“NO WAY!” That was my first response when my wife asked me to write a Thankful Thursday. She asked again (Angie can be persistent). “No way” once again was my reply.
Later that day I heard a Voice in my heart, some say that “still small voice”. In my case it is not still and definitely not small. To me, it is that voice I hear and/or feel deep inside my heart. It seems to always start with a question.
This time it was “Why not”?
“I wouldn’t know what to say. That’s a blog for women, they don’t want to hear from a man.” You know, I had all these excuses. I seem to always question the Voice or make all kinds of excuses.
This time the Voice reminds me of a Thursday morning about 20 years ago while I was driving to work. Actually, it all started on a Wednesday night at our mid week prayer service. In the old church, Wednesday nights were “Testimony Service”. Anyone and everyone had the opportunity to share a testimony of what the Lord had done in their lives. (Angie tells me that this is EXACTLY the same thing!)
This particular Wednesday night, I heard a small voice in my heart, but I shook it off. I heard it again. My excuse? “Nothing happened BIG this week—I don’t know what to say.” You know—just excuses.
I had a one hour drive one way to work, so this was my time alone with the Lord. My quiet time. My prayer time. On Thursday morning, as I was driving, I hear that same Voice. “Why didn’t you testify last night”?
I immediately started making excuses. The voice is persistent. “Why didn’t you testify?” Excuses roll from my mind.
Then I hear this in my heart….”What happened at 4:30 this morning?”
Me: What do you mean?
Voice: What happened at 4:30?
Me: The alarm clock went off.
Voice: How do you know?
Me: Well, I heard it—it woke me up!
Voice: You HEARD it?? What happened next?
Me: I opened my eyes (I know now where this is going)
Voice: You SAW the clock?
Me: Yes, I saw.
Voice: What happened next?
Me: I turned off the alarm.
Voice: You moved.
Me: Yes, I was able to move.
Voice: What next?
Me: I got up.
Voice: You were able to get up?
Me: Yes. I was able.
I am thankful for the very breath I breathe.
I am thankful I can see, feel, hear, walk and talk.
I am thankful I am ABLE to work.
I am thankful for the greatest family—both my side and Angie’s side.
I am thankful for the LOVE of God that will speak to me in that still small voice deep down in my heart. I am thankful I can respond.
(I took out that he said he was thankful for me…then he scolded me for it. So—he is thankful for his “sweet wife” —his words, not mine—for today…I was NOT very sweet. The a/c has been out of commission at our office–that’s the excuse I will use.)
Thank ya’ll for allowing me to share my thankfuls on Angie’s blog.
Working for Him,
Jeff.
(Pictured is Jeff and his sweet mom taken on July 4, 2008.)
You all need to join up at Iris’ place for the rest of the THANKFUL Thursdays!
You just never know how the Lord will speak to your heart!
Update: Jeff has been blown away by the sweet comments on this post! Amazed…eyes big and smiling bright AMAZED! Thank you all! You made his day!
Jeff and Angie Knight 
August 6th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
This is great Angie. I’m glad Jeff listened and decided to share his thankfulness. It is always good to be thankful and to encourage others to be thankful too!! Blessings on your whole extended family…
August 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
What a sweet blessing from indeed a special guest. Thank you or sharing this great post for TT! Blessings,Tracy = )
August 6th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
OMG how wonderful was that… I am always so bless when I come here and read what Angie has given us from the Lord, and tonight I come expecting as usual and find you here…… Thank you Jeff for being obedient to the Lord…. Thank you for listening to that still small voice that so many men want to dismiss…… How precious in the sight of the Father is a heart of a man turned toward HIM…. I have been married almost 9 years now to my beautiful Christian husband but he is never so strong as he is when he is yielding to the Lord…….Blessings Jeff
August 6th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
God bless your precious, thankful heart Jeff.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I think that was a pretty special Thankful Thursday post. Thank YOU for sharing! How refreshing to hear from a man’s heart about his love for God!Blessings to you!Tänia of http://weirblessed.com/faithprints/?p=398
August 6th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Awwwww…..Angie, what a sweet hubby you have!! Great thankful list and I truly loved the story. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. We need to be thankful that we can get out of bed every morning! I enjoyed your post! Happy Thankful Thursday to both of you and may God Bless you always!!
August 6th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Oh how wonderful!! I was so surprised and excited to get a surprise here today. A Thankful Thursday from a man’s perspective…priceless. Angie, tell your husband I said than you for a special post!
August 6th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
That was really really wonderful (and I would love to know how you got him to do that…lol, just kidding…any tips on how to get hubbies to take the garbage out?? okay, i’m going on a tangent now…).I love just the honesty and the reminder of how being thankful isn’t just about what we have gained, but in the simple blessing that God is always sharing around us.That was just a fantastic TT post.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Wow, I am impressed that you got your man to post. Jeff so glad you listened to the voice and posted on thankful Thursday…also for reminding me to be thankful for the same things. I take these thing for granted and I too need to be thankful for all the things you listed…including Angie. I too am thankful for this sister in Christ who encourages me and prays for her friends. Angie, I enjoy reading your blog and I am thankful that you are allowing God to use you here. I will post on the butterfinger cake soon. I haven’t forgotten that you want the receipe.Blessings my friend…my sister,Darlene
August 6th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Jeff, I love your post. Such a wonderful reminder of all we have each and every day. Even when we feel like not much is new or different… there is still so very much for which to be thankful!Happy Thankful Thursday!
August 6th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
i had fun reading this post, i really did. God bless you, guys.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Angie,How awesome and what a great idea! You can tell Jeff, “yes we do want to hear from him.” Thank you both for blessing me!Cheryl
August 6th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Oh Jeff, what a blessing to see you being faithful to God’s still small voice.I am thankful that Angie has a godly husband and can’t wait to try your famous cakes.Then I will add that experience to my Thankful Thursdays!Blessings, Joanne
August 7th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Thank you Jeff! What a fantastic prayer of thanks to God! What hope we can have in Him!! Happy TT to you both!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Thanks for sharing your thankful heart with us, Jeff. This is very encouraging. Thanks for getting Jeff to share with us, Angie. It’s such a blessing to read this post. May God bless both of you abundantly!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:11 am
What a great story and list!! Loved that your husband participated this week. I’ll definitely have to keep that in mind for a future TT post! Hope you and Jeff have a WONDERFUL DAY!!
August 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Jeff, you did a great job! Thanks for sharing today. You’re right, we must be thankful for the things that we take for granted. Even breath…you’re breathing or you’re not! Blessings on your day!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Glad I checked you out today…Wow – I liked what he wrote!Thanks Jeff for being obedient!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:07 am
How touching!! Now, we’ll all have to show this to our husbands so they can do a post too!! (Not sure this will work?)Anyhow, it was great. Praise God for every breath we take, it is truly a GIFT from God…Blessings to you on this TT♥
August 7th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Great job, Jeff! We needed to read this today. PS We just love your wife. Wow are you both blessed!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
So sweet. What a great post.Blessings!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I’m so glad that I clicked on Angie’s name and got to read your post straight from your heart. Thank you!Mama Bear
August 7th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Sweet words!! Awesome guest post.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:52 am
So sweet that your hubby posted… Blessings sweet one!!!
August 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
What a neat idea – to add in some new voices to the Thankful Thursday. Angie, Kathy and I were talking about you and how fun it was for her to meet you too! It sure makes the world feel smaller.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Jeff – I am thrilled that you followed that small voice today. I am smiling that you have shared your grateful heart with us this week – you know – a grateful heart is not only a women blog 🙂Yes – even the daily things, like wake-up, sleep, walk, talk, see – we take for granted sometimes and should not…Be blessed today and always!!!!
August 7th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Wow I am glad I found your site, on Vern’s blog who visited me for the first time today.Jeff thank you for your honesty and humble heart. Angie it is nice to meet you, I will be back:) God Bless:)
August 7th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Wow, a special guest alright! What a lovely post! No way? Aah…but God will make a way…:-)Remain blessed!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
What a very special post. I was going to say sweet but refrained. Have a Blessed weekend.Sherry
August 9th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Beautiful TT post from your “special guest” Angie.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Thanks for allowing your husband to post, Angie. It’s always fun to meet the men who support our blogging addiction. How precious to have a husband who wears a heart of thankfulness. I’m so glad for the life and ministry that the two of you share.He should feel well affirmed! Look at all the comments. My husband and son felt the same way when I allowed them the stage to post on their recent Bolivia trip.peace~elaine
August 10th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Oh….I’m JUST getting around…Birthday weekends do that!!:)HOW SWEET was THAT….He IS as sweet as YOU!Wow…I’m so happy he agreed to “guest post!!”ya’ll have GOT to be the cutest couple EVER!!peace…and big ol’ hugs!lori
August 11th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Thanks for sharing with us women folk, Jeff! Angie, you are a blessed woman!
August 12th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Thankyou for this reminder – it’s always well worth thinking about.The Broken Manhttp://theblogofabrokenman.blogspot.com/