Instead of complaining....

I'm going to be thankful.  It's been a stressful week.  I've worked every night this week, and had a 5-hour cleaning job yesterday, and I've got to go to work again tonight.  Add in searching for and filling out applications for student loans......I'm one cranky person right now.  So as I tiredly scrounged around for something to eat for lunch, I thought about posting on this blog, and as I thought about what to write about, only lots of whining and "I'm so tired" complaining came to mind.  But then I realized I need to stop.  Now.  What about all the good that happening in my life right now?  So, here's some things I thought of that I can give thanks for, even if they are seemingly small in the big picture of life.

My duckies.  They might be stinky and messing, and I might hate having to get them from their stinky, messy cage to feed them, water them, and let them go for a swim in the blue plastic kiddie pool.  But they are so funny!  I love giving them a "shower" by spraying the water hose on them.  They stand on tip-toe and point their beaks into the water, making little cheeping noises the whole time.

The kittens.  Ulrich and Mitzie are so fun to watch while they chase each other around my bedroom.  It's hilarious how they'll hide under my bed and when I unsuspectingly walk close by, they jump onto my feet.  The way I scream is probably even funnier though.  :D

My dad.  I'm grateful for his help with the loans and everything.  I'd be lost without his advice.  And I'm thankful for him being willing to have him and Mom co-sign so I could get a better interest rate.  

My mom.  She took my skirts that I sewed to the Farmer's Market today.  I may have only sold one, but at least I sold one at all!  I'm hopeful that my business will take off.  So I'm thankful that she willingly took my skirts and business cards.  And I'm thankful for that one skirt that sold.  

My work.  I may be so tired and stressed out, but I really should be grateful for the money I'm earning.  It's God's means of providing for me and for my school.  And there are times I get irritated with some of my co-workers *clears throat* but they really are great.  I'm thankful for their friendships.  And they do make me laugh......so hard I've got tears running down my face.  

My God.  God is so good to me, and I'm so thankful that I can call Him my God, my Father, my Savior.  He's not just out there somewhere, not taking an interest in the affairs of men.  He not only cares about man-kind, but He cares about *me*.  I don't deserve it, but He still loves me.   Even when I'm an ungrateful, whining, complaining brat.  I really don't thank Him enough.


P.S.  Photos courtesy of my brother.  Check his other pictures out at:  www.flickr.com/photos/notaperfectpilot!

Putting my trust in God

A major part of my journey through college is learning to trust God, mostly in financial matters.  Trust is harder than it sounds.  Just think about it for a second.  It's easy to "trust" God when everything is going just fine, and I can see how God is providing for me.  But the second that something doesn't seem to be working out, I start questioning if God really cares about me, wondering how this is going to work out.  But is that trust?  A real casting of my burdens on Him?  I don't think so.  Trust means that I need to be confident that He will provide for me in His way, in His time, even when I don't seem to understand how He's going to do it.  Trust means that I need to be willing to take whatever He gives me without complaining, even if I don't like it.  I need to be filled with the realization that He does what is truly best for me, even though I don't see how it can possibly be for my good.  That is trust.  It's not easy.  I'm slowly learning, but it is slow.  Sometimes I think I've learned my lesson, and that now I am trusting God, but then I start doubting and questioning all over again.  I think this is going to be something I will probably be struggling with for the rest of my life.  But that's okay, because God is sanctifying me through this.

Philippians 4:6:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Matthew 6:34:  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.