Thanks Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Tabetha’s Devotions

January 1, 2018

Give Me Light For The New Year

2 Samuel 22:29
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

I love to wake up to a brand new year. I have brand new journals, planners, and calendars laid out in front of me. Blank pages. How will they be filled? What will this new year bring?

I am not much for New Year’s resolutions. I have goals I want to accomplish. Places I would like to see. Things I would like to do. Yes, there are even things I would like to change or improve about myself.

However, I know just like those blank pages, my life will soon start to fill up. Any promises I make today will fall to the side and soon be forgotten.

Instead of resolutions, I want to offer up this simple New Year’s prayer.

Lord, you are my lamp; you turn my darkness into light. Guide my steps this year. Light my path. Help me to never give up even when I falter and fail. I want to follow you and fulfill your resolutions for my life.

December 29, 2017

Flu Season, Yuck!

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I am so sorry I have been absent this week. My family, like so many others around us, has been battling the flu🤢

I am feeling better today and wanted to do something I haven’t done in a while.

Yep, it is BRIGHT SIDE FRIDAY!

Give me your five! Here are mine…

1. A husband, who was also very sick, still tried taking care of me when he could.

2. Being on Christmas break + being sick = no writing sub plans!

3. Having the sweetest service dog in the whole world, who wouldn’t leave my side and tried to cuddle real tight when my fever was causing me to shiver.

4. The beautiful dusting of snow we got today. Enough to make everything pretty, but not too much that makes it a pain.

5. This one is probably obvious, but thank you Lord for your healing touch.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! May God bless you this New Year! I can tell you I already feel blessed just being able to stand up without the world spinning out from under me.

December 13, 2017

Peace, Bah Humbug!

Mark 6:31 (NIV)
Then Jesus suggested, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” For so many people were coming and going that they scarcely had time to eat.

I’m afraid I’m going to say something that’s not very popular. Some days, I hate Christmas. I know this sounds really bad. I’m really not a Scrooge. There are just some days I feel pressured during this season.

Here is why…

#1- I am a teacher. I spend the first part of December wrapping up lessons and preparing for semester finals. I deal with kiddos that finally wake up after 16 weeks and realize, yes she will fail me if I don’t turn things in. Maybe she will let me make up 16 weeks of work in a couple of days.

#2- I appreciate all the people who put countless hours and love into preparing parties, secret Santas, cookie exchanges, and other get-togethers. I feel awful turning people down but I can only be in so many places at once. I only have so much money to spend and I love you all but my grandkids come first.

#3- During this season, I also have play obligations and church functions to add to my evergrowing list of places to be and yet I must find time to decorate my own house and make it look all cheery.

#4- My family also celebrates Hanukkah so there goes 8 more nights of must be somewhere at sometime.

#5- Add to all of this the shopping, cooking, wrapping, mailing and shrink my heart and call me the Grinch! Bah humbug!

I know I am not alone in these feelings. I also know my schedule may seem pretty empty compared to others.

Can I offer a little advice?

Breathe! That’s it. Just. Breathe.

I could do my best impression of Linus and recite the reason for the season. I could read you the Christmas Story. But I am not going to.

I am not going to add to your stressed-out brain. I know people mean well, but seriously I don’t need guilt piled on top of my to-do list. What I need is a minute to call my own and recharge.

I need a moment to make my cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and curl up with God and say thank you. Thank you for my moment of peace on Earth.

Take time this busy season for you. Fill up on some peace, so you can spread goodwill toward men.

December 1, 2017

God Knows What You Need

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Mr. Murphy, with his stupid law, was my BFF today.

I started my day dropping everything I touched. Proceeded to fill my car and gas spit back out all over me. Went to the bathroom (I work in a high school), came out, got back to my classroom only to have a teacher walk in after me to tell me I forgot someone. Yep, I looked down and realized my service dog was not attached to me. Good news, he was exactly where I had left him, in the stall.

Go ahead laugh it up. I can hear you from here!

It gets better!

On my way home, I looked down and realized I had gone all day with my shirt on inside out. Did I mention the shirt had pockets and they had been hanging out the entire day.

Told you it got better!

Some days you should just stay in bed!

So….what could I possibly be thankful for today? Well, let me tell you…

This Guy!

This is my wonderful husband, Todd. I texted him when I got to work this morning to whine about my awful start to the day. Then, I called him at lunch to grumble about how my day had not gotten any better. I walk in the door and griped about the rest of the story of my day and my outfit being inside out. What did he do?

He laughed his head off!

I don’t mean a giggle. I mean roll on the floor, belly laugh with tears streaming down your face laugh!

I mean a totally contagious laugh.

I couldn’t be grumpy anymore.

Thank you Lord for putting this guy in my life. You knew there were going to be days like this and I would need someone to laugh me through.

November 27, 2017

Wowzer! What! A! Day!

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

My student looked at me and said, “I think I fit a whole week into today!” All, I could do was look at her and say, “Amen, Sister!”

Wowzer! What. A. Day!

It started with a dead battery in my car. Followed by $183 mischarge to my credit card. Next came a painful phone call to my doctor’s office who cannot get me in until December 11th. Did I mention I did this whole day without one arm? I have popped the tendon in my left elbow and have to keep it in a sling.

Oh, and please do not get me started on drama club after school! We are two weeks from curtain and my crew still does not know their lines or blocking. It was painful to watch!

So, what can I do about all of this?

Nothing.

What am I doing?

Whining!

Why?

Because I am human and contrary to some people’s beliefs, Christians do not come equipped with rainbows, unicorns and pixie dust!

We get to have long days. We get to have bad days. We get to have Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days!

It is OK. It doesn’t mean God is mad at us. It doesn’t mean we have done something wrong. Hold on to your hats, but it doesn’t even mean Satan is out to get us. Sometimes they are just terrible, horrible, no good very bad days.

So what do Christians do about them? We thank God and move on. God has called us to thank him in all circumstances.

Besides, I know exactly what I am going to thank him for right now.

THANK YOU GOD THIS DAY IS OVER!

November 23, 2017

The Empty Chair

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

A dear friend and one of the strongest women I know spent her first Thanksgiving without her mom. She wrote the most beautiful dedication. I wanted to share her words with you.

I hope it brings you peace and joy. I hope it reminds you, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Today this chair sits empty because of a battle that is over.
However in the sadness of the first holidays without mom, we can find thankfulness.
I’m thankful for the 43 thanksgivings I got to spend with her.
I’m thankful for the gift of adoption that made that possible.
I’m thankful to the stranger who gave up her child and made that possible.
As a mother of 4, I know that was the worst day of her life.
I’m thankful for all the stories people who knew and worked with her have told me this past year.
I’m thankful for all the great memories I have and we are able to share.
I’m thankful that I have an awesome family and the best friends.
I’m thankful for my mom.
She was the best. ❤️

~Wendy Dement

Thank you Marsha for heeding the call to raising a beautiful, strong, Godly woman who has touched my life in so many ways.

To all of the chairs that may be empty this holiday season, know our hearts never will be because you were part of our lives!

November 13, 2017

So Blessed

Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know normally I do my grateful blogs on Fridays. However, last week was so full I never even got to blog on Friday. Besides after a very bad awful good for nothing weekend, I have broken through and been blessed!

So, here we go!

1. Dad was able to eat on Sunday

2. Dad gets to come home from the hospital on Wednesday

3. Both of my parents’ vehicles died, but we were able to get them taken care of and no one got stranded or hurt in the process.

4. I have wonderful friends and family helping my mom get back and forth to the hospital since she has no vehicle.

5. My husband was blessed with a wishlist item. We got a great deal on a truck that he has wanted for the last several years.

I know things look bad somedays. I know Satan can seem to be pulling every rug he can find out from under you. However, if we can just hang on and keep on keeping on you will find blessings.

Just remember you always have friends around to help you. Make that call, don’t let pride get in the way. We are all called to give a helping hand. This is how we show God’s love to those around us. We help whenever and wherever we can.

November 3, 2017

You Know What Day It Is!

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Do you know what day it is?

Yep it is…

Let’s take a moment to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Here are my gratitudes for this week.

1. I had a hard day, but my students stepped up and kept me smiling.

2. I got to come home, get in my jammies and due NOTHING!

3. I am currently reading a good book

4. I have so many wonderful friends in my life that have offered to help my family out over the next few weeks as we face my father’s surgery

and number 5…

There are some days there isn’t a cup big enough in the world to get me through, but I am always thankful for coffee!

Your turn! What are you grateful for this week?

October 27, 2017

Give Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Give thanks!

It has been a long week and it is has been too long since I took a look at the bright side!

So here we go, 5 gratitudes:

1. I get to spend the next 4days with my beautiful granddaughter
2. I have a 4 day weekend away from work
3. Fall weather is finally here!
4. My husband has a new job pastoring a small local church and we don’t have to move.
5. The several friends I have at work that keep me smiling.

Your turn! God has shed some light in your life. Let it shine bright!

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give Thanks!

(Give Thanks by Don Moen)

Tag: Thanks

Give Me Light For The New Year

Like this:

Flu Season, Yuck!

Like this:

Peace, Bah Humbug!

Like this:

God Knows What You Need

Like this:

Wowzer! What! A! Day!

Like this:

The Empty Chair

Like this:

So Blessed

Like this:

You Know What Day It Is!

Like this:

Give Thanks

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this:

Thanks For Sharing!

Like this: