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Thankfulness A to Z

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:20
Air Conditioning - On hot summer days in Cleveland, I find it a blessing to be able to relax and not sweat to death. I don't do well in the heat.
Baseball - The first sport I enjoyed and the first I played. Enjoy attending games to this day. Plan on seeing ballgames in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Washington D.C. this summer. Perhaps Chicago and/or Cincinnati. Nice leisurely game to follow and enjoy.
Comic Books - Don't know what I would do without them. My #1 hobby with close to 20,000 in my collection. Have been enjoying them since I was 5 years old.
Dogs - Best animal ever. Very loving and loyal creatures. Always happy to see you no matter how your day went.
Encouragement - We all need it during the course of our lives. To help us through the hard times and help us push through when we hit roadblocks.
Family - Blessed everyday for my parents and sister - and goes beyond to my extended family, some of whom are no longer here - but their love and lessons last forever.
Grace - Without God's grace in my life, it would be a horrible mess. Undeserved but everlasting. It sustains me every day.
Health - Blessed to overall have fine health. No major problems with my health though I could stand to lose a pound or two.
Ice Cream - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Mint Chocolate Chip. Enough said.
Jesus - Goes without saying. Without His death and resurrection, the rest of this would be meaningless. Always chasing after me no matter how far I go.
Knowledge - I love to read books. Have a pile of unread books that I am starting to go through. Love learning new things and stuff from the past. Enjoy reading histories most of all.
Laughter - Being able to laugh is a good thing. A room full of laughing people is a warm environment. Enjoyed George Carlin and his comedic stylings. Best comedian I think. You could watch him but be aware parental advisory is necessary.
Music - Specifically heavy metal music. Listened to it since I was a teenager. Love Metallica, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, and Kiss among others. Have learned over the years to enjoy a wider variety of music from the 1950's through today.
Nature - Best place to see God's work and God in action. Walking through a park at marveling at creation. Thought provoking and peaceful.
Occupation - It pays the bills. Sometimes, I wonder if accounting was the right field - but I believe God has blessed me in that decision.
Prayer - An opportunity to talk one-on-one with God. Even though He knows my needs, it allows me to be honest in my feelings and enjoy the intimacy that comes from having a personal relationship with God.
Quiet Times - With the crazy pace of the world, it is wonderful at times to step away from it. Going somewhere quiet or turning off the distractions to enjoy the quiet moments.
Rainbows - Sign of a promise from God. Reminds us that God always keeps His promises. Plus, it is cool when it happens after a thunderstorm. A sign of peace after craziness.
Susan - I could talk forever (and have in other blogs) why I am eternally thankful for her. She grounds me and keeps me honest. Cliché as it sounds she has made me a better person. And, she loves sports.
Today - There are no guarantees that we will have tomorrow and yesterday is gone and can't be changed. So, being able to wake up and enjoy what this day will bring makes me thankful.
United States - Political differences aside, this is a wonderful country to live in with all its freedoms. Freedom of speech and religion. Sometimes, I take living here for granted. Maybe it's a sign that we all need to work together, despite our differences, to make things better.
Vineyard Church - My home church. I have grown, been healed, and had experiences I will never forget. Been held accountable and lifted in prayer. Provides community and strength knowing there are people who fight for me.
Word of God - Glad I have it as a reminder of all the things God has done. Drawn inspiration from people who were no better than I, but God used them to be involved in great things. Timeless words - yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Xylophone - Not a whole lot of words here. Could have said X-Men, X-Files, or X-ray. But, xylophone is a cool word and instrument. Should be used in more worship sets.
Yahweh - Without whom, none of the rest is really possible. My creator and my God. One who has lifted me up during the down times. One I will worship till the end of my days.
Zebras - Horses with black & white stripes. How cool is that?

Each day is filled with things we are thankful for. Each list may be different, but all come from the same God.

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