“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Colossians 3:16 (ESV – emphasis mine)
Before I share my random list of thankfulness with you all, I want to say “Thank YOU” all for the wonderful birthday wishes last week during our ‘get-together’ on Thankful Thursday. You all made my heart skip a beat…
If you have read my post “Welcome to ‘Grace Alone…'” you know that I really had a hard time over the past 6 months. Nothing seemed as it should have been. I was down — all the time. I want to apologize for not being a better hostess on Thursdays…The Lord has lifted the dark cloud, put the spring back into my step 😛 …Isn’t He grant????
I promise I will stop babbling now, and share my list with you all…
- Lord, thank You for lifting the dark cloud. Thank You for putting a spring in my step, joy in my heart…
- I am thankful for my beloved. He made my birthday special last Saturday. He looked all around town to get me a manual camera. He now is patiently teaching me photography from the ground up…
- I am thankful for God’s guidance. Tuesday morning I read this post from my friend Lynn. You see, I was praying for subjects to blog about. Little ole’ me thought – well maybe about marriage, raising a son. But NO – He has a different agenda for me. I pray that I will not chicken-out. I will trust Him to give me words to share with you all (and hopefully some who see Christians in a not so good light). I am willing to be His tool (although a little scared)…
- I am thankful for Lynn’s hard work on putting together a wonderful Fall Giveaway prize. If you have not seen it yet; check out the giveaway post at Laced with Grace…
- I am thankful for Darlene’s site “Writing Fundamentals“. I have already gleaned some great insights on improving my writing. I need all the help I can get 😉 – still the German thought pattern working in this ole’ brain…
- I am thankful for women like Lysa TerKeurst. They step out in faith, sharing their heart with the world. I was really touched by her post “My Secret“…
- I am thankful for Firefox. I know this seems kind of odd to you. You see, I have IE at work (an old version). It keeps crashing when I try to access some blogs because of the plugins used on the blogs. It gives me hardly any time to read blogs during my lunch-time (30 mins), because I constantly have to reboot. So, yes, I am thankful for Firefox here at home – fast browsing, tabbing, linking, clicking, leaving comment…ahhhhhhhh
- And last but not least I am thankful that God gives me strength every.single.morning to stay on ‘target’ with my life. I had asked Him what needed to go in order for me to be available to Him. It was hard to give up scrapping as a CT, but I know it was necessary…
Okay – I better stop, because I have so much to be thankful for — I want you to have a chance to also visit others…(ps – I am my old self again – PTL!!!!)…So, what are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link below…
Thanks for stopping by today. And remember: He is able to put a spring back into your step – keep on thanking Him for the things He has done and will do in your life…
Be blessed today and always…
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Iris, So good to “hear” the peace and the cheerfulness in your post. I can tell you’ve got that “spring in your step” that can only come from the Lord!
Happy, happy Thankful Thursday!
I’m glad you had a wonderful birthday. Your new blog look is nice. 🙂
Love the new look! 🙂 Praise God He has seen you through your valley – but even in the valley you still had a thankful heart. Thank you for sharing your heart with us and allowing us to share our thankful hearts with each other.
So sorry that I missed your birthday sweetie. I am so happy that God has blessed you with peace and happiness. I love you my friend.
Belated Happy Birthday Iris! I’m glad that you are back to your ‘old self’ now. 🙂
I love your blog’s new look! So cute!
Well dear sister…the spam word for me tonight…was GRACE. That’s what it’s all about! I love your thankful list (heart!)
Hey girl! I’m really loving your new look and the new spring you have in your step. Thanks for hanging in there with Thankful Thursday’s when your days were rough. God Bless You~
Hi iris, Belated Happy Birthday to you! May God continue to work in you and through you. 🙂 By the way, I love your new blog template. 🙂
Thank God for the wonderful ways He has delivered you. It is encouraging to read of your thankfulness and joy! Glad you have had a wonderful birthday last Saturday and your beloved has given you such a lovely present. I love photography too. And I love this new look! Thank God for His many blessings upon you as you trust in Him. Truly our strength comes from the Lord daily! Thanks for sharing with us and faithfully hosting TT. It is a great blessing to be here. Take care and may God continue to shower His love, grace and mercies upon you!
Oh Iris, My Sister… I also could just feel it. You are back and I can’t wait to see how the Lord is about to use you. In a BIG way…. I am praying for your courage and that the Lord will overshadow you with His powerful spirit to write the truth. How many might be saved or helped from your post. I can’t wait to count… I know I will be one of them. Love you so much girl. Happy Day, Oh Happy Day. When Jesus washed my sins away. AMEN
Iris…WELCOME BACK! Isn’t it awesome how God even cares for the sparrow? Why do we doubt His love and concern for us then, I am excited to see what God has placed on your heart and I know that He will use you BIG time as you seek Him and His will. Happy TT! -Blessings, Laurie
Hello, I really enjoy the look of the blog. I’m thankful for the spring and renewal you feel in your life. God bless you!
Hey Iris,
I still love your new look and name. I do not think it is odd about being thankful for firefox. IE is just a problem.
Have a great day tomorrow!
Blessings!
Cheryl
Iris, I’m so glad that you are feeling better and the new site…fabulous!
I’m SUCH A DORK! I posted my comment under your last post! HA!!
Anyway.. it’s nice to be posting with you again. My “TT” POST is up.
LOVE YOU! 🙂
I always love reading your thankful lists!
Thank you for Thankful Thursday!
Iris, your new blog face is absolutely stunning, and I love the name, but mostly I love your obedience and your service to the ministry of this place. Thank you, thank you, for being so willing to give and to inspire.
I love love love your layout. It’s so neat. Anyway, good that you’re finally using Firefox. I’m so inlove with this browser and have been using it eversince (now I’m alternately using it with Google Chrome).
Congrats on the camera -may you enjoy the experience of seeing the world through the lens. And your mentioning your friends is so sweet. Friendship is truly a blessing.
Oh Iris! I can sense the new energy in you! I’m so excited for you.
Have a blessed day!
New to your blog. Love meeting other bloggers!
New here hope you guys visit my entry http://sweetprettynaughty.blogspot.com/2008/10/10-reasons-to-be-thankful-about-today.html
I am so grateful that you have your spring and your joy back! I have just come back myself from a very dark and bad place. Isn’t His Light just completely beyond awesome?
Thanks for being willing to be His tool. He has used you, and your ministry with Thankful Thursday, to help me so much. You have set an incredible example of being open to God’s will and purpose — no matter how scary or unexpected it might be.
God bless.
Iris, I know darkness all to well. It’s funny my playlist just happens to be playing, “I have seen the Light” as I was reading this post. Isn’t God a wonderful orchestrator of events. Even our darkness is for His glory for it causes us to RUN not Walk into HIS presence for the Light!!
Praise God for the lifted cloud in your life.
Iris,
I didn’t have time to REALLY READ your “TT” post last night. (My hubby was rushing me to get the boys in bed – we were late getting in from church)
Anyway, I’m sorry I’ve not been a better friend.. that I didn’t know that you were “down.” I was so busy there for a while with all of our summer activities that I hardly got online at all, for a while. There was also a recent “season” where I battled some SERIOUS dark days myself. Sometimes missing my boy is just too much. (I too am SO VERY THANKFUL that GOD has lifted the darkness that I was in)
Anyway, I’m THANKFUL today that YOU are happy and will pray that whatever your “thorn” was, it will not return.
MUCH LOVE, 🙂
Tonya
Hi Iris!
Glad that you are feeling so much joy again. 🙂
GOD IS AWESOME and always sees us through the storm!
Hope you are having a super day!
Keep shining for Him!!
Iris, you are a wonderful hostess! You are always so gracious to let us crash at your house once a week.
I love the new blog name and redsign – it is so fitting! Praise God for His Grace!!
Have a blessed week!
Iris,
I have an award that I would like to give you that is more than deserved for all the seeds of love you have sown!
Thank you for hosting Thankful Thursday!
God bless you!
Jill
Your new blog design is beautiful! I’m so thankful that God has restored your heart. ..grace is such a marvelous thing. I love your anti-spam words!
Iris, I’m so glad the dark cloud has lifted and you’re back on terra firma! Praise God for seeing you through. I loved reading your list, and wanted to thank you again for hosting this each week. I look so forward to it. May God bless you, and may you have a wonderful Thankful Thursday!
Oh belated happy birthday Irish…Your blog looks different but its cute. Your entry is also sweet…
I am thankful for Lynn’s post too. Very intriguing, wasn’t it? That could spur discussions forever!
And I’m thankful for your sweet spirit.
Btw, LOVE your new blog design. Did you do it yourself?
Hi Iris,
whooHoOooo it’s so AUTUMN here! Beautiful beautiful!
Happy belated birthday! I’m excited about your new camera and happy you got a new spring in your step!
God bless you Iris, and happy happy birthday!
Love Lea
It’s so refreshing when God lifts a burden from our shoulders – the change can be felt in your words, and seen in your fresh new page. 🙂 Blessings!
Iris,
Love, love, love your thankful heart in all of life’s situations! May the Lord continue to richly bless you. I also love your new look!
Enjoyed reading your TT post and I love visiting your new design. Hugs.
Thanks so much for allowing all of us to participate in this awesome blog! I love what you bring to the table. Always makes me think and is making me a better Christian! Blessings! Tarah
You sound so happy and blessed! Glad that the dark cloud has lifted for you(: Happy late b-day!
I was having a pity party this morning and wasn’t sure if I wanted to do Thankful Thursday. But then I read Lori’s blog called Living the Simple Life…and it put things into perspective. I AM THANKFUL and appreciate having this day set aside to focus on it.
Hi Iris –
I am so thankful with you for the joy that the Lord has brought back into your life!
Love the new blog design and title!
Blessings,
Nancy
Shortly after my last week’s Thankful Thursday post that I was thankful for a home to live in, we received an offer on the house we have for sale in Georgia at our last duty station. Isn’t God good?????
I too have felt peace today…There has been so much turmoil going on in my family …especially with my daughter.
I like the new name and blog design.
Sweet Blessings,
Darlene
Iris, I love the new look! I sense the shift in your spirit! Beautiful!
Hi Iris,
I look forward to Thursdays. Because of you I have made some new friends in blogworld, and I have been going through periods of loneliness and needing some encouragement! There is a cloud hanging nearby my little head too, but I know there is hope. Even when people aren’t faithful or notice me, God is and does.
I like the look of your blog. Maybe sometime I will upgrade mine so I can have a really pretty background, etc.
Love,
Kathy
Love me some TT! 🙂 Blessings, Dori
So glad He has put the spring back in your step and the joy back in your heart! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Blessings!
I love the new look Iris. I liked your random posts too. Mine were more random than your’s. They were all over the place! LOL Thanks for continuing to do this.
Iris,
New to your blog…what a great idea leading others to write about being thankful. After having a challenging week, you have put things for me back into perspective. I have a lot to be thankful for! Thanks.
Aina
http://www.yourdefiningmoments.com
“Making your memories last a lifetime…”
Belated Happy Birthday, Iris. Sorry to have missed it.
Thanks for the thankful list.
i missed TT last week. =(