25 Things to Be Thankful For.

So...everyone is posting things to be thankful for and I haven't been keeping up with the countdown everyday this month. However, this is my list... :)

I am thankful for/that...

1. Jesus saved me. Lord knows we're all so undeserving and unworthy, yet He loves us anyway.

2. Visiting family. Some people are staying in the dorms over Thanksgiving break, and I'm thankful my home is just 30 minutes away. I'm also thankful my parents get to visit from South Dakota and my uncle is coming from Texas. I'm thankful for a great future sister-in-law, and I'm thankful that my brother and I are nearly best friends for the first time since we've been born. I'm thankful for both sets of grandparents being alive and well, and the coolest aunt ever.

3. Bible school. I do not know where I would be if I wasn't here. Probably chasing some money making degree that I would still be unhappy with. I'm thankful for a greater call on my life. It's an honor that God would choose me to proclaim His Word.

4. Friends. I have lots of friends, few best friends. I'm thankful for all of them. I cherish different things about each and every one of them, and I have different types of conversation with each and every one of them. So unique, and fun. For all of my broken and unrestored friendships out there, I'm sorry I failed you. I'm not perfect, and I don't try to be. Maybe God will bring us around to each other again someday. And maybe then, He'll have taught me how to better cater to your needs.

5. Health. This isn't something I necessarily think of being thankful for, but I am learning to LOVE the way I look. My too curly hair, being short, big eyes, etc. I've really been working on my image and self-esteem lately and am losing weight from running so much. I appreciate having legs to run, even if they're fat. I appreciate having no ankle or foot problems, etc. Overall, I'm thankful for a healthy body, mind, and heart. I'm thankful for being the way that I am, and the way God created me to be.

6. My job. I write for The Voice (school newspaper), and work the concession stand at basketball games. It doesn't sound like much money, and it's not, but it's fun. I am currently looking for a job with set weekly hours, but God still provides in every situation.

7. Freedom. I'm thankful I live in the U.S. and have many more freedoms than other countries have. Freedom to worship. Freedom of speech. A freeing government (more so than Communist countries). 

8. MUSIC!!!! I'm so thankful God gave us the creativity for music. I love singing music, dancing to music, playing music, and writing music. I may not be good at every one of these, but I'm learning. I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn all the intricate details that make music so enjoyable to listen to. I'm thankful that I was raised on a wide variety of music genres. 

9. Technology. Where would we be without it? So convenient, yet addictive, but it gets the job done. In a hurry. 

10. Food. This should probably be #2, I almost love it that more than my parents. haha. What can I say? We can't live without it. So much variety. So many textures. So many food groups. I'm thankful that I'm cutting back on fast food and soda. I'm thankful for water, and our creativity to milk a cow. I'm thankful that food brings about such fellowship and good conversation. It's one thing that EVERY person has in common.

11. Mentors/Teachers/Professors. I'm thankful for my mentor. I'm thankful for teachers and counselors. I'm especially thankful for the awesome ones at CBC! I'm thankful for anyone who speaks life into me. That someone would take the time to care about my life and what I'm doing with it. Someone who gives advice and guides me into better knowledge of God. Thank you for handling me. I know it's hard.

12. Emotions. I'm thankful that humans aren't robots. We're all magnificently different. I'm thankful for our many different emotions. Although they do get in the way sometimes, I'm thankful for the many different ways we express them. Art, music, etc.

 13. My dorm. I'm thankful for shelter. I'm thankful for a place of peace, a place I can go to at the end of the day to rest and relax. I'm thankful for my bed and the furniture already placed in it.  I'm thankful I get to decorate it however I want and I rearrange it whenever I want. I love my room.


14. Chapel. I'm thankful for great worship leaders here at CBC! I'm thankful for the talent and leadership skills it takes to get up in front of people and belt out your heart to God. I hope to be a great worship leader one day, but not only that, I hope to be great at leading people into worship because I myself have learned to worship freely. 


15. The Beauty of Nature. I'm thankful God is so creative. The world can be a beautiful place.


16. Church. I'm thankful for a body of Christ that's so warming and accepting. I'm thankful for a place that uplifts and encourages you in your walk with God. I'm thankful for people who are there when you need them. I'm thankful God manifests himself in giving us different gifts used to edify one another.


17. Exercise/Sports! I'm thankful for the strength and energy they give you. I'm thankful for the ability and coordination it takes to learn a sport. It makes you feel good and look great. 


18. Clothes. I'm thankful for the colors, styles, and brands. So much to choose from. Can't forget my addiction to shoes. Clothes and shoes can be expensive, and I'm blessed to have what I do have. Most importantly, underwear.


19. Books. I'm thankful for the intelligence that comes from them! All the interesting topics to choose from. I'm thankful I have access to a Bible, and it's not illegal.


20. Ministers. Pastors. Christians. Missionaries. Leaders. These are some of the hardest positions one could have. I admire and aspire to be great at all of these.


21. Money. We couldn't survive without it. 


22. Schedules. I couldn't manage my life without one. 


23. Free time. I'm thankful for the moments I have to myself, to just sit and think, and ponder the meaning of life. To evaluate my heart, and process my emotions. The freedom to just pass time doing something fun. Those are rare in college.


24. Joy. I'm glad we can experience deep joy in our hearts. I'm thankful that in the deepest, darkest times in our lives, we can be intimate and vulnerable with God and still feel joy. Happiness comes and goes based on life's circumstances, but joy is more deeply rooted in knowing Christ's promises and rewards once we reach heaven.

25. Last, but most important: Love. I'm thankful for the ability to love, and the depth of love. The intimacy, and intricacy of love. I'm thankful for the feelings and emotions loving people leaves you with. I'm thankful for the love I appreciate from others. I'm thankful love never fails, never hurts, always perseveres and trusts. There is nothing bad about love, and it's a universal language that everyone speaks. <3

Be thankful.