Ten Things I'm Grateful For... Week One

12/22/13 - 12/29/13

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

English Standard Version (ESV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Well, this isn't my technical week one but it is the first week that I will be publishing them!  These are not in order because I'm picking random things from different days of the week.

1. Being able to study Your [God's] word...
• Do you realize how awesome it is that in America we can openly study God's word?  Like, I don't have to hide my Bible.  I can order one online, I can walk into the grocery store and purchase one, I can find one in my library or I can go to a Christian bookstore.  I think of some people in the world who either cannot read His word because their government won't allow it or they simply don't have the resources to get it.  Man... I don't believe that we, as Americans, will always have the right to study God's word.  It's already controversial to agree with it 100%.  
2. The Acts of the Apostles...
•  This book has been wrecking me.  I love it.  God has been nudging me to read the book for a few months now but I just listened.  Le sigh.  I have found so many things in that book that relate to my present day life.  It covers from how the body of Christ should operate together [[Acts 2:42-47]]  to lovingly correcting other Christians [[Acts 8:30-31]]  to how Christian leaders should react to being idolized [[Acts 10:25-26 & Acts 14:11-18]].  Anyways... Just check it out.  lol
3. Receiving my Humira...
• If y'all are unaware- I some chronic illnesses with the most debilitating to date being Crohn's Disease. It's been a battle trying to get this disease under control and Humira is kind of the Last Stop Shop.  I really don't know what I'll do if this medicine doesn't work.  So yeah... I got it and my mother gave me the four injections [[I think she enjoyed it a little too much.]]  I take two more injections in two weeks.  And after that I take an injection twice a month or every other week [whichever way your mind works].  In two months I will know whether or not it works. 
4. You[God] sent Your Son[Jesus] for little ol' me...
• I have nothing to say and then I have too much to say about this one.  Like, do you realize how precious you are to Your Father?  He sent His Son to die for you because He knew that you couldn't reach Him on your own.  He died for me so I live for Him. 
5. Progress...
• Sometimes I get really sad because I'm still sick.  If you would have told me in high school that I would've gotten sick in college and stayed sick, I would not have believed you.  I would have laughed.  I had completely different plans for my life.  Completely different.  But since I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in April 2011, I have made some progress.  I have less visits to the ER, less procedures, less stays in the hospital, etc.  I'm not sure if I'm learning how to deal with disease but day by day it gets easier.
6. My parents...
• My mommy [her smile]: For those who don't know my mom has battled with sickness as well.  My dad's best friend made a point to him that "Phyl has been sick most of the time you all have been together."  Thinking back, that is really true.  My mother had endometriosis, had 5 strokes, had bacterial meningitis, was blind, was in a coma, and just recently had brain surgery.  The amazing thing about my mother is that you wouldn't know these things unless we told you.  God healed her years ago with those five strokes.  Don't ask me much about it because I've blocked that time period of my life off.  I don't remember a thing. She is the main reason that I know my God is a healer.  She's told me and He has shown me through her. ----- But she is a teacher.  A great teacher.  The type of teacher that I can only PRAY I will be one day.  She loves her students.  Her students love and respect her.  She wants the best for her students.  She doesn't want them to just pass through the system and graduate without a skill set.  She's a BOSS teacher.  She does all of this while being sick.  She is amazing and I don't tell her enough.  
• My daddy [his hustle/work ethic]:  What's that song??  "I'm riding around and I'm getting it..."  BAHAHAHA.  That describes my daddy.  He hustles, he works hard, he provides.  I know he has it hard right now.  He is trying to prepare for their retirement in an economy that could care less about Baby Boomers.  [yes, my parents are baby boomers]  He takes me to ALL of my doctor's appointments, he juices for me when I am too weak [[all the time]], he takes my dog outside and keeps her fed, he paid for ALLLLLLLL those years of college... I really want my health to be less of a burden to my parents.  My daddy is a godly man.  He is a deacon and a bible study leader and he LIVES like someone with those titles should.  
7. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow...
• I know that this one seems simple but how many days do we go without thanking God for them.  Even though yesterday was hard, God gave me that day.  Like, wow... A few people I know didn't make it.  And the large majority of them didn't know God.  :( 
8. My intelligence...
• Not to toot my own horn but TOOT TOOT.  lol.  I'm smart. God blessed me with that.  I'm thankful for that.  For me the hard part of being really intelligent is that my body has betrayed me.  My mind has all these ideas and I can't do anything with them.  I write them down.  I pray over them.  I meditate on them.  BECAUSE when I am healthy, it's a wrap.  My grind will be real.  It's also frustrating because my GPA doesn't reflect my intelligence.  I've been too sick to make good grades.  UGA wasn't made with sick students in mind.  Seriously, it wasn't.  
9. My health...
• I know that it seems random but I have to thank God for the health that I do have.  I lay around a lot, I'm in pain a lot, I can't function as much as other people BUT I'm not as bad off as I could be.  The cancerous tumor was found in time.  I don't have diarrhea with my Crohns. [lol it's true] I'm not in as much pain as I was in during 2011. 
10. Stephie...
• Stephie is my sister.  My older sister.  I'm the baby.  :)  If anyone know the two of us, y'all know we are night and day.  She is so... I don't know how to describe it.  She has the BADDEST suits and wears them well.  I hate suits- I prefer an A-line dress and cardigan.  She speaks her mind [wherever and whenever].  I worry too much about social etiquette and if I should say something.  If she can't find a way in, she will make a way.  I'll look for the door and if I can't find it, I give up. She's my sissy.  She is protective.  She is loving.  She is giving [to me].  We are different but I wouldn't change it.  I kind of like it.  :)