'Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way'... (Matthew 1:18)
The days are ticking away. More and more doors appear in the advent calenders. Has the panic started yet? When did the candle burn that low?
Perhaps you have an advent calender of some sort in your house. Not gonna lie, I kind of like having some chocolate to eat every day! ;)
But we can be thankful for so much more than that when it comes to advent.
We can look back in history and be thankful for that day, so long ago, when a great miracle happened. When the one and only God, infinite, holy, transcendent, awesome, who holds oceans in His hand, who spun the stars into being, who knows the number of every grain of sand and every hair on every person on earth's head - when this God put His glory inside the body of a man.
We can be thankful for the fun of anticipation, of eagerly awaiting something to come. Christmas Day, celebrations, food and presents await!
But we can be thankful that we anticipate something far greater - we await the day our Saviour returns to earth again. But not as a baby. As a conquering King, who will receive the glory He is due! And we will live with Him FOREVER!!!
'The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps' (Proverbs 16:9)
Sometimes God brings things into our lives that completely take us by surprise. Moments we can look back on and think 'I never would've imagined that.'
Take Ruth from the Bible, for instance. If you'd told her, before she first married, that her husband would die, that she would leave home with her mother-in-law and believe in her God, that she would end up marrying Boaz and be in the lineage of the Son of God, I doubt she would have believed you!
Moments of unexpectedness can colour our lives too, even if not as spectacular as Ruth's.
For example, God blessed me with the opportunity to join my sister's Christian Union on their weekend away, even though I'm not a student at their uni. It was such a wonderful time, maybe part of it due to the fact I never expected such a chance to come to me.
Even moving house - the friends I've made, the experiences I've had - many just within 2013! - all unexpected goodness from God, goodness I never would have seen coming earlier in my life.
Unexpected goodness I can thank Him for.
'Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? ' (Proverbs 20:6)
This is a tough one to write. Because recently I have seen so many examples of Facebook used in a heartbreaking way - people either deliberately or ignorantly brandishing their friendships and exciting lives in the face of others.
'Look at me. I'm so popular. I've been spending time with this person. This person likes me!
PLEASE, PLEASE don't feel I'm being judgemental. I've been guilty of this sort of behaviour before. Thoughtless of how it makes others feel - lonely, left out, unpopular.
But although Facebook can be used in such a tragic way, I am determined to see the blessings God has given to those who use it. Because His blessings are everywhere.
Facebook allows you to remain in contact with friends that would have otherwise disappeared into your past a long time ago. For example, I am able to connect with people from where I used to live, along with people who have moved abroad. Just seeing their faces brings them a little bit closer.
Facebook can tell you important information about someone. Don't jump to the wrong conclusion! In Sixth Form, I was able to find a Christian friend through Facebook, something that might not have come out as quickly through conversation.
Photos and videos can be stored online, moments of beauty or joy that can bless others.
God, thank you for the technology that allows us to experience the blessing of socialising with others - people you have brought into our lives for a reason.
May I use it always for your glory.
'Its leaves were beautiful...' (Daniel 4: 12)
(My sister's skilled photography)
I love all the seasons, but autumn has to be one of the most beautiful. I was walking through the park recently, and struck for the first time just how diverse leaves are. God was not just creative with humans. He made variety within Nature too.
As I walked through the park, the leaves I could see on the ground would suddenly change. One moment it would be large fan-like orange leaves, the next small spiky ones. Some of the really bright yellow leaves created the effect of sunlight falling on the path. Stunning.
Thank you God for the beauty and difference within Nature. Thank you for giving us the emotions to appreciate it and worship you for it.
'And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets"' (Habakkuk 2:2)
This might seem like a funny one, but I think that even the way we write contain reasons we may thank God.
Watching a child move from the large spiky letters they can manage as they start learning to write, onto neat and flowing handwriting can make us thankful that God gave us the brains to learn how to communicate with each other, how to hold and move a pen in such a way that the patterns it draws actually mean something.
We can also appreciate the way each person has such a unique style of handwriting.
Perhaps you may know someone's style so well that you can smile in pleasure when you see an envelope come through the door because you can see it's from them.
God, thank you that You did not make us all uniform clones with no differing personality or appearance. You made us different and diverse, even down to the way we write.
Thank you Creator!
'Neither shall there be...pain anymore' (Revelation 21:4)
I know, like many things, people can come too dependent on them.
But I, personally, am grateful to God painkillers were invented. Because when a bad headache or something worse makes it hard for you to work properly, it's good to be reminded, that one day pain will not just be soothed by drugs.
God will remove it completely.
No more pain.
Ever again.
Thank you God!
'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.' (John 1:5)
(Yeah, I know, taking the verse out of context ;)
It's that time of year again. Remember, remember...
Remember that Parliament wasn't blown up and the country is not under the influence of a religion which does not believe we are saved by faith alone.
Remember God gave man creative minds to create fantastic fireworks.
Remember that there beauty can never compare to the beauty of Heaven.
Remember...and be thankful.
