THANKS!

THANKS!
 
BY ANITA MONDRAGON 
 
 
I woke up this morning
And it was Thanksgiving Day.
I wanted to give special thanks,
But pondered what to say.
 
Then, I thought of all the things,
God gives me every day…
The things I take for granted…
The “Thanks!…” I never say.
 
See, I’m awakened every day
By a whisper in my ear;
“Wake up you sleepy head!
Wake up my child, so dear!”
 
As I stretch and yawn
In the early morning light,
I say, “Good morning, Father!
Thank you for the sleep last night!”
 
He smiles and urges me
To look upon the dawn,
As He speaks to the dark of night,
And says, “Go now!…Be gone!”
 
I see the sky…it’s changing,
As it turns from orange to gold;
Then the sun comes up,
And warms my face…it’s a marvel to behold!
 
And then my bird, though caged he be,
Breaks out in tunes so sweet and long,
And sings his praise to One, unseen…
A great and glorious song!
 
The cat sits in the window,
His eyes to Heaven raised;
And purrs his ‘Thanks’ to God above,
That’s how he gives his praise.
 
I hear my husband next to me,
His breathing soft and low.
He means the world to me,
Though I don’t often tell him so!
 
He’s the one I lean upon
In this world of constant strife.
I’m so glad God chose me
To be his helpmate and his wife!
 
I check my sleeping children,
Still lying in their beds,
And I see faint halos glowing
Above their little heads.
 
They’re just small angels given to me,
To help me through each day;
When life gets tough, and things are hard,
They brighten up my way!
 
My house, though small, is filled with love;
It’s full of friends, and laughter;
I thank YOU God, for my beautiful life,
Of now…and here…and happily ever after!


Praising the Lord in the Middle of the Mess

By: Grace Bejarano
Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
 
I read this scripture and I thought to myself:  How do you do this when the washing machine is broken? How do you do this when the plumber setup the shower incorrectly and you are still waiting for another person to fix the shower? How do you praise the Lord when your friend refuses to be saved and she’s losing her mind? How do you praise Him when your car breaks down, you are pregnant with your 4th child and your husband is the only one working? And how do you thank Him when your husband thinks you are crazy for thanking Jesus for all the wrong in your life right now.
 
This is what I’ve done for years! And it works!
Thank you Jesus, John thinks I’m crazy!
Thank you Jesus the washing machine is broken. 
Thank you Jesus the shower is wrong again and you are sending the right person to fix the shower.
Thank you Jesus my friend is losing her mind because she is one day closer to receiving your salvation and loving grace.
Thank you Jesus I’m pregnant with my 4th child and my car is broken down because your perfect will is working in my life.
 
Lord, I am thankful and I  bless you and affectionately praise your name! Let your will be done in my life. This simple prayer brought a free washer and dryer into my home, another person to fix my shower, and compassion for Donna, and a blessing of the 4th child and a car that will be repaired. 
 
Instead of worry and doubt, I am in the Lords perfect plan for a blessing,
 
I remember those hard days when I just wished I could be blessed AND now I know I am blessed despite what appears to be setbacks.