I have been out of town for the last two Thankful Thursdays, and I definitely missed them!!! Lysa TerKeurst had a great devotional at Proverbs31.org the other day on Daniel and how to get out of the pit of self pity--thanksgiving. She said it better than I, so please go and read it...and sign up for the devotionals to be delivered to your mailbox while you're at it!
Today I am thankful for:
--Mary's joyful obedience. The promise of pregnancy outside of wedlock was definitely not on Mary's "things I have planned for my life" yet her response was "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said." Wow. I have a hard time being willing to do much smaller things. And she didn't even do it grudgingly, she did it with great joy--her song in Luke 1:46-55 is one of my favorites--we sang an arrangement in my college choir that was just amazing (track eight).
--Emmanuel, God is with us. He didn't come as a king to lord over us, but as a tiny baby to dwell with us. And now, he's not only with us, he is IN us, as promised in Colossians 1:27. He's closer than our very breath, we just have to slow down enough to listen.
--All the times that God (or an angel) tells people "Do not be afraid"--and then makes a great promise. In just the Christmas story, Joseph, Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds all heard the promise. And I love the reasons to not be afraid--it's the Holy Spirit, your prayers have been heard, you have found favor with God, and there is great news for everyone. What great reasons to not be afraid!
And thanks to Lynn for hosting Thankful Thursday this week! What are you thankful for?
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13 comments:
Wonderful post, be blessed.
I, too, marvel at Mary's obedience and am thankful that she said yes!
We have so much to learn by this "Do not be affraid"...
Merry Christmas to you.
Happy TT to you!
I think we had some of the same thougthts today.
Merry Christmas!
Such an important promise to grasp, Emmanuel...He is with us...He is with us...He is with us!
"Joyful obedience"....oooo that is so hard! I really enjoyed your post! You gave me much to think about!
Such a beautiful post of thankfulness! I loved that you reminded us of all the times Jesus tells people to not be afraid. He knew we are human and would be without His help.
What a beautiful thankful Thursday post. And a blessing to me. You said it so well.
Merry Christmas
Mama Bear
Thank you for bringing Mary before my thoughts today. Her obedience is an example I need reminding.
Have a blessed and beautiful Christmas. Love and hugs, Lynn
Great TT post!! I love it when people share things straight out of the Bible! :)
What encouraging thoughts to share. Blessings and have a very Merry Christmas filled with joy!
Great things to be thankful for.
I loved part one and part 2 - God is with us - Immanuel and He shows it with packages and Dr. appts sometimes too! :)
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