Today is a reflective day for me- I turn 38. Birthdays are days to reflect on all the blessings and trials in this life. I am reminded although I deserve much worse, the Lord's mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness."
I am not as thankful as I should be. It is hard to live up to I Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Here are seven things I am currently thankful for- in no particular order:
1. I live in a great country. Is it the best country? It is debatable. But for some great providential reason, God has chosen to bless this nation for a long period of time. We experience many good things and life is not the daily grind for most Americans that it is for people in other nations. For this, we should give thanks. But also remember that with great prosperity comes great responsibility. "To the one who has been entrusted with much; much more will be asked."- Luke 12:48
2. Answered prayer. I have way too many to list them all. But one recent specific prayer that God granted was the sell of our home. I had prayed every day for six months that God would bring us a buyer for our current home and that the hassles would be minimal. There were many reasons for me to plead with God for this request. I office from home. We are building a new home. My wife- Amy- is 9-months pregnant and coping daily with neurological problems. We have a 3-year old active little boy.
We wanted to avoid as much chaos as possible. God brought us a family that we knew to purchase our home. We avoided having to list it and have people coming through our home constantly. Our buyers- the Blakeleys- were gracious enough to allow us to lease the home back until our new house is ready. If you have ever sold a house, you know these things don't happen. I can only attribute it to God's graciousness to answer this specific prayer.
I am not saying all prayers are answered on my timetable. I pray daily for my wife's neurological issues to be healed and that has not happened yet. There is never a formula. God has His reasons for saying yes to some prayers; no to some; and wait for other prayer requests. His ways are mysterious. But He can be trusted. Read Psalms 25. It is a powerful chapter. Psalms 25:5, "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God and my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
3. I am thankful for hope. When I reflect on my sin, I am discouraged that I am not further along. I let people down. I say things that I intend to fulfill but then make a liar out of myself by not doing them. I am prideful. I complain a lot. I struggle with lots of other sins. But I have hope. I rely on God's promises that He will perfect me in time. I am hopeful that my 38th year will be a little more faithful; a little more worthwhile to others. Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
I am thankful for the hope of resurrection and the coming day of Christ Jesus referrenced in Philippians 1:6. One day, God will make all things right. Evil will be destroyed. Good will triumph. Disease, death and decay will go bye-bye. Christ will rule a renovated earth and His followers will reign with Him. I believe this. And for this reason, I have hope that all things in this life can be put into perspective. I love the word hope. So much that I convinced my wife to name our daughter Hope- who is due in April.
4. I am thankful for family. I have a great wife who puts up with all my quirks and idiosyncracies. She has a tough job being married to me. But she perseveres daily. I am thankful for Hudson and Hope. I never thought I could experience as much joy as I experience daily being a parent.
5. I am thankful for basketball and for the friendships with William, Jay and others that have been formed on the courts at Lifetime Fitness. I feel God's pleasure when I play basketball. I am not very good, but I love the game and am grateful that I can play at a competitive level at 38 years old. Despite teeth being knocked out, bumps, bruises and nagging injuries, I enjoy the exercise and release that basketball provides.
6. I am thankful for my financial planning business. I have terrific clients. They are patient, disciplined and optimistic as a whole. It makes my job not seem like work most days. I am continually inspired by my clients. I have the privilege of working out of my home which is a tremendous blessing.
7. I am thankful for the men in my life that have impacted me in so many positive ways. My grandfather, dad and father-in-law have shaped me in many good ways that I am grateful for. There have been Christian men that have modeled the faith well- they have shown me what it means to be a man who loves God and balances toughness and tenderness. I know that every positive contribution that I am able to make to this life will be an indirect result of God working through other men and women to light a path for me.
I have rambled long enough. I am thankful for the life I have. God has given me 38 years. I consider every day a bonus. What do I have to complain about? Nothing legitimate.
Thank You God for what You have done in my life and for what You are going to do,
Ashley Hodge
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