Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works! (Psalm 105:1-2)
A while ago, an old friend inspired me to keep a "Thank you, God" journal. I've been keeping it faithfully ever since, and have committed to adding at least 2 items to the list each day.
Far too often, my prayers are filled with requests and I forget to praise the Lord for all that He has done and will continue to do. All throughout the book of Psalms, we are commanded to praise the Lord and to "forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2). By daily recognizing God's wonderful works, the Lord has not only filled me with a deeper love and longing for Him, but has also been using my "Thank you, God" journal as a humbling reminder of the many ways He has tremendously blessed me.
If you don't already keep a journal, I highly encourage you to, at the very least, commit to keeping a list of the things the Lord has given you. Even if it is 1 thing a day, you will be tremendously blessed by it!
I will be posting on this page every once-in-a-while to share some of the entries from my "Thank you, God" journal. I pray that they will cause you to reflect on the wonders of our great God!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you, God
2. teaching me while I was in Colorado that I can do all things through the strength You provide
3. friends who really care how I'm doing
4. the richness of the lyrics to "Be Thou My Vision"
6. a dad who protects and loves me
7. a piano and the ability to play it well
17. the satisfaction that comes when completing a job
18. a mom who takes time to ask me how I'm doing and is always ready to encourage
21. for forgiving me over and over and over again!
22. a cozy corner and fuzzy blanket to curl up in
24. marshmallow roasted to perfection
25. the availability of scripture (ipod, computer, pocket Bible, and TONS of translations)
29. the convenience and freedoms that come with a drivers licence
30. the smell of pine wood
31. the color purple
32. time to sit in silence and read a good book
34. encouraging words
35. the beauty of different cultures
36. cookie dough :)
37. giggle fits
39. old friends
40. the comforting smell of leather
41. how my MacArthur Study Bible is helping me to gain greater insight and comprehension as I study Ephesians
42. giving me time to reflect as I finished scrap-booking my trip to Colorado
43. giving me a joyful desire to serve my family today
44. quieting my anxious heart
45. physical exercise and the energy it brings
46. ultimate frisbee with friends
47. the way You work in my life
48. the beauty of late summer
49. Jesus, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in me (Eph 3:20)
50. variety in personalities
51. good movies (they aren't as hard to find as you think)
52. comforting me when no one else can
53. providing good friends when I am distanced from others
54. opportunities to serve
55. improv on the piano with Anya and Kara
56. sun shining through the fog on the way to church this morning
57. cats in windowsills
58. the long walk and cheerful conversation with Kate
59. Boggle with friends
60. the fun we have at ultimate frisbee
61. days without stifling humidity
62. the sweet and juicy peaches of late summer
65. the four cute notebooks I got for school
66. that I can cast all my cares on You
67. for Kate as my running partner
68. showing me in Ephesians 4 that, as a Christian, I am to put off bitterness, anger, and malice. I am to forgive others just as You have forgiven me
69. the 12 pumpkins I've gotten from our garden so far
70. an amazing variety of textures: smooth, silky, rough, slimy, fuzzy, coarse
71. keeping me safe as I drove to LBC by myself for the first time
72. allowing me to sharpen my mind with school
74. the blessing of unexpectedly running into friends
75. that my family can afford the books I need
77. the sound of cicadas in the trees
78. the results of Sierra's painstaking work to organize her 16th birthday party
79. Sierra's enthusiasm
80. swimming, ice-cream, prom dresses, frisbee,and cookies with Sierra's favorite things written on them
82. the time spent this evening getting to know the Hellers better at their house
83. the fun Kimberly and I had playing piano together
85. sharing funny hunting memories with the Fregm family late last night
86. all of the lovely orange pumpkins from our garden
87. how You draw me closer to You through conflicts
88. how You use piano playing and hymns to calm my heart
89. the gift of laughter that You gace my family and I as we watched Abbot and Costello on Netflix
90. that I was able to get my LBC homework done
91. a study Bible to help me gain a deeper understanding of Your truths
92. the way You speak to me through Your Word
93. for helping me to understand a bit better how to put on Your armor (Eph. 6)
94. that I can trust You to take care of my heart
95. the wonderful reminder of Your sovereignty - Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good."
298. thank you cards
299. whiffle ball
300. Dad's mischievous laugh when he plays card games
302. good movies on Netflix
304. this crisp fall morning
306. You have loved me with an everlasting love
307. You never make mistakes
315. the smell of new carpet
316. classy jazz piano music
317. how birthdays give me the opportunity to show someone how much they are loved and appreciated
318. Your promos that true love and satisfaction can only be found in You
319. the book Get Lost that is helping me to get lost in Your unfailing love
320. the $15 I lost at market last week was found
321. long heart-to-heart talks with Mom. They always leave me feeling loved and encouraged
322. all of the older women of the church who I know I can trust because of the way they love and encourage and support me
323. a wise and slightly over-protective dad ;) I love how he is so vigilant to look out for me.
324. the girls nigh out at Chili's with Miss Joanie, Mom, Miss Drenee, Tracy Reagen, Maddie, Kara, and I
325. our fun waitress
326. the sweet and thoughtful note Dad left for me this morning
327. friends who have amusingly flat and sarcastic humor
25. the availability of scripture (ipod, computer, pocket Bible, and TONS of translations)
29. the convenience and freedoms that come with a drivers licence
30. the smell of pine wood
31. the color purple
32. time to sit in silence and read a good book
34. encouraging words
35. the beauty of different cultures
36. cookie dough :)
37. giggle fits
39. old friends
40. the comforting smell of leather
41. how my MacArthur Study Bible is helping me to gain greater insight and comprehension as I study Ephesians
42. giving me time to reflect as I finished scrap-booking my trip to Colorado
43. giving me a joyful desire to serve my family today
44. quieting my anxious heart
45. physical exercise and the energy it brings
46. ultimate frisbee with friends
47. the way You work in my life
48. the beauty of late summer
49. Jesus, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in me (Eph 3:20)
50. variety in personalities
51. good movies (they aren't as hard to find as you think)
52. comforting me when no one else can
53. providing good friends when I am distanced from others
54. opportunities to serve
55. improv on the piano with Anya and Kara
56. sun shining through the fog on the way to church this morning
57. cats in windowsills
58. the long walk and cheerful conversation with Kate
59. Boggle with friends
60. the fun we have at ultimate frisbee
61. days without stifling humidity
62. the sweet and juicy peaches of late summer
65. the four cute notebooks I got for school
66. that I can cast all my cares on You
67. for Kate as my running partner
68. showing me in Ephesians 4 that, as a Christian, I am to put off bitterness, anger, and malice. I am to forgive others just as You have forgiven me
69. the 12 pumpkins I've gotten from our garden so far
70. an amazing variety of textures: smooth, silky, rough, slimy, fuzzy, coarse
71. keeping me safe as I drove to LBC by myself for the first time
72. allowing me to sharpen my mind with school
74. the blessing of unexpectedly running into friends
75. that my family can afford the books I need
77. the sound of cicadas in the trees
78. the results of Sierra's painstaking work to organize her 16th birthday party
79. Sierra's enthusiasm
80. swimming, ice-cream, prom dresses, frisbee,and cookies with Sierra's favorite things written on them
82. the time spent this evening getting to know the Hellers better at their house
83. the fun Kimberly and I had playing piano together
85. sharing funny hunting memories with the Fregm family late last night
86. all of the lovely orange pumpkins from our garden
87. how You draw me closer to You through conflicts
88. how You use piano playing and hymns to calm my heart
89. the gift of laughter that You gace my family and I as we watched Abbot and Costello on Netflix
90. that I was able to get my LBC homework done
91. a study Bible to help me gain a deeper understanding of Your truths
92. the way You speak to me through Your Word
93. for helping me to understand a bit better how to put on Your armor (Eph. 6)
94. that I can trust You to take care of my heart
95. the wonderful reminder of Your sovereignty - Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good."
298. thank you cards
299. whiffle ball
300. Dad's mischievous laugh when he plays card games
302. good movies on Netflix
304. this crisp fall morning
306. You have loved me with an everlasting love
307. You never make mistakes
315. the smell of new carpet
316. classy jazz piano music
317. how birthdays give me the opportunity to show someone how much they are loved and appreciated
318. Your promos that true love and satisfaction can only be found in You
319. the book Get Lost that is helping me to get lost in Your unfailing love
320. the $15 I lost at market last week was found
321. long heart-to-heart talks with Mom. They always leave me feeling loved and encouraged
322. all of the older women of the church who I know I can trust because of the way they love and encourage and support me
323. a wise and slightly over-protective dad ;) I love how he is so vigilant to look out for me.
324. the girls nigh out at Chili's with Miss Joanie, Mom, Miss Drenee, Tracy Reagen, Maddie, Kara, and I
325. our fun waitress
326. the sweet and thoughtful note Dad left for me this morning
327. friends who have amusingly flat and sarcastic humor