Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules.
~ Psalm 119:102-108 (emphasis mine) (ESV)
First, I would like to thank all of you who have been very patient with me over the last couple of months regarding my lack of visits to your sites…it is a long story and maybe I will blog about it some day…
I am so thrilled to see what the Lord is doing with Thankful Thursdays…it is so cool. Just think of it as a testimony to the world that even in the storms of life, He is the one Who holds us together. He gives us the ability to praise Him in the storm and through tears.
So, this week, I will give you a short list of Scripture passages (ESV version) that I am thankful for – all listed and more have held me together…
- Strength – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13
- Peace – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7
- Grace – “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me..” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Hope – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
- Mercy – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” – Psalm 23:6 - Rest – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
- Forgiveness – “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” – Ephesians 1:7
As I had mentioned last week, I am doing a Bible study by Beth Moore. The study is called “Stepping Up”. The study is based on Psalms 120 through 134. If you are looking to do a study, I highly recommend this one. I am awaiting the member-book shipped by a dear friend (thank you Angie) since we don’t have a Lifeway store where I live.
So, what are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by linking your post below…I am looking forward reading yours over the next couple of days…
Thank you for stopping by this week. Always remember – strength, peace, grace, hope, mercy, rest and forgiveness are at your fingertips…
Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.
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I totally understand about not being able to get around to post on other’s blogs. We were waiting on an important phone call for nearly 4 weeks. Since we are on dial-up, I was not able to be on the computer during business hours. Since dh was due home shortly after business hours, I was still not able to be online much since he doesn’t like for me to be on the computer when he is home. And that doesn’t even include how many times I simply can’t get someone’s page to load!
Sometimes it is so hard to balance priorities when we’d rather be on the computer!
Insert a blush here! LOL! I have to remind myself that my purpose in blogging was to minister to other women. It wasn’t to be a people-pleaser by posting comments all over the internet. When I remember that, I don’t feel so guilty for not taking time to stop by and visit everyone.
I truly love these verses -these are some of my favorites. It touched me today and no don’t laugh when I tell you I’m misty-eyed after I finished reading your post. I’m just funny like that.
Thanks for sharing God’s promises to us.
Love your list…they are truly to be thankful for. This week already I’ve experienced quite a few of them to very real ways! He is so Good!
I know that it is so hard to visit everyone. I want to read everything and time just gets away. I understand. I love your post today. Happy Thankful Thursday Iris!
God Bless your sweet heart Iris…HIS WORD delights and causes us to be filled!
You again have chosen and shown us GREAT Biblical Truths to be Thankful for and
cling to for times of trouble or times of blessings so we can encourage others. I am most grateful to have this opportunity to express weekly my gratitude to Our Lord and King, available through Thankful Thursday or daily in prayer & HIS WORD!
If we can’t make visits to all these sites how can you! I delight myself in as many as I can but Praise God, it just keeps growing. Realistically, we realize how difficult it would be for you or us to visit them all. I began to wonder why you didn’t like me anymore((lol))if I said something offensive or just wasn’t worth the time.(LOL) But,
then I look at the numbers…and figured the odds and let it go. I’m not doing it for you…though I appreciate you so much…I do this to glorify God, whether anyone sees it…or not and I have quite a few with no comments so I have to come to terms with it((Hugs)) I came early on Weds. hoping to get one of the first spots,
and I already shifted from 3 to 5 so I better get moving. But my reason was to
think and mediate on your topic before writing…I almost was not going to do it.
But with HIS~ WORD…I just had to show my thankfulness. And again bless you
for sharing such aMazing TTs every week. Rejoice, relax and Rest in HIS WORD!
Iris,you know that I really thank you so much for your thankful words which are not only the words to our heavenly father, but also the words to me, to encourage me and comfort me. I enjoy the words you show today: strength,peace,grace,hope,mercy…
you know that I really need these words very much to strengthen me..thank you…
I know it is really not a easy thing to visit everyone’s blog, but the Lord can do! Thank the Lord for his love to make us walk together here!
Great list of Thankful Scriptures. You really inspired me to do the same. I am thankful for your site and it’s ability to make me stop each week and Be thankful…not a complainer. It’s a blessing to me. Thanks.
hello,
i’ve been reading thankful thursday posts from my blogger friends and i thought what a wonderful way to show our gratefulness to God and for His blessings. so now i am joining and this is gonna be my first tt post. thanks a lot. this is inspiring.
may God bless you.
Thank you for, once again, sharing your heart. I love the verses you chose.
Wow, Iris,
First, I am misty eyed as well reading all of these words, the scriptures and girl, I just feel your renewed spirit flying from the computer screen from your work here. Fantastic..
Second, It is apparent to me that none of us expect you to visit everyone. I think last week I checked and we were up to 95… I mean 95… Only Jesus gets around to read them all and that is what matters. So, don’t pressure yourself anymore. We free you today. *grin*
Third, Iris, this ministry is so important. Today at lunch at Olive Garden a gal said to me she logs on just to read Thankful Thursdays at SUM. I was so humbled. But I think this world is always hearing the negative and when we give thanks it lifts the spirit.
Iris. THANK YOU! I praise the Lord for your ministry and commitment. I see Jesus in you. Love and hugs, Lynn
Iris, we all understand how difficult it is at times to keep up with the blogging world. And considering how many are linking to TT now, I can see how it may be impossible to check all of them. I think it is wonderful how others are stepping in and visiting each others sites. Every week I have several new friends that comment on my TT posting.
I wrote my TT for this week earlier in the day and had it waiting to be posted and now that I read yours I see that some of the same things I am thankful for you also posted thanks for. God is a good God and deserves our praise and that is why TT is one of my favorite posts every single week.
Thank you for sharing your heart and ministry with us!
Laurie
Hey Iris,
Thanks once again for being such a great hostess for this TT. I loved reading all those awesome scriptures, the word is so healing…
Please don’t worry about trying to sign all the guestbooks. We know you are there. Personally I don’t know how in the world you could possible sign so many!
Anyhow, blessings to you my sister?
So thankful for you…
I just love the verses you shared Iris.
Iris—I loved that you laid the WORD on us! AWESOME! By the way…we aren’t doing this to be visited by everyone. I have so much trouble visiting every single sweet woman. But as time permits, the Lord directs me to different blogs and I always have a surprise of strength, wisdom and grace waiting there! So, it’s not about getting to them all….(don’t worry about coming to my house! bloggy speaking of course :)—-you come on down to Florida anytime!!! I will have your room ready!!!!!
–Just enjoy the ones you do have time for..–and spread the rest out if you feel you must visit :)..it’s about us lifting up the name of JESUS! and giving HIM glory and praise in the middle of our [sometimes] crazy and rough weeks….in the midst of trials….He is sovereign.
So— I love you !!!! AND I pray that for each one that visit’s another, that they say a prayer —over the writer of that particular blog and that God is glorified in all things!
YOU bless me and each one of us just be keeping this going!
Iris, we just started the Stepping Up study this week at our church, too. On Friday, I’m posting about a way the Lord has already used it in my life. Still working on it before I head out of town Thursday morning to visit my grandpa. God is so good to give us His word. I’m just in awe of that constantly. Have a great week!
Iris,
Great TT as usual. From time to time we have to take care of the things in our lives. Hope/pray all is well with you.
Blessings
Cheryl
Iris, thanks for these encouraging verses. Thank God for giving us His precious Words and guiding and strengthening us through His Words. Thanks for hosting Thankful Thursday. It’s been a really blessed experience for me to participate in TT, to visit and be blessed by everyone’s thankfulness and to share God’s goodness to me too. May God bless your labours of love! Don’t feel bad when you can’t visit. We will understand. Take care and have a blessed day!
Thank you Iris for this list. I needed this today. These past few months have been hard on my husband & I since my son has been diagnosed with Ceilic Disease. For a 7 year old that already had food allergies & could not eat all the things his classmate could was already hard on him. We have had to lean on God for wisdom & guidance to help him adjust. These are many of the scriptures that I cling to daily. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him. God Bless.
God’s Word is Life! I love it that no matter how we are feeling, we can find that emotion in the Bible. God understands us and loves us, and His Word is just more proof of that!
Have a blessed day, Iris!
Thanks yet again for an inspiring post, Iris. The verses you shared will help many us through our lives – I just love them!
Don’t worry about not visiting all our blogs – things happen that mean our time or talents are needed elsewhere.
May God with you!
~Chrissy
Iris, thank you for your prayers. I love all the verses you shared. I, too, am so thankful for HIS Word. No matter what I see with my eyes, God’ Word is Truth and I will stand on His Truth. Bless you dear friend.
Mine is up: http://tracyberta.blogspot.com/2008/06/thankful-thursday.html
I ask sisters, if you could, when you visit my TT, please scroll down to my post from last night. We are in desperate need of all prayer warriors to PRAY! Thank you.
Thank you, Iris, for your prayers. Thank you for sharing these verses- they are some of my favorites. I, too, am so thankful for His Word. No matter what my eyes see, I choose to believe His Truth.
Blessings.
I understand too about visiting blogs. I have to be the worst about it. I loved your thoughts on God’s word. It is wonderful.
Thank you for sharing this to us! 🙂 Enjoyed reading it.
Thank you for sharing! The one about rest is a wonderful reminder for me. Some days I get so overwhelmed with what is happening inside and outside this house that I forget to simply come to Him and rest.
Iris, thanks for this chunk of Scripture today. I really needed the reminder!
Blessings,
Elisa
MY GOD is growing me… and in part thanks to this site.
I have had a revelation… and
I’m thankful.
I am thankful for all of you as well.
Lea
God bless you Iris for this fantastic meme!
It’s understandable if you aren’t able to sign all the guestbooks…there are SO many wonderful bloggers who are participating and it’s a blessing to see how this has brought out so much praise.
God bless all of you who participate.
Blessings to you. I am thankful to know you.
I love the Word, Irene. Thank you for sharing this with us. My thankfulness rests with God’s precious grace, His power made perfect in our weakness. God bless you for hosting this meme each week. I am so thankful for *you*.
God is so good, thank you for sharing such a wonderful list. When it comes down to it, He is really behind everything we are thankful for!! I would love to print this out and tuck it away in my bible…..
This is just awesome. I need to print this off and carry it around…God Bless You!
I had not heard of this Beth Moore study, and now I have to do it! Beautiful scriptures you gave today. May God bless you!
Iris – we are thinking alike again! My post today is a list of Scriptures that I am thankful for!
I thank you for this opportunity to share our thankful thoughts and am keeping you in my prayers.
Blessings,
Nancy
I’m enjoying TTs. Thanks for hosting this!
~ Leanne
Beautiful post!
Running late…yet, I do not want to miss this week’s Thankful Thursday!
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week!!!
You know, it’s okay if you don’t get around often. I know I’m remiss at getting around to everyone that posts on my blog. But I’ve had to just let it go and comment when I can. I’m blogging (as you are) for the glory of the Lord and as a personal outlet (journal). Thank you for coming up with Thankful Thursday. It’s made me more aware of thankfulness in my life. Bless you, Dear One.
Hi Iris,
Thank you so much for hosting TT. Those verses of scripture are inspired! Thank you! God bless
Sharon
Hi Iris,
I almost missed it this week but I woke up early thinking…I have to post my TT list. God bless you and I very much enjoy your list each week. Thank you so much for the encouragement you have been, and are,to me. Be blessed,
Stacy
I’m doing the Stepping Up Bible study, too. I’m on day 4 of the homework. Wow, wow, wow! My heart is swelling with all God is showing me.
Thanks for your post! The scriptures are beautiful ~ Kelly
Wonderful scripture quotes.
What a wonderful blog you have. I am so happy to have paid you a visit. Your thankful heart is refreshing!
Blessings,
Nancy