It smells like "Thankful"

Last Fall my roommate bought a candle called "Thankful". Every time one of us walked in the door we'd say "it smells like thankful in here!" It kinda became an apartment inside joke.

Anyway, this Thanksgiving it may not smell like thankful but I'm definitely full of thankfulness. The RUF thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite things all year. After we finish filling ourselves with delicious food we pass a microphone and share what we are thankful for and how God is working. It's probably my favorite tradition. I wish we did something like it at home with my family - it's definitely something I want to do when I have a family of my own. I love hearing stories from everyone of how they've been struggling, growing, being encouraged, learning, and how it all points back to God.

I am thankful for how God always guides me and leads me. He is gentle yet He is firm. I may wander, I may be lukewarm, and I may fall to pieces but He always calls me back, lights my fire, and puts me back together. He puts people in my life to talk to me, encourage me, and pray for me. He gives me scripture to read over - letting me know HIM even more.

I'm also thankful for the heart He's given me. That in His love, I am able to love others. It may be an imperfect love this side of Heaven but it's a small taste of His love.

PS: Sorry this is such a delayed Thanksgiving post...I was enjoying family time and didn't want to take the time to write.

PPS: GO GATORS!!! Beat the 'Noles!!!

Complacency and God's Reminders

A lot of times I feel complacent. As if I'm going about life with an apathetic outlook. But then sometimes God gives these little reminders -  you could call them little nudges.

RUF on Tuesday was really convicting. I would have written more about it last night but I was busy studying. If any of you are curious, it's about security - more specifically about a false sense of security in our own merits. If you'd  like to listen to the podcast you can get it here - RUFGators. Sometimes they have to take them down and put them back up so if you don't see it, check back later. Or heck, listen to any of the other messages. They're all so convicting and Steve is a great speaker.

Then today was prayer group. There were only two of us - the two leaders actually. But it was great. DRobb and I just got to share together briefly. If you don't know him, you should. He is just such a wise person who is truly seeking to know the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. I'm thankful for his words of wisdom and encouragment. I'm pretty sure he exemplifies the verse: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17

So I think through these instances...and a few other small convictions of heart, God is nudging me. He is nudging me to be bold in Him, to stand firm in Him, to serve Him, and to desire Him. Pray for me that my hardened and complacent heart might be softened.

Are you being nudged? If so, how?