5:16 Club -- Day 16, Thankfulness

As the sun rose giving light to the day, hinting at the Lord's new mercies, I felt my heart swell with thankfulness. The day ahead is full of opportunity and the day gone by still brings a smile to my face. The party for Megan last night was a blast. Good food and friends brought great joy and laughter to our home. The take off on the Food Network's Burger Cook-off Challenge was the perfect theme to liven' up a wintry March evening, and a great party option for a birthday girl who'd rather have the attention diverted elsewhere.

I deliberately put off rising at 5 whatever am, in order to recoup from staying up past 11 pm last night. I am reminded again that all great plans must come under the authority of Christ. Being the hands and feet of Jesus may look different every day, like opening our home for a party and staying up late to play cards with the birthday girl. It reminds me of a little saying I've always used with my children when they squabble over a toy, "People are more important than things!" Well, people are also more important than routines. That's the lesson I'm learning through this journey, which is humbling and stretching at times, but good in the end! God provides His blessings in so many ways. We need to be careful to not get in the way with our own ideas.

Psalm 105:1-4

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Heavenly Father, I give you this day. You have provided it. Made it. Ordained it. I ask for your work to be done in our lives and for us to join you in the work you are doing. We want to honor you and serve you with our whole hearts -- hearts filled with thankfulness for who you are and the ways you have loved us from the very beginning. In Jesus' Name, Amen.