Blessings Journal: Counting of My Blessings Today (08.16.2014c.)
Original title of journal entry: Prayer Journal and 40 (08.16.2014c)
2014-08-16 11:41:40, Saturday (Aug. 16)
Lord, there are times I approach a blank page and have no idea what to journal.
My next forty years come to mind, along with my life verses:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Cross references:
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Give thanks always. It's Your will, Abba.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 The Message (MSG)
16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Your Word, Lord, tells me to give thanks in spite of everything and everyone else. Give thanks at all times for all things. Give thanks. Have gratitude. Count my blessings.
A CONSCIOUS EFFORT
I need to make, and want to make, a conscious effort every day to count my blessings of the day, of the past, and for the future.
THE LAST FORTY YEARS AND THE NEXT FORTY PLUS YEARS
What would the ideal and perfect journal look like from the last forty years?
What would the perfect and ideal journal look like for the next forty plus years?
The answer to both questions is the same: I would count my blessings each day.
Period. That's it. It would be a great treasure and would mean more to me than anything else I could possibly do, have, or keep.
WHY DO I WANT TO KEEP A BLESSINGS JOURNAL?
There is nothing and no one more important in my life than You, Lord, and Your Word. Searching for You, Your work, and Your glory every single day are the best things I can do each day.
You tell me in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 how I am to be constantly grateful and always give You thanks.
BLESSINGS JOURNAL (08.16.2014)
Lord, I thank You for basking and swimming turtles with incredible personality. They are quite social and it touches me so. They are loving and curious critters.
Computers, laptops, and cells, even when they are having issues running.
Coffee. It's a pick-me-up and reminds me to slow down.
Snuggling beagles. Zack snuggling on the couch.
My husband, B, even when he's grumpy.
My journal, a bright spot in my day. After all, it brings me closer to You, Lord.
Clothes. I am glad I have clothes to wear. I know I have an abundance and there are some who don't have enough clothes for a week.
My washer and dryer. Again, there are some who don't have one or cannot afford to go to a laundromat.
My throw blanket I use on the sofa when I get chilly, which is often in this humidity.
The pillow I use on my lap to make it so I can use my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch tablet, so I can journal. The pillow makes it easier for me to use the tablet.
My tablet and cell, so I can journal, read the Bible, check my email, use the internet, from anywhere at any time.
Penzu... my journaling platform and where I keep all of my writing and life mementos (not including my photographs).
A quiet morning.
Time with You and in Your Word.
Going to dinner at a Mexican Food Restaurant with hubby and our friend last night, then seeing the movie, THE GIVER.
The USA.
The revelation that counting my blessings means more to me than any other kind of journaling I can do.
How turning forty in less than a month has made me reflective and has helped me to zero in on what's most important in my life, past, present, and future.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 and it's reminder to give thanks always, for it is Your will, Lord.
My favorite chocolate protein shakes I enjoy consuming.
That Zack Beagle, who is fourteen years, seven and a half months old. He's our elderly dog, that's for sure. He still gets around fairly well and doesn't look or act like he's that along in years (unless he's having a dementia episode).
Vacation. They are so few. Thank You, Lord, for this vacation. B and I both needed some time to have some fun and get away from the daily grind. We saw some new places, experienced some new perspective things, and saw Your glory, Lord.
The realization that Blessings Journaling is how I want to remember the last forty years and spend the next forty plus. I know I said this before, but wanted to write it and pray it back to You, God, again. Because it came to my mind and heart. I don't want to waste a moment by failing to give You thanks, particularly for something that means so much.
When technology finally starts to cooperate.
B and I are going to celebrate our thirteen year anniversary in a few weeks.
Turning forty and finding it a blessing, not a curse or something to mourn.
Answered prayer.
The ability to pray and communicate with You, Lord.
Books to read. I've started to read WINTER'S TALE by Mark Halprin.
I read THE GIVER in its entirety between Thursday night and yesterday afternoon. It's a book and movie which describes the philosophy of and dangers of socialism, communism, and Marxism. (Lord, help others to see this.)
#Journal #Journaling #BlessingJournaling #GratitudeJournaling #Diary #Thanksgiving #40 #CountingMyBlessings #TheBlessingOfTurningForty
(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC. August 2014.)
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