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Happy Thanksgiving to you all! May you experience God's love and mercy on a day like today where we can offer our thanks to the Lord for everything He has given to us.

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The hardest part of waiting is waiting. I know that seems redundant but it's not. Whomever has had to wait a while for something knows what I mean. Waiting, and all that it implies, is not an easy task. I find it extremely frustrating and sometimes even painful to wait. I know I'm not alone in this.

The cry of the psalmist seems to echo my own heart at times:

I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. 
Psalm 69:3

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. 

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Learning to be thankful at all times and in all circumstances has been a much needed lesson. After realizing my own sin of complaining and grumbling I've repented and turned to God for help in this area of my life.

I recently began the 1000 Gifts challenge (see Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts)  and have already noticed a huge difference! I feel joyful, content and fulfilled even during difficult moments and tough days.

Joyfulness always follows thankfulness along with contentment, the abundant life and a greater view of God.

The Bible has lots to say about being thankful and voicing our thanks to God. Here are eight beautiful Scriptures on thankfulness!

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psalm 95:2

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

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The Bible has a lot to say on womanhood. Contrary to modern culture, all of it still applies to women today. I remember a couple of years ago when I became increasingly interested in what it was the Bible had to say about the role of women. I was still in college and majoring in Women's and Gender studies. The classes I took were saturated with feminist ideology. At first I was proud of what I was learning. But somewhere, deep down, that still small voice whispered to me that this was not the truth. What the feminists were touting was all a lie.

This in turn drove me to search out books on what the Bible had to say about being a woman. I began reading more on what God declared was real, genuine womanhood. Everything I read far outweighed what I was being taught. In fact the feminists view didn't even hold a candle to the truth about what God said.

Needless to say I changed majors. I still ended up with a concentration in Women's Studies but I am grateful for everything I learned in those classes. The Lord used them to teach me greatly. Real, biblical womanhood is what I truly hope to attain.

Here are some of my favorite verses on biblical womanhood.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18
  
The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng
Psalm 68:11

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Proverbs 14:1

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
Proverbs 31:17

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
    
I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
1 Timothy 2:9-10

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Titus 2:3-5 

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3-4

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Have you ever stopped to watch the waves of the ocean crash and recede? I mean really stop and watch? I have. Every time I do I'm overtaken with a sense of awe and beauty. Subconsciously and without little to no effort on my part I'm drawn closer to God. An atmosphere of calm and an indwelling peace that I'm unable to fathom wash over me like the very waves I'm watching. But why is this?

Aside from the creation of God proclaiming His majesty His creation also is fully surrendered to Him. The waves crashing on the sand are fully surrendered to Him. The crashing, rolling, receding waves are at every moment fully abandoned to the Creator.


God's word is full of inspirational verses that remind us what surrender looks like. Here are some of my favorites:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25

 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’"
Matthew 22:37

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:11 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:20

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Questions and God's Guidance

Some of the most deep, though provoking questions come from a place within our hearts that long for clear direction from God. Questions that probe beneath the surface of mere human knowledge and enter into the realm of divine knowledge. Among the most common and relevant are,

What has God called me to do?

What is God's will for my life?

Does God have marriage in mind for my future?

In one way or another, all these questions have to do with guidance. Thankfully the Bible has much to say on guidance from God. Here are 7+ verses that I've found extremely helpful whenever these questions arise.

Scriptures on Guidance

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
Psalm 32:8-9

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:3-6

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:9-10

May you be blessed as you walk with the Lord and trust in Him to guide you moment by moment, day by day.

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7 + Bible Verses on Anxiety
Dealing with anxiety is not easy. When our hearts become fearful or anxious it 's hard to gain sound perspective and all too easy to get carried away with worry. We all deal with anxiety because we all live in a fallen world. Whether we worry about health, finances, work, family, friends etc, worry will rear it's ugly head in some shape or form. The good news though? It doesn't have to control us.

It wasn't until I found out what God had to say about the issue of worrying that I began to surrender to Him, make His Word my reality and the anxiety began to diminish over a period of time. I still struggle with anxious thoughts now and then but the Lord has delivered me from being a slave to worry by His power and Word.

I've compiled a list of verses where the Bible addresses the topic of anxiety and fear. It is my hope and prayer that God will use these verses to speak to your heart today. 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
   
“Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 536b

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 
Isaiah 41:10

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
Matthew 6:25 

Casting all your care upon Him (God), for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13

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God's Sovereignty--A Central Point to Faith

As I've been meditating and thinking about the Sovereignty of God, I realize just how critical the Christian's faith is to this one central point.  Of course, it is not the only thing central to our faith but believing that our God is Sovereign and can do whatever He wills is crucial for all believers. It's been a real blessing to me to have my eyes opened to this truth. Here are seven verses that talk directly about or otherwise address the Sovereignty of God. 

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"
Exodus 4:11 

Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Joshua 21:45 

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. 
Job 12:10

Your eyes saw my unformed body all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:16

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9
  
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 
Romans 8:28

Yes, our God is in control. He is a kind, merciful, compassionate God and He's got all things in His hands, including you.

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