train our minds on You so that we will begin to think as You do. And give us the privilege of bearing fruit without fail. We love you. Amen.”

A couple of months ago I felt as though the Lord was nudging me to start blogging regularly. Granted, I’ve done it for my travels, but this one would be for a different purpose. I sensed Him telling me to use it for journaling my spiritual journey. To share what I read in my devotions. To pass along inspirational quotes and nuggets from the books I read. To make it a tool for others to use for encouragement in their own spiritual journey. To use it to help others connect the dots between God’s Word and real life.

And so, I agreed. I’ll admit I feel a little anxious about blogging regularly. What if I have trouble keeping it up? But I go back to the fact that, if God is nudging me to do this, He’ll enable me to get it done.

Join me in this venture! I’ll share my heart with you, and I invite you to do the same by sending your comments. I look forward to hearing from you.

The blog will be located at this site for a short while as my website undergoes a facelift. When that task is complete, the blog will move there for easier access. I’ll let you know when that happens.

Happy New Year!