It’s that time of year again!  My favorite!  Crisp, cool air…the sound of rustling leaving in the breeze…the smell of all things apple & pumpkin, spice and everything nice.  And gratitude…thanksgiving.  As I’ve shared many times before…November encompasses some of the most blessed things in my life…and some of the hardest things that I have ever endured.  But what the Lord has shown me over and over again, is that there is always, always something to be grateful and praise Him for.  And when my heart chooses gratefulness…it brings inexpressible joy.

Today I am grateful for God’s Word.  I belong to 2 Bible study groups right now and I am so thankful for each one…and they both meet on Tuesdays.  In the morning we dig deep.  We ask questions.  We cross reference and study the Greek and Hebrew meaning of words.  We are studying the Sermon on the Mount and taking nearly 8 months to study 3 chapters.  It is such rich teaching from Jesus.  In the evening, we rest in Truth amidst wrestling with some of life’s deepest, darkest struggles.  Both groups bring some of the most beautiful women I have ever had the privilege to know.

While at first look it might seem like these 2 groups are quite different…but it’s amazing how similar they really are.  What I see in both are women who desire, need and cling to Truth.  There is so much that constantly screams lies to us…advertisements, beauty magazines, Facebook, Pinterest, weight loss products, reality TV, an enemy that wants nothing more than to destroy us…you name it!  We are constantly battling with contentment…or the lack thereof.  In a world of continuous bigger and better things…how can we begin to measure up?

How refreshing that I can begin each new day in the peaceful quiet of my prayer chair with my journal and my Bible that reminds me that I don’t have to be perfect…because Jesus is…and His Spirit lives in me.  How amazing that He knows me…He made me…He loves me….and He has faithfully given me everything I have ever needed.  I don’t have to worry about all the thousands of things that will tempt me to stress, doubt, compare myself or be anxious today.  No matter what, I can rest in the Truth of His Word…and be grateful.

How about you, friend?  What are you grateful for today?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17