Sunday, February 28, 2016

Joy begins with thanksgiving...


Sometimes heaviness unexplainably comes knocking at the door.  When you can't uncover any spiritual, physical or emotional cause, maybe the enemy has sent it your way just to see if you'll open the door and welcome it in. Instead, report that the enemy is trespassing on your property to your Father.  Then, open your mouth in praise, worship and thanksgiving because the enemy hates this.  Let him know that he's not welcome.  Let God's presence and peace fill your heart and home as you give thanks. Soon there'll be no room for heaviness or any of its kin.
************
Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.
 I continue to count my thanks
piling up gratitude day by day
in my journal.
(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#8077-#8104

2-22-16-
-time with Jesus in prayer, the Word and worship in my home office
-a basket of succulents
-spring like weather that made my walk/run more appealing
-my husband excited to be sharing Jesus with a young couple
-an email from my brother
-potroast in the crockpot for dinner

2-23-16-
-starting the day right
-"Nana school" with my granddaughter
-seeing good changes in her since her mama decided to homeschool her
-her reading a book to our youngest grandson

2-24-16-
-good customer service
-forsythia in bloom
-when writing flows

2-25-16-
-meeting my brother for coffee
-when God clearly answered no when I asked Him to help me make a decision
-holding my youngest grandson during prayer meeting

2-26-16-
-Friday!  My husband's weekly day off and our date day!
-us both choosing the same thing to do for our day off
-a good dinner out and a movie after

2-27-16-
-my husband's birthday
-a birthday brunch at our house with the family
-green and white flowers

2-28-16-
-people from church bringing me supplies to take to Nicaragua
-lunch with the team provided by my daughter's in-laws
-seeing two rainbows this afternoon, 
(after my husband's message at church this morning in which he mentioned that the rainbow,
God's promise that He wouldn't flood the earth again, is a symbol of His mercy)
-flowering quince
-sugar-free key lime curd made by a friend from church for my husband,
(and he shared some with me...so yummy!) 

still following,

7 comments:

  1. Elizabeth, The first paragraph...Thank you for so eloquently saying what needs to be said.

    Blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yup, someone's been trespassing in my neck of the woods lately, too. I just love how you worded that - trespassing. Yes, the enemy loves to tromp all over our hearts, exactly where he does NOT belong. It's so important to remember that God holds the claim, the deed of ownership. Be gone...

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed! The enemy has no right to trespass in our lives.

      Delete
  3. I like the Rainbow Story :)
    And I just finished posting my alphabetic triplet of character traits to which I aspire on Facebook. J = Joyful/Just/Jubilant. Imagine the affirmation (and challenge) I received to read your words about "joy"! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amen! It's amazing how a few words of praise and thanksgiving will send him runnin'! Blessings on your week!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Here I am catching up again! After being down with a 'bug' today is so much better and I'm looking to see what you have to share. There is so much to be thankful for. I love seeing how God has blessed you in big and little ways, dear friend.
    ~Adrienne~

    ReplyDelete

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