30 Blessings

Today I turn 30. I have been pondering all that God has done in my life and I wanted to share 30 blessings with you. Some are serious, some are light. Some are not complete thoughts. Just rambling blessings!

1. Joy Garner (my Mom): she taught me how to work hard, that doing the right thing is always right, the importance of immediately putting my dishes in the dish washer, the joy of serving my church, the love of reading, how to love people others might deem unlovable, how to serve others without expecting anything, how to be intentional, & how to make the best sweet and sour pork and the best chicken fried steak. (Plus a million another things)
2. Rick Garner (my Dad): he taught me to love the Word, to get up early and study and pray, how to pray, how to love my pastor, how to give joyfully, how to bake a cake from scratch, how to be bold in my faith.(The list could go on!)
3. My husband: I continue to be amazed by how God knew exactly what He was doing when He put us together. I am so blessed to be married to this man who loves Jesus, loves people, makes me laugh every day, encourages me to walk worthy, to trust Jesus, to love others. He is awesome, sorry ladies, but he is all mine!
4. Marriage: Last night I was sitting across a gym watching my husband realizing we have been married for two years. And it still blows me away that God has blessed me with this thing called marriage. God has used marriage to expose my sin and make me into His likeness in ore ways than I would like to share on this blog. And it blesses me. Marriage used to be an idol in my life, I am now able to view it as a blessing and a gift and not something to be worshiped!
5. My Garcia family: I am so grateful for this family the Lord gave me when I married Greg. I am grateful for their love and encouragement. They have taken me in and loved me well. I am blessed to be apart of the Garcia family!
6. Elizabeth Autrey: Littlebeth and I have been friends for 26 years. She has walked through so many things with me. I have learned so much about mercy from this woman. She bleeds mercy. I am grateful for her lifelong friendship.
7. Ashley Pelter: The day I walked into my freshman dorm I was worried if our friendship would work. I had prayed and prayed for this roommate God had given me. I am blessed to say He knew exactly what He was doing. Ashley taught me how a friend could be totally unlike you and be your perfect compliment. We are opposites in so many ways, but I am grateful that God placed her in my life.
8. 3 Ashley(e)’s and A Kristen: In college God gave me three friends that were like sisters. They were the best roommates. I miss them terribly and wish I could see them more often. They were a total God send to me and I am so grateful to have been able to walk through college with them.
9. Trials: Yep, this one is weird I know. I am blessed by the shattered heart I used to have and my Mom’s breast cancer. I am blessed, because of all that the trials taught me about following Jesus. In each of these God called to me in a dark place. He wrapped His arms around me and sweetly spoke His Truth to me. It was in these valleys that I learned how to hear the voice of the Lord, how to find my identity in Jesus, and how to walk in His Truth.
10. Precept Ministries: It was at Precept that I first learned how to study the Word for myself. I met people my age who really desired to walk with Jesus. I saw young men who were Godly and it encouraged me to wait for God’s best. I saw God’s Word come alive and realized it wasn’t over my head. Precept totally changed me, and I am blessed by the work and the people of Precept.
11. David & BJ Lawson: I know them because of Precept, but they are in a category on their own. They encourage me, speak truth into me, guide me in ministry. They are a huge blessing in my past and my present.
12. The Word: I often take for granted the blessing that the Word is, the encouragement it gives, the instruction it brings, the way it shapes me.
13. Ministry: my senior year of college God called me into ministry. I have spent the last 13 years serving the Lord in various capacities. Ministry has taught me how to trust the Lord deeper, how to let things go, how to have fun and speak truth in the same breath. I am blessed for this work that God has called me to.
14. My Girls: The girls of our ministry bless me all the time. They have cleaned my apartment, put away my dishes, bought me coffee, watched movies and baked with me. They have revealed my sin, spoken words of encouragement, and loved me all along the way. Recently the Lord has reminded my time with them is short and to not take any of it for granted.I am blessed to serve these precious girls of mine!
15. The Fab 4: Okay, so I made up this name, we really don’t call ourselves that. But I have this group of friends from work, and I could not do life without them. They pray for me, they encourage me, we cry, we laugh, we share our stress. The four of us understand eachother’s work like no one else does and being together, just makes the hard times better.
16. Roommates: I am happy to say, I have taken on my last roommate. ;) But over the years I have been blessed to live with some awesome women. They have all taught me different things. God has used each of them to shape who I am. Jenna introduced me to Shane and Shane. Allyson showed me the beauty of caprese. Amy revived my love of girlie things. Denae taught me how to serve others well. I am grateful for these women!
17. My Job: I am blessed to work at a job where I get to serve churches across the state of Texas. I work with some of the best people. They are a true joy. I am blessed to work for a Godly boss who loves Jesus and is bold to share his faith at every venue we walk into.
18. My church: I am blessed to serve a church that loves the gospel. I am blessed by a pastor who I see God continuing to work and move and stir in his heart. I am blessed by a church family, that really is like family.
19. The Stowe Family: They have adopted us, or we adopted them. They have allowed us into their home and their family. They feed us, encourage us, speak truth to us. They are a place of refuge for us.
20. Lifegroup: a small group of young married couples. We meet weekly. They encourage us, pray for us, and remind us that we are not alone. They also play really funny pranks on your husband that make his heart stop beating.
21. Watching my children walk with Jesus: I’m talking about my spiritual kids of course (no mom, I am not pregnant) 3 John 1:4- I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.
22. A song on the radio this morning that reminded me of all God has done
23. Getting to teach my favorite book and encourage my girls to seek their identity in Jesus
24. Sweet gifts and words of affirmation from friends and family.
25. Skittles: when I open a bag that is the real original and doesn’t have those nasty green apple ones. Lime is the real green people.
26. Anything New Mexican: green chile, turquoise, sunsets, stars...did I say green chile :)
27. This blog: writing soothes my soul. I am encouraged when I see how many people read what I write. When you read this blog, it blesses me.
28. Texts, facebook posts, Instagram messages, and real mail. Two words: encouragement & love
29. Finding the blog: Grace Covers Me. My friend Randi (of the Fab 4) suggested it to me. This church plating wife is a constant encouragement to me.
30. Seeing and hearing about my friends serving Jesus across the world. I have friends who were serving Jesus has church planters, missionaries, and disciple makers all over America and the World. It is my joy to pray for them and the opportunities God gives them.

So there you have it...30 blessings on my 30th birthday!

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