Afternoon Gratitude

AFTERNOON GRATITUDE!

I have noticed that I wake up full of hope and excitement for the day ahead and then as the day goes forward I become depressed and my joy seems to dissipate. So I am going to make an afternoon and evening Gratitude List whenever that happens. That way, by looking at the positives in life, maybe I can capture the joy I have at the start of each new day.

Today I am going to list things that make me smile.

1. Sunbeams on my face... they always make me feel like God is giving me warm kisses when the sun lands on my face
2. The sounds of a small river or creek traveling across some rocks... such a sweet sound
3. Puddle Jumping!
4. Playing Pooh Sticks at the bridge with my kids!
5. Dancing in the rain!
6. Hearing my kids say "I love you Mommy"
7. Cuddly Kittens
8. Wiggling Puppies
9. Giggling Babies
10. Rolling in the grass with my babies

So many many other things!!!! I could go on all day! God really has blessed me with so many things that make me smile... like watching a horse run across a pasture, or a duck take a bath in a pond, and there are the laughs of seeing a kitten play with a ball of yarn. Finding the perfect pair of shoes? Yeah that makes me smile! 

What about those times when you think of someone and your phone rings and they are calling just to say hi? Or cruising the grocery store aisles and bump into someone you haven't seen in a while and they share some delightful news? Then there is the times when feeling all alone, someone stops by to say "I was thinking of you"... yes those all make me smile!

That pitcher of ice cold sweet tea on a hot summer day... how can you not smile as you lift that glass, anticipating the sweet delight? 

Spring means it is time for picnics and bbq's and all sorts of outdoor play. I love the outdoors... it makes me smile! I love being with family- for sure that makes me smile! Having friends around makes me smile too! 

Sunday Gratitude List!

MEMORIES!

This morning, as God placed in my head some old songs that my Grandmother played on her piano when I was a child, I thought... WOW! How awesome that God gives us the ability to recall those good times from our past <3 a="" all="" and="" as="" by="" christian="" god="" grandma.="" have="" head="" heart="" house="" hymns="" i="" in="" is="" know="" listening.="" make="" my="" of="" on="" p="" piano="" played="" sing="" store="" the="" them="" they="">



Beautiful Memories this morning-

Sitting at the kitchen table having coffee with my Mom just chatting about the day.

The birth of each of my children and the joy my heart had that day!

Grandma teaching me to sew

Getting up at 5am to go milk goats (Really it is a good memory)

Bandit and Sir... my childhood dogs

All those long weekend drives to look at mansions my Mommy wanted to buy

இڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣஇڿڰۣ

I am blessed! God has taken most of the not so good memories away and this morning I am able to look at all those amazing times that were happy/good times. My childhood and early adulthood had more good memories than I could possibly post. For that today...

GRATEFUL 

I stand all AMAZED!

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died

Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine
That he should extend his great love unto such as I
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify
Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Secure in the promise of life in his victory
Thus ransomed from death I will live to my Savior's praise
And sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days

Saturday Gratitude

Good Morning Dear Readers!
This morning I sat here thinking about some of the things we take for granted-   vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch...



I can't smell things like other people. I don't smell the foul odor of the trash can, the dirty diaper, or even the fragrant smell of the roses. I can catch a whiff of the odors when I breath in through my mouth but it isn't the way other people smell. I cannot walk in a room and have aroma's make memory impressions. I have to concentrate to be able to smell and even then I will miss many aroma's. It can have advantages, but then it also has disadvantages...

How many of us have all our limbs? We just automatically take for granted that we have 2 hands and 2 feet.

So today I really want to concentrate on being grateful for all my parts, all my senses, that on a day to day basis I take for granted.

Hair- I have curly long hair and I really like my long curly hair. I take for granted that I am able to grow my hair, I complain at times about the curls, but man it is awesome to have long curly hair.

Brain- so mine doesn't always work right. Something about neurotransmitters not firing right. BUT! It really does most of what it is suppose to do. I see a keyboard and my brain transmits that information from my eyes to my fingers so that I am typing right now. Hey for some folks that gets screwed up and doesn't work so be grateful!

I also am grateful for my mental illness. For most of my life I have either ignored it or felt like it wasn't fair. Today I am able to say "Thank You Lord for giving me this affliction." It hasn't been easy, I have done some really stupid things because of it, I have had consequences that were horrifying yet through it all it has made me who I am and although still a work in progress, still changing every day I am pretty happy with who I am and where I am going.

Eyes- oh how awesome is it to watch a sunrise!!!! To see your children! To behold all the beauty the world has for us. To be able read, to be able to watch a show, so many things we do with our eyes each and every day. Think you don't? Go blindfolded for a day... THANK YOU GOD I CAN SEE!

Taste- oh how marvelous is that rich creamy chocolate pie? Those fresh from the plant fat red juicy strawberries? What about that strong cup of morning coffee? Oh how wonderful to be able to taste so many things! And that we live in a time and place where those things are available!!!!

Touch... nothing in the world can quite compare to the soft touch of flannel jammies, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket cuddling with your favorite 4 year old... all of that requiring your sense of touch to truly enjoy.

My arms and legs, hands and feet, oh how amazing are each of these! I get to go for walks, climb a hill, run a race, swim a river... oh God has indeed given me just what I need...

I am truly grateful for all my parts and all that they do!

The Word!

Good Morning Readers! Today I thought I would do a little something different~ You see God has given us His Word to guide us while we are on earth, living this life. So today I thought I would share some of my favorite scriptures. The ones that bring me hope during dark times, the ones that make my spirit soar in good times. The ones that remind me who I am and what is to become of me. I hope you enjoy.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

John 3:16 
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.

Isaiah 55:12 
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands

Psalm 40:5 
Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 36:7 
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Job 5:9 
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

Isaiah 25:1 
LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Psalm 139:14 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 40:17 
But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

1 John 4:12 
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:18 
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Matthew 6:14
 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 7:7 
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

John 3:36 
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them

There are SO many more!!! But I need to get my morning moving along so that is all I am going to share today. I pray that at least one of these touched your heart and drew you closer to God.

Rise and Shine!

Good Morning Friends and Family! God has graced us with another amazing day! The sun is rising, I love sunrise! There is something awesome about watching the sun come up over the mountain tops, to watch the colors of the sky change from that midnight blue to have those shades of pink and orange as the sky becomes lighter and lighter.

Today's Gratitude List

1. Father God
2. Christ
3. Holy Spirit
4. The Word of God
5. Sunrises
6. Singing birds
7. Warm house on crisp cool mornings
8. Snuggling babies
9. Internet (so many people I love live out there on the world wide web <3 li="">
10. Soft fuzzy blankies
11. Coffee (_)o
12. Lights that turn on by a flip of a switch (love that I don't have to go outside at 5am to get the generator started so we can have electricity in the house for a few hours)
13. Water that comes out just by turning a faucet (Don't have to fill a water tower while it is freezing outside!)
14. Friends who pray!
15. LIFE!!!!!

I am excited for another new day. Although God seems to be taking His time resolving my hot water issue, I know He is up to something. It is tough sometimes to just wait on the Lord. But I am really working on the patience God requires of me to wait and take the steps He directs me to take. $1,200 is a lot of money and it is repercussions of bad choices. Yet I am confident God will provide a way where the seems no way... because that is just the nature of God!

Today- 25 things that bring me joy

1. GOD!
2. Jesus!
3. The Holy Spirit!
4. The Bible!
5. FAMILY! (those by blood, those in Christ, and those in heart)
6. Friends!
7. LOVE!
8. Rain
9. Spring
10. LILACS! (my very favorite flower)
11. Roses
12. Cherry Blossoms
13. Daffodil's (and I will always hear my Mommy's voice calling them Daff-a-dum-dillies when I see them)
14. Lavender
15. RAINBOWS!
16. Running Water
17. Electricity
18. A Home
19. Internet
20. My Computer
21. Good Books 
22. SINGING! 
23. Music
24. SNOW!
25. Coffee (_)o

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

I got it! God's love! Jesus's love! My Family! My Church Family! My Friends! Love OVERFLOWING!!!!!

1. Rain in due season (Lev. 26:4)

2. Fruitful land (Lev. 26:4)

3. Fruitful trees (Lev. 26:4)

4. Abundance—vintage crops (Lev. 26:5)

5. Plenty of bread to eat (Lev. 26:5)

6. Safety (Lev. 26:5)

7. Peace in the land (Lev. 26:6)

8. No fear of enemies (Lev. 26:6)

9. Evil beast will not be a threat (Lev. 26:6)

10. The sword of enemies will not be a threat (Lev. 26:6)

11. Victory over enemies (Lev. 26:7)

12. Old things will pass away and newness will replace it (Lev. 26:8)

13. Fertility (Lev. 26:9)

14. God's presence (Lev. 26:11)

15. God's favor (Lev. 26:12)

May the presence of the Lord be with you wherever you go. In this way, may people know you have found favor in the sight of the Lord. The presence of God is what distinguishes you from all the other peoples on earth. May the Lord put His words in your mouth and may He cover you with the shadow of His hand.

Awww... neglected

I feel bad~ I have so neglected my gratitude blog. I have made lists and been thankful just haven't taken the time to write <3
Life is AMAZING! And I am ever so blessed! It would take me all day and I still wouldn't be able to list all the blessings in my life! God is good to me <3

PRAISE GOD!

I woke up this morning and my heart is so full of thankfulness to my God! He has blessed my life in ways that I could never have imagined! I am in awe at all the Lord has done for me <3 I just want to shout praise to the King, to let Him know that I love Him more than anything else. To let Him know how grateful I am for the things He has done to make my life here on earth better.

It seems every day I pray, I have my little "wish list" of things I want the Lord to move on in my life (my children's salvation, getting us out of this place we live in and to a real home, healings, etc ) and although I am always thankful for that Lord has already dopne for me, sometimes while I am talking to Him I forget to tell Him. So today, instead of a wish list, I want to spend my day in praise of the Lord for all I do have in my life. So much has been given to me and I know the Lord has more that He is going to give me and so today I just want to LOVE on my God to let Him know how much I appreciate Him in my Life!

Thanks Giving November Days 1-7

Day One
Tuesday November 1, 2011

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
 
Day Two 
Wednesday November 2, 2011


1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Thankful Today God gave me a husband who follows His word!

Day 3
Thursday November 3, 2011


Psalm 127:3
See, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

I am Grateful for my amazing children! The fruit of my womb Robert, Eugene, Joshua, Katie, Elizabeth, Allen, and Blaine and the fruit of my heart Nicole and Brandon ♥

Day Four

Friday November 4, 2012

Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Today I am ever so grateful for the AMAZING people God has placed in my life to teach me these things! Through friends and family God has blessed me with I am being taught how to be one of God's chosen ones!

Day 5

Novemeber 5, 2011

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I am THANKFUL that even in the midst of things I do not understand, I have the promise of the Lord that it is His plan to give me a hope, a future, and to prosper me

Day 6

Novemeber 6, 2011

Psalm 96:11-12
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

This morning I am grateful for the world around me and the way it glorifies the Lord! When I watch the sunrise, birds singing in the trees, when I hear the wind rushing by, when the river babbles as it moves along~ all of these remind me of the magnificent gift the Lord has given me in the world around me!

Day 7


November 7, 2011

Today I am grateful that my husband reads his bible and that he knows HeBrews *giggle* I really am grateful that my husbands makes the coffee every morning and even brings me coffee in bed. I really enjoy it and appreciate it and am thankful.

Sunshine, Flutterflies, and Singing Birds

I am sitting here today, the sun shining through the window warming me~ I feel like a lazy cat. Wanting to stretch out and lay in the sunbeams, soaking it in, and enjoying some quite time. Feeling the sun on my face~ I wonder if that is what a kiss from the Lord would feel like. The light so bright you have to close your eyes and you feel the warmth on your skin... ah yes... Today I am grateful for the sunshine.

Flutterflies (otherwise known as Butterflies) they bring a smile to my son's face. He is so excited about them. He told me once they were angels. Flutterly season is about over but today I am grateful for them and the smiles they give my son.

Singing birds! Oh how amazing. As autumn sets in, the days grow shorter, the nights longer, the birds are leaving and we aren't hearing their songs. But this morning I heard them singing and remembered how grateful I am for the songs they sing to me from the Lord...

Sunshine, Flutterflies, and singing birds are among the many things I am grateful for today! God is so good to me and there is such an amazing variety of things in life that I am blessed by! I know that God showers these blessings on the unbeliever too... but OH let me tell you because of my relationship with God, I am able to SEE the blessings and appreciate all that the Lord has given me. I am able to enjoy these blessings, not take them for granted and PRAISE God for each and every little thing and Great Big thing as well!

Wisdom

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.


Praise God that we are able to ASK God and be given wisdom! I thank the Lord for this!

Going Around that Mountain for 40 years....

This morning during prayer time I realized just how ungrateful I can be...
God has blessed me so very much and som eof His blessings are TRUE miracles, yet there are times, while I am receiving the blessing, I am complaining.

It made me think of the Isrealites~ there they were out in the middle of nowhere and God was providing Manna from heaven and they complained.

I had to ask the Lord for forgiveness this morning because I have complained about the Manna God has provided. I do not want to do that. I want to shout PRAISE for everything the Lord gives me. I want to be sure that WHATEVER happens in my life, God gets the Glory! How can I be in the presence of the Lord and complain one iota about anything in my life? II feel as though I have slapped my God, my Father in heaven, in the face because I complained...

So today I am going to give praise for exactly where I am in my life at this very moment. I am going to say "To God ALL the Glory for every great and perfect Gift I have been given." Without the Lord I would have nothing. He showers the blessings on my life~ today I am ever grateful for what He has done!

Praise!!!!

Good Morning Dear Readers!!!!

What a beautiful day it is!!! This morning I realized just how amazing it is that we live in this time, in this place, where we are able to praise our Lord without fear. Others before us, others in other places, and perhaps even those here in this place that come later, they worship in secret to preserve their lives. When they share their faith, they risk their own lives. It is one of the things I am ever so grateful for. Because for several years I was wishy washy in my faith and had I not had that freedom to praise, I would have failed to be saved. But because of God's Grace, He brought me into this world in a time and place where I could become the fullest He wants me to be because of the freedoms we have.

I can turn on a radio and find worship music, I can turn on the tv and find someone preaching His word, I can step out my door and share what I have in my heart from the Lord~ YES LORD I am grateful for being born when and where I was so that I could come into a personal relationship with You and go and share it with all the world!

Faith Gratitude

This morning I am ever so blessed and ever so grateful to our Lord for the measure of faith He has given me! It is enough to bring victory over anything the world can throw at me! Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Thank You Lord for allowing my heart to hear Your Word so that I have the faith of that mustard seed.

morning praise

Oh Father in Heaven! I fill the air this morning with praises ~ shouting loudly my gratitude to my Lord who makes all things possible!!!!  Oh Lord thank you for all you have given us, but Lord thank you the most for Your Grace that You have granted each of us who confess You are God and accept Your son Jesus Christ into our lives as the blood sacrafice for our sins and brings us into relationship with You!

Living in Grace

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

I am so grateful that I live under grace!

PRAISE the LORD!

Gratitude? I am full to the brim this morning!!! God is so awesome and His blessings are so Over the Top!!! This past weekend I was blessed to attend the Women of Faith Conference in Sacramento... Oh what an awesome time! God's presence was felt by all 10,000+ of us that attended! Many accepted Christ into their lives for the first time~ including my daughter!!!!

I don't know what God has planned for my future... but I can tell you I am EXCITED to have Him guide me through to where He wants me to be!!!

Gratitude Today

I am going to be blessed beyond what I could imagine this coming weekend! Praise the Lord for making the path for me to be able to embark on this most amazing adventure! I will be going to the Sacramento Women of Faith Conference.,.. Listening to some awesome men and women sharing their testimonies with us, sharing what God has lead them to share, worship music that fills hearts and fellowship with friends and strangers and all part of the family of Christ. Today my heart is so full of gratitude to the people who have made this trip possible and to the people who have encouraged me to attend, and to the Lord for bringing all these people into my life!

A little whine...

This morning I decided that I wanted to do some major housework and changing things around. As I looked around at what I wanted and needed to get done I had a moment of feeling sorry for myself. A little whine that it is a lot to get done and that I have to do it all by myself with the little ones needing attention too. Just one of those feel sorry for myself moments.

THEN....

Reality came crashing in!

How blessed am I that I have a home that needs to be cleaned? How blessed am I that I have furniture that needs to be rearrainged? How blessed am I that I have too much stuff and need to give some things away? How blessed am I that we have a stack of dirty dishes already this morning, even though all were washed last night? How blessed am I that I have carpets that need vacuuming?

So instead of a little whine, I am going to give a little praise that i have all this to do today! The to do list is evidence of all the blessings in my life!!!

Gratitude

When was the last time you remembered to be thankful for indoor plumbing? As the U.S. spins out of control morally and socially we forget that we were so blessed as a country. Go to other countries and they do not have near the ammenities that we have come to expect. Even the poorest among us in America have expectations for indoor plumping, electricity, and all that sort of thing.

Even the breath we take is a gift from God and yet we take it for granted.

American people call abominations "alternatives", bad behavior is justified, sometimes even glorified. It just makes me sad that as a collective group we have fallen so far from the teachings of our founding fathers, from the bases of the Bible which this country was based...

Philippians 4:8

I am so grateful that God has granted me the ability to be able to focus my thoughts on the good in life! It is one of those things we oft forget to be grateful for.  There are times when I wish the Lord hadn't given me free will but then other times I am ever so grateful for it. Because of my free will I am able to be grateful for all the Lord has done even in the face of adversity.

Dear God,
Please help me to adjust my life to you. I pray for wisdom and boldness to do what is right. Show me the way, whether I need to change jobs, make new friends, break bad habits, or whatever the case. Make me aware of how I need to change and adjust, so that I will be pleasing to you and will receive the blessings you have in store for me. May you be glorified in all I do.
With thanksgiving and praise,
Amen

Giving Praise

The last couple of days I have heard from several different sources about giving praise instead of complaints. I truly do try to keep an attitude of gratitude and try to seek the good in even the worst situations. But what about the mundane same ol same ol situations? Getting the kids up for school, every single morning it is a battle. A battle that usually has me being angry and the girls going off to school in an unpleasant mood because I have been yelling at them. In what ways can I change my attitude to gratitude instead of anger and frustration?

Thoughts...

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Today I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me the tools to take my thoughts captive for giving me the ability to think about things that build up other people and the lives of those around me. God is so good to me. It is with awe that I look at how He has designed each of us to truly be grateful, to praise, to Love...

BEAUTIFUL WEDNESDAY!

Gratitude
Today I am especially grateful for the amazing people that the Lord puts in my life!!!! My life is in a period of transition and it amazes me how the Lord brings people in and takes people out of our lives according to His plan for our transformation. He knows exactly who we need in or out of our lives to complete the work He has begun in us.

Once upon a time the loss of a friendship would have been devistating. Today, I can see that the loss of friend means that God is making room for something awesome in my life! 2009 was a year when God stripped me of all that was familare, all that I turned to in times of need, and took me out of my comfort zone. Although i began to rebuild my life almost immediately, it wasn't until the past few days that I realized exactly where God was leading me. Through all the loss of 2009 God made room in my life for some amazing changes and amazing people. People and changes that wouldn't have come into my life without all the loss.

Then the loss of a friend, a friend I really cared about. Then I realized, as if God were talking to me right there in person, this person was not part of God's plan. The person had been there in my life as part of my transition. This doesn't mean I stop loving the person or caring for them... it just means that our time of being together is over. I learned a lot about myself through this friendship. Realized some issues that I need God to deliver me from. Came to understand that for some people, there are such deep rooted issues that until they seek God to deliver them in earnest, they will stay the same living in the same cycle on the same merry-go-round and never understand why their view never changes.

Today it is with a grateful heart that I praise God for delivering me from that and bringing me to where I am on this day in the presence of the Lord and on the verge of blossoming into a new life prepared for me by my Heavenly Father to do the work He has for me to do!!!!

Little Things

How often do we remember to be grateful for those little things? Butterflies that dance in the air on a warm afternoon, lightning bugs shining their light in the cool summer evening night, the soft sound of the breeze drifting through the trees, a wild flower blossoming in a crack in the walkway... there are so many little things we see each and every day, little things that bring a smile, gladden a heart, make a memory and we forget to say "Lord Thank-You" after all it really isn't that big of a deal. Not like getting that grand job you wanted or buying that big old house or driving that fancy car. But all those little things really are what makes it all worth while....

Thoughts on Gratitude

This morning feeling gratitude is a little odd~ like I know I am grateful but there is something in the joy of gratitude missing. I prefer the gratitude that is joyful, full of hope, full of life. I know I am grateful for my children~ I love them more than life itself. They are awesome and amazing little people. Yet all the crying and fussing has me wanting a break and feeling aggitated. I don't love them any less, I am not any less grateful for them in my life, I am just missing the joy of them...

Gratitude Today!

How blessed am I to have a home! Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, see that mess all over the floor? I can't get upset because it means my family is here. How blessed am I!

All these things in my life, those daily things we don't think much about, oh how blessed am I~ there are families everywhere that don't have a home, that don't have enough food, that don't have clothes, that go without even the most basics in life. There are families who aren't together. I am blessed!

Gratitude for Wednesday September 14th

Yesterday was an interesting day... and because of it I really grew closer to my Lord. Today I am so grateful that God has brought me to a place where I can recognize unhealthy relationships and that He is getting me to a place where those unhealthy relationships will never even have a chance to grow. Praise God for bring the people into my life who are teaching me and Praise God for taking the people out of my life who are teaching me.

It was interesting, I had a chance to medititate on Luke 16:15 "He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight."

God knows our hearts. Not our justifications of action or inaction but the true motives we hold, motives that we may not even be aware of (take note of Jeremiah 17:9 where it is said "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" also Mark 7:21 & 22, Ecclesiastes 9:3 and the list goes on) I realized that we often lie to ourselves about toxic relationships, about our own toxitity in the relationship. We justify ourselves by man's standards not God's.

Today I am grateful God is still teaching me, leading me, to where He wants me to be!

LIFE!

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

How awesome is it to know that Jesus came to give us a full, abundant life! Today I am grateful for Jesus and what He did on Calvery and that because of His sacrafice I am given an abundant life, that all my sickness are healed by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and that my life is blessed beyond all measure~ I have a personal relationship with God becuase of Jesus. I have the endwelling of the Holy Spirit because of Jesus Christ. I have miracles daily in my life because of Jesus Christ. Truly all that I have is from God and available to me in the full because of Jesus.

Oh yes, John Doe down the street may have a bigger house, a faster car, and more money to spend but he doesn't have it to the full! It brings with it worry and anxiety. My life is free of these, I do not have to worry about anything because I am confident that the Lord will provide all my needs and I do not need that big house, that fast car or that bank account. I have what I need for today and my abundance comes from the things of the heart, the things of love, of things I store in heaven not on earth.

God is GOOD to me!

Happy Wednesday!

Have you thought about being grateful for each and every day? I got to thinking about how so many of us wish away days of our lives wanting it to be a different day. Wednesday's most folks are wishing away Thursday so it can be Friday. I am grateful for each and everyday and all that day has to bring. While I look forward to a lot of different things happening in the future, I pray that I never again wish away another day...

"Princess" Daughter of the King!

Today's Gratitude List:
I sat reading some Bible Verses this morning and realized just how amazingly blessed my life is! I am a Princess, Daughter of the Heavenly King. I am a joint heir with Christ to the Kingdom of God. I have been justified, completely forgiven and made righteous. Fully accepted by Christ Jesus free from all condemnation. I have direct access to God the Father through Holy Spirit who is always with me. I am able to approach God with boldeness, freedom and confidence! I have been given a spirit of power love and self disciplin. God has given me exceedingly great and precious promises and because of this I am a partaker of God's divine nature.The Holy Spirit empowers me to live the Christian life! How awesome is all of that! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


Praise The Father!!!!

It's Friday!

And Friday is a very special day! It marks the end of the school/work week and the begining of the weekend full of family time! I am ever so grateful for the weekend and the time to spend with my husband and kids <3 While I do not work outside the home they are busy with work and school so that it is only a few hours a day we have together... that is until friday afternoon! From Friday afternoon to Monday morning it is all about us! I LOVE IT!

Also Friday is Celebrate Recovery~ an awesome and amazing program that has blessed my life in so many ways and helped God to make transformations in my life and the lives of many others! How awesome that I am blessed to have my Celebrate Recovery family in my life!

Life is good~ it is Friday~ and God continues to shower His blessings on my life! Now to get breakfast for my crew <3

God Bless all of you! And may you find much to be grateful for today!

Batteling Depression

Part of my Gratitude List came from a time in my life when I was batteling depression. I was oerwhelmed with all of life and it's happenings. So I turned to gratitude as a way to show my mind that life really wasn't as bad as it was trying to make things out to be.

I honestly LOVE my life, love the people in it, and enjoy so many things. Yet depression will sneak in and try to steal the happiness life brings me. So instead of being joyful to have a cup of coffee with God in the morning, thoughts of not being able to afford to go to Starbucks with friends for coffee will come in. Instead of being grateful for for all the birds singing in the trees I will become annoyed at the noise, missing the music.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Taking my thoughts captive... making them obedient to Christ... Following Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Today I woke with that dark cloud of depression hanging over me. Although I could think of many things that bring me joy, that I am grateful for, I wasn't getting the emotional lift from it that I wanted and needed. Then as I was looking for answers on how to deal with this... God sent me a Word. Recently God and I have been growing closer the relationship becoming more than I could have ever hoped for. What is happening today is Satan trying to interfer with that relationship. Placing doubt, depression, thoughts of lack in my mind to come between the Lord and I. My boys crying, fussing, needing more of me while I had a list of things to accomplish that I couldn't get to.

What a lightening of spirit when I realized that this was because I am building a better relationship with God. So a quick talk with God, giving Him my burdens, casting my cares on Him, realizing that no matter how things may appear God is working ALL things to the good in my life.

Deuteronomy 7:12-15


If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you. You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young. The LORD will keep you free from every disease.

100 Things!

1. Morning conversations with God
2. Knowing God is there for me
3. God's little miracles in my everyday life (like that parking spot that comes open or finding that lost item in the first place you look)
4. That first cup of coffee in the morning
5. Waking up to sunbeams coming through my bedroom window
6. The MOST AWESOME family:
7. David
8. Robert
9. Eugene
10. Joshua
11. Katie
12. Elizabeth
13. Allen
14. Blaine
15. Tony
16. Tabitha
17. Jennifer
18. The Most amazing friends!
19. Mary
20. Diane
21. Samantha
22. All my other Family!
23. All my other friends!
24. My AMAZING Church Family!
25. Being able to read my Bible without fear
26. Being able to share the Word with others without threat of being Jailed
27. Technology that allows me to listen to Worship music whenever I want!
28. Being able to teach little ones about The Lord
29. SINGING praise to the LORD! I make a joyful noise anyway
30. Bountiful Table set before my family
31. Being able to enjoy fresh foods
32. Having all our food needs met
33. Our home~ although I keep praying for a new home that has things this one doesn't~ I really am grateful that we do have this home.
34. Electricity
35. Running Water
36. INTERNET hehehe
37. Cable TV
38. Sunshine
39. Rain
40. Rainbows
41. Playing Pooh Sticks
42. Snow
43. Snowball fights
44. Puddle Jumping
45. Dancing in the Rain
46. Sledding in the snow
47. Picnics in the park
48. Swinging in the swings
49. Fishing in the Sun
50. Laying in the grass watching clouds float by
51. Birds singing in the trees
52. Watching the deer eat in the backyard
53. Watching the squirrel scamper across the neighbors roof
54. Watch the hummingbird flutter at the feeder
55. Wind chimes
56. Crickets chirping on a summer evening
57. Kite flying!
58. Laying out next to the river and hearing it's sounds
59. Lilacs in Bloom
60. Sunflowers waving in the breeze
61. Roses sending off their fragrance for all to enjoy
62. Scentsy (because it makes my house smell yummy!)
63. Apricots fresh of the trees
64. Cherry Picking
65. Did I mention snow?
66. Story time with my little ones
67. Watching my little ones make new discoveries
68. Snuggled up with my babies (even the big ones :) )
69. Air Conditioning :) during those hot summer months
70. Heat in the house (in winter of course)
71. Soft fuzzy blankets
72. Cuddly Puppies
73. Purring Kittens
74. Hot Showers
75. Crossroads Ministries
76. Celebrate Recovery
77. My husband having work
78. My minivan <3
79. A washer and dryer (live without one for a while and you will be grateful too!)
80. Prozac (long story)
81. The medical era we live in
82. Cell Phones (they have changed the way we communicate!)
83. My camera! I love to capture the moments of my life!
84. Days when I can Sleep in
85. Starbucks!
86. Coffee with friends
87. Long soaking Bubble Baths
88. Candles
89. Pedicures (oh they feel so wonderful!)
90. Shopping! It can be so much fun!
91. Any day spent with friends and family!
92. Knowing the Peace of God~ it truly does surpass all understanding!
93. Knowing that God loved me so much that He offered His son as a sacrafice
94. Jesus loved me so much He was willing to die for me
95. Becuase of God sending His son and His son being willing to die for us all I have a personal relationship with the Lord
96. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit!
97. Being able to look around me and see all that the Lord has done!
98. Having a heart that seeks that relationship with God
99. Knowing that God will intercede for my children who do not yet believe
100. And NUMBER 100~ God giving me a grateful heart!

Good Morning!

 Today my gratitude list is amazingly long~ from the basics of my friends, family, home, and needs met to all the wonders of nature that God gives us. But I sat here this morning thinking, my list growing and growing (I could do well over 100 things today) and I thought about all the things I don't have that I am grateful not to have in my life. Sounds wierd doesn't it? But seriously, people I know are battling some pretty aweful things in their life and they would be ever so grateful if they could be relieved of the struggle. Yet those who aren't dealing with this or that forget how easy it would be for them to be afflicted with the struggle.

So today, my gratitude list already long for all the wonders in my life is also including things like not being afflicted with chronic pain or disease, being free from addiction, not having any sever weather conditions to contend with, being free from a government that could kill because I express myself, and oh so many other things. My life is free of abuse, free of satanic influence, free of starvation... I am truly blessed in all that I do not have to contend with!

Today's Gratitude List

Someone asked the other day "What makes you happy?" There are so many things in life that bring me happiness but I realized as I thought about it that it totally isn't about what MAKES me happy but my attitude about all of it... I can think about all the things in life I don't have and be miserable or I can focus on all the amazing things in life and be happy.

Today I am truly grateful for learning it is about my attitude so that I can be happy everyday in every situation because I know that no matter how bad it might seem at that very moment~ all things are working together to bring me into a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father, to make me the person He desires me to be, and put me on the path He has selected for me.

Life is good! I am so grateful for everything God has put in my life and even for some of those things He has taken from life... It is all so awesome <3

Gratitude Today

Today my boys will both be dedicated to the Lord~ my husband will be praying for them in front of our church family. Talk about feeling BLESSED and having a grateful heart! How awesome that God has brought me to this place in life where my children are growing up knowing God, having a personal relationship with the Father, and have such an amazing earthly father who will nurture and grow their relationship with God <3

Weather

This morning I was thinking about how blessed I am with weather... Even though sometimes it is hotter than I would like or colder than I want or wetter than I think we need... it is amazing how weather really is just awesome. Today I am remembering that no matter the weather cycle where I am, that I am grateful for it. And for those places facing the most extreme weather, prayers for the people to be safe during it and for God to use the extreme weather in a way that Glorifies Him!

Gratitude "little things"

Some of the "little things" in my life I am grateful for:

1. Baked potatoes loaded with butter, sourcream, and bacon bits
2. A Venti White Chocolate Mocha
3. A diaper changed by someone else
4. Dinner cooked by someone else
5. My Crockpot (lets us have nice hot meal without heating up the house in the summer!)
6. A shower without interruption
7. Watching birds make a nest
8. A 3 Muskateer bar without any little ones asking for a bite
9. Picnics in the Park
10. Puddle Jumping!

Beyond the obvious

Being grateful for family, friends, a home... those are the obvious things we tend to be grateful for. What about the less obvious things in life? I was sitting drinking my tea this morning and looked at my counters in the kitchen, alo the dishes were put away and no dirty dishes had accumulated yet. I am grateful to have clean kitchen counters :) it brings a smile to my face and makes my day better.

What other things, those little barely noticed things, are you grateful for? I will be back later today with my list!

Fear

So this morning I woke up with feelings of "lack"... one of my children is in some trouble, my husband is still unemployed, when my husband got to moving around he made the comment we need money, there is no coffee and no juice in the house right now... just this feeling of need instead of abundance this morning.

Yet I know, God provides all my needs. I may go without wants, but needs... it is always taken care of.

Last Sunday, our Youth Pastor delivered the sermon for the congregation. It was awesome. He talked about how fear interfered with faith. That fear is actually evidence of the absence of faith. Remember when Peter walked on water? As long as his focus was on Jesus, he was fine. As soon as he lost focus, splash...



I realized this morning, fairly quickly, that I was allowing fear to interfer with my trust and faith in God. I know that God will provide. He has never failed me yet. All I have to do is have faith, keep my focus on Him, and not allow something like fear to creep in and mess with me.

Today I am grateful for messages like BJ's last Sunday that let me keep my focus on God and off of things of this world or Satan.

Love it!

20 Things

1. My children
2. Robert
3. Eugene
4. Joshua
5. Katie
6. Elizabeth
7. Allen
8. Blaine
9. My husband
10. My Mom~ although she is gone she has blessed my life in so many ways even today!
11. My church family!
12. My friends
13. My camera (I can record so many memories)
14. My computer
15. The internet (lets me keep in touch with long distant friends and family)
16. My cell phone
17. Life lessons that have brought me here today
18. My home (it isn't exactly what I want but it keeps us warm in winter & protected in summer)
19. My mini-van (I can transport all my at home kids at once)
20. My LIFE! It is amazing and blessed!

And my God

will meet all your needs

according to his glorious riches

in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Home

Food

Friends and Family

Thank you, Lord, for the sounds and sights of summer. For the lush forests, the still ponds, and the meandering creeks. For full sun and cooling shade. Thank you for gardens, butterflies, and scampering chipmunks. For the laughter of children, ice cold water, and a refreshing breeze. Amen.


― Patsy Clairmont
 
I couldn't agree more!!!!!

3/18/2011

Oh my! It has been a while hasn't it! I assure you, it hasn't been a lack of gratitude that has kept me from posting~ just been busy and not taken the time to do it. Since I last posted, my husband and I celebrated our first anniversary~ YAY!

We have bought a new to us minivan, had parent teacher conference for one of the girls, and all around just really GOOD stuff happening.

My gratitude list is really long right now. From the snow, rain and sunshine we have had the last few days to the many other amazing things that have been going on.

Life is Good!

It is in these really good times like right now that I forget to blog everyday.

I live the gratitude and forget to write it all down.

March 2, 2011

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing,

windows that need cleaning

and gutters that need fixing

because it means I have a home....

I am thankful for the piles of laundry

 and ironing

because it means my loved ones are nearby.

~Nancie J. Carmody



February 28, 2011

Psalm 36:8

They feast on the abundance of your house;

you give them drink from your river of delights.

When you sit and really think about it~ what is there in life NOT to be grateful for? Especially for those of us in the United States and other countries where we have the luxeries that many people are not afforded. Electricity, indoor plumbing, hot water at will, cell phones and computers.

How about freedom of religion? Education for all? Transportation (aside from our feet or an animal)?

The list just goes on and on and on and on

God really pours out his blessings~

all we have to do is open our eyes to the things we take for granted.

The birds, the sun, the snow, the trees, flowers... all of it something to be grateful for.

This morning I am looking at icicles hanging off the eves of my house

what a blessings.

They are truly beautiful.

And without the recent moisture and cold, I would have missed having them there to enjoy.

Today I challenge you, look around you and find just ONE thing out of the ordinary

family/friends/home  type gratitude thing to be thankful for.

Something you just take for granted and forget it blesses your life.

Fresh fruits/veggies in the middle of winter? My camera (I love taking pictures)?

Hot cup of coffee? Heated steering wheel cover? Email message from a friend?

Come on, look in your life... find something!

Today my out of the ordinary gratitude thing is

My husband driving our daughter to school in the mornings.

I appreciate him for it and really am blessed by it.

Facebook Wants Your Opinion On Its New Privacy Policy

Facebook Wants Your Opinion On Its New Privacy Policy

February 21, 2011

Delicious Monday Morning Dear Readers!

Today's Gratitude List

1. Food~ my family has plenty to eat
2. My husband who cooks <3
3. Coffee and Pancakes for breakfast!
4. Chilibeans for dinner
5. Warm snugglie bed to sleep in

Ahhhh the comforts of living in a place where things like electricity and running water are are not just available but the expected in every home. To live in a place where I have freedom to be who I want to be in the way I want to be

February 20, 2011

Today's Gratitude List

1. SNOW!!! I love the snow & we needed the snow
2. A husband who shovels snow (*giggle*) but I am grateful for him always
3. My husband insisting on buying GOOD snow tires ~ the snow didn't slow us down
4. Rainbows~ a reminder of God's Promise to mankind
   Genesis 9:15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
5. Provisions from God from the most unlikely places!
6. Feeling my baby kick~ knowing God is busy knitting this little one together in my womb
7. Spending my day with my family
8. Watching the chickadees play outside my windows
9. Watching my 2 year old learn all his parts (sooo cute!)
10. Knowing I get to spend part of my day with my church family!

Oh my life is so amazingly blessed and I have so very much to be grateful for... today it is the storm that is brewing. While there are complaints about the wind that is bringing this storm in from Alaska, and complaints that the spring like days we have been experiencing are fading as snow comes once again to our little mountain town... I am grateful. If we didn't get this storm bringing a bit more snowpack, we would be experiencing low water levels in our lakes, rivers and streams. We need the snow pack up here in the moutains to sustain the valley's over the summer. So it is with gratitude I look to this storm and get excited about getting to play in the snow tomorrow!

February 12, 2011

Amazing and Beautiful Saturday morning to all my Dear Readers! Life is so AWESOME! Everyday, if we just take time to look, right smack dab in the middle of our ordinary life, God sends us immeasurable blessings~ Think about it...

There is the sunrise ~ so beautiful with all the awesome colors it can bring us each day. It is never the same, always a little different, with different shades and hues in the sky. Some days it just comes to us in all it's blazing glory... other days it sort of sneaks in behind the shadows of the night. Not matter what, each sunrise brings the promise of a new day ahead of us.

This morning as I sat here watching the sunrise, there was the sound of singing birds... a musical production put on by God and the birds outside my window. How blessed was I to sit and listen quietly to their singing. Today isn't unique with the performance of the birds. It happens all the time when we just slow down and listen. God gives us their music to help sooth our day if we just take advantage of the opportunity.

Coffee! *laugh* ok so I really enjoy my morning coffee... Although I "can" go without it, I really really don't like to. I am most definately grateful for having my morning coffee...

Have you ever noticed how you get a phone call, a word of encouragement, read just the right passage, run across the perfect devotional for whatever you might be facing at the time? God's miracles at work... I am so grateful for being able to recognize them and appreciate them.
Right now, as my family is dealing with what feels like financial lack I am just amazed because we have not had to go without anything during this period... how is that? God's miracles at work. His amazing provision in ways that are out of the ordinary.

God is so amazing~ I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for all He has done, continues to do in my life... 

February 7, 2011

Gratitude List for Today

1. My AWESOME and AMAZING husband~
2. My Annoying Children :)
3. Morning Coffee with awesome friends/family
4. Time with Family
5. Time with Friends
6. Time with Church Family
7. The Power of the Lord that is transforming my life!
8. My internet connection :)
9. Washer and Dryer so I can wash laundry at home
10. My daughter who washes dishes with little complaint :p

Honestly I have so many relationship blessings in my life~ God has surrounded me with good people who build me up and what an amazing blessing it is!

February 5, 2011

Good Morning Dear Readers!!!!

What an amazing day the Lord has made!

AMEN?!?!?!

I am so excited today! God has been fast at work making changes in my life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us~

Therefore,

if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation;

the old has gone,

the new has come!

Todays's Gratitude List

1. The Healing Power of God!
2. Being a New Creation
3. Watching my old self die and the new be born
4. Living in The Light
5. Knowing that through Christ ALL things are possible

Today, I know that I am no longer who I once was~ I do not live with any of the sinful things of my past. All those things that I once did are DEAD because of Christ in my life. My heart is so full of joy, knowing that shame and guilt no longer have a place in my life. I have been rescued from the pit of hell and placed in the heavenly realms because of my faith. No longer do I doubt the miracles of God working in my life. Where yesterday I felt as if God may not work in my life becuase of who I once was... today I KNOW beyond shadow of a doubt that God will do ALL that I ask in the name of His Son because I am an HEIR with Christ. Today it isn't just words~ it is TRUE knowledge of WHO I am!