Thank You Lord, For Always Being There

Dear God,

It seems almost unbelievable that this is the last day in the year 2012.  It’s amazing that time can move so slowly and so quickly at the same time.

There were moments from the very first month in this year when it seemed like situations were going to get the best of me.  There were times when I felt that if I heard one more piece of bad news or experience one more disappointment I would totally lose it.

I remember a moment this year when I felt as if all of my hopes and dreams had come crashing down around me and in that moment God I questioned you.  I wondered where you were in those times when the pain went so deep that I couldn’t even share it.

But God, there were also moments this year where I experienced triumphs, moments where I felt hope ignite within my heart, moments where I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were with me.

I look back over this year and I see that you were there with me every step of my journey. There is not one day that I needed you and you did not show up.

So Father on this last day in 2012 I just wanted to say thank you!  Thank you for always being there for me, for loving me and working on my behalf even in those moments when I doubted that you would.  

 

This year it has been reinforced to me that

-you love me!

-I can always trust you.

-you’ll never fail me.

-I can depend on you.

Father, I look forward to 2013 with joy and anticipation, because I know that just as you were with me every step of the way during this year so will you be in 2013.

I love you Lord!

Your daughter,

Bernadine

Full of Thanks...

It was the last day in 2009. I was sitting with my new journal that I planned to write in during 2010. I knew I wanted to journal every day during 2010 but I couldn’t think of what I wanted to write about for an entire year.( FYI, I love to write but writing on a schedule... not so much.)

As I sat there watching television and decorating my journal I heard the Holy Spirit whisper… “a year of thankfulness.” I knew then the theme of my journal would be “Thankfulness.”

2010 wasn’t the easiest year for me however, every day (except the few I missed :)) I found something to write that I was thankful for. Some days the list was very short and on other days it went on and on as I reflected on His goodness and why I was so thankful.

One thing last year taught me was to have an attitude of gratitude, to see the good even in the most trying circumstances. Also, during that year I found myself less likely to complain. It’s kinda difficult to be full of thanks and full of complaints the same time. This year I’ve been able to look back over my journal from last year, my lists of things big and small, tangible and intangible and find encouragement and hope.

I’m reminded as December is almost here again to,

1. in all things give thanks.

2. Complain less, praise, thanks, hope, pray, love, smile, be happy and simply do more,

Whenever I forget, the chorus of this song is an excellent reminder…

The Lord Has been so good to me
He's been good to me
More than this old world or you could ever be
He's been so good, To me
He dried all of my tears away
Turned my midnights into day
So I'll just say thank you Lord
I won't complain


I Won't Complain
by Rev. Paul Jones

Trusting Him,
 ~Bernadine~

Review, final exams, Grade Books, Report Cards and stacks of paper work has me completely snowed on right now so this blog will be even more silent until mid December.   I'm looking forward to visiting and reading some of your posts leading up to the holidays.   Until then thanks for stopping by...

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my dear readers.
I hope your day is filled with lots of love, laughter
and of course delicious food.

Today I'm thankful for all of you that I've gotten to know
through this blog.

Have a wonderful day!  Also, do stop by
Laced With Grace for a special Thanksgiving
message from the team.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

A Lighthouse Reminder...

It was the within the first few days of this school year when a student from my previous year’s class came to visit me. She passed me a package and then waited expectantly for me to open it.

“How did you know I love lighthouses?” I gasped in surprise after I opened the package. She smiled and reminded me that not only do I keep one on my desk I had told them when we were getting to know each other during the first few days of school the previous school year.


That lighthouse has been a source of inspiration to me this school year. It has served as a reminder that there is always light in every situation.  As I count down the days to the end of this school year I do so with a grateful heart.  I'm grateful that at the very beginning God sent me a reminder to always keep my focus on Him and not circumstances.

Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

A Letter of Thanks

Dear God,

 

I thank you that when I’m in despair

You are always near

You hold me close to you and dry my tears

You remind me that some days will be like this

You don’t tell me that I should not cry,

Because you understand the reasons why


My tears flow only to cleanse my soul,
To wash away bitterness and leave it aglow


My tears don’t tell you that I trust you not,
They tell you I trust you to dry them up.


Through my tears I talk to you still
I tell you my heart and why I feel so hurt

And when I’m finished talking to you

My tears are gone like yesterday’s news.

Because you don’t scold me, but you listen to me

Then you dry my tears and hug me to you.

You place your joy within my heart, a dance in my steps,

A smile on my face and a song on my lips

And lord for this I thank you.

Trusting Him,

~Bernadine~

Images courtesy of fotosearch

Message in the Music ~ Tis So Sweet

photo by
canstockphoto.com

I love music. Usually during the good, bad and ugly times in my life I’m able to find message in songs that I can identify with. These songs become my anthem for periods in my life.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

It was at a service I attended recently when the choir began singing Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus. With joy in my heart I joined in. However, as I sang memories began to flow through my mind. The song had been my personal anthem for a while. At times I sang it quietly, sometimes prayerfully, sometimes desperately, but always hopefully.

Then one day, in that particular situation all hope was gone… The first time I heard the song after that I refused to sing because I associated the song with the one situation where there was no longer any hope. Wouldn’t it be lying to say it’s was sweet to trust in Jesus, to take Him at His word when I really didn’t feel that? I mean, I kinda, sorta trusted Him but at that time it wasn’t so sweet.

So I didn’t sing because I didn’t believe. Then one day I was listening to some music when the song came on. I was too lazy didn’t feel like getting up to turn it off so I listened. I really listened…

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;

My heart was pricked. How is it that even though I’d proved Him more times than I can count this time because He didn’t do it my way I withdrew? I stopped singing?

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

As I listened to the words the tears began to flow. My heart that had was broken because I realized that I had stopped singing because I had stopped trusting.

I really wish I had this Christian walk figured out. How is it that you know God, you’ve proven Him, He’s been that friend that is closer than a brother but yet sometimes in times of trouble we’re prone to forget?

Lord, I thank you for precious reminders everyday of exactly why it’s so sweet to trust in you. I’m grateful that even during those times I doubt, I question, I pout, I keep silent you never give up on me. Thank you Lord for giving me back my song…

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Even after all these years trusting Him for me is still a daily walk, but I intend to keep on,
Trusting Him,
Bernadine

Just a little reminder...

Ever so often I have to remind
myself of something..

My heart knows it but
sometimes my mind can't wrap itself
around the wonder of it all
that although I didn't
do anything to deserve it,
and although I'm not worthy of it,

Jesus loves me




Jesus Loves Me

“Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:

“Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Thank you Lord!
Trusting Him,
~Bernadine~

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is not a holiday in my country but you’d think it was.

We have Thanksgiving assemblies in our schools.

Students bring in can goods to present to local charities and organizations.

There’re potluck lunches at schools and many businesses

Lunch vendors have special Thanksgiving lunches.

Restaurants have Thanksgiving dinner specials.

Churches have Thanksgiving services…

And we celebrate with our neighbors to the North.

Because it’s always a great thing to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially my friends in America!

I’m thankful that you stop by.

Your presence adds joy to my day.

Trusting Him,

 ~Bernadine~