I have been looking forward to writing this post for a few days. There is always so much to be grateful for, but I have two very special things I want to thank and praise the Lord for this week.

1. We attended church with our son and his family this past sunday. Before the Pastor spoke, one of the men had a word from the Lord. It was about waiting. He said he had been reading in the Psalms, and the Lord spoke to his heart about a particular passage. He said there are some who have been praying about something for a very long time and have become discouraged because God has been silent. He said the Lord showed him that we are not to be disheartened because we haven't had an answer yet. God just has us in His "waiting room" right now. It isn't that He hasn't heard or doesn't care. He is working something in us during this time. We should not give up hope that our prayers will be answered.

It was as if the Lord Himself spoke that right into my heart. Just recently I was asking Him if I should stop praying for the miracle I've been desperately praying for for years now. I wondered if He just wanted me to accept the circumstances and stop asking for deliverance. I believe I need to continue to pray and to keep my heart open and teachable to things He wants me to learn during this time of waiting.

Psalm 130:1-6 "Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If Thou, Lord shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning."

2. I left out one thing that happened on our visit to our kids this weekend. The weather was beautiful (hot - but beautiful) all weekend. It continued that way on our drive home until we were about an hour or so from our house. We noticed the sky was getting very dark to the north of us. Then lightening began to flash through the dark clouds. Darkness had fallen by the time we reached the town that is about a thirty minute drive from our home. We were sitting at a traffic light when suddenly the wind began to blow at an unbelievable rate of speed. It was as though someone had flipped a giant switch. It went from completely calm to winds of probably about seventy miles an hour. The air was filled with dust and debris; the traffic light was blown horizontal; it felt as though the car was going to be lifted right off the road. I was truly frightened. I thought it might be a tornado. My brave husband continued the drive home. It began to rain, and he had to be careful of road signs being blown over into the lane of traffic. I sat with my fists clenched and prayed the whole way home. It was an exciting ride.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and a prayer of thanks as we pulled into our driveway. I told my husband he'd done a great job of driving and he just said, "The Lord got us home." And so He did.

We pray daily for protection for our loved ones and for us too. I'm sure there are things the Lord protects us from that we are totally unaware of. That night I knew His hand of protection was on us. I am so thankful for His faithful care.

Psalm 91:1-2,4,11 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!' He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways."

I thank Him for His great love and His faithfulness. He truly is all He has promised to be. For more Thankful Thursday posts visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

Blessings,