Thankful Thursdays #89: one by one

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

1. I’m going to give the big one first. Dennis got a job!  He starts mid-November and things will be extra-super-duper tight until he gets his first paycheck, but boy howdy are we both glad he’s going back to work!  It’s with the same company that laid him off and they’re happy to get him back–when he went in for the interview it was like a family reunion.  Anyway, he was so desperate he was about to about to apply for the job there that he really didn’t want as nothing else was working out, but right in the nick of time they started hiring for a project he’s done there before and enjoyed.  We’re still hoping that one of the better prospects he had will work out down the road, but at least he’s got a job in the mean time.  *Celebrate good times, come on!*

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

2.  We were blessed to witness the baptism of another person who decided to give their life over to the Lord.  Nick wanted to do it old-school style so after the evening service a couple weeks ago, we all drove out to El Dorado Lake and man…something about the natural setting…it was definitely a night to remember.  Our group gathered in a circle with flashlights, sang “Oh Happy Day,” and then watched in hushed silence as we witnessed Nick become our brother in Christ on his happy day.  Afterward we said a prayer and welcomed Nick into the family with hugs, each of us getting quite wet in the process!  A very happy day indeed.  (Speaking of baptism, another blessing is that we finally have our own baptistry at our church! We always went to other churches for baptisms before.  But ours was finished yesterday! I will have to share pictures soon.)

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Ron Halbrook teaching in the Philippines (he has made 48 missionary trips since the mid 1990’s).

3.  I was also blessed by brother Ron Halbrook’s gospel meeting last week.  A gospel meeting is when a guest preacher comes to hold a week-long meeting with lessons each night on a particular subject, and Ron’s lesson this time was “World Religions,” which taught me a lot about religions I’d never researched before.  Anyway, my supervisor wouldn’t allow me to start earlier or later so that I could make the meetings each night, and because she forced me to brainstorm beyond what I usually would, I finally thought of working a split shift and taking a long lunch to make the meetings.  And she approved it!  So because of that, I am now able to make Wednesday night Bible studies again because I know I can ask to work a split shift those nights.  I love it!  I just went to my first Bible study in several months last night, and it was wonderful.  I need all the help I can get when it comes to studying the Bible, and I’m relieved to no longer be on my own.  I love how God works and it’s so fun to look back and see how He has led you a certain direction without you even realizing it.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

4.  I’m incredibly thankful for all the people who have stepped up to help me out with raising money for Miss Suzie.  If I told you the stories of these people, your jaw would drop.  Nearly every one of them has something big going on in their life, whether it is doing homeschooling and daycare (yes, at the same time!) with kids ranging in age from babies to teenagers, getting ready for their own cookbook to release the week after the bake sale, grieving over the loss of a father and grandmother both within the last month AND training for a marathon AND raising money for cancer research, are two weeks past their due date and just a wee bit excited for the birth of their first child, or are just busy with a full-time job and the minutia of everyday life, I’m just amazed at the goodness and generosity of these people.  I hope a lot of people will visit and bid on their goodies on the day of the online bake sale to validate their efforts! And of course, to raise bucks for Suzie’s sucky health-lol.  (Update on Suzie–the doctors are now thinking her liver might be in trouble as well as her gallbladder but she still isn’t well enough for surgery and is going in next week for more tests.  The good news is she is starting to lose the 18 lbs of water weight she put on from her low potassium.  She is so very thankful for everyone’s help!)

What blessings can you count today?