Heart Choices: Thankful Thursday ~ Change -->

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Thankful Thursday ~ Change


It's Thankful Thursday and Lynn of Spiritually Unequal Marriage is hosting. Lynn chose the theme of change for this week.

Whenever I hear the word change, my first instinct is fear. My natural tendency is towards stability and I tend to ...avoid change.

(Norwegian artist: Edvard Munch "The Scream")

I like to stay in my comfort zone. Even when change might be good for me, God often has to push me where I don't willingly want to go. I'm not one for taking lots of risks. And yet, right now I feel like I'm out on a ledge which is very scary.

But growing in faith requires me to trust and step out; not in my own strength ...but in the Lord's.

Even during this changing season in my life, I can be thankful as I see God at work:

  • My marriage has been growing in such a positive way. Often when people are going through a stressful time, couples can blame each other and fight. But Greg and I are growing closer and for that I'm so thankful.
  • Greg returned safely from a necessary trip to San Francisco with a major situation behind him. His flight was delayed by several hours because of a major dust storm in Phoenix. But the first thing he said when he came off the plane was how much he missed me. The woman he sat beside on the plane came up to me smiling and said Greg had told her all about me. She invited us to come to hear her husband play in his band. What a change because normally Greg does work on flights instead of being chatty. :)
  • My friend Terri and her husband Steve took me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants called Postino's. We got to celebrate Steve's birthday which was fun.
  • The weather has been cooler in Phoenix. Yay God. It's exciting to turn off the air conditioning and open up the doors and windows.
  • I got to meet Sarah Dawn of Splashin' Glory and her family at their new home nearby. How thankful I was to have this opportunity to meet her and hug her in person.
  • On the way home from Sarah Dawn's I missed an exit on the freeway so I decided to use this opportunity to stop by my friend Sue's house which was close by. I meant to just say hi and get going but she and her husband Jim insisted I stay and have dinner with them. I'm so thankful for the fun time we had together!

I see the Lord at work in my circumstances. It's been rare for me to have any time to myself lately and yet He provided time for friendship this past week. He's been changing my husband's heart in such positive ways too.

So, instead of fearing change ...I will embrace it.

As long as I'm submitting each day to the Lord, I know He will guide me and teach me. And I'm learning to trust His perfect timing and His perfect ways more and more.


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Debbie Petras
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26 comments:

  1. AMEN! Absolutely beautiful to hear!

    I'm praying over the continued heart changes and trusting God to move mountains - even the ones you can't see or don't know are there!

    Love you!
    Jill

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  2. You are among the many, if not the most. Most of us avoid change; some actually fight it. It can certainly be a scary thing, leaving us feeling vulnerable. How well I know.

    Against the backdrop of my years of living amidst an unbelieving household; one complete with rebellious teens, financial strains, marital shifts, and a host of other mayhem ... I can say (now) that God became the only Absolute in my life. It has remained so.

    Perhaps because of my advancing age (or I'm just plain whacked) I've come to see change as something altogether different. Now it's an adventure; a new chapter; a friend.

    How I love your transparent heart! May it be filled today with immense peace.

    Kathleen

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  3. Oh Debbie, I so know what you mean about change - it can be scary at times. I am glad that you had a super marvelous time with friends this past week :) -- How cool that God is working on your husbands heart.

    Thank you so much for sharing from your heart and always being transparent.

    Love you!!!

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  4. I enjoyed reading your blessings this morning, Debbie. I liked how you missed the exit but it turned into a positive thing for you!

    Thanks for the update in your comment on your sister. I've been wondering how her eyes are now. This is a great verse today also.

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  5. Oh Debbie I found this post really encouraging as I too fight change so. All my life I would have loved to have been the adventuresome one, embracing change and laughing in the face of danger. But I have found myself just the opposite. I like things tried and true, steady and slow, and am often times downright nostalgic, looking back and missing days gone by. But life is just not that way. If there is one thing you can count on it's NOTHING ever stays the same, and change WILL happen. That's why for me I am so grateful that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!! The one thing I can count on to always be just the same. I'm happy things are going well for you and that you see the positive things in your changes. Have a great day. Blessings, Debbie

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  6. Debbie,

    Change ~ it is sooo hard but in the words of Joyce Meyer.

    "If you do what you have always done, you'll be what you've always been" or "I'm not where I used to be and I'm not where I want to be but I'm ok and on my way!

    or something like that ;)

    Glad your DH is back and you were able to enjoy your friends! Have a blessed Thursday

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  7. Beautiful list of thankfulness! I don't like change either - and the Lord is teaching me to embrace it, as well. I'm just thankful that in an ever changing world, our God NEVER changes!

    Love to you, and continuing to pray for you - and praising God for the good that is coming in your lives through the present difficulties...

    Jen

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  8. so glad that while you are going through this change that you have your hubby and friends to rely on

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  9. Oh Debbie!
    Thank you sweetie for posting this today. It touched my heart. Some of the words I so needed to hear. As you know we have had a BIG change in our lives this week, and it has been hard. I feel this posting was speaking to me, and thank you so much.

    Look forward to seeing you on Friday at the luncheon. I hope you are coming.

    Country hugs and love, Sherry

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  10. Hi Debbie,

    Change has been my life. I have never lived in one place for long enough to know what it felt like *not* to change every couple of years. While that lifestyle has made me very good at surviving change, it has also brought a number of hardships. I am grateful, though, that it has made me very much a stranger in a strange land, no matter where I am. We aren't supposed to live entirely in this world, and I think de-stabilization brings us a more godly detachment.

    I'm not sure exactly what you're going through, so please know that my words may not apply to you. I don't want to offend by inadvertently saying something that is completely inappropriate for your circumstances. This is just how change has worked for me.

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  11. Beautiful post Debbie! So many blessings in our lives and more to come.
    Hugs, Noreen

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  12. Change has always been difficult for me too. I am also reluctant to step out of my comfort zone. As I do though, I feel so blessed as the Lord gives me the strength and encouragement to make the changes. He always has to give me a little push.
    I'm glad that Greg was able to talk to the woman sitting next to him. It sounds like he too is coming out of his comfort zone. Gos has been so good to all of us.
    Love,
    Sue

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  13. I knew when I came here, I'd be encouraged! Thank you, Debbie!

    The resistance to (and fear) of change resides in most of us, I guess. With me it's been the dread of cancer, having lost my parents and many other dear ones to the disease, yet here we've traveled twice down that road with hubby and so far, he is well. PTL!

    Thanks for being so open because not only can I see how much we share alike, I see how the Lord is preserving you through all things for His glory. Rejoicing with you this Thankful Thursday for what's happening with your hubby, and for your heart of faith. Thanking the Lord for his encouragement through friends this week! His grace is busy at work in you, sister! Love you!

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  14. Debbie,

    I hate change, but God insists that we change, doesn't He? His first act in our lives after we accept His son is to make us a new creature - that's about the biggest change we could ever imagine.

    Why is it that we find comfort in our rituals, even when they have proven to bring us pain in the long run? I don't know. (If you figure it out, let me know, okay?)

    I am reminded of something I heard once: The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over, but to expect it to end differently.

    Well, since none of us want to be insane, I guess we need to embrace change.

    Yikes!
    Cheri

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  15. Great post. Well said.

    Wanted to let you know that I have a giveaway on my site. Just click on the picture of the giveaway on one of the right sidebars.
    theprovidentwoman.com

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  16. Wonderful list. I welcome change as long as it's according to God's will :).

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  17. I am not big on change.....in fact, sometimes I am like a cat being pushed towards water!

    But I know and believe that God brings change in my life for all good reasons and need to trust that He knows what He is doing. He's got a very good track record and last time I checked, I screw up pretty bad when I decide to do things my way.

    Great post!

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  18. Debbie,

    What an inspirational post. I'm so glad that you enjoyed time with friends and that your husband returned home safely.

    Blessings to you on this Thankful Thursday.
    Mary

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  19. Oh boy can change be a scary thing,(cool picture) because one never knows the out come, thats were trust in God comes in.

    blessings
    Gracie

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  20. Oh boy can change be a scary thing,(cool picture) because one never knows the out come, thats were trust in God comes in.

    blessings
    Gracie

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  21. God greatly bless you as you begin to embrace change.

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  22. i also dreaded change before. i'd rather stay in my comfort zone and just like you, there were times when God had to push me to do the things He wanted me to do. i've learned that change is good especially when our trust in in God because we can be sure that His protection is upon us. we just need to trust Him.

    i love the verse you quoted. i am redeemed and i am His. i feel like God is embracing me when i read this verse. i am His. wow!

    thank you, debbie, for remembering me once in a while. hope i'd also have the chance to meet you in person.

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  23. Oh Debbie,

    I see your sweet heart and your spirit in these words. I am filled with love as I have watched you change over the months of trials.

    Your faith has grown. Your heart, your marriage and trust. I am undone by your example. Thank you.

    Well done good and faithful servant. Hugs.

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  24. Glad you're having a great time there with friends. Many blessings to you!

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  25. What a beautiful blog and a true blessing to read. Thank You for sharing. Have a great weekend. Many Blessings,

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  26. Loved what you shared on embracing change!

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