Top Ten Things I am Thankful For!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope everyone had a fantastic day spending time with family, eating lots of turkey, chasing children, spending time with loved ones, and most importantly giving thanks for the freedom to do these things and to Christ who has given these things to you.

Some things I am thankful for:

1. My little brother.  
My little brother is quickly leaving little brother annoyance stage and becoming one of my closest friends.  Since moving to school, it's been really hard to be away from him so much.  I feel like I'm missing out on a bunch of important events of his life.  He is such an awesome kid and I love him to death.

2. My parents
Not because it's Thanksgiving and I'm automatically supposed to be thankful for them.  But because they are honestly the best parents a girl could ask for.  They are the most supportive people in the world.  For example, just last week they drove all the way to Anderson just to hear me sing two songs.  They understand what is important to me and know it means a lot for them to be supportive.  They are two of the best reflections of Christ I know.  They are self-sacrificing, way more than they should be.

3. Anderson University 
I love Anderson University.  I'm even more thankful that this is where Christ wanted me to get an education.  The environment is so uplifting and encouraging.  My walk with God has really grown in the past four months and I can't wait to see what will happen next!

4. Nature 
I'm thankful for nature because it's one of the easiest ways to see Christ yet so many times we overlook it.  As I was driving home the other day, I was on 85 and on a short stretch, you can see the outline of the mountains. It's beautiful and it's so majestic.  Then a short while later, I looked to my right at a stoplight and there sat a beautiful sunset.  I was reminded that the God who made these beautiful scenes loves us and calls us his children!  How cool is that?  I should pay more attention to nature.

5. Freedom in Christ
Galatians 5:1 says "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." The slavery Paul was talking about in this verse had to deal with the Gentiles and Christ being their salvation instead of the Jewish law.  If taken out of this context, the slavery in this verse can be anything that applies to your life and is holding you back.  For me, it was being enslaved by past relationships. I was so chained and held back by them that it constantly distracted me from other important things in my life.  Through scripture, prayer, circumstance, and experiences, Christ has allowed me to place these behind me so I can focus on the future. However, I'm so thankful these relationships were in my life because it has shown me that I deserve someone who respects me, pursues me, and most importantly loves Jesus and walks with him daily.  

6. Worship
I'm first and foremost thankful that I have the freedom to worship my Jesus freely and without any restrictions.  Worship can be defined as many different things.  One of my favorite definitions is "love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess" Love unquestioningly.  Wow.  That takes a lot of faith.  But then again, who am I to question God.  Um that answer would be, nobody. 
On to something a bit lighter...

7. Music 
Music is one of the biggest parts of my life.  I feel that so many people can be reached by music.  It's such a powerful thing.  I'm thankful that Christ is allowing me to major in music but still in a way that is serving him.  Yessss!

8. My friends
Especially the ones I am super close to and invest a lot of time in and they invest a lot of time in me.  They allow for some fantastic memories and great times!

9. My small group
Oh my I love this group of girls with my entire heart.  They are some of the most amazing girls I have ever known and I look forward to next semester as we are able to dig into God's word together even more.  I'm even more thankful they live on my hall.

10. Coffee, Chickfila, Rita's, and all other delicious food.  Most importantly, the Thanksgiving meals today!
Um enough said.  A. It's delicious.  B. Many people are not fortunate enough to have a huge meal.  Thank you Lord for blessing me beyond belief.

forget regret
-k