November 14: I am grateful for the confidence of knowing that "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world," I John 4:4 ... The week leading up to a SPARK trip is always difficult, filled with stress, illness, and all manner of distraction.  This one was no different, but after all we survived on the Seattle trip, I was keenly aware that no matter what the enemy had for us, God's plan and purpose would prevail!

November 15: I am grateful for accountability, for godly women who pray hard for me, ask me tough questions, and speak Truth faithfully. ... I have some of the most amazing journey-partners, and Tuesday mornings, I get to sit down with one of them over steaming cups of coffee and just feast on God's faithfulness with her.  When I think of all that these women have faithfully walked with me through, I am in awe.  They are a beautiful picture of Christ's grace in my life.

November 16: I am grateful when I pray, "Unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we could ask or imagine," He answers.  ... I got to see my dear friend and college roommate, Dodie, last Wednesday night.  Her friendship is such a constant reminder to me that I asked for just a little and got a whole lot!  If God is so generous to me in answering the prayer of a teenage girl for a godly roommate, I believe I can count on Him to be generous in all things.

November 17: I'm grateful for SPARK, for the blessing of traveling with, serving with, and learning from a team only God could assemble. ... I've written more than a few blog posts about SPARK Ministry and what an incredible joy and gift and honor and blessing it is to serve on that team.  Life changing.

November 18: I am grateful for volunteers, men and women who serve out of calling and passion with a heart for showing Jesus to others. ... The best part of my job in volunteer management is getting to watch others come alive as they exercise the gifts God's given them to bless others and point toward Him.  

November 19: I am grateful for Thanksgiving, a season in which we focus on the gratitude we should be cultivating year round! ... Lots of people have been mocking everyone's thankful posts as it seems to be the "cool thing" to do on facebook right now, but I love them.  I love seeing what others are grateful for, and I love being reminded that I have so much for which to give thanks.  

November 20: I am grateful for community, that God didn't leave us to walk this journey alone, but surrounds us with fellow travelers. ... Commons Church celebrated Thanksgiving together on Sunday night with an all out feast.  After a weekend full of serving with Spark in Houston, I didn't think my heart could get any fuller, but walking into that room and trying to take in all of the faces of people who've become so dear to me just about did me in.  What a joy to and blessing to do life with such lovely people. 

November 21: I am grateful for @Lewey11, her faithful friendship, loving admonitions, and patient listening ear. #myperson ... Angela and I both managed to have our Christmas gifts for one another early this year, so we decided to hurry up and celebrate before the busyness of the holidays crowded out the joy of it all.  We spent the entire day laughing, talking, walking the mall, shopping for Addison.  

November 22: I am grateful for music "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God that many will see and fear ..."Psalm 40:3 ... Music is powerful.  Whatever your tastes in music, you can't deny that it gets stuck in your head and in your heart.  I love that as the Lord draws me near to Him, the song in my heart shifts and the words on my lips become praises.  

November 23: I am grateful for children - especially that my life is full of so many cute ones I get to love on and spoil then send home! ... I have some of the most adorable adopted nieces and nephews. I love watching my friends and cousins become parents and grow right along with their sweet babies.  I love seeing God's grace poured out on a new generation.  

November 24: I'm grateful that in all things God is working good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 ... This Thanksgiving, I am grateful most of all that God wastes nothing.  He is a redeemer, and He takes every mess I've ever made, unravels it, and repurposes it for my good and His glory. 

November 12 and 13: Weekend

November 12: I am grateful for the Barretts and the Hortons. My extended family includes some of my best friends and favorite people.  Yesterday, I sat in the stands at Lions Stadium in Plano with my mom, dad, cousin Daisy, and nephew-cousins Daniel, Nathan, and Joshua as we cheered on the PCA Lions and their offensive coordinator, my cousin Steven.  And, we texted the rest of the family with each score to make sure they felt like part of the action.  Today, I drove back to Plano for the afternoon, to spend some time with my Mimi and my aunt Susan and uncle Tracey.  We talked about life and ministry and church and I got updates on the rest of my cousins from that side of the family.  This weekend came with some great reminders that I am abundantly blessed with a family I don't just love but also like!

November 13: I am grateful for salvation. "For when we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the unrighteous..." Romans 5:6  I've been reminded a lot lately that salvation is completely a work of God's unmerited favor from beginning to end.  He saved me when I was still helpless, unrighteous, dead in my sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 5:6-8).  Words will never be enough to express gratitude for so great a gift, only obedience will truly do.

November 11: Veteran's Day

November 11: I am grateful that when I start trying to name names the list of veterans I have to thank is too long for a status post.  I didn't grow up in a military family, nor in a military town.  My grandfather and one of my uncles were veterans, but it wasn't something we talked about, so it wasn't something I gave much thought.  In the last couple of years, two close friends have joined the military, and I have had opportunity to witness their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families in a very personal way.  And now, as I truly sit and consider my family and friends, many of whom served long before I knew them, my perspective is greatly changed.  This Veterans' Day, my heart swells with gratitude as I understand with much greater clarity how very high a price has been paid by the men and women of our armed forces.  

It's My Blog and I'll Ramble If I Want To

It's Thanksgiving Month.  I love all the posts on Facebook and Twitter about what people are grateful for each day.  So far, I've limited myself to just 140 Twitter characters in my expressions of gratitude, but today, I want to elaborate.  So, I came here.

November 1:  I am grateful for God's stubborn pursuit of my undivided heart.  I kicked this month off sitting in a counselor's office discussing the fact that God is never satisfied with any portion or percentage of my heart and obedience.  He knows that I will only be truly happy when I am fully surrendered to His good, pleasing and perfect will, and He does not rest until my heart toward Him is undivided.

November 2:  I am grateful for 5 "never-a-dull-moment" years of work and ministry at Cornerstone Assistance Network.  This was my first full-time ministry position.  I was young and fresh out of seminary, idealistic, and completely green.  This job has taken me so many places I never knew existed, introduced me to so many fascinating people, harsh realities, and beautiful testimonies.  I work with an amazing team of people all committed to fulfilling God's call on their lives through serving the poor.  I am blessed.

November 3: I am grateful for seasons. No matter how long and hot summer is, fall and winter eventually bring a cool reprieve. A lot like life. The long, hot, dry summer seemed to mirror my very dry soul.  It's been a long, dry season spiritually that seemed interminable, but almost perfectly coinciding with the temperature reprieve outside a sweet sweeping sensation of the Spirit's presence began to refresh my soul.

November 4: I am grateful simple things brighten a day, like having money left on a Starbuck's gift card for a peppermint mocha. When I was growing up, my dad used to say, "If you get everything you want now, what will you have to look forward to?" My life is rich and blessed, but it is not extravagant.  It's simplicity leaves plenty of room for joy in simple pleasures.  I love that a drive-thru the coffee shop and treating myself to a hot flavored coffee still has the ability to delight me.

November 5: I am grateful for rich friendships. Today I'll be with people who have walked closely and done life with me for a very long time. Last Saturday provided a rare opportunity to spend time with two different friends from two different seasons, and I was keenly aware of how fortunate I am to be surrounded by people who are not content to sit on the surface of my life but swim boldly into the depths with me.

November 6: I am grateful for the years and family God provided at Wedgwood Baptist Church and for the beauty He's brought me at Commons Church. I am blessed by two incredible bodies of believers. I joined Commons Church because I believed it was a door to community God was opening for me. I found an opportunity to do life and ministry and experience the joys of seeking the Kingdom of God together through this beautiful family in ways I had not yet known.  I recognize, though, that the incredible family at Wedgwood and the years I spent there were training ground for this season, and I am so thankful for the love and support of that training, sending church.

November 7: I am grateful for family and friends who generously support the work and ministry God has called me to do. Next week, I'll depart on my fifth SPARK mission trip.  I love these trips and this ministry, and as much as I love what God does through us in the lives of the women we serve, I am always humbled by what He does in me as I go.  This trip, I did not send out any support letters or request, yet by the first of this week, my entire trip was covered by generous family and friends who simply said, "God put in on my heart to give." That kind of affirmation is priceless.

November 8: I am grateful for the women in my Monday night Community Group and how God enriches my life through their fellowship. I spend Monday evenings with a really beautiful gathering of women.  Married moms, single moms, singles, grandmothers ... it's awesome.  Every week, no matter how tired I am when I get home from work or how much I wish I could just curl up at home rather than drive across town, I am always blessed by my time with them, their words of wisdom and encouragement, and their insights into Scripture and the character of God never cease to speak to me.

November 9: I am grateful that "The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to rightly divide between soul and spirit, even joints and marrow, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart," and for old Truths being made new in me. As that sweet refreshing wind of the Spirit has begun to blow again in my soul, I have been swiftly reminded of the power of God's Word, how it quenches my thirst, and satisfies my hunger like nothing else can.  I am grateful that things I may have known or memorized long ago can be made fresh as they are newly and rightly applied to my life.

November 10: I am grateful for my pastor and his wife and how they sacrificially love and serve me, our church, and this community.  It's a new experience for me to have a pastor who I also call friend.  As I spend time with him and his wife and family, I am so blessed by their willingness to sacrifice home and comfort and security and so much more to be here, to follow God's call, to serve this community.  I learn so much from and am challenged frequently by their example.