Reasons I am thankful tonight

In driving home tonight, I came to realize how thankful I am for so many things... for where I am, for Who's I am, and for the true friends I have found and come to love here on this earth. I am thankful. For so many reasons...

I am thankful that I am one of God's children and that He loves me beyond any level of love that I could ever hope to express, comprehend, or even ever come to know. It's that much, that big, and it blows me away, each and every day. For this I am thankful.

I am thankful for the people that God has placed in my life. My family is incredible... a bit odd at times, but aren't we all? I love them so much. Mom, Dad, and Brooks have taught me so much... thank you, God, for them.

I am thankful for the true friends that God has blessed me with. They make me smile, learn, grow, laugh, hug, talk, listen, and (best of all) they let me be their friend. I'm so happy and thankful for these friends.

I am thankful I have grown to be at least a semi-mature adult. I don't act like I'm in middle school anymore and I can be serious when I need to be. I've learned that life is more than girls, cars, and money. Life is so much more than this. I've also learned to be honest, to respect others, and to be truth-telling with all whom I meet. I thank God for this.

I am thankful I am still a child at heart. I play with legos... I crawl after my little cuz on the floor... I shoot spit balls across the dining room table (kids, don't try this at home)... I smile... I laugh uncontrollably... I find utmost fascination and joy and happiness in the cheapest little wind-up toy car that can entertain me for hours on end. I'm so thankful I'm a little kid on the inside.

I am thankful that there is a God who knows my name and that I can live my entire life utterly in love with. I am thankful that nothing can come between me and the love my Creator has for me... nothing can come between my Father's love and me... there are no distractions, there are no detours. It is me and my Lord, and the love that we share is unlike any other love I will ever know... ever. This brings me to tears of joy and thanks.

I am thankful for my brother, the Son, who came to show me the way. I am not perfect (although it would be a lie to seek to be anything less). And that is okay. My brother, my friend, my shepherd, my God came to this earth to show us a perfect path, a guide for us to follow, and then said that He forgives us for the sins we bring upon ourselves. He forgives us. And he loves us. No matter how sinful we are. For this I am thankful.

I am thankful for my leader who guides us to be righteous, to be without wrong, to be only and fully with love, truth, and compassion. It is to these things that we are called. I am thankful, beyond all of me, to have the opportunity to answer the call. The same call we all have been presented with.

I thank God for my God. You are awesome, incredible, holy, joy, and so much more I do an injustice in even trying to explain or detail your beauty and glory. I am thankful. And to this I smile with joy. God is God, and i am not. Let us never forget... and always show to You thanks.

So ever thankful and joyful this night,
chris

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More Than it Seems

"Is my imagination running away or is
All this really happening to me?
Am I a prince in a far away land filled with fantasy?

Where is reality and what are the actions that will define who I am?
I am holding onto the visions I've seen of what I could be
It's what I should be

More than it seems these dreams inside
Blur reality's line
If I could believe that dreams aside
I am capable of more than it seems

Passing through darkness into my own world will I
Be more than when I left
Never letting go of the lessons I learned this will make a change
A change within me

This time I won't run away
I've found the strength to face life's long days
This time I won't run away

'Til there's nothing left of me
Show me the way to these dreams"
(kutless)

Father, that is my prayer tonight. Let these dreams come from within me, and may I never run away, this time or ever. It is a new day. A beautiful day. One of Your days. How joyful I am. And thankful. To You. For opening up my eyes...

"And the time has come to realize and see the plan you've been designed for. So face the fear of all unknown and see the heart inside. So open up your eyes."

May they always be open. And focused... on You. Forever. And always. That, truly and deeply, is my prayer to You this night.

Glory be to God in the highest, in the heavens and on earth, always. Peace be to all men, and may truth abide in us and between us for all time.

overcome by this Love and blinded by this Light,
joyful i am,
gcm

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This View is Changing Me

It's been a while. For the past few weeks, it's been hard to write what I've been thinking. But I suppose I can give it a shot.

For the last ten months, I've been on an adventure. It's been never-ending... one twist and turn after another. I've met lots of new people along the way, and even for old friends I began to see them in a new and different way. My view changed. It became different.

A time or two I've almost written, "I wish I could go back to the way it used to be." But I stopped myself. Where I used to be was comfortable, safe, and predictable. I feel like the four children once they've been in Narnia for a while. It's a depressing winter landscape, and they don't know quite why they're there. They're being led on this journey by something much bigger than themselves. And they almost wish they were back in the Professor's house, back in the English countryside. Back where they were before the adventure began.

This is all before they see Aslan, though. They end up finding the one who has been guiding them all this way - who has been leading their adventure.

This adventure that I am on has led me to many places... it has led my heart in many directions - to high moments and low. This recently has, by far, been the lowest along this journey for me. But I know I must continue. What was before is no longer there. Things are being made anew. As I open up my eyes to see, this view is changing me.

I hope it is for good. I hope it is for better. I hope, more than anything, that it leads me closer to the One who is guiding me.

hanging in there,
chris

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