Thankful Post -The 'E' Edition

Seems like everyone's getting their various Thankful Editions out. Thanks to Aloted, I finally get to do my 'E' Thankful post.

There's the comfort of knowing that my whole life is Encapsulated by God's love. His presence in my life gives me the feeling of being wrapped around by a warm blanket on a really cold night.

With His word, I find my self Established daily in my walk of faith. I realize that this is not a once-and-for-all thing but a daily decision to submit to His will.

Sometimes I wish I were more 'perfect' than I currently am and I'm working on it but I'm still grateful for the joy of the Lord in my heart. To put it simply, it Enlivens me!
That joy makes me feel like I have been Entrusted with a very special gift. Hmmm, what can I compare this to? Okay, it's like a lamp that's been lit in my heart and it's my responsibility to ensure it never goes out. The joy in my spirit is the fuel that keeps that lamp burning. It's not always easy as tough times threaten to put out that light. I am grateful for the grace I have received time and time again to Endure.

Endurance over time has helped to strengthen my character and sense of self-worth. It has given me the Enablement to persevere and come out stronger on the other side. It's amazing the beauty that shines out of our lives after we have been well polished by adversity.

,There's an even greater beauty when we share our lives with that special someone. I have been blessed with a man who has me Enamored with his love. To put it like Adaeze has, there's no sugarcoating this. Sometimes our lives are reduced to mere routines yet in the midst of it, we are able to find time to pause and ask "hey babe, how are you?". In the midst of the routine that is sometimes life, we are able to take pleasure in hearing each other's voice or simply Enjoy each other's company.

For all these and more, I am Eternally grateful!!

PS: Phew! That wasn't so bad was it? lol!!

Ten Things Tuesday (05)

I've not forgotten to be thankful. I have just been too lazy to blog about them. I think thanksgiving is not just the act of listing out all the things that we are thankful for. I'm beginning to recognize it as a state of heart. I said heart and not mind because they are two different things entirely.

Our mind is where we have our thoughts and emotions and they are constantly being battered by external circumstances. Circumstances that make us feel there's not much to be grateful for.
Our hearts however are deeper. It's that part of us, our spirits, that's in touch with our heavenly Father. That part that still trusts him. That part that knows beyond all doubt that everything's going to be okay even in the midst of turbulent waters.

Can I get a witness?! Yeah!

So I'm thankful...

• For the life that I have been given. I have been favored beyond measure.

• For the successful hosting of our in-laws, friends and family at my sister's traditional wedding.
• For the prompt intervention of medical personnel when my little sister found she had difficulty in breathing.
• For the peaceful resolution of issues I had with my insurance company. Even though I'm paying more than I initially thought was due, they've helped me structure it in such a way that it's not too much of a burden.
• For the safe delivery of my best friend's baby. It was swift and a lot easier than she'd anticipated!
• For my new healthy eating and daily exercise habit. I intend to keep it up!
• For P. who developed a really bad cough recently but who is getting better.
• For God's word, it lights up my path in life and gives me hope when I can't seem to see the horizon.
• For a new friend I just made on blogville. Thanks for the privilege!
• For my mom. She's the greatest ever!!
  

What are you thankful for?

Ten Things Tuesday (03)

I missed my TTT post for last week not because I had nothing to be thankful for but for pure laziness’ sake! God truly has been gracious and I’m thankful for these things:

• P’s back in town and I get to have him to myself for 4 whole weeks! This year is definitely a great one!

• I had some issues with my tummy coupled with symptoms of malaria this past weekend but I’m well now. Good health is such a huge blessing!

• All the 8 expectant mothers on my list are doing great! One of them really does look like she’s about to burst so it won’t be long till we celebrate!

• P. is such a patient and considerate man. It’s a wonder how he puts up with ALL of my antics! I am thankful too for him.

• My younger sister who’s had to miss several months of school due to a dreadful drug reaction was favored by having most requirements waived for her!

• I’m grateful for my safe trips to and fro my examination center. I expect the best!

• I’m excited about blogville and all the new friends I’ve met here. I’m grateful for this the opportunity it affords me to be creative and share my faith in the process.

• My brother-in-law has been wanting for the past 2years to go do his Masters abroad and it’s been one issue after another but finally it’s all worked out and he leaves next week!

• In addition to that, he bought my sister a new car! It’s indeed a pleasant surprise and an unexpected blessing!

• Finally, like I always say, I’m truly grateful to be alive!

So tell us, what is that thing that gladdens your heart and for which you are grateful?

Ten Things Tuesday (02)

It’s another beautiful week! I’m glad for yet another opportunity to give thanks. You can find my last thankful post here.

Below are some of the things I’m thankful for!

• P. had to return to his base last week and I’m grateful for the safe trip.

• Late last year P. applied for post graduate studies at a university close to his base. He did it at the last possible minute just when the admissions were going to close. He called me last week and announced excitedly that his name was on the admission list! Halleluiah!

• I have a personal list and on it I have the names of the expectant mothers known to me – friends, colleagues, friend’s friends, relatives, relative’s friends etc. If I heard you were pregnant, I’d put your name on the list and pray for you everyday. (hmm...hmm...(clearing my throat) em... no, much as I would love to sound like I’m sooo benevolent, I haven’t always done this, In fact I only just started this 2 weeks ago! lol!) Anyways, I started with 7 names and last week, one of them gave birth successfully without any complications. Mother and baby are doing great! Awesome!

• I’m grateful that just a few days ago; I have added 2 more names to that list!

• On Sunday, I went out and parked at a place that says “No Parking”. It’s funny that I didn’t see the sign and I just left the car and walked away. I was in a shop when some ladies started talking about cars being towed away – cars that were parked on the street where I parked! I bolted out of the place much to the surprise of everyone, with a prayer on my lips and ran straight to where I’d parked and my car was still there!! I’m thankful that my car was spared. I’ll definitely be more observant and careful next time!

• I mentioned last week that I was to take an exam. Well that exam is to take place in an entirely different city from where I stay and somehow, with the help of a friend, provision has been made for me to be accommodated comfortably. Thank God!

• For the past year or so I’ve been telling myself to join a cell group in church. You see, after we got married, I had to start attending P’s branch of the church. It’s a lot larger than where I was used to and somehow I found myself lost in the crowd. But I knew I had to get more involved in church. That was one of my resolutions this year and this past Sunday, I finally did!

• Two things happened yesterday for which I am grateful. I was to get a ride home in a colleague’s car and he intended to just stop by a filling station to top up his fuel in anticipation of the traffic ahead. The filling stations around were either packed full – obstructing traffic, or not even selling at all! We drove all over the place looking for fuel (no thanks to independent marketers who didn’t want to sell at the stipulated =N=65/litre). Anyways, we left Victoria Island and our search took us to Lagos Island. It was getting late and the story was the same there too! Cars were all lined up at the pumps but no one was selling! Should we risk heading to the 3^rd mainland bridge with what little fuel we had? What if there was traffic and we got stranded? We parked the car somewhere and set out on foot to find fuel. A Good Samaritan offered to give us 4-litres from his car but the hose wouldn’t just get into the tank! Humph! We thanked the guy and left in search of a filling station that would sell us 4-litres at any price. We really had to be on our way. Thankfully, not too far away, we found one and after a little scuffle at the pump, we got fuel!! It was such a relief and we were finally able to set for home 2 hrs after we originally started the journey. Thank God!

• After we poured in the fuel, my colleague whose car it was had to check something under the hood of the car. He’d already lifted the bonnet when the car started rolling backwards!! I yelped and screamed for the other colleague in the front seat to slam on the brakes. He did just in time to avoid collision with an oncoming car behind us. Phew! That was a close one and I’m grateful nothing happened! I got home that night and went straight to bed! Lol!

• Today, just like always, I’m grateful to be alive!!

So tell me, what are you thankful for?