Thanksgiving Already?

Okay, this year is officially zooming by right before my eyes! Is it seriously Thanksgiving weekend already? As I look out my office window into the warm and sunny afternoon... into the almost bare branches of our ash tree in the backyard... into our back garden filled with fallen leaves... there is no denying that the Fall season is upon us. 

We are having the exterior of our house painted today. It is a job that I didn't get to do over the Summer months. When Fall arrived all of a sudden, I decided we better hire someone to do this job quickly before Winter sets in and the wood on our windows and garage door is not properly prepared for the harsh elements... It is a lot of work to maintain a house and keep it in excellent condition, isn't it? 

The same thing can be said with our heart, mind and spirit! It is a lot of work, a daily maintenance, in order to be spiritually healthy. The only difference is we can not pay someone else to help us "catch up" on our spiritual health when we've slacked off! Definitely food for thought for myself... 

Anyway, got side-tracked a bit there... back to Thanksgiving. As I said, I can't believe that Thanksgiving is upon us already. As our family go about our yearly Thanksgiving "to-do-list" --- get food for the Food Bank, start to get Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes ready, have Thanksgiving dinner with extended family --- I reflect on the past year and can't help but be amazed at how FAITHFUL and how GREAT our God is! 

Just some of the many things that I am thankful for this year... 

~ Faith stretched (in soooooo many ways) and spiritual growth spurt! 

~ God leading us to serve Him at a "from-the-ground-up" church plant and the tons of blessings and God-moments that have been a part of this incredible journey. 

~ God's provision for us inspite of a slowdown in hubby's business at the beginning of this year; steady work and increased hours for me at my job. 

~ New friendships. New relationships. New sense of community. 

~ The experience and witnessing of God's healing, not only emotionally and spiritually, but physically! 

~ Good health and strength for each day. Sound mind and peaceful spirit. 

~ Awesome music teacher for the children. 

~ Generally joyful and contented children. 

~ Harmony in our home. 

~ Peace in times of uncertainty; promise of bright hope for tomorrow! 

Psalm 100 (NIV) --- A psalm. For giving thanks.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.