Now, I have to fill you in on where this Thankful journey has brought me since the last time we met. I've gone back to church on a regular basis. Not sure what clicked in my head (or perhaps my heart) but right now, the Church is where I feel I need to be. I have been in church for 4 straight weeks and even filled in teaching confirmation this past Sunday, which was nice. Each week, I feel something (or someone) nudging me with a warmth I can not explain. Each week, I have walked away with a sense of pride and also some burning questions like, "what's in store for me next?" I like this transformation. It is so where my journey has needed me to be.
I've also gotten to a point I can say that I love being with the wee ones, without any reservation in my words. They are tough, but I am tougher! I do love the smiles they come in with, the stories they tell, the laughs they garnish, and the sense of accomplishment when they do amazing things!!! THIS is where I need to be, professionally! I'm tired by the end of a day, and I've lost some me time in my exhaustion, but I'm ok with it, because I am making a difference where it matters!
Now, onto the piece that has brought me to blog today. I've always been big on using the YouVersion Bible App (www.youversion.com) and follow a few daily devotional plans. Today, one of my plans brought me to John chapter 14. Everyone is always so inspired by the most famous verse in the Bible, which also comes from the book of John, John 3:16, which is a great reminder to us in our times of trial and tribulation, but as I was reading John chapter 14 today, I was moved more than ever.
Perhaps it has been the final test of where this journey has brought me, the true test of finding authenticity in my ways, that brought me to this particular devotion. John 14 speaks to those of us who feel tremendous loss after losing someone we loved so very much, a lot like my deep rooted feeling of hurt in the loss of my grandmother. In this chapter, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about what is to come, His impending death and crucifixion, and the fact that He is soon to be reunited with His father in heaven. Jesus knew His followers would feel such emptiness at losing Him, that He implores them to remain steadfast in their belief in God, the Father. "Let not your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, also believe in me." In this series of verses, Jesus promises that all the faithful believers will have a 'room' in heaven. While I have always known that my gram found her 'room' in heaven, on this day, I found it especially comforting to read. I do not have to fear death, because I believe in Christ Jesus and I believe in His word. If He tells me this, I must believe. We all need to know Jesus better. And when we truly know Him better, it is then that we will know what He wants us to pray for, without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. And as we see answers to our prayers, even if the answers aren't necessarily what we want, our faith in Him will increase. This entire chapter spoke volumes to me, but the number one thing I gained from reading it, was the promise of eternal life is there for all who believe and who turn to Him in our times of need.
I don't profess to be a holy roller. Heck, I've only recently been reacquainted with my own faith, after questioning and challenging it a lot over the past three years. I believe that in the journey of more thankful living, I realize that I can not live a truly thankful life without a little help from above, without the generous gifts He bestows on me daily, and without acknowledging all the good in my life. I wasted a lot of time dwelling on the negatives in life for far too long. I choose to turn the negatives into positives, I choose to create a life worth living each and every day, and I choose to be completely thankful for all the goodness in my life.
God is good! Always He is good!
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