Day 37

A few days ago (on Day 35), I mentioned that my boys used their imaginations to tranform an ordinary box into a bed, chair, campsite and tent.  I love to listen to them playing... to hear the conversations they have as their cars talk and become real.  Our imaginations are truly a gift from God.

I had a pretty vivid imagination too when I was little.  Have any of you ever had an imaginary friend?  Well I did and her name was… drum roll please… Maryawana.  Now let me tell you a little bit about Maryawana.  I used to pretend to teach school in our sunroom and Maryawana was my best student.  She always had the right answer and I would call on her often.  One afternoon, my mom called me into the kitchen and asked me what I was doing.  I told her I was playing school and she asked me who I was teaching.  I told her Maryawana.  Of course, I was ready to resume my teaching responsibilities after I answered her questions.  But no, she was not finished with me yet.  Instead of telling me to go back to my teaching, my mom told me, much to my despair, that I had to change Maryawana’s name.  Let me tell you, I was not happy about this at all.  I mean, Maryawana was my best student and there was no way I could change her name!  My mom was not buying into my argument, so I reluctantly agreed to change her name… at least when my mom was around.

Maryawana was invisible, but to me she was real (even after I had to change her name).  She interacted with me and enabled me to fill my days with aspirations of being a teacher. 

I ran across an interesting verse that ties into being invisible.  Hebrews 11:27 in The Amplified Bible says:  [Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible. 

This verse is talking about Moses and his amazing faith in God.  Moses had just killed an Egyptian that was beating a Hebrew and Pharaoh was now out to kill Moses.  So, Moses fled... and trusted that God would work out the details behind the scenes.  Don't you love the words unawed, undismayed, held staunchly, and endured steadfastly?  Moses was described like this becaues He focused his thoughts on God Who is invisible.  Don't you want to be like that?  I wonder if Moses was a thankful guy and if that helped him during his time in the desert...

While we can't see God because He's invisible, we know He is real, just like Moses knew He was real.  We believe.  And if we follow Moses' example, we can choose to be thankful even when faced with tough circumstances.  How?  By choosing to believe Jeremiah 29:11-14:  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the Lord. 

Some great promises from God to help us "give thanks in all circumstances," (1 Thessalonians 5:18) don't you agree?  I'm so thankful the Bible is filled with examples that show us how to choose thanksgiving... even in the midst of trials that come our way. 

Tonight, I am thankful for...

1.  Sound of raindrops hitting the house
2.  A house that keeps us dry
3.  Power of prayer
4.  Freedom to pray continually
5.  Raindrops clinging to naked tree branches... that looked just like diamonds on a tennis bracelet... stunning!
6.  Playing Go Fish
7.  Hubby feeling better
8.  Getting a Christmas present almost finished
9.  Windshield wipers
10.  My son's delight over getting to use his umbrella
11.  Family movie night
12.  Getting some of my house clean
13.  Sons straightening up their rooms... they did a fantastic job!
14.  Meditating on scripture
15.  God being so good

Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 6,025 to go...