Thanksgiving Thoughts

“I thank my God every time I remember you…” Philippians 1:3

So a bunch of people have been doing day-by-day thankful posts and it’s been really neat to read them and see what is so meaningful in people’s lives.  I wanted to take a few moments to reflect on this “day of thanks.”

Here’s what I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving:

• Jesus – Without Jesus, I would be lonely.  Hopeless.  Worthless.  BUT because of Jesus, I am loved.  Free.  Saved.  And will live eternally with Him in Heaven one day.  He is my friend when I have no other.  He is my Shepherd in this wilderness of life.  He is my healer when I am hurting.  He is my Savior from this dark world.  I could never thank Him enough for what He’s done for me and for what He is going to do through me.  I am thankful that He works everything out for my good.  Trusting Him is a daily process, but it’s when I trust Him that He will direct my paths.  
• Family— I am so thankful for my family.  My parents have truly “trained up” their children in the way of the Lord.  They have shown us how to have servant heart’s in this world and how to use these hearts through ministry and missions.  I am so thankful I have such amazing people as examples for how to live for Christ.  I’m thankful for my sisters as well.  They are so unique in their gifts and talents, but they use those for Christ.  We have moved around a lot as siblings, but we’ve always had one another.  God has new directions for us in the coming years and our holidays together may be fewer, but I’m thankful for technology that will keep us closer even if we are far away (except for maybe Snapchat, Lauren…LOL!).  I’m also thankful for my extended family – grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousins.  So glad we get to spend time together over the holidays!
• Kids – I am so thankful for each and every child I have the privilege of seeing or teaching at church.  Each “Miss Allison!” or sweet hug or special smile or interesting conversation about Abraham Lincoln or octopuses and chickens means more to me than those kids will ever know.  Since I was in high school, I have known that I want to work with children.  Over the years, my passion for working with kids has developed into more missions education and I am so grateful for that.  Being able to educate kids mission-ly is something I don’t take lightly.  I look forward to continuing to work with kids for the rest of my life.
• Two special little kid-missionaries who are already with Jesus are fresh on my mind today.  I have such sweet memories of these two.  My favorite memory of Nate is when I tailor-made a missions lesson just for him.  With him and his sister in mind, I taught the AWANA kids about artist missionaries and how we could use art to tell people about Jesus.  That was one of my favorite lessons and I remember having him come up to the front to draw on the whiteboard because I knew he was much better than me :)  My favorite memory of Noah is Christmas time last year when I went with him and his family to give Christmas presents to a family who didn’t have any.  He was so excited as we wrapped each present and he said, “MOM!  These kids are gonna love this stuff!”  When we delivered the presents it was pouring the rain, but he carried all the heavy presents into the house with a gigantic smile on his face.  When we were done he took time with each of the kids and was genuinely interested in what they were doing.  He had such a big heart.  I am so thankful I got to know Nate & Noah.
• Hong Kong – I am so thankful for this place that literally changed my life.  It showed me missions and ministry first-hand.  I’ve said it before, but I really don’t think I would be who I am today if I hadn’t been a missionary kid and lived overseas.  Such significant and special people who remain friends today made such an impact on me in this special place.  I wasn’t there for an extremely long period of time, but I was there in the years of my life that mattered most and being able to live missions as a child has molded me into the person I am today.  And for that I am so thankful. I’m also thankful I have been able to give back to this wonderful place by being a part of mission trips teaching VBS at my heart church, Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church.  I watched some videos of the kids singing the VBS songs this past summer and was so thankful that I got to be a part of the team that taught them those songs this year!  It was just a joy to hear them sing praises to Jesus!
• Gifts and Talents – Each day I thank God for what He has gifted me to do and how He lets me use these gifts and talents for Him on a daily basis.  Whether through work or volunteering, these gifts and talents are never wasted.  When I figured out what my gifts and talents were, I remember thinking, “How in the world is God going to use these completely different things for Him?”  Well He did! :)  Kids, design, singing, and teaching...I mean, come on…those are four things that don’t necessarily mesh together, but all of these I use in some capacity to help glorify God.
• Church – I am thankful I have been in the church house since before I was born.  Church is really my second home…and some of you know that is literal :)  It is such a joy to be able to serve at church and help others in their worship of and walk in Christ.  I have been a part of some really fantastic churches and watching them grow has been such a joy.
• Friends – I am so thankful for some fantastic friends.  There was a time in my life where I felt like I had absolutely zero friends and didn’t matter to anyone but my God and my family.  I don’t like to remember those days, but it’s important for me to do so and remember how far God’s brought me.  However, over time, God has placed some extraordinary friends in my life who are just as caring, encouraging…and sometimes sarcastic as I am :)
• You – If you’re reading this blog, you must know me enough to want to read this blog.  Thanks for not being bored yet…ha ha.  I’m thankful for you and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving :)

There’s so much more that I am thankful for that if I listed it all…it would be next Thanksgiving before you finished it all.  Anyways, I wanted to take some time to list what I am thankful for today, I hope you will take time to do that too, if you haven’t already.

I pray each of you have a blessed day and don’t forget to thank God for all He has given you today.