Thankful Thursday ~ Random Thoughts

There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for, so today I will share some random thoughts that come to mind as I am typing out my Thankful Thursday post. We too often get bogged down by the negative things that happen to us, we forget that there are more positive things happening.

Tonight, as I was scanning through my FB feed, I noticed a story one of my friends had shared. The story was about a young girl (17 to be exact), that is fighting stage 4 cancer for the second time. This young lady is all about sharing Christ as she is fighting cancer. Katie Wagner has very dark days behind her, and more to come, but she gives glory to God. She is thankful for being used by Him. Her story is so inspiring to me. Please take a moment to pray for her and her family. I also encourage you to check out her story on her website: We Love Katie.

Last week I had shared that I have several Bible translations in my home. Well, on Monday I received a review copy of a new Women’s Study Bible. Sadly, I have not yet had the chance to dig into it, but the first impression in positive. I will share a more in-depth review on Friday here on my blog. I am thankful that God continues to give me new insights of His Word.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4 ESV)

I am thankful for the strong community of Christian women around the world-wide-web. It is so amazing to me that women pray for each other from around the globe. We may not ever meet each other this side of heaven, but I know that there will be an awesome party in heaven when we come together. Some days I hardly can wait to meet the sisters in Christ…makes me giddy :).

I am also thankful for three new writers at Laced with Grace. God continues to strengthen the team and sends us women that are not afraid to share their heart. God is good…All the time.

These are just a few items I am thankful for this week. What are you thankful for? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Please remember that in the month of July, my friend Laurie at “Women Taking A Stand” is hosting Thankful Thursday.

Thank you for stopping by today and allowing me host you all in the month of June. Remember: God will see you through the tough times; you are never alone!!!

Until next time…live, laugh and love!!!

Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Firewoods, Pots, and Parenting
2. Heather @ Living In the Moment
3. It Feels Like Chaos
4. Sarah — Freedom in The Journey of Hope
5. Speak Life!

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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Thankful Thursday ~ His Strength

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13 ESV)

Philippians 4:13 is my life verse; I hold on to it on a daily bases. I know that all of us have times where nothing seems to go right. Life gives you lemons…But I know that God is with me every step of the way.

I often wonder how I was able to go through life without God by my side. Yes, there were years in my life where I thought I didn’t need God. But the truth is that I was not okay without Him.

I was hoping that life would slow down a little once our son finished school; had his one life. I guess, life really never slows down and there are always small and big battles to be fought. Thank God, He is fighting with and for me.

Philippians 4_13There are some current situations in my life that I am unable to control (my husband’s and sister’s sickness). I am hanging on to my life verse these days. The artwork on the photograph is on my desk at work. It is right in front of me so that I can see it all day long. I am thankful that He gives me His strength.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving the link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Without Him and His strength the battles of every day life are harder than with Him.

Love and peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Kate @ Teaching What Is Good
2. Edwards Granddaughter
3. Reality Marriage
4. Adultery, Grace and Braveheart
5. bp
6. It Feels Like Chaos
7. jhunnelle @ choosing life
8. Aisling Beatha
9. Style N Season: Sunshine N Flower Maker
10. Slenderella Jenn
11. My #1 Reason to Pray
12. Don’t Forget The In Between Times – Robert J. Gerryts
13. Melanie @ M&M
14. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand
15. Deidra M @ The Middle
16. Grieving a son
17. Of Old Mirrors and New Doors
18. Ms. Kathleen
19. lorig
20. Falling Off My Big Girl Shoes
21. Because Christ is Risen!
22. Remission and ‘Love & Laughter…”
23. Lisa Marie
24. Charlene @ A Divine Walk
25. Denise
26. Daily Journey
27. Gen@Simply Cornish
28. The Fontenot Four
29. Schotzy@Wings of Eagles
30. Style N Season: A Thankful N Praying Heart

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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Jesus Died for All

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the “worst” death. Only the worst criminals condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, for unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion Jesus was nailed to the cross by His hands and feet, rather than tied…

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.

The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There’s a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the Wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself, so that He could breathe.

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs for long because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back and using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of
suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water
from his wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side… But do we remember the many wounds made to his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrists, the feet overlapped and a nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. And… before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns (two to three inch thorns) cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 5 liters (just over a gallon) of blood.

Jesus poured all 5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His body; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest..

All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross beam was almost 30 kg of weight, to which His hands were nailed).

Jesus had to endure this experience, so that you may have free access to God.

So that your sins can be “washed” away. All of them, with no exception! Don’t ignore this.

JESUS CHRIST DIED…FOR YOU!

For you, who now read this post. Do not believe that He only died for others (those who go to church or for pastors, bishops, etc).

He died for you!

Accept the reality, the truth, that JESUS IS THE ONLY SALVATION FOR THE WORLD.

God has special plans for YOU!
~ Author Unknown

Thankful Thursday ~ Easter

Jesus said to her, β€œI am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, β€œYes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
(John 11:25-27 ESV)

Cross

Easter is my favorite holiday. Of course I like Christmas as well, but Easter has a special place in my heart and soul.

Like Mary, I say “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ…” I believe that Christ died for my sins, and rose again on the third day. Because of His sacrifice I have direct access to God.

My friend Kathy, wrote a wonderful blog about the Cross and the Resurrection. Not only should the Cross be important to us, but the Resurrection of our Lord.

So this week, I am thankful for Holy Week, with Christ’s Resurrection being the most important event ever happened.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Christ’s Resurrection is the most important event ever.

Love & peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand
2. Ms. Kathleen
3. It Feels Like Chaos
4. Kate @ Teaching What is Good
5. Why I refuse to say “I”M FINE”
6. Style N Season: The Only Constant Thing in Life is Change
7. Thankful Art Page
8. Aisling Beatha
9. jhunnelle
10. Amazing Grace
11. Marieta – A walk to Remember
12. Kids turf
13. A Song To Heal A Friend – Robert J. Gerryts
14. Melanie @ M&M
15. A Silly TT post πŸ™‚
16. Beth @ My Destiny
17. Legally Kikay
18. bp
19. Pia’s Journal
20. Denise
21. Openings
22. Daily Journey
23. Charlene @ A Divine Walk
24. Is There a Reason to Choose Easter
25. becky aka theRAV
26. Pride and Unbelief

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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