I AM THANKFUL!!!

Today is Thanksgiving and I am thankful.  I am thankful for my family and friends.  I am thankful for those in my past and those that will be in my future.  I am thankful for the freedoms that we have in this country.  I am so thankful for those that serve to protect those freedoms.  I am thankful for my hometown of Wellston, Oklahoma!!  I might not be the person I am without that little town that was part of my growing up years.  I am thankful for that school and the teachers that tried to mold me into a person with knowledge in my head.  I am thankful for music, books and writing.  I am thankful for the ones that read my words and encourage me.  I am thankful for Doctors and nurses.  I am thankful for Falls Creek, preachers, song leaders, youth ministers, Sunday school teachers and nursery workers.  I am thankful for my job, boss and co-workers.  I am thankful for the clouds, the trees, flowers, snow and rain.  I am thankful for food, especially chocolate.

Then there are a few things that I am now thankful that I never thought I would be.  I am thankful for Enid.  When I moved here in 1990 I hated it.  I didn't want to move from my hometown.  In that town I left behind my parents, my house, and all my friends that I had grown up with.  They had been there for me in good and bad times and now I was in a town with no friends.  Those 100 miles that separated Enid and Wellston seemed more like 1000.  I am glad I didn't give up because I have so many wonderful friends in Enid.  When I go to Wellston I feel like I am going home but when I get back to Enid I feel the same way.  Enid is my home but Wellston will always be home too.

In 1995 I went through a heartbreaking divorce and I felt God leading me to First Baptist Church here in Enid.  I didn't want to have any part of that but I did visit.  It was so BIG.  I hated it!!  I visited other churches but I kept hearing God tell me to go to First Baptist Church, so my boys and I kept visiting.  The boys didn't really want to go to First Baptist either. I remember going to a training union class and nobody even spoke to me.  I told God, "See that is what happens in a big church." He kept leading me to First Baptist.  I finally yielded and joined First Baptist in the spring of 1996. I love First Baptist Church now.  This church is where I met Richard.  This church is where one of my sons and my daughter found the Lord.  Some of my best friends are at this church.  I am so thankful for this church!!!

Most of all I am thankful for my God.  He gave His Son that I might live! I am thankful for that Son and that He was willing to die for me.  I am thankful that he is my provider and comforter.  I am thankful for all that He has given me.  I am thankful that He does not give up on me.  I am thankful that He loves us all.  I am thankful that He is Father.  I am thankful for His protection.  I am thankful for all the brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit.  I am thankful that no matter what happens in my life God is there.  Thank-you  God for who you are and what you do!!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NIV