Day 213

I am grateful for fondue parties.

I'm mostly mostly because it means Ryan's home! We didn't get to celebrate his birthday with him since he stayed in Bozeman for the summer, so today's the day. It's what he wanted last year, so we tried it and loved it. I borrowed two pots, and we had oil, cheese, and chocolate.

Thank You, Lord, for the simple, social, fun fare.

Day 212

I am grateful for my cell phone.

Most people love their cell phones for texting, but we don't have that in our plan. I love my chocolate touch for its simplicity and the mp3 player. It's two devices in one that work perfectly for my needs. I'm on my second one and am grandfathered (grandmothered?) to the no-data-package-required by the date of purchase, only two months before Verizon instituted that nasty demand for smart phones.

Thank You, Lord, for my cell phone.

Day 211

I am grateful for Christian radio.

I was in college when I started listening to a lot of Christian music. I was so grateful when our big town finally had a contemporary Christian music station.

All kinds of music hold an interest for me. I have favorites in classical, jazz, blues, country, and even opera. What's so special to me about Christian music is that it reaches fathoms farther into my deeps than other genres can. It hugs my soul, renews my mind, reminds me of what's truly important, and lingers in my spirit like an eternal melody. Nothing else can hold that kind of power for me.

Air1 is our station of choice for music. KMBI FM carries several programs with savory and meaty offerings. (Sounds like the Food Network!) It airs a show my kids grew up on, "Adventures in Odyssey" and that I still like to listen to on Saturday mornings. =)

Thank You, Lord, for Christian radio.

Day 210

I am grateful for My Utmost For His Highest.

I began reading this devotional book about 25 years ago. It was a gift from a friend, and I have been inspired, encouraged, challenged, questioned, and uncovered by the anointed writings of Oswald Chambers.

This is an excerpt from today's offering:

We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite.

God's end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.

"The chaos of my life," I love it.

Thank You, Lord, for this marvelous book.

Day 209

I am grateful for wisdom.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," (Proverbs 9:10).  This fear is not just the shaking in your boots kind. It's an awe of the Creator and Lover of all things good. Solomon was blessed extravagantly after asking God for this tremendous gift. 

God has allowed us full access to His wisdom. Sometimes I have to stop trying to wrap my brain around that and just whisper a simple prayer of thanks and a petition to let this virtue be large in my life.

Thank You, Lord, for wisdom.

Day 208

I am grateful for self-control.

While I am not as self-controlled as this poor doggy, I am thankful for this fruit of the Spirit when I do exercise it. Most of the time it's with food, but sometimes it's my mouth. I wish there was a do-over button...

This is the ninth of the nine fruits of the Spirit, but its position is in no way indicative of its importance. Lack of self-control has done massive damage to hearts and minds since the Garden of Eden. I pray for the wisdom to take advantage of this gift resident in my spirit.

Thank You, Lord, for this vital gift.

Day 207

I am grateful for faithfulness.

I am profoundly blessed to have a husband who loves me. He loves my company, companionship, and me. He is faithful, helpful, available, and sweet. We agreed from the beginning that divorce would never be an option. Murder maybe, but not divorce. ; )

Kev is faithful, and God is more so. He is the definition of it, the author and inventor of it. His Word even says, "If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is," (2 Tim 2:13). He cannot be unfaithful and still be God. Good thing for me!

I am His, and He is mine. He is faithful not because I deserve it, but because it is His nature. He is that good.

Thank You, Lord, for Your utter faithfulness.