2015: 100 things I'm thankful for

“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

A pretty great sunset to say goodbye to 2015 with on New Year's Eve.

1. A loving family sending me away from home with their blessing and support 
2. Friends who care, pray, give, write, chat, bear with and encourage
3. Enjoying beautiful England before leaving 
4. Cycling in Oxfordshire 
5. Friends getting married 
6. Friends having babies 
7. Friends getting engaged 
8. Godchildren 
9. All that my parents’ cat (Flapjack) gave 
10. Signs of God’s sovereign hand in years gone by preparing me for work in the Gambia
11. A happy send-off after 15 years at camp 
12. Bracing swims in the North Sea 
13. Swimming with stunning phosphorescence in the sea at night 
14. The wonderful staff-team I worked with for 7 years
15. Very generous and kind friends from camp giving me 2 surfboards! 
16. Beautiful and fun holidays with friends, incredible sunsets and delicious food
17. Opportunities to improve surfing in Portugal and England 
18. Painting watercolours 
19. An amazing goodbye meal with my sister and her boyfriend 
20. Crosslinks: their care and gospel clarity 
21. A very helpful Crosslinks orientation 
22. UK churches partnering with me in gospel work
23. Financial provision 
24. My church in Oxford feeding me so well and encouraging me so much over the last 7 years
25. My parents’ example of and commitment to serving the Lord 
26. Safe passage from the UK to the Gambia, via cargo ship and local buses 
27. Time on the boat to read, pray, meditate and think 
28. Seeing dolphins for the first time 
29. God’s awesome creation that is the vast oceans 
30. The privilege and joy of teaching God’s word, training people for gospel work 
31. The privilege and joy of preaching God’s word in local churches 
32. God’s everlasting love 
33. Jesus giving himself to me as my Perfect Saviour, Gracious Friend and Mighty King
34. God’s forgiveness for all my sins and failures 
35. God’s sufficient grace for every trial 
36. God’s promise never to leave or forsake me 
37. God’s Spirit given as Helper, Comforter and pledge
38. The assurance that God works for good in all things for those who love him 
39. God’s precious word, the Bible 
40. Bible translation 
41. The amazing privilege of prayer 
42. The wonder of knowing God as my Father 
43. A quiet and peaceful spot to spend focused time with God each day 
44. The astonishing wonder of the incarnation: that GOD became a HUMAN BEING, who lived, suffered and died for us
45. Jesus’ victorious resurrection and the sure hope of eternal life and assurance of forgiveness it brings
46. Beautiful beaches 
47. Finding excellent surf in the Gambia 
48. Touch rugby on the beach 
49. Beautiful birds 
50. Beautiful sunsets 
51. Strength to endure heat 
52. Fans 
53. A body that can walk, run, jump, swim and surf 
54. Sleep 
55. Plentiful and delicious food 
56. A fridge-freezer 
57. Clean water to drink 
58. A house with plumbing, toilets, electricity 
59. Candles for power cuts 
60. A freshly painted house 
61. A laptop 
62. Encouragement through recorded talks and sermons 
63. Excellent books by gifted writers that encourage, challenge, refresh and stimulate
64. The remembrance of (some!) New Testament Greek from university days 
65. The personally helpful process of blogging 
66. Opportunities to encourage others 
67. Photographs of family, friends and memories 
68. God’s presence, provision and protection in loneliness 
69. A brilliant 4x4 and a very kind friend helping to source and ship it from Germany 
70. Fresh fruit even in the garden: pineapples, coconuts, passion fruits, bananas, mangoes 
71. Fresh fruit juice 
72. Banana bread 
73. Chocolate 
74. Fresh coffee 
75. Tea 
76. Mama: her love, care, prayers, encouragement, wisdom, laughter and cooking 
77. Pastor Steven: his example, helpfulness and wisdom 
78. Examples of humility, perseverance, joy and faith from fellow believers 
79. SOW: provision for this Bible school to function as it does 
80. The privilege of working alongside faithful gospel workers 
81. A plot of land for SOW to develop in future years 
82. Lessons learned from the life of John Newton, a wretch saved by amazing and sufficient grace 
83. A dentist and healing after dental treatment 
84. Provision and safe transport of diabetes supplies 
85. Safety from accident or attack 
86. Peace 
87. The assurance that all rulers and authorities are in God’s sovereign hands 
88. Smartphones, mobile internet and WhatsApp allowing easy communication 
89. Postal service and the joy of receiving letters 
90. A friend sending me his old smartphone, even better than the one I had that was stolen 
91. DVDs that entertain and inspire 
92. The global language that is football 
93. New friends 
94. Music 
95. Encouraging, stirring and memorable Christian hymns and songs 
96. Ability to sing 
97. Ability to play musical instruments 
98. A visa to be in the Gambia 
99. The knowledge that God can be absolutely trusted for the future 
100. The certain hope of paradise which will never perish, spoil or fade, not because of anything in me but all because of Jesus 

“Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

Johnson Oatman Jnr. (1856-1926)