Not only does this week...

provide a well needed break from some regular demands on time and energy, but this week in its very celebration draws hearts to thankfulness, of which a well-needed break from regular demands on time and energy is one such thing to cause thankfulness.

But there are many other things to be thankful for as well. Rebecca Writes was maintaining a list of thankful posts for the month of November, but her blogging break transferred that role to Kim at Hiraeth. I haven't been able to participate until now.

I'm thankful for three sons who drive me crazy. In their driving me crazy, I'm reminded of the days when I didn't want children at all, followed by the days that I desired children with all my heart and couldn't have them, close on the heels of these days that now I have children that can at least drive me crazy.

I'm thankful for my husband who raises these driving me crazy sons with a firm hand and gentle heart, with a steady constitution and flexible schedule, with a commitment and sacrifice that is patently missing in the wimpy model of manhood pictured today in postmodern icons.

I'm thankful for my husband who adores and cherishes this semi-crazed wife, known as me, in the midst of raising sons, keeping a home, and teaching the Bible. He is the head of this household with humor and courage, with honor and care for those God has entrusted to his shepherding and training.

I'm thankful for family who by God's providence were the instruments of His grace to teach me more of Who God is and who I am before God, in both right and wrong ways. Confessing that family has endured with me through interminable wrong decisions, through all sorts of crazed circumstances and numerous opportunities to leave me to the consequences of myself--but they didn't--is ample reason for thanks.

I'm thankful for friends who pursue God with humility and integrity to examine Scripture in its whole and excellent counsel not respecting man's traditions and opinions above God's infallible Word, not fearful for embracing all that God's glory entails, and not unwilling to hold fast to sound doctrine.

I'm thankful for the salvation that God has granted me, considering that my low estate and mindset for years only idolized selfish ambition and secular humanism as social gospel. Confessing that I esteemed only myself and my decisions of prideful arrogance, well screened by the high sounding clang of man's choice over God's sovereignty, when in truth my real fear was not being in control and so not willing to be humbled.

I'm thankful for the ongoing, albeit painful, process of sanctification that God continues in me, confessing that my mistakes of attempting to wrest control from Him only continue to demonstrate His perfect will in me to the praise of His glory alone, because He knows exactly how and by what means to humble the proud that He might exalt the humbled.

I'm thankful for the assurance of His completed work to be realized in me, confessing that not even my greatest willful acts can remove me from His hand or deny the perfect blood of Christ. Further confessing that the command to work out my salvation in fear and trembling is not an odious requirement but a most authentic gift of His Holy Spirit that only in this estate utilizes the truth of my responsibilities and privileges before a Holy God.

I'm thankful for the gift of privilege God has granted me to teach His Word, confessing that unless He works in me to do so, it cannot be done. Remembering with confession the number of years wasted on wrong theology that exalted man and to now be given opportunity to teach right theology that exalts God, brings life to the truth that God does indeed restore the years that the locusts have eaten.

Yes, I'm thankful.