Thanksgiving post.

I always say a big pet peeve of mine is when we don't open up to one another about our struggles. I'm just going to be frank-- I used to struggle a lot with pornography, and in fact I'm struggling with it right now. It's this intense spiritual battle right now..it's like I can hear the voices of both satan and Jesus loud and clear. Satan says "Come on Shayna, you know you'll enjoy it"..so inviting. Yet Jesus is saying "My Beloved, I died so you would no longer have to be a slave to this anymore. You are free". So simple, so true, so powerful. Thank you, Lord for Your promise:

 "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. " -Romans 6:6-7

So, since I can't go to bed yet due to waiting for my laundry to get done, I've decided to play some worship music and blog about what all I am thankful for, since after all, today is Thanksgiving :)
 
1. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" -John 3:16. This is the thing I'm most thankful for, because if it weren't for God's love for me (for humanity!) I wouldn't be where I am today. If it weren't for the blood of Jesus, I wouldn't be set free from lust, alcohol, and other things. Thanks to Him, I'm able to spend each day glorifying Him and telling the world about Him, all while looking forward to eternal life someday :)
 
2. I'm thankful for the family God has blessed me with. They mean so much to me. I'm so blessed to have been brought up in a close, loving household. Sure, my parents are divorced, but my entire family has so much love for one another it's amazing. My mom sacrifices anything and everything for my brother and I. My brother is my best friend and always has been <3
 
3. I'm thankful for my job as an Administrative Assistant at Brothers Glassblock for the past three and a half years. I know for a fact that this job was sent to me straight from God. I didn't even have to apply for the job. While working two other jobs in the summer of 2007, I was offered this job one day when I walked in to drop off lunch to my boyfriend at the time. I've been there ever since :) My bosses, Joel & Patrick, have been the older brothers I've never had, and my spiritual mentors especially when I first became curious about Christ. Besides, in what other job would we just blast praise/worship music almost everyday? :)
 
4. I'm thankful for my friends. All of them, even the nonChristian ones. All have played crucial roles in my life and I wouldn't trade them for anything!
 
5. I'm thankful for the Gathering. It was through this college-aged ministry that I've grown the most in my walk with Christ since the summer of 2010. Prior to the Gathering, I've never believed in healing. But now through witnessing and personal experience, I'm a firm believer that our God can heal anyone and everyone!! Plus, a weekly dose of God and fellowship on Thursday nights never hurts :)
 
I wish I could continue this blog on what all I'm thankful for. I could go on for hours. But, it is 2:00am and I have to be up at 8:00am to go pick up my dear friend Mengting.
 I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. <3