OK, confession here.  Fridays don't really excite me all that much.  I was just complaining to myself that, no matter what day it is, I still have just as much work to do. 

But that's a bad attitude.  I need to remember my blessings.  I need to have a thankful attitude.

Yes, this has been a hard week.  Bobby was gone two nights this week.  I have a cold.  Abbey tried to steal something from Walmart.  Lizzie still isn't potty trained.  Jon still isn't walking by himself, and he's getting SO heavy. 

However, my list of blessings is SO MUCH LONGER.  I have a husband who can work.  He has a job that provides for our family.  We have three beautiful children.  We have the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful church--and somebody always opens the door for me to come in {a huge blessing when my arms are full--haha}.  There are so many more things I could add.

When my husband comes home tonight, I won't tell him how hard it was while he was gone.  He already knows that; I've told him before.  Instead, I'll just tell him how happy I am that he's home.  I want him to like coming home, after all.  We all know how important it is to make our husbands feel appreciated and respected for all that they provide for us.

Do we remember to praise our heavenly Father for what He provides for us?  Do we thank Him often for His blessings?  We all have needs, and we all have burdens; but do we have a thankful attitude?  It takes faith to be able to praise God on dark days, but "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (from Hebrews 11:6).

This is my prayer for today, that I would have a thankful attitude throughout this day.

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,

my strength, and my redeemer."

One of the great joys in my life now as a grown-up missionary kid is seeing some of our dear pastor friends who have supported my parents since I was a little girl.  Tonight I was privileged to hear one such pastor preach.  His church has supported my parents for 18 years, and he has been the pastor this whole time.  Not many preachers stay at a church for that long, and not many pastors will take notice of the missionary KIDS.  This pastor and the church where he pastors bring up so many warm memories of everything I loved about traveling on deputation with my parents and siblings.  I really enjoyed the sermon tonight.  Here are a few of things that were said:

"In order for your prayer life to be effectual, you must have a place where you pray every day."

"With everything else that you are doing, how much time do you have left for God?"

"We are good at forgiving people who don't really need it, but we don't like to forgive those who really need forgiveness."

I'm a tiny dot.

Sometimes I feel very insignificant.

But every once in a while, God pricks a hole in my ignorance

and allows a tiny part of His wonderful, enormous plan to shine through. 

Something was accomplished, someone was influenced, without my knowledge.

I am not nothing; I am a tiny little dot.

My dot has a purpose.

What you do, and what you say, matters.

Hannah Mix