Thanksgiving!

Well, today was the *OFFICIAL START OF THE HOLIDAYS*.

And truthfully, I don’t really like the use of the word, “holiday” because I feel like it’s used much too often to take God out of the picture. But it does seem easier to say than, “Today was the official start of all the celebrations of Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS” Which I just said anyway so I guess I really am saving no ink. Or memory. Or whatever I am using up by having a blog. 🙂

There are so many things to be thankful for in my life!

1) I have such a wonderful family!

They are so funny and lively. I can’t imagine my family without each of my siblings as well as my parents. We just are all so alike and weird and funny. I especially love when we are all crazy and just laugh and laugh. Like, one night we were trying to do devotions but instead all tried to play hymns together on our newly-learned instruments. (This was recently 🙂 ). So yes, I have many great memories with my family. And I am so blessed to have each of them, EVEN when they drive me CRAZ-AY!!!!!!

2) I have such amazing friends!

They totally get me. Or they just humor me. I’m not sure, which. I am thankful for my dear LRF  or LRB…whichever it is! 😉 As well,as my dear friend, T. I am absolutely thankful for abby, my sister and best- friend- for- ever! I am also very grateful for two more recently made friendships, with two amazing girls that I love so much. And they are very much like me which makes me very happy!! 🙂

3) I am thankful I have such an awesome life

Yeah. I do. Every day I can’t help but think about how great it is! I am so lucky that I have parents who support me in everything I do and that they want to see me succeed! I am so lucky that because I am homeschooled I can plan out my life the way I want and be different. I am also very grateful that even though I am homeschooled, I still have a life and have many friends and “outs” in every day! 🙂

4) I am thankful that I get to run

I will be truthful that after my big race, I had doubts that I would be able to run again. But thanks to my running mentors who mean SO much to me!, I am back on my feet and get to run. I am so glad that we live in a safe neighborhood where I can just go running. I love to run and it’s kind of like a quiet time for me. i can’t imagine what was wrong with my brain all the rest of my life when I didn’t like it! 🙂 it’s such a  perfect sport for me!! So I am thankful that even with all my various injuries, God allows me to run and be active!

5) I am thankful for my optimistic personality

I used to get annoyed that I was always so happy, but I really am thankful for it. I like to be happy. I find it attracts people to me! 🙂 Ok, wow that was self-centered!

6) I am thankful that I get to have a blog

I have so much to say. This is like an outlet for all the words swirling around in my brain! Also, because of this blog I get very valuable advice about running. And one of my all-time favorite blogs! Don’t forget to check it out!

7) I am thankful I get to babysit

I love kids. And there are 3 kids who will always have a special place in my heart! I am in love with the family I babysit for and they supply me with endless laughs, and great memories! Here’s to many more years of babysitting! 🙂

I’m thankful for a lot more but at the risk of coming off as more self-centered than I already sound I will stop!

What are you thankful for?

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Can I trust him?

Actually, it should be: Can I trust Him? With my life. Let me clarify.

Everyone I know wants to think they can do life on their own.

They don’t need help from anyone. well, this is their beginning thought.

I also know people (like my mom) who can’t “officially” start their day until she’s given it to God.

Don’t stop reading. Yes, I just mentioned God. You may not believe in God. You may be SO sick of being force-fed Bible stuff. Bear with me.

God created everything, including you, including me. He created us perfect. When we messed up, He sent His perfect son, Jesus to earth to give us a chance at salvation. We don’t deserve this chance.

                  John 3:16 says:

             “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son and whosoever believes in Him shall NOT perish but have eternal life.”

If God was willing to give us His ONLY son’s perfect life, then can’t we give Him our less-than-perfect lives?

Truly, I think if we don’t trust our lives to Him then we are SUNK.

Now, is it easy for ME to trust my life to Him? NO! Of all the people in the world, I am probably the least submissive. This is HARD for me. I like running my own life. But I know God is there.

            Last night, I was thinking about stories from the Bible that show God is looking out for you. Do you know that story in Genesis about Abraham & Isaac? When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his one & only beloved son Isaac, Abraham would have done so obediently. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice Issac, his OWN son, God stopped him and provided a ram instead. Would God really have made Abraham sacrifice Isaac? NO! God was TESTING Abraham to see if Abraham truly trusted and loved God so much that he would obey anything God asked him to do.

That story is SO powerful. I don’t know if I could trust God knew best to that very point. That is true childlike faith.

Before I fell asleep 2 nights ago, I prayed that God would show me if I should write this post today. I prayed that God would send me some sort of sign. So, yesterday morning, i sit down in church anmd the sermon starts and I start writing this as a rough draft in a journal. And then it hit me. The sermon yesterday was about Abraham. And the story of Isaac. If that is not a clear message from God, I don’t know what is. This is how I know He is there for me, this is how I know the Lord will provide.

 IN A NUTSHELL:

1. Can you trust Him with your life? Yup.
2. Is it a choice? Well, technically. But there’s an obvious answer.
3. Does God hear you when you talk to Him? You better believe it.

Be willing to give your life to the service of God, not lose it, GIVE IT.

                            References:

• Genesis 1
• Genesis 22:1-19
• John 3:16

 

 

Claire