2:00am

I am sitting up, wide awake. It is now 2am two days before Christmas. I am thinking about how lucky and how blessed I have been this year. A little over a year ago I received a call from a great friend of mine offering me the chance to lead worship for a mission trip group in the Dominican Republic. Little did I know it then but that trip, that experience would be instrumental in leading me to where I am today.
As this year of 2009 winds down and we again get ready to celebrate our Saviors birth it seems good to list the ways that I feel blessed.
-First of all my Wife is amazing. I don't tell her that enough, but without her I don't think I would have had the strength to step out in faith and try to follow this crazy idea that I should go back to school and into ministry as a career. I definitely do not let her know enough that without her belief and encouragement I would still be stuck in the rut that I was a year ago.
-Second, When I needed it, in the middle of the worst recession of my life time i was blessed to have friends in decision making positions who hired me when i was in need of employment. They were able to come through for me at a time when i really needed it. They probably do not know how thankful i am for the opportunities that they provided.
-Third. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with and help lead an awesome team of people and congregation at the CornerStone gathering at MGLC.
-Fourth. Minnesota Metro Lutheran Teens Encounter Christ has provided me with the opportunity to exercise my leadership skills as well as being able to worship with some of the best people on the planet.
-Fifth. My parents, their hard work has allowed me to have an amazingly comfortable life and pursue my dreams. Mom and Dad, I hope that when I have kids I can do half as well as you have done.
-Sixth. The God of second chances loves me, forgives my sins, and gives me life. Without Him the rest of this list means nothing.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, or in any particular order. If you are reading this how do you feel blessed, leave it in the comments section.

Shine On.