What are you thankful for regarding the topic of material/physical blessings? We hope you have been filling out the 21 days of thanksgiving chart. If you have an entry regarding the topic of material/physical blessings, please share it with us by adding a comment to this post.
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Nov 11, 2009
Salvation: What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of salvation? We hope you have been... -
Nov 10, 2009
People: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of people? We hope you have been... -
Nov 09, 2009
Church: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of church? We hope you have been... -
Nov 07, 2009
Nature: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of nature? We hope you have been... -
Nov 06, 2009
Material/Physical Blessings: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of material/physical blessings? We hope you have... -
Other: What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topics other than the ones listed?? We hope...
I’m thankful for the house I live in with four other sisters, and for how it is used as a place for LIFE Group, study hall, etc. as we bond with one another and fellowship together.
Thankful that there’s food to eat, and a place to sleep. Clothes to wear, and friends to meet. =)
I’m thankful for my job. I graduated law school in May without any job prospects because I had concentrated on public interest and government positions, which do not offer permanent jobs to their interns, unlike most medium to large law firms. But after I took my bar exam, I emailed my former supervisor (whom I worked for before law school 3 years ago) and he offered me a job within the hour! The place only 30-40 minutes away from Berkeley, and because it is counter to the really heavy traffic to/from San Francisco, the commute isn’t that bad, even though it’s in Marin County. So I think God provided for me in this very detailed way, and I am really grateful, especially in this economy, where many of my classmates who graduated with what they thought was a “permanent” job offer, had to scramble for jobs because their offers were rescinded.
I am so thankful for my office. Not all pastors have offices, and I marvel several times a week, that I have a NICE office in which to get my work done, find a place to pray, and sometimes nap!
I am thankful that there’s never a shortage of places to stay whenever we come to visit Berkeley. Very thankful for the open homes of our brothers/sisters.
thankful for the northloop building where i can go regularly to spend time doing devotions and engage in prayer. thankful for the place that we have where many brothers and sisters can gather and where we can share daily life and engage in good meaningful work!
I’m thankful for the YWCA. As I was doing my DT reading at the balcony on Friday afternoon, I realized how this place is a great blessing from God. During that hour, there were several things going on at the Y: church/video ops in the Quiet Room/Church side, TC dance practice in the Fire Place, ECM craft making in the Library, and various students studying, eating, or hanging out in the cafe. I’m really thankful that we can have a safe place to gather and have wholesome fellowship during the day. I’m thankful for all the rich relationships and memories that can be built together as our students say, “hey, I’ll see you at the Y”.
I am thankful for all the past and present jobs and manager God has given me that gave me so much flexibility that I am able to participate in all our church activities and take care church work in between projects through out the week.
Thankful for the basics of food, clothing, and shelter. Somehow I’ve been blessed such that these are not daily worries. It didn’t have to be this way as is the case in so many parts of the world.
I am thankful that I not only never have to never worry about where the next meal is coming from, but often I get to enjoy good food in abundance, like at the potlucks this week.
I am SO thankful that we have a working heater at home especially with the cold season coming up.
I’m thankful to be able drive to places. I am thankful for a reliable car that I can take anywhere since I do a lot of driving, and I’m really thankful that I now have good enough vision to get a driver’s license!
I thank God for advanced technology such as cell phones and internet which enable us to communicate instantly. It provides a lot of flexibility and alleviates a lot of administrative stress.
I am thankful that I generally enjoy pretty good health. Just being out sick for two days this week made me feel so restless.. So thankful that I have a healthy body and can run around to do God’s work.
Thankful that I never have to worry about lacking anything. Last week we had about 35 people over and enjoyed a steak dinner! I kept marveling throughout last week that I enjoy such abundance of food, clothing, shelter, and never had to really worry that I would be without.
I’m so thankful for the sense of my hearing. The ability to listen to beautiful classical music is truly amazing.
I’m really thankful for washing machines and dryers. They’re such necessities these days, and I can’t imagine having to wash all my clothes (which I am also thankful for) by hand. It’s pretty wonderful– these things save SO much time and laboring. Especially since I spill things on my clothes/backpack/shoes, it’s quite the blessing to be able to just throw it in the wash and not worry much about it.
I’m thankful that I and so many people have personal computers and access to computers. I’m so thankful that I have this portable machine on which I can do my homework (and not have to travel to the library, and the fact that libraries have them too!), check my email to communicate with people, type rather than handwrite everything, listen to praise music with outstanding sound quality, and that it is light enough to carry around without hurting myself! The fact that such a thing exists is amazing in itself, and the fact that I have access to it is even more so!
I am so thankful for The 605, which has become a place of fellowship, bonding, fun, rest, laughter, studying the Word, and so much more. I am so blessed to have been able to live here and experience so much with my peers, leaders, and students. Praise God for such a wonderful provision!
I’m thankful for my new workstation at home, so that I can study more effectively and hopefully delay the onset of hand/wrist problems since I type so much! I’m thankful for the small and concrete ways I exp. acts 2 through the sharing of what we have – Betty gave me her old desk and chair (both of which are great) and Dave let me borrow his display monitor (if you’ve seen it, it’s no joke).
I’m thankful for airplanes. Some of my aunts, uncles and cousins were able to fly over from Korea for my brother’s wedding this past weekend. Every time I think of that fact that people travel all around the world, it amazes me.
It was another Monday morning today … dragging myself out of bed and getting ready for another day. I was driving along Harrison St in Downtown Oakland, I realize the heat wasn’t high enough, so I turned it up slightly, adjusted the knob to point to take advantage of both the upper and lower vents. I glanced at the digital temperature gauge … 52 F. Argh, winter was here.
But, in the midst of this convenience, no doubt instigated by this past Sunday’s message, my thoughts turned to 8 years ago when I was serving as a missionary in Moscow. About this time of the year, it was already snowing and temperatures were in the low 30s. I thought about how we had to suit up every morning with all our gore-tex gear, two layers of pants, down puffy parkas, and waterproof boots. A few brothers and I would trek along the streets of Moscow, occasionally passing by a babushka (grandma) whose scrappy wool coat and knit scarf was all she had.
I passed 10th street now, about to make my left onto 12th, and on that corner, I always have to wait, because there a similar babushkas (albeit Chinese) who tend to congregate and cross in mobs.
It just hit me the fundamental assumptions of entitlement I had. Even in the midst of a tough city like Moscow, I had all the provisions of a westerner, to make sure I was warm and dry.
I’m driving to work in a mobile, temperature-controlled cafe … with my new thelonius monk CD I got for my bday giving it the jazzy starbucks-feel. I have a job. They’re going to pay me at the end of the day. I don’t have a need to negotiate my pay on a daily basis unlike the day laborers I often see.
As if Monday mornings weren’t sullen enough, it hit me a lot of people around the world don’t even have the western-version of “monday mornings” because they work 7-days a week.
Ingratitude is a failure in perception.
And perhaps all too obvious, gratitude is perceiving reality correctly.
I’m thankful for all of the well-written Christianity books! It’s hard to find good Christian books at the public library. I’m grateful that Gracepoint has a book table every Sunday and I can borrow books from my friends. Thank God for great authors like Matthew Sleeth, Rick Warren, C.S. Lewis, & of course the Bible!
I’m also thankful that I can either read or listen to my Ipod as I commute to work. It’s hard to imagine how people spend their free times when there were no books and music!
I am thankful for the human body that God created. Having just taken an anatomy midterm, I can’t help but marvel at how amazingly God created our bodies so that it would function. All the organ systems work together to make us function every day. We can’t get oxygen to our tissues unless we have our circulatory system and respiratory system. We can’t move our joints without our nervous system- the brain sending signals to muscles through neurons, the reflexes that help us get away from danger, etc. If one organ system fails, our body breaks down. After seeing how intricately created we were, I am thankful for the gift of life. I am thankful that the parts and pieces of my body are functioning today.
I’m thankful for the house that Joe and Annie let our peers stay in this year – just all the memories we’re able to make through late-night talks and fellowship. Just a great place to be after a long day of work! Also it’s been such a blessing to be able to host so many people over: we’ve had Praxis lifegroups over doing dunk contests & measure your vertical. Koinonia frosh lifegroups have come over to share, watch Band of Brothers, and have an epic nerf war. The sophmores have come over the feast on a HUGE roast and just have fun in the midst of all their studies. A2f staff have come over for dessert and bros v. sis Thunder! It’s only been a semester, but I feel like I’ve lived there forever; always having people over and always having fun and fellowship. One Praxis bro stated: man this house is so fun, there’s so much to do! Only thanks to this body and God!
I’m thankful to have a car so that I can drive our CSUEB Koinonia students to Berkeley for Sunday Worship Services or Alameda for our Praxis Courses on Friday nights!
I am thankful for Sierra Lodge. It’s far enough to get away from home, but close enough to spend a day. It’s used by so many people, but it still feels familiar and homey. I am a real homebody but I love going there. I’m thankful for all the people who have built it and are still building it!
Technology! Wow. Couldn’t do this during the cave men days.
The phone: I’ve been talking with a couple of peers in the bay area this week. So easy! Just dial and you hear their voice, wishing someone congrats for their wedding (jess!), talking with others when I needed some encouragement (thank you, you know who you are!)
Skype: we can still be at team meetings! I love these times, and I’m so glad that even though we’re in Austin, we don’t even skip a beat. We’re right there, seeing John Ko set up the camera, Kelly smn always pushing the mic away and P.ed pulling it back towards her, some brother’s head occasionally blocking the view.
Planes: Thanksgiving Retreat! For only a few hundred bucks, we were able to join Berkeley, SF, Davis and be physically together again in a matter of 3-4 hours! And the students got to join and see with their own eyes the community we have back at home. Amazing!
I thank God for my voice and the ability to speak. I was without it for 2 weeks, and I’ve never appreciated the simple ability to express words as much as now. It is such a privilege and a blessing.
Volunteering at a women shelter makes me very grateful for the fact that I have a job, an apartment to live in, and also good health. It’s easy to take these things for granted because these are the privileges that so many of those around me enjoy. But seeing that a lot of the women I serve end up in the shelter because they either lost their jobs, developed a disability, or were the victims of domestic violence makes me very thankful for God’s providence even in these small ways. I am reminded that these blessings are not to hoard for myself, but instead to be used to bless others.
I’m thankful for the SF State college house lovingly called Arballo House. Having been blessed to help move the first crop of staff guys in, to living there last year with a mix of staff and 3 college students, to seeing it continue to be a place where SFSU students can come, hang out, eat, do DT, fellowship, and see a living example of a church in action, God has really blessed us here at State with the Arballo House!
I am so thankful for my office at Northloop where i get to just close the door, put on nice instrumental music and spend my daily devotion time in the mornings before the day rushes on. I also thankful for the large conference room that has become a place of prayer and solace away from all the worries, stresses and concerns. I’m also thankful for the beautiful Bay view and the nice walk way that we have daily access to so that Ed and I can take a nice walk in the middle of the day when we are sleepy to talk about all the various issues in ministry. I am also extremely thankful for the Northloop lunches where we get to have nice family meal with all the full time staff as well as unemployed brothers and sisters
I’m thankful for the tremendous material blessings God has given me, living in America, with abundant food, shelter-a great house with 5 roommates, my own car, clothes, and pretty much all the resources i need-I take for granted that I have access to so many resources like my own Bible, libraries, internet, email. I’m really lucky to be born in America and I am reminded that I should steward these gifts well.
I’m thankful, especially to my parents, for the comforts and privileges that I invariably have from living in America… It really hit me that my parents have sacrificed so much just for me when they moved back to Korea about 3 years ago. I realized that the 30+ years they were in America, it was all because of their desire to give me the best by raising me up here, and now that I’m grown up, they saw that their work was done, and moved back… I know I don’t deserve such things as an education, income, housing, clothes and food in abundance, comfortable way of life, technology, clean living spaces… Thankful that I have these, and commit to using these blessings to free up more of my life to love others rather than expecting that I need more.
I am really thankful for MOFFIT LIBRARY and FSM Cafe (and of course the people who work there) at which I can stay until 2am cramming for midterms and finals. I’m also thankful for my apartment located just 10 minutes away from the library.
thankful for FOOD! i remember fondly the days when Sue Yi always invited us over to her place for dinner and bible study, the peer gatherings and reunions at Jeannie’s garage over a meal planned by ilju, our class’ master chef, the countless meals we’ve shared around Sunny’s table at Winsted, and now all the meals that we’re cooking for TFN and SWS. (and now the grand TC meal in the works!). thankful food can be such a great way to build relationships, remove barriers, bring joy! it really enhances fellowship times (among other things
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Thankful for all the different means of communication! I’m so glad that in order to spread the Gospel, we don’t need to wait for people to take our letters to the people we are reaching out to (like Paul did). I used to always complain about how slow snail mail is, but I’ve been feeling really grateful for the fact that there is still snail mail. The reason is that my grandpa is partially deaf, so the best way to communicate with him is through letter-writing, and each time I write to him, I can share the Gospel with him. I’m also grateful for phone and e-mail because those let me reach out to the rest of my family even though I live far away from them.
I’m thankful for having clothes that keep me warm. It’s so cold outside!!!!!
I’m thankful for the opportunity to take the bar exam. I’m thankful that I was able to take it with others and be able to study with others pretty much the whole time studying.
I’m grateful for my job, especially during such tough economic times.
I’m thankful that God provided us with a good sturdy house where we’ve been able to hold babysitting for the past 10 years for our various events and activities.
I’m thankful for the convenience of going to the market or restaurants when I need food. Visited Eugene’s grandfather last weekend where they have fields out in the back where they grow their own vegetables and was reminded of how people in the olden days used to live, if they wanted food, they had to grow it themselves. But me, it’s so convenient, if I have a craving for something, I can just go out and get it easily.
I’m also thankful for technology, like Skype that let’s me see and chat with my friends even though I’m miles away, or mp3 recordings from Berkeley that helps us here to stay connected and listen in on the same messages and prayer meetings, etc.
I’m thankful for podcasts for messages that I can listen to on commutes and iTunes, where I can listen to songs before going to sleep.
I am very thankful for the staff office being open for impact tutoring usage on sunday mornings. The quiet space in the back of the building has helped create a safe environment where my tutee and I can really talk. She is in 7th grade, and having that kind of security has really helped her share beyond just academic tutoring
I’m thankful for washing machines and dryers. When I was in Cambodia for a mission trip, everyone had to hand wash / hang dry or take our clothes to the laundry service. At the laundry service they use a washing machine, but they hang dry everything. Either way, it was monsoon season so nothing dried properly. All our clothes smelled like water mold. We tried spraying on Extra Strength Febreeze but that only made things smell like water mold and Extra Strength Febreeze. There were times when a brother would open a bag of clothes he got from the laundry service and everyone in the room would turn against him and become hostile!
When I came back to the states after a month of that, I was so thankful for washing machines and dryers. What an amazing invention! I’ll never take them for granted again.
I’m so thankful for all that God has provided for me, and still providing for me, even when I have and do not appreciate them nearly enough! How could there be a God who loves me this much? I’m just so thankful beyond words. As I learn to trust in Him more, I realize more and more that He really does provide… When I was financially very tight, an informal and temporary tutoring position fell onto my lap (a friend’s mom’s best friend’s daughter needed Ochem help and was the one who emailed me). Through this experience, I got to share a close relationship with the girl and her family who are just so hospitable and warm. Moreover, I got to get close to a girl who often isolates herself, both physically and emotionally, from people – she often plays video games and would quickly refuse to ask her classmates or teacher for help even when she is terribly struggling. She is often frustrated and angry, but through my conversations with her, I know she, like all of us, simply wants to be accepted and loved for who she is. I really want to lift her up. Even though she ended up dropping Ochem, I pray that the night we pulled an all-nighter together, the one-on-one meals we’ve had, and the laughters we’ve shared have melted a bit of her heart. Knowing that I am Christian, I hope God could use my friendship with her to open her heart to Christianity, and I only pray one day she would be led to Jesus Christ where she can finally rest her very weary soul, where she can find the heavenly Father who have loved her all her life. I am just so thankful all the more for my salvation and to be able to be used by our good God to reach the broken hearts of others. Our Father not only provides, He also fills us with worth and purpose… who would’ve thought someone so corrupted and broken like me could be useful to the Mighty God? Praise the Lord…
I’m so thankful for Fulton House. Not only is it a place where I can (for the first time) live with other Christian sisters, it’s also a place where younger girls can come and feel at home and where we can make lots of food to share with others, and where we can host people for work nights like prop-making for TC. Every time I walk out to the living room in the morning and see a sophomore sister sleeping on our couch, I just thank God He has given us such a great resource in Fulton House this year. The fact that I waited so long to do this just makes all the more thankful because I can testify that it didn’t have to be this way.
I’m thankful that I have enough blankets to keep me warm when I sleep at night!
Water. =) Water is amazing, come to think of it. Even more amazing is the fact that I can drink liters of it and not have to worry about its sanitation. I am so so blessed in America to have this source of clean water without thinking of possible pollutants, bacteria or pathogens in the water. It didn’t have to be like this, but it is. Thank you God, for providing all that we need and watching over us so carefully.
I’m so thankful for NL.edu. During my time of unemployment, it has provided structure in my life: helped me to stay sane, and not be overwhelmed by my own worry, and anxieties; to enjoy free family-style lunch together with church leaders, and other unemployed brothers and sisters; and even for the meaningful work to participate in (e.g. helping with GLive); and also spending fun time with many kids. Often, my day is more packed than when I am employed that I don’t have time to worry.