“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” ~ Psalm 28:7 (ESV)

This week I have been thinking a lot about relationships…off-line and online. So I thought I will share a list of the wonderful relationships the Lord has blessed me with…

  • Thank You Lord for giving me the opportunity to commune with You every.single.day. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sins in order that I have a close relationship with You…
  • Thank You Lord for restoring my relationship to my husband over 2 years ago. He is my best friend, lover, confidant…
  • Thank You Lord for a wonderful relationship with our son. Although he no longer lives at home, he calls, visits and is very much relaxed about it all…
  • Thank You Lord for bringing women into my life that are there to pray, support and lift me up when ever I need it…
  • Thank You Lord for a great resources like Christian Women Online. Women can meet and find other women that think alike…
  • Thank You Lord for wonderful co-workers that stand up for each other and help each other out…
  • Thank You Lord for bringing women together every Thursday to share their thanks and blessings with each other…
  • Thank You Lord for the wonderful blogging teams at Laced with Grace and CWO’s Internet Cafe

What are you thankful for today? Please to share with us in leaving your link below. As your time permits, please visit other participants.

Thankful Thursday has been a huge part of my online life for almost 2 years now, especially the past 8 months. I love it and I thank the Lord every Thursday for your participation.

Many things have been going on in my life (as in all our lives), especially work. I have been working long hours that resulted in frying my brain pretty much every night. I had some other issues, but I don’t want digress (well, this is harder than I thought 😆 )…All I wanted to say is that I will be taking an extended blogging break here on Sting My Heart.

I am very thankful that three of my very dear online friends are willing to host Thankful Thursday during my absence. Thank you Laurel, Lynn and Crystal for not letting Thankful Thursday ‘die’.

I pray and hope that you, my dear readers, will continue with Thankful Thursday during this time. I still will be posting on Laced with Grace and CWO’s Internet Cafe…I hope to see you there…

Thank you so much for stopping by today to share you thankfulness with us this week.

Blessings on your day and as always…

Sig Tag

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Lynn
2. Ann/mom2HandH
3. Rachelle G.
4. Amy – Knights Acre
5. lori@allyouhavetogive
6. ellen b
7. Angie
8. Denise
9. Lizzie’s Home
10. Lyndy
11. Lori ~ Simple Life at Home
12. Crystal@God is in Control
13. snippets
14. Jenileigh’s Journey
15. Heather-NotaDIYLife
16. Dana
17. Heather Cox
18. Patty
19. chupieandjsmama
20. Robyn @ Overflowing Grace
21. Mary
22. zoe
23. In Light of the Truth
24. Melissa
25. Chocolate and Coffee
26. Kathleen Marie
27. Elisa
28. To Know Him
29. BP
30. Jen @ Scraps&Snippets
31. Brandi @ Home, Hope and Future
32. Andrea
33. Terri Sue
34. Deidre
35. Amy@P2P
36. Texastanya
37. Jenny
38. Courtney
39. Priscilla
40. Tiffany
41. Brittany – 4 little men
42. Jane Anne at Gravity of Motion
43. Adena
44. Kim @ Hind’s Feet
45. Kim @3peanuts
46. AmyD
47. Karen
48. Linda
49. Vicki (Windows to My Soul)
50. Ella
51. Carey @ Ideas in Pink
52. Ruth
53. Susan
54. Tonsofsons
55. Nise\’
56. Daisy
57. gail
58. Nancze
59. Annabelle (Christian Momma)
60. Mama Bear
61. Amanda
62. Barbara
63. Shannon
64. Donetta
65. Stacy
66. Terri @ in His hands

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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56 Comments

  1. Iris,

    This post is beautiful and filled with your genuine heart. I want to cry. You will be missed beyond all reason. I can’t begin to tell you how your influence and encouragement has changed me. Your love for Jesus shines out in your posts. I love you with an eternal love. Love and hugs, Lynn

  2. Oh Iris, thanks so much for starting this meme. It’s definitely been a blessing in my life. I hope you have a refreshing sabbatical from the blogosphere. Thanks for your testimony.

  3. Iris,
    you are wise to listen God and know what you need to do…you will be refreshed!
    I will check in at the Cafe on you…your words have been a blessing to me, you know that!
    Peace to you in this time….
    thank you Iris…for magnifying the gratitude we need have in our lives…
    you bless us!
    lori

  4. Dear Iris, I will miss you so much.
    I went back today and looked at my first post back in January of this year. I have met so many beautiful women and I wanted to see who was there from the beginning. The first time I got comments, I got two comments–you were one of them. Thank you.
    Your sweet heart has meant so much to me. I wish you could feel what is in my heart.
    I am sorry that you have had a rough time lately. Some need to grow up spiritually.
    The wounds of the faithful touch His heart.
    I love you Sister.
    Don’t be a stranger. 🙂

  5. Iris, you have become such a big part of my life. I pray for you, think of you and will CONTINUE to do so. Thankful Thursday is the one “meme” that has been a constant in my blogging life. Mainly because the encouragement I receive when I stop and write out things in my life the Lord has blessed me with. Then when I read the others….well I am blown away.
    Rest up. God will strengthen you—-I will keep reading your writings on your other locations….you are precious to me!!!
    I love you!!!

  6. Iris, I will miss visiting your blog during your time away. I find so many inspirational things here and you have been a blessing to me. You have a genuine warmth about you that is felt even over the distance of cyberspace.

  7. I will also miss you beyond words! You have blessed me beyond words with all your encouragement and I hope that your blogging break will be filled with many blessings as God restores you and builds you up again.
    Love you

  8. Tears filled my eyes as I read that you were taking a break. I feel that I was only beginning to get to know you. I will miss you terribly and keep you in prayer. Please know that you are a blessing to me, a pillar of strength and I admire you dear friend. I thank-you for your support and your precious prayers. I look forward to your return!

  9. Beautiful post! I’ll be praying for you as you take your blogging break. I pray that it refreshes you and enables you to do the things in your life that you need to do. (And I pray that it is not toooo long, for I will miss you!) Blessings my friend

  10. Iris, I will miss you on your break but am so glad to still be able to read your wonderful devotions at LWG & CWO. Sometimes, we just have to stop and regroup and there is nothing wrong with that. I watched Beth Moore’s teaching the other night in her breaking free study on resting in the Lord. Sometimes, He simply calls us to rest. Your in my prayers and look forward to when you return here at Sting My Heart….Thank you for all your do, you bless me so much!

  11. Iris, I hope that the break helps you get the rest you need and gives you time to do the things you need to do. I will miss your hosting Thankful Thursday and look forward to your return. Blessings to you!

  12. Hey Iris,
    I totally understand the need for a break. Sometimes we must take a step back and look at what we’re doing. I pray for wisdom and refreshment in all things for you. We need to do those things that God calls us to do. I tend to add my own stuff to do and I get burned. So I take the knife and cut things out that are just “busyness”. That’s sometimes difficult to do. Thanks for being such a huge encouragement! Blessings.

  13. Iris, my anti-spam word was “lite”. That’s what you and what you have been in all the months I have been by Sting My Heart. The LIGHT of Christ has shown through you, your words, your thoughts beautifully every time. I am praying for you to be restored, refreshed, and renewed in Jesus during your time away. From my experience, the best is yet ahead and I prayed you will be filled with excitement and anticipation at the work He has before you! Be led, my sister in Christ. Be led!

  14. Lovely post. I too am very thankful for the Christian witness you have been here on the web. I know what it feels like to need an extended break. I really benefitted from my over 6 month break from blogging just this year. I frankly hope you are not gone that long. You will surely be missed by me and many others. May the Lord refresh, restore, relax and renew you in this time. God bless.hugs.

  15. Oh, Iris, your list is as beautiful as your heart is. I am deeply saddened that you will be taking a break, but I TOTALLY understand. I put a note to you in my thankful thursday list. I probably should have posted it here, but I got carried away typing this morning. God bless you!

  16. I don’t know what to say ? I feel it has all been said so I just want to pray with you.

    Lord Jesus, please cradle Iris in your loving arms. Rain down wisdom and grace upon her. Rain down refreshing waters upon her body, mind and spirit. I ask Lord that you bless her with new and expanded dreams and visions for her life, her marriage, her family and her ministry. Lord Jesus, I praise you and thank you for bringing Iris into my life. I count her as a friend and blessing. Amen.

  17. Iris…Will miss you *much* while you are on break. You have been such an encouragement to me and I am so thankful for *you*. Praying your break will be refreshing and productive, and that you will be blessed beyond measure as you have been used to bless many others. Know that you are loved, you will be missed, and we will be thrilled to see you back when God’s timing is right. (((Hugs))) to you!!!

  18. Iris, While completely understanding the need for taking a break, I will miss you dearly! Thank you for the encouragment you have offered me in these past few months I have been blogging. Thankful Thursday has and will be a big part of my blogging experience. Will be “seeing” you over at LWG and CWO.

  19. Dearest Iris – I hope this break gives you the refreshment of Elijah! I can’t imagine how many chariots you’ll be outrunning on your return..:)

    You’ve been such a great source of encouragement for me…Actually, I feel like I’ve taken much more than I’ve given. Just know you are dearly loved and will be missed. I look forward to seeing you at CWO –

    Lisa

  20. Hi Iris,

    It has been so long since I have participated. I have really been struggling in my walk and struggling with seeing the blessings during a chaotic time in our lives. It was Thursday though and God reminded me to be Thankful so I made the time to sit down and write this morning. Thank you for hosting this weekly meme and for reminding us to be thankful in everything.

    Jennifer

  21. Thank you for sharing your thankfulness. You got me thinking of people too. This is my first time I’ve posted on Thankful Thursdays. Hope to be a regular!

  22. I’m still technically on Blog Break, but I just had to stop by and check out all the thankful hearts. Thanks so much for doing this Iris…You truly bless me us all with your precious spirit and hospitality! We love you!!!

  23. I have so enjoyed your thankful thursdays! I will pray for more balance in your life. Thank you for always sharing your blessings!

    Kim

  24. Iris – my precious sister. I will be holding you in my prayers during this time. I pray the Lord will give you a time of renewal and restoration. You have blessed me in so many ways. I pray the richness of God’s blessing in Jesus will fill your heart and mind. Your sweet, giving spirit is a gift to all of us who know you.

  25. Thank you for all the wonderful Thankful Thursdays that I could share with your blog community, you will truely be missed. May God use you in mighty ways.

    God Bless you

  26. Hi Iris, it’s my first time to join. So happy to share some of the things I am thankful for today, though sad to know you will be out for some time. Hope and pray your leave will be a fruitful one. cheers! 🙂

  27. Dear Iris,

    This is my first time to sign in, and participate in Thankful Thursday. I just started my blog last week. I used the theme, but did not know to come here and link on. I’m totally new to all of this!

    I loved the idea of Thankful Thursday, it will always be my favorite day to post! I’m so grateful for YOU, and I pray you take this time to rest and be refreshed since you have blessed so many!

    I’ll be checking up on you on the other sites.

    Blessings!

    Susan

  28. Dear Iris, I hope you get much needed rest and calm on your break from blogging. Sometime’s we just have to step back when life gets a bit over whelming. You are in my prayers.

  29. A wonderful list of relationships to be thankful for. Sometimes we each must take a break form some of the many tasks that God has for us. We tend, as women, to try and do it all. Have a restful break and we’ll be here when you come back. Blessings!

  30. Hi there Iris! I am truly thankful to the Lord to be given this chance to have you as a big part of my blogging life. Have been away on an out of the country trips since July and when I came back I had a lot of work backlogs that kept me away from blogging.

    Hope the break you rightfully deserve will not keep you away too long. Will be missing you.

    Take Care and God Bless!

  31. You will be missed, but I totally understand needing a break to re-group. I pray that this time away will be refreshing for you.

    Please let me know when you are back. I hope that it’s not too long of a break.

    May God bless you and give you peace.

  32. I will miss you being here on TT and look forward to you being back again after your break. You are such an inspiration to me and many others as well. I pray that you get rest, and are surrrounded by peace that surpasses all understanding while on your break. I pray that God will speak to you each and every day and that you will know in your heart (without doubt) that You are the called of God.
    Have a blessed weekend in Jesus Name.
    Stacy

  33. Thanks so much for hosting Thankful Thursday. It helps me to turn my focus onto positive things in my life other than dwelling on the negative. I also love reading everyone else’s posts as well! I understand that sometimes you need a break, you will be missed! ((hugs))

  34. You desirve a rest. Enter into His rest. Jesus said He would give rest to those who were weary and heavy laden.

    The Christian life is not a life of working but of dwelling in Him. As we dwell we become transformed into His image, being changed by His glory.

    “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
    shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91)

    YOu are an encouragement to me. I wrote about our spiritual growth being like a mountain climb today– it may be an encouragement to you.

    Prayers for your rest,
    Robin

  35. Hi Iris. It’s my 1st time I miss posting ‘my thanks’ since I started participating in Thankful Thursday. I must admit, it’s the highlight of my week -which is to give thanks.

    But I was at home these past few days attending to my son, who got a terrible cough and I practically didn’t have a second to spare to sit infront of the PC. But rest assured that I was thinking about you and the things I’m thankful of.

    When I came here today, with the purpose of something despite not having a link back to a TT post, I never expected to find out that you’d be going on a blogging break. My God, I will be missing you. You have so touched me in a million wonderful ways. And I thanks you. I also thank God for meeting you-however online only. May God be with you and your family.

  36. Iris, you are such a blessing to so many women online! (and in person I am sure) I am glad to be one who calls you a friend. I understand the need for a blogging break! I hope you’ll be back though! {{hugs}}

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