Thankful!

Every year we have so much to be thankful for and this year is no exception. There have been many times that I have been in awe of what God had done in our lives, as well as, our family and friends' lives! 2009 brought with it times where we were thankful in the good and the bad. We learned so much through our struggles and were thankful for them. All we saw were messes that were made not knowing that God was weaving a beautiful work within us. He was turning our messes into a message! Love that! Here are just a few things we are thankful for:
-Cade's progress with his eye-successful surgeries!
-A job-one that I love!
-healthy family-mom and dad
-My sister's pregnancy and little Addison
-My brother's new job in Memphis and his family
-Children who have been adopted and have a forever family
-new friends that the Lord has given me-Jennifer and Tosha-love you both!!
-vacations spent with family at the beach
-being able to visit Chris' family each summer in Texas
-financial provisions that came only from the Lord!
-a new home
-Cade's friends-Joshua, Timmy, Christopher, Caleb and Ace
-Cade's teachers-they love him like their own
-the Lord's wisdom in making decision regarding Cade's eye
-my salvation!
-too many to post!

We are so blessed and thankful beyond words! The Lord has given us so much and my prayer is that I begin to look for more ways to bless others who have nothing.

I just finished reading Crazy Love and at the end of the book Francis Chan gives us several stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Those whom the Lord gave much to they gave back ten-fold. The story that I loved was about a doctor named Nathan Barlow. The Lord called him to Ethiopia to minister to people who had a disease called "mossy foot." What this disease did to the people there was similar to those who where lepers in OT times. They were considered outcasts. Dr. Barlow became sick and had to take some medical leave out of the country for a while to receive treatment for a tooth. He hated being out of Ethiopia and was so distressed about being gone from his mission, he ordered the doctor to remove ALL his teeth and give him dentures so that he wouldn't have this problem again and he would not have to leave the Ethiopian people. He loved this country so much, when he passed away he was returned to Ethiopia and buried there.

This doctor had so much, but he gave so much! This was just one of many who sought after God's kingdom instead of their own, because they knew their treasure was being stored in Heaven!

My prayer is the same, not to look at earthly pleasures, but to seek His kingdom first and to look for opportunities to help those in need..

Be thankful!

Blessings,
cb