Thankful Thursday

Before I begin "Thankful Thursday", I just wanted to let you know that even though I didn't post about this yesterday, I am still continuing "The Love Dare". This has gotten a little more complicated with my oldest daughter now being involved.

I am going to continue posting about this, but it will be posted on "The Power of Your Love" because I really feel that the only way I can do this is through God's power, not my own. I need His power, strength, might and love to lead and guide me in this venture. So, if you want to follow along with my "Love Dare", please stop by and visit there.

Thanks for understanding that I needed to separate this special time for building my relationship between me and and my children.

So, now on to "Thankful Thursday":

This is the verse that Iris has chosen for this Thursday, and it involves friendship:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Colossians 3:16

I have friends--most of them are new friends. And you may ask yourself why I don't have old friends--friends that I associated with from long ago, people I knew from when I was in school, in college, friends that I had made during the early years of my marriage and when my children were young.

The reason for this is very simple--these are not the friends that God intended for me to have. These are not people that bring out the best in me, have the strength and courage to point out to me where and when I am in error with my life, these are not people that point me to God.

Because of these reasons, God has supplied me with new friends, friends in Him. These are people that do dwell in Christ, and that I can trust to point me in the right direction when I am heading down the wrong path. There are many of you, and I am not going to name you each by name--I would be typing a very long time. But, each of you know who you are and what you mean to me. I will give you an example though:

Any of you who have been reading my posts, know that my biological family has not been communicating with me due to my Christian beliefs. I felt as though I were being persecuted by my own family. I have discussed this with some friends, and they have guided me in the right direction with their encouragements:

"This is why God has given you us, your spiritual family. Sometimes you own family just doesn't come through for you, and that is why you have us."


"You need to move the knowledge that you have about this in your head into your heart and pray that they will soften their hearts regarding this."


and the comment that really sticks out in my mind:


"And who was persecuted for your sake?"

There are many more, and I am thankful today and everyday that God has given me my spiritual family, each and every one of you, to lead and guide me in His wisdom.

I have one more thing to be written about today, and that is what are known as blog awards. I prefer to call these blessings--blessings that others have bestowed upon me from the depths of their hearts--to encourage me, to keep me in God's Word, to keep me seeking His wisdom and not my own.

I have received these blessings both from Peggy and Lorie. I suppose I am doubly blessed today!! I would encourage you to visit both of these wonderful ladies and read what they have written and what is on their hearts! Thank you both for thinking of me today, honoring me with these blessings, and encouraging me in my journey!

I truly am thankful to God for providing me with the friends that He knows will guide and direct me in His path.

If you have a friend that you would like to bless today, please feel free to take one or both of these friendship blessings, and pass them on. Just please leave me a comment so that I know where these blessings are going so I can stop and visit them. Maybe I'll make some new friends!!

If you would like to read more "Thankful Thursdays" or participate, please stop by and visit Iris.

K--that's all for a while!

Beth