thanksgiving

I've been gratefully living life alongside Philippians this week.

His Word is the best thing about my day, every single day.  It makes EVERYTHING look different. 

No.  It makes everything truly become DIFFERENT.

I like things organized and scheduled and peaceful.

And they simply never are.

And He reminds me what is more important...

striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel...

doing nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,

but with humility of mind regard all others as more important

I always have a plan--for dinner, for homeschool, for work, for the morning, afternoon, evening--

and He reminds me that He does, too.  And they're probably not the same plan.

do all things without grumbling and complaining,

proving yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God...

appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life

rejoice, even as being poured out as a drink offering

share your joy

I worry about my children.  I worry about my husband.  I worry about my students, I worry about our friends.  I worry about Micheline and my sister and the many needs of so many.

And He tells me something entirely different.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

and the peace of God, which passes all comprehension

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Parties turn into chaos, five turns into eleven, no more than 10 students turns into 24, everything turns into clean up, dinner turns into two languages and a dozen hometowns, simple tasks turn into huge hurdles.  No matter what, it all turns into dishes.

Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men

the Lord, He is near

only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel,

in NO way alarmed by your opponents

Suddenly, today, our little Christie miracle is one, and the heartache of so many years past and the fears from a year ago to the bundle of joy that Chris is today...ah.

for our citizenship is in heaven

from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior

who will transform the body of our humble state into the body of His glory.

Whatever things were gain to me

I have counted to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord

Even today, as a complicated and personal concern gnaws and is given to Him again and again,

He opens a door I didn't know existed, and His Word reminds me He is always at work

I am confident of this very thing,

that He who began a good work in you

will perfect it until the day of Jesus...

that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and discernment

There are a lot of beautiful crazy pieces of life right now.  There are a lot of difficult challenges.

Yes, and I will rejoice, 

for I know that this will turn out through your prayers 

and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

that I will not be put to shame in anything,

but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always,

be exalted in my body,

whether by life or death.

Thankgiving.