Thankful Thursday

My thankful list for this week:

~ The mocking bird who perches on the chimney and sings his heart out to his Creator.

~ Rain after a dry spell.

~The sweet scent of the gardenia bushes.

~ My daughter is home!  It's so nice to talk, laugh, and fellowship together.

~ The evening of worship on Sunday.  I'm thankful for the freedom to gather and praise the Lord through song. It was wonderful to hear the saints joining together in harmony.  

~ The next generation in the church.  I'm blessed to know brothers and sisters 20-30 years younger than myself.  I'm encouraged by their zeal and energy and their serious desire to follow Christ.

~ Grace and strength for trials and that same grace and strength when every day seems so mundane.

~ Finally this quote from The Gospel Primer:

The gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine.  On my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God's unrelenting grace toward me.  On my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus' righteousness, not mine.

The Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent, Focus Publishing, 2008, pg. 20.