It's Thank God Friday!

It's Friday again!  I really truly lurve Fridays!

It's the last day of homeschooling for the week!  While I love being able to home school the Turkeys we are all ready for the weekend when Friday rolls around!  It also means it's usually the last day of the work week for Hotsauce!

There are so many things to be thankful for in this world. Even as I sit here and type I am "weeding" out the things to mention on this Thank God Friday!

Yesterday I posted that we may have squandered some of God's blessings away.  You can read about that here.  I don't know if you've ever felt that way before.  The deep regret of wastefulness.  The crushing feeling as though you've let your God and Savior down. 

This journey for us is two-part.  The first part is that we feel we must honor God with the way that we spend (or don't spend) our money:

 

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:16&17

 

If we believe that every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father, then we must strive to please Him with the gifts that He has given us.

 

Secondly, we believe this is a journey to financial freedom.  We no longer want to be enslaved to our lenders, but to have the freedom to use our money to give to others, to invest in our future and finally to have lots and lots and lots of fun!

 

And so as I reflect on these goals and the feelings of failure and regret for going out to eat instead of putting the money towards paying for "the cow" I am reminded of this:

 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

 

 

This verse is such a freeing verse!  In the end of Romans 7 Paul says, "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."   Even Paul, the greatest missionary and church planter that ever lived, found that even his best work was met with temptation and short comings.  And his conclusion was "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"!

 

And that is what I am most thankful for this week.  For the grace of God. The One who didn't send   his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it!  He is abundantly patient with us, desiring good for us and not ready to zap us when we get off the path! 

 

I am also very thankful to many loved ones who rallied around me and lifted my spirits!  You are all so loved and appreciated! 

 

So as you reflect on your week what are you most thankful for?  Did you struggle this week like I did?  If so how did God meet you in the midst of your struggle?