Thankful Thursday, though I just remembered it's Friday and a Five Word meme

Sonya, at Truth for the Journey, hosts "Thankful Thursday" weekly. If you click on her name, you'll find many other participants and read all about what everyone is thankful for today (actually yesterday, but who's keeping track). I am not sure who started the 5 Words meme, so I do not know to whom I should give credit. If someone knows, please tell me in the comments.

Today I'll be integrating five words given to me by KrippledWarrior at Some Things I've Learned- the words will be highlighted among the Thankfuls.

#1. About four days out of seven, Fash and I sit down on the sofa in the living room (next to Ziah, the bonsai) and read together from the Bible. We have been doing this for eleven and 1/2 years (the Bible reading part, I haven't had Ziah that long). Currently,we are reading through Isaiah. Today we read chapter 56 and 57. It went something like this:

Isaiah, being a Bible times prophet, doled out messages from the One True God to the people of God. In chapter 56, Isaiah tells the people of God (paraphrased of course), "Look, even if you are socially outcast for some reason, like you can't father children or whatever and even if you are a foreigner- not original Jewish, Israelite kind of guy/gal- God is for you, He is yours, He accepts you, you're really 'in' with Him forever. His casa est you casa. To proclaim this in person, He's going to send you a guy (actually He's comin' down here), whom with his very life, will secure for you- salvation. All this for each who knows and loves Him and therefore seeks to do what is right every dog-gone day of his/her life. It's a real good deal."

57 "Furthermore," Isaiah goes on, "there is rest for the weary in a life lived for God and an everlasting life that will be lived with God! Dude! Don't you want to have it all?"

But to the iconoclastic rebels of the day, God, through Isaiah, had this to say:

"Look. If you insist on living for the moment, drinking to utter drunkenness, lying with prostitutes, burning up your own children to appease Molech- though this whole lifestyle wears you out, yet, you do not deem it hopeless- well, then let your collection of idols save you."

But, of course, they could not.

God goes on to basically say, "My people. I am not some misanthrope, reveling in the destruction of mankind. Mankind is my creation. I made you in my image. I gave you life and breath. I gave you all things good. I love you. Return to me. I'll have you back. I want you. Return and I will be your peace, your comfort- your all-in-all."

I'm thankful for a loving God, who yearns for me to be His own and promises to be my peace and rest. I'd rather have that than anything this world is offering today.

#2. Love. What is it? I think it's Jesus Christ. I can't come up with a definition otherwise. It certainly isn't the warm, tingly feeling I had when that cute football player from my college days winked at me from across the dining hall. At least I hope that wasn't it, because that feeling vanished with my second bite of mashed potatoes. It isn't when he says, "I love you." I know that can't be "it", because two minutes later we are in a heated disagreement about whether or not the first house we ever bought together had lace curtains or shutters. It just has to be something much deeper. I think it is that thing for which you would give your life. And I think it all started with God and was made truly known to mankind when He (Love) came down and gave Himself up for us- that we might live. There is some mystery in it, I know. But this is the best I can do. I'm thankful for love.

#3. I'm thankful that the sardonic, self-centered person that I once was has been redeemed by her Maker and transformed into a less selfish woman, whose passion is to live a life that honors and obeys her Savior, with plenty of fun for everyone and a bit of wit in the mix. There is joy in the journey for the one who chooses the road less traveled. Freedom is found on the straight and narrow. A nice story illustrates this: Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

#4. I just realized I'm doing the Thankful Thursday post on Friday afternoon. WaaHa! Just occurred to me. Oh well, take it or leave it. I'm sooooo thankful it's Friday!! I just like Friday.

#5. I'm thankful for ArtPrize! Fun competition in downtown GR, where artists have plunked their art in places all over the city for everyone to enjoy. And enjoy it we did- last night- my sister, her youngsters, my parents came back in town for it, Fash and me. Artistic expression is just another fabulous gift from God. Have a great weekend!

"Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit's call, Resting in my Savior as my all- in-all, Standing on the promises of God." (my interpretation of this art)

Table and Chairs artwork sitting atop the bridge over the Grand River downtown.


Close-up of what is written on the inside edge of the underneath part of this table art.

Every dog-gone day of your life,

Just re-read my post on my blog, I forgot a word from the 5 Word meme. Shoot! Next time....stay tuned....

Five Words and Thankful Thursday

Well, here it is- midnight at the oasis. I.T. is safely home after a long week of traveling for work. The Bonsai has been given her anti-depressants and is relaxing to Hariprasad Chaurasia's Meditative Romance played on the Indian bamboo flute. The treatment is working, she's about to spring forth a single, new, teeny, white flower. And me. Well. I'm going to go to a couple of meme parties now. I saw another blogger tackle two at once recently, so I think it's legal.

I found an interesting meme at Teresa's Treasures, who found the interesting meme at Heart2Heart, who found the interesting meme at My Little Corner of the World....and it goes like this: Teresa gave me five words, each of which I am going to expound upon, so you can get to know me better. If you'd like to play along, leave me a comment with your e-mail address included and I will send you five words to expound upon, so we can get to know you better. Here are my five:

Fun- It's my favorite thing to have. Doesn't take much sometimes to have a bit of fun. Like when I was eight, waiting around on Sunday morning for mom to find her shoes (and all of our shoes) for church- I'd crack open my hot pink egg of Silly Putty, flatten the compound and press it hard onto Charlie Brown and Snoopy in the funny papers. The imprint of the cartoon would transfer perfectly onto the putty. Who da guessed the result of a failed World War II effort to develop a cheap, synthetic substitute for rubber would be so much fun!

Animal- Always liked them. Over the years, I've had a pet cat named Malcolm, two ponies, rabbits, mice, gerbils, hamsters, fish, dogs, chickens and a turtle. As a kid I wanted a pet monkey, but my dad said they smelled. Currently, I do not have any pets, but it is best, as the Bonsai tree keeps me hopping. She's very needy. My least favorite animal might be a snake. They're scary, slithery, scaly and they lie.

True- Jesus said,"...If you hold to my teaching....Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31&32 I love the Truth! I want to be told the truth, even when it is difficult to know. It's important to tell the truth, but not always easy to stick to the truth, because of exaggeration. If we didn't have to deal with that, it would be somewhat easier.

Lost- I am often. When I drive, I get lost. Tonight I found out why this is- I sometimes suffer from "insufficient situational awareness". I love to learn something new like that. During sermons, I get lost. But later I sometimes find out. I've never watched the t.v. show, Lost- is that a t.v. show? I think it is. During heady conversations, I can get lost. Sometimes I never find out. But I want to. However, I once was lost in the truest sense of the word, but now I am found, because of a loving, personal Savior who cares for me forever. His name is Jesus.

Smile- I do. Often. Before e-mail and texting, we used to write letters. Ink on paper. I wrote letters. On these letters I would often draw a smiley face after my signature, which is what we called our name, signed at the end of the letter. In Brownies we sang this song, "It isn't any trouble just to S-M-I-L-E (repeat) So smile when you're in trouble. It will vanish like a bubble. If you'll only take the trouble. Just to S-M-I-L-E." I don't really agree with the logic of this song. I think if you smile when you're in trouble, it might get you in more trouble. I don't know that a smile will make your trouble vanish. It might just hide your trouble. But I do think a smile is a warm fuzzy that can make somebody's day a little bit better. And if you choose to smile, even when you feel more like frowning- it will turn your day around.

Thanks Teresa- for the words!

Though I wanted to try the Five Words meme, I just couldn't skip Thankful Thursday hosted by Sonya at Truth for the Journey. It isn't Thursday here anymore, but for someone like, say, Edie, it still is, so it's legal.

1. My new job at the Christian bookstore is pretty near perfect. The people who work there are nicer than all get out and my manager schedules me to work during the best possible hours for my current life schedule. The books are wonderful and I can check one out at any time to read, as long as I'm very careful and don't spill coffee or get donut glaze on it. Plus I already know how to do some of the computer stuff from working at the other bookstore where I used to work, so the training is going well. I'm very thankful for this part time job!

2. My daughter, Fash, is the sweetest daughter a mom could ever have. She's fun and she smiles a lot. Best of all, she likes to hang out with me and talk to me. Even when I get lost, she's good with it. I love her so much and I do not know what I am going to do when she graduates. Me and the Bonsai- we'll just be dropping our leaves together by the tune of the bamboo flute. I am soooo thankful for Fash! Why was God so good to me? Thank you, God.

3. My son, Outside the Box, is such a blessing to me. He also likes to talk to me. I'm thankful for this time, which I know is short, that he is living here, because I know that the next time he moves out it will probably be for good. He's a man. I remember bringing him home and thinking we'd never be able to keep it alive. He was a six pound plop of sculptured silly putty. I'm so thankful for him.

4. I'm thankful that my son, Pilgrim, has met a nice neighbor who dry walls and such and has hired him to help out. That makes three jobs for Pilgrim. Did I mention this before? I think I did. Oh well, I'm so thankful that God is providing for him in California, because Pilgrim always wanted to drive out there in a big 'ol van in his hippie shirt and live. And he is. Living. Another child we kept alive to manhood. God is good. I'm thankful that the Word is hidden in Pilgrim's heart. I'm thankful that God promises to complete the good work He began in Pilgrim and in each, who believe in Him and call him Lord.

5. Thankfully, Information Technologist is home safely. Lots of driving this week. Tomorrow, we have a date- the bathroom project. God be with us. I'm thankful we will be plastering the bathroom walls. And ceiling. Again. Tomorrow. *smiling*