Betrayal And Thanks, In The Same Sentence

The house is so quiet.

Our new family have settled in their home. 

The past week and a half has been non stop crazy with 12 people under the same roof. 

But it was community. 

Learning to live with another. 

Sharing chores. 

Helping. 

Bearing one another's load. 

A practice long abandoned in the name of independence. 

Families drifting apart. 

Help seen as hindrance; dependence. 

I enjoyed the help. 
The common desire to serve our families.
Pooling resources.
Dinner cooked.
More time.
Laundry switched.
I think if they had stayed longer we would have worked a nice system.
Dependence; leading to Independace.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
 he will never let the righteous be shaken.

We are the strongest when we are the weakest. 
When we feel weak. Look up. Give thanks.

Max Lucado says in his book, "You'll Get Through This",
Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. 
Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. 
I Corinthians 11:23-24 " On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it."  Not often do you see the words betrayed and thanks in the same sentence, much less in the same heart. In the midst of the of the darkest night of the human soul, Jesus found a way to give thanks.

Our dependence on God, leads to our complete independance in Christ.
In our hurt and pain, let us find a way to give thanks.

I am Thankful for:

Days of sunshine and warmth
Cool breezes
Books
Coffee
Days spent with my family
Grace as we learn to live with a new family structure
Hope
Encouraging cards in the mail
Clean sheets
Front porch prayers
Visits from friends
Birthdays and celebrations
Our Nations birthday
The Freedom to gather and worship
Moments of sustained Mercy; deep and holy
Being held when I feel like I am falling
Strength for the moment
Living fully to fully live