Twenty-Two Days of Thanks: Day One

I have decide that from now until Thanksgiving Day, 2012, that I would post a post of thanksgiving every day...and that I'd give you the chance to join me. :)

With the help of InLinkz.com, I made a link-up for you to submit posts to complete with its own page, Twenty-Two Days of Thanks on Fibro, Fit and Fab!  (It's on the left, in case you didn't see it. :))  The link-up will be available from now until Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, 2012.  I hope that you will link-up and share the word by grabbing a badge on the right (You'll see the picture that I used below with the code in a box below it.) and posting it to your site.  That's not required, but I'd love it if you did. :)  Also, you don't have to post every day, but you are more than welcome to. :)  If you have any questions about the link-up, feel free to comment below or email me.

Anyway, let's get this link-up party kicked off right, shall we? 

What am I thankful for?

The first thing that I want to share that I'm grateful for is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Without Him, my life would be so very different than it is today.  I can say with 100% certainty that I would still be a mess, maybe even more of one, without Him.  My marriage was in a mess, my mind was in a mess - my whole world was falling apart before I became a Christian.

Now, I'd been raised in a Christian home with good, Godly parents, but I was running from God personally.  I didn't really think I needed a Savior.  I was a good person.  I did good things.  I wasn't a "bad" girl.  I knew God had sent His Son to die for me - I believed that...I just didn't believe that I'd NEEDED Him to.  I had never realized that I had a need that only He could fill.  I was basing my ability to get to Heaven, to be pleasing to God, to be a good person on the belief that I was just serving a God Who had come to take my place on the cross.  I wasn't basing it on the fact that I'd NEEDED Him to.  Now that may not seem like a difference to you, but trust me - it is.

When I just believed He'd died for me, I just thought of it as a fact.  It was something He just did.  I didn't need Him in order to be good or to do right - I was all those things on my own.  I did things wrong and I sinned, but God could overlook that...  You see where my mindset was?

Change it to Him NEEDING to die for my sins.  Now I no longer saw myself as such a good person.  I no longer saw that I could do right in and of myself...I needed an Advocate, Someone to take my place - I was now in a whirlwind of trouble with no way out without Someone there to help me.  It was THIS line of reasoning, this revelation, that brought me to my knees, begging God's forgiveness and help - and it made all the difference in the world.

It saved my marriage because I realized I wasn't so wonderful.  I had my flaws.  The only perfect Person was Christ - and I would need His help if I was going to change things in my marriage.  And you know what?  It worked. :) 

Becoming a Christian had a ripple effect.  It changed my heart, which changed my direction, which changed my marriage, which changed my home - it changed everything for the better, and I don't regret that decision at all.

Now, I've not been perfect.  I've messed up - sometimes a lot.  But God is there.  He is ready, willing and able to take my mess of a life when I'll give it over to Him and help me.  He truly is amazing. :)  I don't have to be perfect; I just have to be willing to give my imperfections over to God and let Him work in and through me.  You see, it's not about me...It's about Him.  I know some of you reading this will know exactly what I mean. :)

Life has not become perfect either, but now I have God.  He didn't promise that I would not have any trials once I became His, He even said some things might get worse in a way, but He DID promise He'd be there.  I think of it this way: We will all face trials and hardships NO MATTER WHAT we choose to do with God.  The advantage of being a Christian is I don't have to face those hardships alone - I have God with me; I have hope.  I would much rather have Him than go through life without Him.  I lived for 29 years without Him - and I would never want to repeat that experience again.

Maybe you don't know what I'm talking about.  You can find some more information here that will help explain it or you can email me if you like.  I'd love to talk to you.

At any rate, what are you thankful for today?  Comment below or, better yet, link up your post to the link-up.  I look forward to your response! :)

May you have an amazing (and thankful) day!

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Fibro, Fit and Fab!)