2008 is Almost History

The time has flown by so swiftly! Where did this year go?

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. I have this personal rule I live by where "all things Christmas" are outlawed until the day after Thanksgiving, then it's full steam ahead Christmas from then till the 1st of the year. I'll be listening to nothing but Christmas music for the next month+. I think it's a shame the way Thanksgiving is just jumped right over and neglected these days. I remember when.....oh, never mind.

Although I love the Christmas season and I'm looking forward to the special holiday music, I can't help but keep Thanksgiving in my heart. God has been SO GOOD to me my entire life. I have no complaints. At church Wednesday night I was asked to sing a special. (Only because the moderator had forgotten to ask anyone and I'm about the only one they can count on to come up with a song in a moment's notice without getting violent.) ;-) Anyway, I sang "I've Got So Much to Thank Him For." The chorus says, "When I think of what He's done and where He's brought me from". As I sing that song and get to thinking about it, I seldom can sing it without crying. "Where He's brought me from"...He's led me through so many personal trials, circumstances, heart-changing situations and glorious victories! I look back and can see so many times that although I didn't understand what the purpose was at the time, I now know He was preparing me for what He knew was ahead. It's the same for each one of us. He knows what our future holds and He desires to mold us and make us into that perfect vessel to be used by Him.

As 2008 is coming to a close I desire to be fully surrendered to His perfect will and pliable in His hands--no resistance. I don't want to wait till January 1st to make my resolution to be fully His. May my every day be filled with gratefulness for His saving grace and mercy. It's mind boggling to realize He sent His Son, His ONLY Son, to die on the cross for MY sins. I'm SO unworthy of His love, but I'm SO grateful and I want to live my life in such a way as to prove my gratitude.

This is the season to ponder the wonder of the Christ Child coming to earth to live as a mortal man, then to suffer and shed His Own precious blood to (1) purchase our salvation, (2) sanctify us, (3) heal our bodies, and (4) purchase The Church of God. I'm so grateful for those 4 blessings and I want to take full advantage of each of them, so He won't have suffered in vain.

God bless you!