Happy Thanksgiving!

Taken from FaceBook

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This is Thanksgiving in America, the day we celebrate with family and give thanks for our blessings throughout the year. While this year I am spending it alone with Adam, no turkey, no hubbub, no family, I still find I am thankful for many things.

Some corporations, while always thinking about money and not family, have made workers work on this day. It’s always about the almighty dollar; and we wonder why God wants to end this world?

This will be my first ever Thanksgiving alone. A time for family is going to be spent with Adam and I preparing for Christmas. The nation commercializes Halloween to the hilt with adult costumes (that should be reserved for the intimacy of a bedroom, I might add) candy, gore, and the celebration of the evil; while Thanksgiving gets overlooked and we segue right into Christmas. (note: Christmas music begins playing in stores the day after Halloween.)

While back home my mother and father will venture off to my brothers, my sister and her husband will go to my brothers also, my niece will go to her mother in laws, and my other brother will relish the time surrounded by his family. Two of my brothers are alone this day.

Stevens family will gather together and celebrate with the turkey and all the trimmings but most of all, each other. I can almost savor the aroma coming from their houses as laughter and chit chat erupts about how great or bad this year has been. Turkey and dressing, pumpkin pies and cranberry sauce; the heat from the oven making many peek outside to feel some kind of breeze and coolness. Ahh, it must be nice to feel a part of a family.

And me, I’ll work my little butt off, with Adam running errands of up and down the stairs, to bring Christmas to life for us. Adam doesn’t mind not having Thanksgiving today, he’s almost 17 and his joy is being home from school. We did have a thrown together turkey meal on Sunday as our thanksgiving, but it just wasn’t the same. No homemade dressing, no mashed potatoes from REAL potatoes, carrots from a CAN, can you believe THAT? But we were together and that is what mattered.

I knew this was going to be a long week, since the almighty dollar calls to the big corporations and franchises. BUT, I am thankful for a great year that has passed by, it seems, quicker than a meteor whizzing through the sky.

As I try not to get depressed over being alone this day, I have to remind myself what a great year this has been and be Thankful for all the blessings God has given us.

The year began with the healing of the infection that was making my body inoperable, by May I was almost myself and the Blessings of my Church family did not go unnoticed!

While Steven, after being blind for three years, had his sight restored in Oct. 2011, some time in March, he had an infection. Many backbreaking trips to Omaha, a tire blowout; we again were delivered blessings in way of new tires, and the healing of the infection.

In July, Steven had his driver’s license back in his hand. Limited to a 40-mile radius, it could have saddened us, but instead we looked up and the blessing was that he found a job within the forty-mile radius. He cannot drive at night (another restriction) but the place he works for is willing to work around that. (they’re open 24 hrs. a day, so this was good)

While I sit here today, feeling sorry for myself, I’m reminded of all the blessings we’ve had this year, and my spirits lift and I’m Grateful to my God for everything. This is why I’ll skip right over Thanksgiving and head into a celebration of Christmas. I’m also reminded that every Day I’m Thankful, and need no one day set aside to celebrate it. Now the whole family thing is over rated and my being alone with no family this day hurts. BUT I am THANKFUL they are alive and healthy, somewhat healthy, but they are alive to celebrate this day and give THANKS!

More to be thankful for this day, from my FaithWriters family:

Lord we lift up Joni to you.
  We have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, We do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in our prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.  Ephesians 1:15-19
We pray for great blessing, wisdom and protection for Joni and a sense of your overwhelming presence and love. That they would know for certain in their hearts that they have been forgiven and released from any shame and guilt. Help Joni to see who they are in Christ. Place a strong desire in Joni to know more about you and a hunger for your Word. Open the doors for Joni that lead to you and close the doors that lead away. In Jesus mighty name we pray.

Amem

Poetry Sunday ~ He is Risen ~

He Has Risen!
***
After the love and glory
forsaken was our Lord.
Judged, beaten, abandoned
given to the hoard.

They cried out, “Blasphemer
hang him, let him die.”
He did nothing wrong, yet
“Kill him!” was their cry.

The cross a heavy burden
weighing his shoulder down;
blood swept his forehead
piercing thorns his crown.

“Please forgive them Father
for they know not what they do.
I now commend my spirit,
your hands I fall into.”

The sky blackened; the earth erupts
people fall to their knees.
Realizing the Son of Man
had calmed the mighty seas.

The sepulcher is empty
the angels came to say.
“Your Lord is now among you
He has risen on this day.”

The Messiah came to save us
through all that he had seen.
Our darkened spirit cleansed
the slate of sin wiped clean.

Praise be to heaven
to God and all the earth.
For loving man enough to bless
us with our Savior’s birth. 

***

May you all have

a blessed

Resurrection Sunday!

***

Luke 24: [44] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

[45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
[46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
[47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[48] And ye are witnesses of these things.
[49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
[50] And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
[51] And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
[52] And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
[53] And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Poetry Sunday

To love all is the end all...


In a world of misconception
a deceitful nation endures.
To love all is the end all...
It’s the end all of the world.

We should be coming together
instead we’re drawing nigh.
To love all is the end all
it’s the end all of the pain.

Death and destruction arises
we’re scattered in our faith.
To love all is the end all
its the end all of our lives.

The Word is in your heart
The King of Kings declares
To love all is the end all,
it’s the end all of the world.

Poetry Sunday~ He is Risen!

He is Risen
***
The road long and winding
the cry is loud and clear.
A message came in ample time
The King of Kings is here.

Rejoicing for His coming;
the palms laid at his feet.
He entered the city in triumph
all souls were there to greet.

His life was given over,
the battle not yet won.
Our sins were being beaten from
our God’s own living Son.

The Lord was set upon the cross
while flesh was torn away.
A seat on the throne in heaven
will be given to Him this day.

“Please forgive them Father
for they know not what they do.”
Thunder erupts while rain pours down
Making mankind new.

Three days pass when news has come
He is Risen from the dead!
All the sins have washed away
Our souls have now been fed.

Rejoice in the risen King;
Sing praises for his birth.
In life and death He came to save
all people on this earth!
* * *
Alleluia, He has won it all for me!