Grateful Friday

image This week I’m just plain thankful! I’m thankful to be a woman living out this journey of faith. I’m thankful to my God for calling me to be His!

Psalm 139 KJV

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Share in the comments something YOU’RE thankful for!

Part of New Day’s “Girlfriends in May” series.

Grateful Friday

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This is one of my favorite times in the blog, when I stop to give thanks for life’s happenings over the past month. While I believe gratefulness ought to be personal and intentional, it’s good to be official and public about it sometimes, to encourage it in others. When I think of God’s goodness, even during what I deem as hard times, I can’t help but to be thankful and humbled by God’s constant thought of me. When you know of that kind of love in your life, you can’t help but to want to share it and pass it on. He is just that good. So here’s my list of thankful for this month:

Learning. I’ve previously mentioned that I’m taking an Adobe Illustrator class hosted and taught by Lauren Hooker of Elle and Company in order to serve this blog and other pursuits. The first few classes have gone great, and I’m making my way around a new program. I’m glad I’m still able to appreciate and receive learning and apply it to wherever God has placed me.

God’s gifts. God has endowed each of us with gift to glorify His name and to share His gospel to others. When you come to understand your particular calling, follow it. God wants to fulfill purpose through you, but if you aren’t willing to heed His call, then you’re only short-changing yourself, I believe. Why would you want to miss participating in the glorious work of building God’s kingdom? This is an awesome time to be involved in the work of God.

God’s sovereignty. No matter what goes on in the world, no matter what seems to crumble around you, you better believe God is in control. Don’t ever doubt His presence, His work, power, His hand in all things. Believe.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 KJV)

43 Reasons Why Life Has Been Good

March 16 marked my 43rd birthday! So blessed to see this milestone, and it was one for me!image

It’s not Grateful Friday here on New Day, but I want to share 43 things for which I’m thankful, that have brought me from there to here, and that have made the journey worth it:

42

Melchee

Family

The gift of words and writing

March 15 – the day my Tony and I were married

Ratchford Road

School days

Friends

All the days that taught me hard life lessons

The realization of God’s presence in my life

Work

Turning 30, because it marked the point when I truly began to focus on being me

The pages in my journals

Church

The Golden Girls

Summer Fridays

IHOP

The privilege to vote for the nation’s first black president – #BOPOTUS

Sunsets

Sweet potato pie

Genesis 1:1

John 3:16

Jeremiah 29:11

iNation

Tar Heel Nation

Christmas

Sisters in Christ who’ve blessed my spirit in so many ways

PRAISE!Magazine, which I founded and published from 1996-2003

Simplicity

Peace

Help

Max Lucado books

Mornings

The touch of my grandmother’s hand as she was transitioning to Heaven

What was

What is

What is to come

The Word of God.

The Son of God.

The Spirit of God.

The Love of God.

Larry and Brenda who birthed me physically.

God the Founder, the Father, who birthed me spiritually, who called me to be His.