yesterday's post gratituesday - blessings

is it redundant to say i'm grateful for blessings?  i don't think so.  and even if it is, i guess i don't mind being redundant.  we are told in scripture to be thankful: 
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV --Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 5:20 ESV--Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,        
Psalm 107:1 ESV --Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!         

Colossians 3:15-17 --ESV And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.            

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV --Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Psalm 105:1 ESV --Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!        

Psalm 106:1 ESV --Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!        

Philippians 4:6 ESV --Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.        

Psalm 118:1-18 ESV --Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. ...         

Colossians 4:2 ESV --Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.        

Colossians 3:15 ESV --And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.        

Psalm 30:12 ESV --That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalm 9:1-2 ESV --To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.        

Colossians 3:17 ESV --And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

those were just a few.  (seriously.)  but the truth of the matter is that blessings are everywhere.  they can be anything.  we pray for specific blessings, but sometimes God's will is different than what we're thinking.  here's a great song that's really popular in our house.  please listen to it's lyrics.  it's a pretty tune too, but it's the words that touch me. 

so, this week i'm so very very very thankful for all the different blessings in my life.  i realize that that's what this gratituesday post is all about, but i want to put a blanket thankfulness for ALL the blessings that God pours down on me.

in honor of veteran's day this friday, last night we were invited to the olive garden restaurant for dinner.  my husband served four long years in the marine corps (a long time ago).  he served overseas for 2.5 of that and was camped out in Somalia, Africa for about 8 months.  he doesn't get much recognition for his service, and he's fine with that, because that's not why he did it.  but i kinda mind... he sacrificed a lot in those four years.  not just materially, but emotionally, and morally as well.  a lot of it he doesn't like to recall.  i think that it deserves recognition EVEN IF the service isn't "all that much."  it's still a service to all us free united states citizens.  there are so many veterans like my husband that just went back to civilian life and didn't take advantage, or didn't get the benefits that're out there. 

last night's dinner was the very first real benefit my husband has received from serving those long 4 years for our country.  in retrospect it wasn't much, but to him it meant a lot.  i meant a lot to me.  we were treated like royalty.  honestly, i've never experienced that.  i've never had the money to "earn" that sort of treatment (especially at a restaurant).  i've gotten free meals before, but never to the extent that 3 managers come to check on us, 2 very attentive waiters cater to our every beck and call, plus we had appetizers, entrees, and desserts (to take home even, nonetheless).  we and the kids got whatever special drink we wanted (which was chocolate milk for the kids, but otter pop treated them each to a shirley temple... so they'd know what they were) and were just honored and treated special in every single way.  we kept saying "thank you.  thank you so much.  thanks..." and instead of the normal "you're welcome" their response was always "thank YOU!" 

gratituesday opportunity to thank the Lord for ALL the blessings He gives me.  even the hard ones.  i want to thank Him, in the same way that we were thanked last night for my husband's service to our country.  i want God to feel that i am honoring Him and treating Him special in EVERY SINGLE WAY!  He gave us the greatest service, in dying on the cross.  He has already given us the most precious gift out there, in accepting our sinning souls into heaven instead of damning us to eternal hell.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you for EVERYTHING!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."