Iris has faithfully opened her heart and her blog to us every Thursday so that we can share with one another the things we are grateful for. I am deeply grateful for her and the way she has blessed the lives of so many of us.

This morning my heart is focused on the richness of the blessings God extends toward me:

I am so thankful that He chose me for His own:
“Even as (in His love) He chose us – actually picked us out for Himself as His own – in Christ before the foundation of the world; that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.”
Eph. 1:4 AMP
When I think of Who He is and who I am, it just drops me to my knees in gratitude. My past is so filled with selfish choices that led to such terrible sin I can truly say with Paul, “I am the worst of sinners.” Yet He chose me – without regret – to be His child. Such love takes my breath away.

I am thankful for forgiveness and grace; thankful that He does not give me what I deserve. I was saved as a young girl, and all the worst of my sins have been committed while I knew Him. The tears flow when I realize the magnitude of what He did for me in His death on the cross, and I held the gift so loosely not cherishing it as I ought to have done. And yet He fills my life with grace – with His unmerited favor. He holds nothing against me; He doesn’t even remember my sins. He has freed me from the burden of guilt and shame.

I am thankful for the peace, hope and joy with which He floods my soul. What precious, priceless gifts. The world longs for these things – searching desperately in all the wrong places – and finding only emptiness. I have been given all these things and more in Jesus, the One who gave His life for me.

I am thankful for the infinite patience of the Lord. I deserved none of it. Yet He somehow knew that one day I would begin to see clearly. I would see how precious the gift of salvation is, how empty life is when lived keeping Him at “arms length”. I am so thankful He didn’t give up on me.

Thank You Lord for the infinite riches in Jesus that you have poured into this undeserving heart. Your love amazes me.

Blessings,