What is there to thank for?

Thanksgiving has passed but my grateful heart remains.

"Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!"
1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Christianity is one faith that is fed on a thankful heart. A Christian life is never victorious without it. Whatever circumstances surround us, being thankful in itself can already bring lightness to the heart especially when days are gloomy. So today, I will spell out what I am thankful for into three categories: Being, Doing, Having.

Being:

This year has been extra special because I am going through phases of storms and sunshines. Mostly I am in the storms. But I am thankful for what these has made me. I have been tested and become

• more forgiving - When people go through a lot, they are unreasonable, blinded, easily deceived, vulnerable, selfish, isolated. Name all the effects of sinfulness, you can see those. Well, I realized they need the undeserved forgiveness I received from my Savior so why should I hold it back myself.
• more appreciative - People need appreciation but we cannot give what we do not have. So the crazy cycle of 'wanting to be appreciated- not getting it -so I will not appreciate others' just gets going and going and going. I waited for appreciation to start from others and realized it will never start from them. The cycle has to end starting from me. That is, when i become more appreciative of others- sincerely appreciative, then the appreciation will go round back to me.
• more hopeful - Back of the clouds the sun is always shining! Trials precedes glory. So, am more hopeful of the coming years I continue to walk with Jesus. With the new insight I gained from life challenges, I feel great things are on the way.

Doing

I am thankful for being able to do more than I did last year. I have stopped working for a long time now and it seems that my days were spent unproductively. My perspective though is based on a promise: 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you '(Matt 6:33). By God's assignment,

• I am thankful that I was entrusted to facilitate Bible Study Groups with wonderful friends. 
• As we did that, the Real Estate field was opened to us which gave us new friends,our clients and great financial opportunities. 
• We were also introduced to writing on the internet to share our life and experiences to people. 

These are not my cup of tea having graduated in college as Math major! Well, thank you Lord for new abilities.

Having

I thank God for giving me time to worship and serve Him.

I thank Him for my husband and his work which provides for the family.

I thank Him for the new empowering friends I gained.

I thank Him for business opportunities He has opened to me.
I thank Him for the new friends I gained and will gain and keep.

I thank Him for the support team to help me succeed in my life, ministry, and business.