Thankful Thursday

Day 11 of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

I am thankful for the evening I had to spend at home with my family. We kept a special "little one" this afternoon. We had so much fun laughing, playing, and dancing around to Christmas music.  Our special visitor even helped us put up our Christmas Tree. 

I am, once again, thankful for each of you moms of little ones.  I was  reminded (again) firsthand of how much work you all have to do! My. Heavens.   I was blessed to have JoJo helping me babysit, as well as, a precious husband (who helped cook dinner).   I wish I was rich and could give each and everyone of you moms a maid or personal chef (of course, I'd have one too if I were rich!)  Actually, you probably would just like a nap if the truth be known.  

Surely, Isaiah 40:29 (He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.) can be claimed, prayed and quoted for all moms everywhere, right?  RIGHT!

Lastly, I am thankful for bedtime.  My little grand-baby wore me out. But it was worth every moment and every memory made.  

Now, this grandma is off to beddy-bye! 

It's beginning to look a lot like.........

Day 10 of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

Today is a fun "thankful".  I am thankful for Target!!  I know, I know-- a bit lame but still true.    I had to run into my local Target this afternoon to grab two items.  I did pretty good - I left with only three items!  When I walked into the store I was greeted with this beautiful sight:

Later tonight I will be greeted with another beautiful sight.  Little Miss Jaelynn will arrive.  Amanda sent me this picture today before they hit the road.  (I think she is ready to get going and come see her Mimi).

Word Up

Day 9 of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for God's Word.  You see, I have an obsession with Bibles.  I love, love, totally love Bibles!  I actually swoon over them.  I can not walk into a bookstore without checking out the Bible section.  Many times I have arrived home and had to explain a compulsive Bible purchase to Jim with something like this, "But...I just HAD to have it! I don't have one like this one.  And it was on SALE!".   

Here are a few from my collection:

I even have a Beck's Translation.  Seriously!  Wait for it.....wait for it..........

Talk about the Word of God "speaking to you"......I feel as if this calls me by name:

(What a reminder.  "Beck, Christ has freed us!"  Indeed He has!)    

This purple beauty is one of my favorites.  I call her my "Legacy Bible". 

Jim game me this one in 1995 for Christmas.  It contains so many precious notes and highlights.  I have pretty much retired this precious keepsake as I am afraid I will take it someplace and forget it.    In the back of this Bible I have kept a record of quotes through the years that I liked.  I write who said the quote and the date. This was my only Bible for many years when I was a young Christian woman trying to learn The Word.  I can not even imgaine the number of  church services, Vacation Bible Schools, Precpet Bible Studies and revivals this Bible 'attended' with me. I wonder how many tears the pages of my Legacy Bible caught.  I can remember a time when I was so desperate for The Lord to speak (my heart was aching and I was confused by life) that I literally covered my head with this Bible and cried to The Lord for any measure of wisdom He would give me.  This tattered Bible was my "bff" when my girls were little and Jim worked 60 hour work weeks.  

    

I am SO thankful for The Word.  Heaven and Earth will pass away but the Word of the Lord will remain forever.    

I want to keep it real.  If you read my blog, you know I like "realness" (if that is a word).  I have a confession.  With all the Bibles I own, I am not in the Word like I should be these days.  I do try to read the Word daily.  However, I am falling short.  Many times I find myself sitting down in a hurry to read to basically  "get it done" or so I can say I had my "quiet time" today.  Sometimes I read with a purpose to find my next lesson while preparing for a class or teaching, not that this is wrong, but I want to read with a fresh anticipation.  I want to read with the expectation that I will receive a fresh Word from The Lord that will give me life that I need each day. 


  I have often thought that there may come a day when we will not have the freedom to have Bibles.  What will we do then?  We will only have what is inside us from years of studying and memorizing The Word.   


How often do  sit down and just read or study to hear from The Lord.  To hear what He wants to say to me?  The Word is life and it is power.  I pray I can saturate myself more in the days to come and not less.  How about you?  Are you in the Word like you need to be?  If not, let's commit to dig deeper together.  The popular key phrase these days is to "Man Up".  At church my CCF gals say we need to "Girl Up" (meaning to get rid of all fear and anxiety that holds us back and just do whatever it is that needs to be done).  I think the answer is even better than "Man Up" or "Girl Up"...we just need to  "Word Up"! 


Let's get busy and get in The Word.  Word-Up gals, Word-up!   ( And if you need a Bible, let me know.  I have one you can borrow!)

I love the Message version of Psalms 119:105.  May this be the cry of our heart:

 By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.  I've committed myself and I'll never turn back from living by your righteous order.  Everything's falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Festoon me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules.   My life is as close as my own hands, but I don't forget what you have revealed.   The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don't swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever— 

 what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— always have and always will.

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Day 8 of 25 Days of thanksgiving

I am thankful for my little furry babies.  I can be in the worst mood or having "one of those days" and my two little pups can always bring a smile to my face and make me laugh.  I took a random video of them playing the other night. They made me laugh as they wanted to "sniff" the camera.   (I love this video because you can hear Jordyn in the background jamming on her keyboard with one of her original tunes).


jamming with the pups from B Burton on Vimeo.

Amanda knows of my love for little "Toto" dogs so she took this picture especially for me while they were visiting the Gatlinburg Wax museum last weekend.   

Jaelynn and Toto Nov 2010

I've Got Friends Who Do

Day 7 of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my church family.  

 I am getting ready to throw on some jeans and a blazer and go worship beside some amazing people.  All who have an incredible story to share (and they are not afraid or embarrassed to tell their story).  People who love you for who you are and will not judge you for what you have or do not have.  Real people that gather to worship Jesus each week.  People eager to study the Word, help the poor, take a meal to a family in need, pray for a the sick or simply just sit and cry with you.  People from all walks of life.  Those recovering from addictions, people that have been in prison, single moms, heartbroken parents, families trying to navigate their way through life.  People who struggle but get back up and keep on running the race toward the prize.  People like me and people like you.  All who are in the need of the grace of the Lord.

This song always reminds me of my friends and the amazing people at CCF.  I am thankful for them.

Love is in the air

Day 6 of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

I am thankful today for these two beautiful people

photo courtesy of Jordyn Burton Photography

No, they are not models in a magazine ad (though they could be).  That is my baby brother, Ryan and his fiancée, Holly.  Soon to be Mr. and Mrs.!!!  They are getting married three weeks from today.  Today we are gathering with family and friends to celebrate with a bridal shower for Holly to shower her with lots of love.  I am so excited for these two precious people.  I am thankful that they both love Jesus like crazy.  I love them both like crazy.   

photo by Jordyn Burton Photography

 He who finds a wife finds what is good
   and receives favor from the LORD.  Proverbs 18:22

photos by Jordyn Burton Photography

photos by Jordyn Burton Photography

(BTW, my youngest daughter, Jordyn took these pictures. She is just getting started with photography.  This was her first "official" photo shoot. )  

To-do list runneth over

Day 5 of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

I am thankful that my life is so abundant that I almost didn't find time to blog today!   My to-do list runneth over.   I joke about being busy but after a week of being surrounded by family members that have been sick, faced surgery for cancer or that are currently hospitalized, I am truly thankful that I am in good health and my family is healthy too.  I am thankful that the Lord gives me the  strength I need each day to accomplish all that I need to do.  Even when I experience weakness, The Lord's strength is made perfect. 

**Please keep my dad and his family (siblings) in your prayers.  He is one of seventeen siblings (go here to read about his large family).  The Fick brothers and sisters have always been very close.  My dad received a call today that one of his sister had passed away.  This is the second sister to pass away in the past three months.  Also, please say a prayer for my Aunt Bobbie.  (This is my dad's brother's wife).  She has been in the hospital this week and is undergoing testing. **

My Main Squeeze

Day Four of 25 Days of Thanksgiving

I am thankful today (and everyday) for my marriage and for My Man!  He is my best friend and no one can make me laugh like he can.  He is truly a gift to me from The Lord.  I pray I will never forget that fact.  

When I was a single mom many years ago, my prayer was that The Lord would send me a Godly, Christian man that would not only love me but that would love my daughter, Amanda as his own.  Jim is an answer to that prayer (among many other prayers).   

Not long ago, someone made the comment to me that  I 'seemed to have a "perfect" life and marriage'.  Let me assure you that our family is far from perfect.  My marriage is not perfect either.   

photo courtesy of Jordyn Burton Photography

 Jim and I have put a lot of work into our marriage and I believe The Lord has blessed our efforts.  Marriage takes work.  Is not easy.   I believe the key factor, (only second to putting the Lord first) is that each person gives 100%.  50% from each spouse is simply not enough.    I want to encourage you to give 100% to your marriage today.  Continue to seek The Lord above all, then place your husband as your next priority, then your children, and so on.  

photo courtesy of Jordyn Burton Photography 

Lastly, I want to also challenge you to join me in this challenge: 30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives   Just do it!  Suck up your pride and do it!  I double dog dare ya!!!  If you accept the challenge, write me and let me know.  At the end of 30 days, I want to hear from you!!  

Got To Pray Just To Make It Today

Day 3

Prayer.  I am so thankful for the privilege we have as God's children to pray.  There is amazing and super natural power in prayer.  I am thankful that when we are in distress, we can cry out to The Lord and He will hear us.  (Ps 4:1).   Even when we do not know what to pray, during times when we don't know how to pray or times on our knees when we can't muster up the words to pray, our Lord has given us The Holy Spirit to help us.  (Romans 8:26).  

I am thankful that we can pray at all times about anything. (Eph 6:18).  How exciting to know that before we even finish our prayer, The Lord has already heard it.  (Is. 65:24).  

photo from: www.sxc.hu

We have been entrusted with the honor to pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17) for others.  I am thankful for the many opportunities that are set before us every day that we have and can use to intercede for people.  Here are just a few of the opportunities that I personally try to use as a way of praying for others:

• While driving, take note of cars that are broken down on  the side of the road.  Pray for their safety as they wait for help.   Pray for provisions for the expenses related to the mechanical work that will be needed.

• When visiting others in the hospital, pray for people as you pass by their rooms.  Pray for the person that is sick in the hospital bed.  Pray for their family members and friends for the strength they need while they go back and forth visiting their loved one.  

• Pray for the people that you see walking outside your home.  For the young mom strolling her baby early in the morning.  (She may be a stay at home mom so pray for her financial needs.  Pray she doesn't go nuts staying home all day and has an outlet.)  Pray for the couple that is walking together after dinner (pray for their marriage/relationship).  Pray for the older gentleman riding his bike (if he is alone he could be widowed.  Pray he is not lonely but seeking The Lord as his constant companion). 

• Pray as you drive from one location to another for the homes you see.  Take note of what is in the driveway.  If you see toys, bikes, etc., pray for the children that live there.  If you see a wheelchair ramp, pray for the one who is in a wheelchair and the care-giver.

• As you flip through the TV from one station to the next, pray for the Hollywood celebrities that have no respect for God. Pray for their salvation. Use that time to pray for more Godly role-models for our youth and children. 

• When you hear sirens or see emergency vehicles rushing by your home/car, pray for the person that needs help. Pray for the emergency workers that are risking their lives daily for others.  

These are just a few things that I try to do as a means of "praying without ceasing" through my day.   I'd love to hear from you and how you "pray without ceasing" through your day!

Indeed, I am thankful for Prayer!

Since I typed my blog title, this song is stuck in my head.  Oh--the power of suggestion.  So, just for fun, we will close with the words of MC Hammer,

 "we pray(pray pray) We got to pray Just to make it today 

I said we pray(pray) ah yeah pray(pray) We got to pray 

Just to make it today 

That's the word: we pray 

That Time of Year

Day Two of the 25 Days of Thanksgiving

For Day Two, I am thankful for: this time of year!!!!    It has a certain smell, a certain feel.  It truly is the most wonderful time of year (in my opinion).

This time of year, I love receiving emails advertising things like this:

This time of year, I am thankful that I can run into THESE in the stores:

This time of year, I am thankful for a chilly night at home with my precious family while I enjoy drinking my special guilty pleasure:

Eat the fat baby!!

Today is the offical first day for the 25 Days of Thanksgiving (go here for details).

Though taken a wee bit out of context, I am thankful for this verse from Nehimiah 8:10, "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet......"  because tonight was date night and we enjoyed these:

Am also thankful for the verse about "His mercy is new every morning".


   Meet my friend, Mercy.  I will see her tomorrow morning:

ProForm990 from Dickssportinggoods.com

All joking aside, I want to say that I am very thankful for Jesus.  My Savior.  I was listening to some Christmas music today and was thinking how it is all about Him.  I'll leave you with one of my favorite Christmas songs.   After all, it is all about Him and He indeed is worthy!