“‘Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!’
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” ~ Psalm 30:10-12 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)
How awesome is our God that He turns our mourning into dancing? What really surprised me this week is that the song “Blessed be Your Name” has had not only impact on me, but many other Christian women 🙂 …Yes, I had (have) struggles this summer, but I choose to praise Him — no matter what the circumstances…Okay – I start rambling right now. Here is my thankful list for this week:
- I am thankful that God will use our ‘low’ moments (desert dwellings/wilderness wanderings) to bring us into a closer relationship with Him–strengthens us in the process…
- I am thankful that God is able to use the devotional teams at LWG and CWO for His glory. Sometimes it is painful to share our hearts, but if He can use it to encourage others, we are more than happy to share our life with you…
- I am thankful that God has allowed me to turn my blogging into a ministry. Who would have thought that. I know that some of my real life friends don’t understand that blogging can become a ministry, but thats okay…
- I am thankful that God opened a door for my creative outlet of Scrapbooking 🙂 – I got my ‘first call’ as a Creative Team member. Marguerite from “Designs by Marguerite” accepted my application to create LO’s with her beautiful kits. Marguerite likes my photography 🙂 – thank you LORD…
- I am thankful my Sweetheart and I will be on vacation in 5 weeks (believe me — I will share with you the countdown every single week 😉 — hope you don’t get sick of it). We hope to be able to leave town for a couple of days — California coast line…
- I am thankful that God has given me peace as our son is preparing to move out in a couple of weeks…Although my heart is still a little heavy about it; I know that everything will be okay…
What are you thankful for this week? Please share with us in leaving your link below. Please make sure that your link will work so others will be able to visit your blog. As always, the sign-up will be open until Saturday morning and the link is permanent with each Thankful post.
Blessings on your Thursday and as always…
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Iris, I’m thankful your blogging is a ministry! What a blessing you are.
Hi Iris! I love your thankful list this week (and every week 🙂 )! Your first item really spoke to me:
“I am thankful that God will use our ‘low’ moments (desert dwellings/wilderness wanderings) to bring us into a closer relationship with Him–strengthens us in the process… ”
I’m ashamed to admit that there are way too many times that I wait until “something” happens before I focus my attention back where it should be — on Him.
Thanks for the reminder & have a blessed weekend! 😀
Congrats on your new creative outlet!!! I don’t mind you counting down to your vacation, you deserve it girl!!! Enjoyed reading your list.
Enjoy your TT alwasy. I also thankful that your blog as a ministry,helpful for me and other sisters in Jesus.
I am thankful that you get peace facing your son’s moving out to live himself. I rembered that I read a book before which tells that the child is gift from the Lord for parents, not treasure..So parents could not hold his child/children back…But I believe even he moves out, his heart is always with you.
May God bless your following vacation..It should be a wonderful time, I think so!
Yes your blogging is a ministry….world wide at that! My hubby begins his vacation countdown in January every year….getting ready for August. So go ahead and countdown. It’s exciting to go on vacation! Thanks again for hosting. Blessings!
I am very thankful for you and that you began this Thankful Thursday activity! Thank you. 🙂
I, too, am glad that the Lord has turned our mourning into dancing. 🙂
now it is also a time of adjusting … but we are thankful because the situation has made us all closer together.
Blessings …
I’m thankful your blog ministers to me! I’m praying for you and your son during this time!
I’m thankful for TT..for you..and for this chance to be thankful.
I got your email… sorry I haven’t replied yet… I will but congrats, here, too!
I played this week =)
This has to be my favorite “theme” of all!! Thanks so much Iris for hosting us every single week!! I thank God for YOU!!! Have a blessed day!
Wow! I can’t even begin to say how much TT has changed my life!!! I thank God that you are able to use what he has given you to be a blessing to SO many other women!
Iris,
I just wanted to tell you that I love you sooo much! 🙂 I am thankful that you are faithful to “be here” when you have so many other things that require your attention.
And no, you won’t bore us with your vacation count down because we know that you are completely deserving!
Happy TT to you and may you feel the continual peace of HIS presence!
Congrats on getting the CT spot! I would love to see some of your layouts, come over and link me up – I am also a designer 😉
I too love this theme!
Blessings,
Nikki
We;re preparing for vacation too and I am thankful and excited!
I am so excited about getting started on Thankful Thursday.
Looking forward to joining in.
Enjoyed your list as always. Congrats on being on the creative team, how cool is that?!?! The TT is always a blessing to me and I can’t thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to serve others on the LWG team 🙂 Have a blessed day – and I’m right there with you counting down to vacation!
I, too, am thankful that your ministry, through your blog, reaches so many. I just love the first thing you are thankful for. That is one thing I say over and over. He uses the low points and He uses our mistakes to make us stronger and be a better witness for Him.
God bless you, Iris. Thanks for this wonderful meme.
Congrats on your upcoming vacation! Count down away. I feel your excitement 🙂 Also, Congrats on your scrap booking outlet. How exciting for you! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Great list this week. Praying for your family as your son prepares to move.
Yes….blogging is definetly a ministry! I have been blessed and encouraged by someone everytime I wander around in the blogland of CWO! God be praised!
Glad you are getting some vacation time! I just know the Lord is going to bless your heart/life as you take time to be with your loved ones and “rejuvenate”your spirit for His “continued work”!!!!! You are a blessing to me Iris!
I love so many of those too and stayed up late last night scrapbooking! Have a great day
Thanks for doing “Thankful Thursday!”
Of course I LOVE the scripture reference today. It’s the one on the header of my blog. It’s EXACTLY what God has done for in regards to my daughter’s death.
Thanks for doing Thankful Thursday’s!!
A quote I read this morning in my bible study: Believe God’s word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea. (Samuel Rutherford)
This reminded me of your post on Tuesday. I am thankful that God is my Rock and your Rock!
I have posted my first Thankful Thursday. Woo-Hoo. I think this is an awesome idea. Thanks for letting us all have a great reminder for our blessings.
Thanks for all your hosting this week. I’m thankful for you doing that. May God continue to give you peace about your son moving. Blessings…
I agree blogging has turned into a way to minister at times. I’m thankful I’ve found you through it. Love your list. I don’t blame you for countdown until vacation.
I’m thankful that before He turns my mourning into dancing, he kneels and weeps with me. Then, then he raises me up by his hand, and the dance begins.
Thanks for hosting “Thankful Thursday.” I am learning to love practicing thankfulness so that I can truly rejoice in all things.
Blessings, Kim
Oh, blogging can certainly be a ministry! And yours is a perfect example!
I am thankful to find a motivational tool such as this…one that reminds us to take a moment to express our gratitude. Today I posted my first Thankful Thursday post.
I am thankful for Thankful Thursday! Thanks for hosting!
Congrats on only 5 more weeks till vaca and your creative outlet! I bet you’re a wonderful photographer.
I love dancing in God’s spirit. It is so freeing. “As David danced in Jehovah’s site, I will dance with all my might…” An old song I still enjoy today.
Scrapebooking? I have never tried it but I have boxes full of stuff that need to have something done with them… BOXES! Four kids and a families worth. Ha!
God Bless!
Thank you for hosting. I was dancing with my Abba Papa just day before yesterday I still feel His embrace.
Thanks for your thankfulness, and reminding me that He does turn our mourning into dancing. I’m glad you’ve found a creative outlet with scrapbooking, and I always am encouraged through CWO…thanks for sharing!
Iris, you just never know what God has in store for us. Even something as simple as a blog that has now turned into a ministry for you. Even my simple blog might help someone…I just do not know about it!! We Christians have to realize that God works in ways that we do not know about!! What a JOY!!
Blessings, Sandy
Beautiful list. We just never know what God is going to use for His use, do we? Thanks for sharing!
This is my second week posting the Thankful Thursday !! I really like writing down what I am thankful for it reminds me of how much God has Blessed me !!
Thanks for hosing Thankful Thursday. It’s changed the way I look on life!
I’ve got SOOO many songs running through my head right now. You’ve created a monster with the IOW quote!!
Thank you, Iris, for your consistency and your gracious spirit. You are loved.
I am thankful for where I am right now and all that God is doing in our lives here in Russia. I truly appreciated your post!
I am new to the blogging scene, I was led here by my mother Susan B and my 2nd cousin, Deidre. I am looking forward to posting Thankful Thursdays each week….I have alot to be Thankful for!
Isn’t the Lord so good to bless us? What wonderful thing to be thankful for. Thank you for visiting me – I always am blessed when I visit you. Your words are a blessing to my heart. God bless you
I am thankful to have a way to express my gratitude.
I enjoyed your list. I mostly enjoyed #1 on your list as I know from experience this to be so true. I thank God he is drawing us closer to Him and strengthening us in the process. Even when things look dark and dreary He bringing hope to brighten the day. Thank you so much for sharing. Be blessed.
Stacy
Thank you for hosting Thankful Thursday…you are truly a blessing!
Kind of like that song, “I’ve got friends in low places”.. brings a whole new meaning to it, doesn’t it….???
Blessings….
Thank you for the uplifting thoughts, you are really a blessing, keep up the good work.
God Bless.