Take things with gratitude...

We head home tomorrow after a week in Kansas City attending our goddaughter's wedding, visiting two dear ones from our church who attend the International House of Prayer University here, and enjoying some time at the International House of Prayer. It's been good and I'm grateful for this time away but also grateful to be heading home tomorrow. This homebody misses her own little nest.

******************

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)

#11351-#11,373

10-22-18-

-bundling up for my walk for the first time this season

-a fun family dinner at oldest daughter's house-I love having all our grands together!

-"Nana, you make the best guacamole but Auntie makes the best pies!" (HaHa! It's true!)

10-23-18-

-a safe trip to Kansas City

-a huge beautiful harvest moon

-dinner and laughter with G.

10-24-18-

-a sweet time in the prayer room

-an encouraging report from my friend's doctor

-a fun evening with our dear friends and goddaughter

10-25-18-

-hot tomato soup and crunchy crusted bread

-feeling better after some tummy troubles

-Psalm 139 prayed and sung in the prayer room - so powerful

10-26-18-

-"Jesus, You're Beautiful"

-friendship and laughter

-a small town football game, cold, crisp weather, a huge orange moon

10-27-18-

-love

-fiery orange, red trees

-a beautiful day to spend some time at the Plaza

-a little afternoon nap

-a fun, delicious rehearsal dinner

10-28-18-

-God ministering to me deeply at church this morning

-getting to be a part of our goddaughter's wedding!

-a dance with my guy at the reception

still following,

God's hand...

Our six year old granddaughter was holding onto Papa's hand while we walked through the chaotic Costco parking lot. I reached for the hand of her nine year old sister, but she pulled away. I suppose she thought she was too old and maybe just a little bit too cool to be holding Nana's hand. Much to her chagrin, I made her hold my hand anyway.

I'm a big holding hands proponent. In our busy city, I see parents letting their children race in front of them through a crosswalk or crowded parking lot. I think of how important the protective touch of a parent's hand can be to grab their child out of the way of an oncoming car or one that is backing up without noticing that there's a little one nearby. However, children can pull against that kind of control. They resist the restraint.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, October 28th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Rekindled...

There's a Bible verse in Matthew chapter twelve verse twenty that says "a battered reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish". When you're bruised and battered by life and feel like the light within you is barely burning, God sees, knows, cares, and brings help. That help can come from a scripture that God gives you to cling to, His presence that sustains and comforts you as you pray, the encouragement found in gathering together in a body of believers, and life giving relationships. 

This week I am especially thankful for the latter-for the way my flame is rekindled 

• by the love, laughter and joy found in time with my grandchildren
• by texts and talks with my daughters
•  when a friend calls with a Bible verse that I feast on all week long
• when our small group gathers in our home
•  when I tell a friend, "I'm feeling lonely. Want to come over?" and she comes
• by good heart talks with my husband 
• by gathering with our church leaders and feasting on food and fellowship, and laughing and crying and praying together

Thank you, God!

******************

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)

#11,330-#11,350

10-15-18-

-God's provision

-an answer to prayer with an unexpected blessing

-a sweet visit with the grands and my oldest daughter

10-16-18-

-a good report on our youngest daughter's prenatal visit

-a walk with youngest grandson

-a sweet time of worship and prayer with our small group

10-17-18-

-another answer to prayer!

-Psalm 84

-dinner with our two oldest grands and middle grandson

10-18-18-

-praise God for an all clear on my medical test

-a friend sharing a scripture passage with me and praying with me

-homemade chicken noodle soup for my sick husband

10-19-18-

-the richness of digging into word meanings in scripture

-cozy new pjs for winter

-a beautiful sunset

10-20-18-

-God's presence, love, mercy, grace

-friendship

-remembering God's faithfulness

10-21-18-

-honest communication

-God's care for us in the details

-an amazing time of prayer with our leadership team

still following,

Remember...

Does it seem to you that the human mind is like a sieve when it comes to remembering our blessings, but like a steel trap when it comes to remembering our hurts, offenses against us, or our problems and cares?  Likewise, why are we so quick to forget God's faithful care for us when we face a time of need, test or trial? I don't know why that is, but it seems to be a common human condition.

To me, Psalm chapter 78, is the quintessential chapter that addresses this issue. God, through the psalmist Asaph begins the chapter by reminding the children of Israel that they are to remember God's deeds and wonderful works and to be sure to pass them on to the succeeding generations so "that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but might keep His commandments".   (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, October 21st, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Thanksgiving precedes the miracle...

Let's admit it. The things that aren't going the way we want them to in our life are often front and center in our thoughts. Then, along comes satan and he likes to give us a big old push down the slippery slope of doubt, fear, and unbelief. Soon, we catch ourselves murmuring and complaining and speaking words of hopelessness and despair. It takes DISCIPLINE and DIVINE HELP to DEVELOP a mindset of gratitude and thanksgiving - to be a person who speaks PRAISE instead of constantly reciting our PROBLEMS. Truth be told, even though my personality bend is more toward being an optimist, there are some days when it would be easier to list ten complaints in an ingratitude journal then three things I'm thankful for in my gratitude journal. There's always something to complain about, isn't there? It's finding the blessings in the midst of the mess of ordinary life that takes effort. Finding something to grumble about is the easy way out. Giving thanks is a bit like panning for gold...the dirt and debris of life is easy to spot, but it sometimes takes some sifting to find the treasure in our life. 

******************

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)

#11,282-#11,329

(Posting two weeks of my gratitude journal. 

We were out of town last week for an event at our friend's church in So.Cal.

It was a joy to be able to stay at my brother's home and to get to visit with him!)

10-1-18-

-it's October!

-a blog problem resolved

-family dinner at my daughter's house

10-2-18-

-Psalm 37

-getting a long procrastinated chore done-it feels so good!

-homemade soup

-laughing together with our small group

10-3-18-

-God's grace and mercy when my mind and thoughts need realigned with God's

-the way my grandson's eyes light up and he yells,

 "Nana!", and runs and hugs me when I pick him up from preschool

-thinking I was getting sick but feeling better after going to bed early

10-4-18-

-church volunteers that we couldn't do without

-God's provision

-praying together

10-5-18-

-a safe flight to So Cal

-lunch at Dana Point harbor

-beautiful sunny weather and palm trees

-a walk to an overlook of the beach and city with my brother

-a wonderful dinner made for us by my brother and his girlfriend

10-6-18-

-a hike along Laguna Beach

-fish tacos!

-a beautiful So Cal sunset

10-7-18-

-a wonderful visit with our friends

-joy filled worship

-texted from oldest granddaughter that she made district in swim team

10-8-18-

-another wonderful long walk with my brother

-a picnic on the grounds of the Montage

-dinner with my brother and his girlfriend at the Fistherman's Wharf in San Clemente

10-9-18-

-making Dutch babies for breakfast

-a walk to San Clemente beach

-pumpkin pie!

-a safe trip home

10-10-18-

-a foggy, chilly autumn morning

-God at work within my heart

-an afternoon with my sweet grandson

-a safe drive for our daughter on a business trip

10-11-18-

-a really good night's sleep

-an answer to prayer for my niece in law

-such a good, good prayer and worship night

10-12-18-

-texts from our oldest granddaughter

-this beautiful autumn day

-super cute photos of oldest daughter and her family at the pumpkin patch

10-13-18-

-long phone conversation with my sister

-a phone call with my "unofficially adopted granddaughter" who's away at college

-trees aflame with autumn colors

10-14-18-

-an encouraging visit over lunch

-another addition to our small group

-my youngest daughter feeling better after thinking she was getting the flu

still following,

Resist!

I was listening to the news the other day when I heard yet another prediction of impending gloom, doom and despair. I thought about how surrounded we are by words and thoughts that fuel our fear, worry and anxiety. God's Word says in 2 Timothy 1:7,"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." The enemy wants to intimidate, manipulate and control us through fear.  In contrast, God enables us to be courageous, powerful, loving, calm, well balanced, disciplined and self controlled even in the midst of our chaotic world.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, October 14th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Spiritual Realignment...

Have you ever awakened with a crick in your back or neck? You feel stiff, sore and out of sorts. Perhaps you go to the chiropractor and he/she manipulates your spine. You can actually hear and feel it pop back into alignment.

The other day, I woke up out of spiritual alignment. I felt mumbly and grumbly. My spirit was irritated and agitated. As is my routine, I made my coffee, lit my favorite candle, and settled into my cozy chair in our kitchen nook with my Bible. I began to pray and pour out my complaints before God. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, October 7th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings