Counting My Blessings

Day 17 Counting of Blessings

224 Beth Moore and her writing--allowing God to use her and her team.
225 Beth Moore Bible studies
226 "Believing God" by Beth Moore, which I started yesterday
227 The upcoming summer study by Beth Moore, "Children of the Day," which I will also take part in, even as I finish up "Believing God."
228 For God to speak to me as clearly as He did yesterday.
229 For God to speak to me as clearly as He did today.
230 For a profound revelation God gave me in the middle of the night.
231 Bojangles grilled chicken bites
232 A loved one had a safe trip
233 For our friends, M, T, I, and N. They are supreme blessings in our lives.
234 Zack had dementia earlier today and is better now.

Counting My Blessings

Counting My Blessings

Day 16, Part 2 Counting My Blessings

I am thankful, Lord, for...
212 The Spring
213 Spring flowers
214 The color purple, violet, lilac, plum, and all the shades in between
215 A mind to use so I can be mindfulness about counting my blessings
216 Mindfulness
217 This day
218 Coffee
219 Time with You, Lord
220 Reading a good book
221 Inspiration
222 Helping me, Father, through this life-change-on-a-dime-moment over the last week
223 Words of comfort and inspiration found in the Bible, the Word of God

Keep Calm and...

AYOAGT Day 16: How Do I/We Offer Thanks Each Day for a Year?

AYOAGT Day 16: How Do I/We Offer Thanks Each Day for a Year?

April 23, 2014, Wednesday, 829 a.m.

HOW DO I/WE OFFER THANKS EACH DAY FOR A YEAR (AND MORE) ANYWAY?

How am I supposed to live 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:6 every day, all day and night long, moment by moment? This is the question.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 / New Living Translation (NLT)

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Please look up this verse at this link. Every version says it a little differently. Read this link for a fuller understanding of 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/1%20Thessalonians%205:18

Philippians 4:6 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.

-- GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

And, look this up as well for all English translations of Philippians 4:6:

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Philippians%204:6

How do we, and how will I, live these verses every day and night, in each moment, for at least a year (if not for the rest of our lives, as those verses instruct)? Simply. We just start.

Yep. Just begin.

Try to count at least three blessings, and things you thank God for, each and every day. Do this for the rest of your life.

That’s it.

It isn’t any more complicated or profound than that.

It’s okay to repeat things you are thankful for, if you really are grateful for it when you write it down.

I also advise looking around, where you are, and you’ll see things you are thankful for, or what you see will trigger something or someone else you’re grateful for and you can then write it down.

Also, as you go throughout your day, expect God to reveal His glory to you. He will pour on the blessings, as He always has. You just need to be open to see them and receive them. Intentionality is the key. Write them down as you see ways in which God is present, and working, in your life, around your life, and through your life--and through the lives of others.

You have the potential for writing hundreds down each day if you carry your gratitude journal with you everywhere you go--and watch, wait, and listen to God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

God has divine appointments set up for you to see Him working and to bless you through His work and glory. Keep these appointments all day and night long. Don’t miss out.

Also, if you don’t know what to thank God for, go through your gratitude journal. Seeing your list will remind you of things you are thankful for today and will stir up new ones.

Look around. Listen. His glory, and work, is all around. You just need to be open and be intentional.

Day 15 When God Blesses

Day 15 When God Blesses

We should never be surprised by God. He is God. He can do what He wants, when He wants to do it, how He wants to do it. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He is God.

But, aren't there times when He acts and we sure don't expect it? And, He acts in a way we should know to expect, but we are still taken aback? 

And, then there are the times God blesses your socks off, in extraordinary ways, you know you don't deserve at all. But, because of His grace and love, He does it anyway. That's what happened to me yesterday.

Lord, I am thankful for:

198 How You answer prayers I didn't even know I had.

199 How You remind me You are still in control.

200 For opening my heart and mind up to remember, and perhaps learn in a whole new and deeper way, how I am utterly, totally dependent on You--not on people, self, circumstances. You. And You alone.

201 The reminder You are the only One whose promises are guaranteed.

202 I do not deserve one blessing, yet You so profoundly and profusely bless me every day all day long, even when I feel kicked.

203 How turning to You alone is the only answer, for You are the Answer. 

204 The sun still rises each morning.

205 The sun still sets each evening.

206 You can still use battered and bruised people who are hardly eloquent or wise.

207 How You love me.

208 A new vision

209 Your vision

210 Another new beginning

211 You are God. There is none like You. 

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014)

God Has a Perfect Plan

God has a perfect plan.
We do not need to see it or know it. It is still true regardless.
He has a perfect plan to bring glory to Himself, so His plan isn't faulty or less. It is perfect.
God knows what He is doing.
Faith comes to play when we follow Him and when He says no--or wait. His perfect plan brings hope and peace, even when we do not understand.

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)

Day 9, Part 3 A Year of Always Giving Thanks (AYOAGT)

April 16, 2014, Wednesday, 127 p.m.

Source of Inspiration for this Writing: "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE" BY ANN VOSKAMP, CHAPTER 1

SIN AND TEMPTATION

Wasn't one of the causes of what happened in the Garden of Eden and Genesis 3 the lack of gratitude?

Isn't this the catalyst which caused Adam and Eve to sin and the fall?

Isn't this what causes me to be tempted and then sometimes to sin?

Ann Voskamp brought up this up in chapter one and I would have to agree. The lack of a thanksgiving and gratitude for what God provided and what He did for them, and for me, causes all of us to sin and do wrong.

Sin is anything we do that is not part of the will of God. It's going against God, what He wants, and has planned. It's it following Him or His Word, the Bible. A synonym is wrongdoing.

Temptation is what comes to mind, which goes against God, which we then decide to either ignore or decide to follow through with (act on). Sin is when we put the temptation to action.

I want think if I were to lookout for blessings each day and night, and count them all day and night long, then I would be far less likely to be tempted to sin, let alone actually sin. If I were to look for and count my blessings all the time, then I will live differently. I will have, and will live, a fuller life.

How and why?

Counting my blessings means looking at different things, in a different way, and this new perspective and point-of-view means living a different life. It means staying in in tune with God and on track.

Moreover, if I am not living a life, a day, a week, a month (etc.) of thanksgiving, then I am ignoring God and what He's doing in my life, through my life, and around my life. I am intentionally choosing to ignore God if I'm not always looking out to God and seeing what He's doing, so then I won’t count my blessings and show Him gratitude. This isn't good. It sets me up to get off track and fail. If I do not thank God, I will. It's just a matter of time. I will be tempted and I will then be likely to sin.

Part of the reason why I feel empty at times is because I fail to look and see where, when, and how God is working. Then, I fail to see my blessings, so counting them seems futile. Oh, how this isn't true. If I were to actually give thanks, and count my blessings, even when I don't feel like it, then my perspective would change and I would feel a lot better. I would feel less empty.

And, if I kept a list of my counted blessings with me everywhere I go, then if I ever deal with a challenge, or need a pick-me-up, I can look at the list and then I would feel a lot better. I would then turn to God not away from Him.

ETERNITY VS. THIS WORLD

There is something we need to realize. When we die, we will have just as much contact with God as we do now. God is always with us now, after all. Always. We just don't acknowledge that or we have obstacles in our life which prevents us from fully realizing and experiencing Him and His presence.

Eternity illuminates the hindrances in our lives, which keep us from fully perceiving and experiencing the presence of God. However, eternity does not mean God will be more present than He is now. Giving thanks, and counting our blessings means we perceive and experience more while we are living in this world and now.

In other words, giving thanks makes us draw nearer to God. We live eternity now. In fact, the more thanks we give, the more we can experience the fullness of eternity now. For, we remove more of the obstacles keeping us from God, the more we give thanks.

When we fail to give thanks, we fail to see, know, and experience God. We fail to live for eternity now. We, then, fail to live in His will.

Re-read this section several times and let the words sink in more with each reading. Read slowly. Absorb it.

GIVE CONSTANT THANKS

There is a reason why 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to always give thanks in and for all things. It's because if we don't, we draw further from God. We perceive and experience Him less. As a matter of fact, the first time we forget to always give thanks, we draw further from God, rather than nearer to Him.

Want to draw nearer to God? Offer more thanks. Count more Blessings.

Want answers? Give more thanks.

Want to hear God? Show more gratitude.

Want a higher quality of life? Count more blessings.

Want a better marriage? Give thanks to God and to your spouse.

Want to experience and offer more love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and/or self-help (Galatians 5:22-23????)? Count more of your blessings and give more thanks to God.

NOT A ONE-TIME THING

We are to ALWAYS give thanks in and for all things. Without exception. Always, as per 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Day 9 Counting of Blessings

April 16, 2014, Wednesday, 750 a.m.

Thank You, Lord, for:

THE STORMS OF LIFE

182 The storms in life. The weather kind and the storms of the heart. After all, they bring rain to cleanse and soothe all of the muck and mire in our lives, all of the dirt and filth. They cleanse, fertilize, rejuvenate, and help us grow and mature. If it wasn’t for the storms, we would never grow in this way. We would, instead, remain stagnate and dry-up or rot.

The storms can be scary and make us feel uneasy. They even might make us mad or frustrated. However, they are essential for growth. We can either close our eyes and hope they pass us by. Or, we can fully live through them and take it all in so we don’t miss anything. When we do that, we are remaining open to see how God is going to work through us, in us, and all around us. If we close our eyes and think of the past or try to wish away this storm, we miss all of the blessings right in front of us and all around.

183 Another year of taxes are finished. Whew.

ANSWERED PRAYER

184 There were two backpacks found last night at the Boston Marathon finish line, but nothing happened. Thank God.

185 A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS: THE JOURNAL OF MY JOURNEY, PART 1

186 Email—being able to reach friends and loved ones across the globe immediately and at their convenience—easily and at essentially no cost.

187 The Book of Romans

188 The bible

189 Prayer

190 How God uses us.

WAITING ROOM PERIODS

191 How God uses our waiting room periods for His glory. What I mean by this is sometimes, god doesn’t answer our prayer immediately. Well… that’s not true. Sometimes, His answer is: Wait. He always answers our prayers. It might be a full-fledged answer, He might say nothing (which means wait—not yet), or He might say nothing (which means no), or He might say no right away or yes right away. He might also teach us something then and there or through it.

It’s in the waiting room periods I tend to learn the most.

Oh, how I wish I would remember this when I went through them! I usually mumble, grumble, complain, and am just flat-dab ugly, anxious (worry, fret, stress), and fail to trust God. He knows what He is doing, after all. Through the years, I do this less and less. But, I still do it. I am still trying to stop it—and just trust.

192 My husband’s Mom.

“THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES” BY GARY CHAPMAN

193 “THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES” BY GARY CHAPMAN (This is the material B and I use when we lead marriage retreats—and apply to our own marriage. It’s good stuff.)

194 B made my love tank max out, for the good, this morning, when we had only been awake for fifteen minutes, if that, after he heard Zack and I downstairs and Zack decided to drink too much water, too fast, and Zack then promptly got sick all over the floor. Big mess worth. I ran out of paper towels just as I started clean-up and the paper towels are too high for me to reach, so that only delayed clean-up. B came down and saved the day. He helped me clean-up and then told me to go sit and he made me coffee and brought it to me, and he fed the critters. Yep. That means so much. That was worth about ten gold stars right there—and acts of service isn’t my primary or secondary love language. In fact, it’s #4, so the fact he filled my love tank and earned all those stars is saying something! What a good man B is—and thank God for him and for his mega big and gigantic heart.

195 I will have lunch with B later. I’m looking forward to it.

196 All of the good Bible study teachers around.

197 Another new day. It’s an opportunity and is the Lord’s Day—not mine.

Day 8, Part 3 The Denial of God’s Blessings and A Fuller Life (Eternity) 

April 15, 2014, Tuesday, 1021 a.m.

THE DENIAL OF GOD'S BLESSINGS

Why do we refuse to take what God has to give?

Why do I?

Even in the middle of the storms of life (life challenges), God showers us with blessings. After all, He is God. He is always working and He is always making sure He will be glorified. He is always with us and is always working His will in our lives. God never stops being god. He never stops bringing about His will. Needless to say, even in the middle of the storms, He is working. He is showering blessings on us, if only we would realize the torrential rain is His blessing, not the negative. 

So, why do we refuse to look for His blessing? And, why do we refuse to take the blessings He has for us? 

Instead, we would rather focus either on self, the circumstances, the negatives, or on someone else.  Why?

God has abundant blessings for us each and every day, all day long, if only we would open the eyes of our minds, hearts, and the ones on our faces. We just need to look and be open. 

PRAYER: Lord, teach me to be open, on alert, and ready to count my blessings--those all around at all times.

1035 a.m.

I WANT A FULLER LIFE: ETERNITY

I don't know about you, but I want a fuller life. In fact, I want the fullest life imaginable. I always have the feeling there is something more and I am missing something.

I know God has written eternity on my heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He put it there so I know I am missing something--and I will then seek it. 

Eternity is something I will live in the future, sure. But, it's also something I live for today. Eternity is now, not just when I die. After all, the moment I accepted Jesus, and started to believe in Him and follow him, eternity began in my life. I have everlasting life. Now. Today and tomorrow.

Now, try this on for size. 

God is timeless. 

After all, God is infinite and is beyond time.

And, so are His blessings. 

If I were to observe my life, and how God is working in me, through me, and around me, every way He does those things is a blessing given by God. His blessing is eternal and infinite. Hence, with each blessing I count, I am living a fuller and eternal life today. 

The opposite is true as well. If I am not counting my blessings, then I am living less of a life focused on eternity today. I am then being short-sighted. Missing my blessings is a case of shortsightedness and is a case of me-focus vs. blessings focused. 

Day 7 Thank You, Lord, for the Weekend

Day 7 Thank You, Lord, for the Weekend

April 14, 2014, Monday, 909 a.m.

I am thankful for:

121 The sunrise at Virginia Beach

122 Being at Virginia Beach Friday through Sunday

123 The sunrise with dolphins

124 Wheat-Thins

125 Sweet people we met or came to know a little more

126 Working on our marriage

127 Helping B and remember everything we’ve been through

128 Helping B and I remember

129 A godly husband

130 My marriage

131 My best friend, B

132 The Book of Romans

133 Romans 1:1

134 Paul

135 Listening to the ocean waves

136 The laughs of seagulls

Day 4, Part 4 Daily Bible Reading and Thanking God for His Word

 April 10, 2014, Thursday, 339 p.m.

 QUESTION FOR YOU? WANNA DO A BOOK OF ROMANS STUDY, PRAYER THROUGH, AND THANK THROUGH?

Would you like to join me for a Bible study and thank and prayer through of the Book of Romans?

If so, please let me know, even if it’s years from now. Attach a comment at the end of any blog post or send me an email. Let’s pray for another, and support each other, as we go through this book—and for this year of always giving thanks. Let’s discuss this with one another.

 DAILY BIBLE READING AND THANKING GOD FOR HIS WORD

I’ve decided I will begin with my new yearly Bible reading of reading the Bible all the way through in a year (or so), starting today. I will first read, study, pray through, and thank through, the Book of Romans. Needless to say, this marks the first day where I will try to find five things to thank God for as I read His Word in my purdy new Bible with the purdy new Bible cover.

I have my purdy pens as well (alright—enough with the purdies!), in eight different colors so I can underline every verse in the Bible if I want. And, I am not exaggerating too much, by the way.

Now, I see the problem with me making a commitment to read the Bible through in a year. I fail miserable at it because I get caught up in a verse like Romans 1, which I could study, meditate on, pray back to God, and ponder for several days.

GUIDELINES: I have no idea how long it will take me to go through this book, but you go through at your own speed. Follow god’s leading on it. Just make sure to study deeply at least five verses per chapter, pray through each chapter, verse by verse. Pray it back to God. And, thank God for at least five of the verses of each chapter.

 ROMANS 1:1

I will use these resources for the study of the five key verses, in my opinion and from what God places on my heart:

1 http://biblehub.com

2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom+1&version=HCSB

I love the Bible. It’s the only thing you need to use to get the most out of studying it. Through context, emphasis, word studies, cross-reference studies, asking questions, etc., you can learn most of what you need to learn about the Bible. The Bible is the only tool we really need. I really need.

In verse 1, I see how Paul wrote the Book of Romans. ‘Kay. I already knew that, but it’s nice to have the reminder. Never mind how just reading the name of Paul brings about so many different thoughts.

It’s the next phrase which gets to me the most.

More to follow.

Day 5 A Friday Prayer

Day 5 A Friday Prayer
A Year of Always Giving Thanks (AYOAGT)
April 11, 2014, Friday, 946 a.m.

Lord, thank You for five days of trying to always give thanks. Help me to be more and more open to seeing all of the blessings in my life AND in the lives of those around me. The blessings of those around me I can claim as well because I know what a blessing is, Lord. It's seeing You at work, recognizing it, and realizing it's Your glory.
Lord, I want to learn to see the small blessings, not just the big. After all, the big blessings are large enough I can't miss seeing. They are obvious. Anyone can see those. I want to see the small blessings that are all around me, right in front of my face. They are all around. At all times. I want to fine-tune my blessing seeing ability. I bet if I were to actually see all of my blessings throughout my day, and add them up, I bet their totality would be many big blessings--in a day.
Lord, why do I want to see and count my blessings? Because they are tangible ways I see You, God, and know You.
I just got goosebumps. Abba, You just taught me a great deal about thanksgiving, gratitude, and counting my blessings. How awesome. How beautiful. Thank You.
To You be the glory!

Day 4, Part 3: I am Thankful For and Why Can't I Thank God?

Day 4, Part 3: I am Thankful For and Why Can't I Thank God? 

April 10, 2014, Thursday, 239 p.m.

I am thankful for:

109 That we are still free in the United States of America that I can have a primarily Christian blog

110 That we are still free enough in the United States of America I can read my Bible and study it.

111 The ability to read.

112 My e-reader, my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch, that I can carry all of my books on.

113 My book bag so I can carry my Amazon kindle Fire, my “ONE THOUSAND GIFTS” Book by Ann Voskamp, my “ONE THOUSAND GIFTS DEVOTIONAL” by Ann Voskamp, and my new bible everywhere I go.

114 That I can carry everything listed in 113.

115 I can watch my turtles swim for hours. So relaxing and serene. Watching God’s critters do what He created them to do.

116 Caffeinated coffee on the days I need it, like right now.

117 Our friend, B3, who we go to dinner and movies with every weekend.

118 Tonight is dinner and movie night since this weekend will be crazy.

119 My Cracker Barrel “Laugh Often” flowery mug. It makes me happy.

120 My yellow and red big plastic cup from Dickey’s Barbeque Pit in Denver that I love so much. I now have five of them. They are just the right size where I don’t have to get up and get water too often. I can stay in place and write, journal, read the Bible, and give thanks to God.

MY SIX LIFE-CHANGE-ON-A-DIME MOMENTS: WHY CAN’T I THANK GOD FOR THEM?

Yesterday, I talked about how there are six events in my life, that all go together, but are six life-transforming moments, over the last year or so, particularly since a month before Thanksgiving 2013. I realized yesterday, and the day before, how I’ve given thanks for five of them, but do not know if I really meant the thanks I’ve given for them. At the time, I thought I did. But, now, I wonder if I really have. The sixth has been in the last couple of weeks, so it’s quite new to me and B, my husband.

I can honestly say that through numbers one through five, I have not doubted God. It’s been hard, sure, but I haven’t doubted. Not at all.

With number six, I do not doubt, but I am not sure what to think of it yet.

Am I finding it hard to thank God for numbers one through six because until He answers the prayer my way, I won’t? Am I refusing to? (Ouch—and gulp—just thinking it’s a possibility.)

Or, do I just not understand enough about thanks yet? Maybe.

Or, do I just need to offer more thanks—then I will find it easier to thank Him for the six? I think this is quite likely.

Or, is it because I need to spend some time with Him, so He can change me and my mind and heart, then I will be able to do so? I also think this is likely?

Regardless, until I can figure out the answer, the two common denominators I’m seeing are:

1 Keep thanking God, no matter what, and at least about everything else.

2 Spend time with Him and in His Word.

I will keep doing number one and two I just listed, and keep revisiting the question of: Why can’t I thank God for #1-6 life-change-on-a-dime moments? I will need to ask myself this at least once a day until I can answer the question—and then until I am able to thank God for them and mean them.

You know what, I’m tired of being cryptic. I will not share the details, but know this:

#1-5 deal with infertility.

#6 has to do with how we keep trying to apply for adoption, only to have yet another door closed.

It’s #6 that bugs me the most, not #1-5.

I’ve literally wanted a baby every day since I was about three years old. There hasn’t been a day I haven’t wanted one. I will never know the blessing of carrying a baby in my womb. (That really hurts.)

I KNOW that I know, that I know, God has a perfect plan and His timing is perfect. Hence, no doubt. I know we will have a child. Someday. I KNOW it.

It just hurts.

I also think that the child just isn’t ready for us yet. Or, the people in the child’s life aren’t. Or, the people in our lives aren’t. I know God is moving the pieces and parts to His perfect alignment so His glory will be best revealed.

I just want it now. This has been a five year journey to get to this point. This is the part that also hurts.

How do I thank God for these things? Well… I know He has by far a better of a plan. I know this. It’s just hard missing everything that leads up to the plan. Missing the naming of the baby, the carrying of the baby, the bonding after birth with the baby, the firsts of holding up their head, etc.

That being said, though, B and I are looking to adopting a child from ages one to five. So many only want a baby. We’re willing to go older. We will also do an American adoption. After all, the USA is the country most other countries come to in order to adopt. Did you know that? Not China. The USA. Just like we also have the largest sex slave industry. And, we are the country most go to for Christian missions as well. We are so lost. That’s why we want to adopt USA. We want to save a child from going to another country, when we think the USA is the best country on earth, in spite of all of our problems as a country.

How do parents thank God when they carry a child to full-term only to have a stillbirth? How do parents thank God when their child is molested? How do our parents thank God when their children are stabbed at school in a mass stabbing?

How do we thank God when… Fill in the black with life-change-on-a-dime-moments and/or with life challenges. How do we? How is it possible? And, who would want to?

I’ve learned to ask “WHY GOD” through the years, but not meaning what you think. I never question God as far as why. Why? Because He wants to. It’s part of His plan. That’s all I need to know. I am not God. I do not see with eternal, infinite eyes, the sinner I am with finite eyes.

Why do I ask “Why God?” And, what do I mean when I do? The answer is two-fold:

1 Why me and not someone else?

2 Why now and not another time?

The answer to each helps me know what I am supposed to do through it and because of it. It’s questions to align myself with God’s will.

Does this make sense? Those two questions should be asked each day and in each moment. They help us see the blessings, where God is working, and tell us how to join Him in His work and in His will/purpose.

Now, I need to stop writing about all of that. My new Bible just got here. Pardon me while I go play and enjoy.