Thankful Thursday

I need to do this--it really helps put life in perspective :)

I'm thankful my classes are going well, especially my freshman seminar.
I'm thankful that this pregnancy is going smoothly.

Why does this feel completely shallow?

I think I better go back plan A...

We're studying Ephesians. I love Paul--he's such a logical writer. Even though I teach at a secular school, there is a senior level "Great Books" course that regularly includes Romans. It's awesome, because you can start the discussion with "what is Paul's thesis statement" and continue for an hour with "how does he support it"? They discover the Roman Road without me "pushing it."

So I'm first of all thankful for Paul's clear exposition, and secondly, that the Bible is still considered a great book, even at a secular institution.

Two weeks ago, we picked apart Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I'm thankful that we're saved by grace. We're reading about Solomon in the kid's "through the Bible in a year" book, and how he didn't keep steadfast...and consequently lots of bad things happened in Israel. I'm thankful that our salvation isn't determined by our actions, but by Jesus's.

I'm thankful that faith is a gift.

I'm thankful that God has prepared GOOD works for us to do.

I'm thankful that Paul outlines how God has worked this in him (see Ephesians 3:7-9) so we can better understand what he means.

I'm thankful that "him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Eph 3:12)

I'm thankful that although Paul was in chains, he still prayed mightily for the Ephesians (I love the prayer in Ephesians 3:16-21--it was even one of the readings at our wedding!)

And I'm thankful that Bible Memory has a program to memorize Ephesians...it'll take me forever, but there are so many great verses in Ephesians!