Thanksgiving Thoughts

Every time I read psalm 78 I'm blown away. I'm shocked at the behavior of the people of Israel and then I'm shocked at how like them I am at times. God worked miracles for them, provided for them. Over and over they claimed they would follow then they would turn away. They followed with words but not heart. So much to be thankful for, yet how quickly they forgot and returned to their old ways.  And then there's verse 38...yet He was merciful. That just pierces my heart. How often I forget what He has done for me, yet He shows mercy.
He has done so much for my family this year. Just a year ago, Eddie announced to our church family that God was moving us. We didn't know where. We didn't know when. We didn't know how He would provide. But as we talked about it just the other day, it was as if we were in a grace bubble. We should've been in a fetal position scared and depressed yet we felt so free and amazingly sure that God was in total control not only of us but the surrounding circumstances. And here we sit a year later with too many blessings to list, serving Him with more energy and passion than ever and totally undone by His goodness. He provided so much on our behalf, so many of His people showing us love and encouragement that far surpassed those who didn't. He's kept every promise we felt and claimed and done things we didn't even have the foreknowledge to ask Him for.
This Thanksgiving will be different. We will host everyone at our home. It will be the first time ever we are not at my mom and dads but she's not up to that any more so I'm blessed we are here and can do this and I'm so excited. There are days my mom doesn't know me now but most of the time she does. My sister-in-law lost her dad a few months ago so that will be different for her but blessed they'll be with us again. We have another child married so we will share her but we get a new son at the table. And my grand baby will be at the table in utero so how fun is that. We have challenges like everyone else but they don't compare to the goodness of God.  As Eddie preached Sunday, what we think about determines how we feel and how we feel determines how we act so I'm choosing to think about what is true and lovely and how blessed we are!! I'm choosing to think on God's love and forgiveness. I'm choosing to think about ways to love and serve and minister.  And I'm choosing to believe God knowing that my life is not my own and when I let go and let Him, I actually like His way much better.
So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS! Col 2:6-7
I hope this is the best Thanksgiving you've ever had, reflecting on God's goodness and looking forward to what he has for you!!

Monday Morning Perspective

We broke away from Ephesians yesterday, but no fear, we will be back there in January. We have turned our focus for the next month to the season we are in now. We kicked it off yesterday, With Thanksgiving Phil. 4:4-8. Eddie gave us 4 keys to not just surviving this time of year but thriving. We  talked about the importance of prayer and an attitude of gratitude.  We looked at 1Peter 5:7 and Eddie pointed out that we think of cast as throwing. But biblically cast means to let it go. Some have burdens too heavy to throw but we can all let them go, drop them. It reminded me years ago how I realized that when we let something go to God, it doesn't just go out into the unknown. It goes to God. He picks it up. He deals with it. He handles it. We can trust Him because he cares for us. I love how Eddie stressed how important our thinking is. What we think determines how we feel and how we feel determines how we act. I've been practicing that a lot lately trying to be intentional in thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
We ended the day yesterday with our church family. We gathered for a great time over soup and sandwiches. We sat there around the table and shared the Lord's Supper which was one of the sweetest ones I remember. Then we turned our thoughts to share Christmas which we chose families to buy for this Christmas. We had a great crowd and instead of gorging ourselves on another huge thanksgiving meal and focusing on ourselves, it felt like a night all about others! I'm still feeling the overwhelming sweetness of it all this morning.

Mr and Mrs Broome

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since the wedding. The newlyweds are back from their honeymoon, settled into their new home and back to work.
What an exciting time it was for our whole family! It was exhausting but it really was stress free and fun! We are so thankful for the family and friends who shared it all with us. God has been incredibly good to the Leopards bringing us two boys who were willing to join our craziness and be part of our family.
Have to tell you my favorite part had to be when those double doors flew open and a beautiful bride stood their with her dad. I just had to catch a glimpse of the groom. Yep she made him cry and that made her cry. That's just better than gold!! What a worship time we had with a wedding thrown in.
Our sweet friends, the whole Culpepper family, had everything beautiful and totally organized. Jenny Williams captures everything in pictures better than I imagined. And the music chosen by the bride n groom was perfect and perfectly sung by Ryan Burns and Ashley Blevins. God is good and we are blessed!!
I'm including the link for pics cause I'd be here all day posting my faves, I love them all!
http://photographyanddesignbyjenny.pass.us/jessicajustinwedding/