Tuesday Ten

I thank God for:

1. Our amazing road trip last month, especially my husband's cheerful perseverance in visiting a drizzly Civil War battlefield, rewarded by finding dedicated re-enactors camped out in a field hospital tent

2. The warm Christian fellowship at Bryan College and the fun of "discovering" David Beisner (when we had been searching for him all weekend) -- up in a cherry picker taking a picture of the students posed on the ground.

3. Sunday's sermon and the reminder to continually recognize and kill the idols that raise their heads up in the "idol factory" of our hearts. "Prone to wander..."

4. The beautiful picture of Redemption in the many Christian couples I know who have adopted children or who serve as foster parents. What a way to serve as living sacrifices and to make disciples.

5. The inglorious way that we finished the last chapter of How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments when we were all particularly exhausted and peevish -- and my husband's summation: "Well, even this devotion time was considered righteous and pleasing to God because of Jesus." I love my husband.

6. Getting to hear historian Bradley Birzer from Hillsdale lecture on the virtues of Western Civilization -- and the encouragement of knowing that there are great minds out there training young people to think clearly from a biblical perspective about politics and current events.

7. The humility, hope and zeal that come every time I hear the good news that God is not like us (oh, how glad I am of that) -- and that instead of despising us for our sinfulness He credits us with His holiness because of Jesus. I could never express how thankful I am for this and how it helps me to fight on. The Word of God saves and keeps us.

8. John Jr.'s confidence as an umpire and realizing how every job he has is preparing him for his vocation, his calling from God, whatever that may be

9. The beautiful dress that Leah completed and the vivid imagination that makes her want to sew costumes rather than practical clothes.

10. The new students in my 5-year-old class, who have already won my heart when I thought I could never get over letting this last class move up.

11. The sweetness of deep talks with my husband and those special friends whose hearts burn and yearn for more of Him, knowing there is always so much more. "We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill."