Grateful

Do you know the feeling when you know God did something especially for you? This year for my birthday God gave me two very special gifts. The first gift is gratefulness! The family that I stayed with in Indonesia for a year called me at 5:30am to wish me a happy birthday (7pm Indonesia time). It has been 3 years since I came back and every year they always remember to call me on my birthday.

One of the most special things about Indonesians is that they are extremely relational. It doesn't matter that you've been gone for 3 years or even 5+ years; once you are in their life, you are part of their life. Here is another family very special to me. The first time I met them I instantly saw Jesus in them! I am grateful for the Campodonicos and am so honored to be a part of their life.

Although I can go on forever about people God placed in my life and how grateful I am for them, I would like to take the time to ramble about one more person: Jason!

I am so grateful for Jason in my life and frequently thank God for him. Jason is joyful, trusting, honest, challenging, and loving. He has grown in patience, humility, and gentleness through our relationship and I am amazed at how specifically God chose Jason for me. Jason appreciates my craziness and silliness and challenges me when I'm easily impatient especially when I'm hot or hungry or frustrated. He writes letters for me because he knows I like them and pursues me when I close myself off.

So the point of this is not to brag about how great Jason is or how great of friends I have. But to brag about how good God is. He knows us exactly and specifically. One of my favorite verses Psalm 37:14 "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." I never thought I would be anywhere close to where I am today, but it is really by God's grace that I am alive, following Jesus, and sharing the joys and sorrow of life with family & friends. It is such a privilege and honor to be in a relationship with God. Friends, where are you in your life and how is your relationship with God? Do you know that God loves you, cherishes you, and wants to fulfill your deepest hopes and dreams? :-)