Saturday, November 29, 2014

STORIES OF BLESSINGS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2014, PART 3

TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST:

1 GIVE THANKS NO MATTER WHAT

2 TONIGHT

3 1 CHRONICLES 16:4-12

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GIVE THANKS NO MATTER WHAT

Written 2014-11-29 19:14:43, Saturday

It is rather ironic. The moment I feel convicted to make sure, no matter what, to count my blessings and give thanks, something bad happens. The moment I start counting my blessings, being intention about it, is the moment my resolve is tested.

So, what I have I done in the past? I stop counting my blessings because it hurts too much and reminds me of what was lost, what I don't have, or what I wish could be.

I realize now that in me stopping counting my blessings, I have lost out and missed counting more blessings. For, more blessings come from the times of challenge than the nice and easy, joyful times. For, in the times of storm and challenge, we are hard-pressed to find blessings. It requires us to search for them. But, that's because diamonds never lie on the surface. You have to dig deep to find the things, which require great heat and pressure, to form into something lovely and extraordinaire.

Blessings counted during the hard times, no matter what, are the blessings we come to savor all the more later on, when we look back and reflect.

We are to always give thanks. Without exception. Which means we are to always count our blessings, without exception. Which means we are to always search for blessings, find them, count them, and remember them.

We are to always give thanks for everything, everyone, and every circumstance--without fail.

Always.

So, we are to always give thanks. Always. Without fail. Always.

Ephesians 5:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Stopping counting our blessings is not fulfilling the always part.

Whenever I stop counting my blessings, guess what? I lose out on blessings. For, I do not count them. I do not see them and I miss them.

Blessings are always all around, provided I look for them--and count them.

Always.

Without exception.

Be a Blessings Counter. (Tip for you and a reminder for me.)

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TONIGHT

Written 2014-11-29 19:23:48, Saturday

So, in the past couple of days, I have redoubled my efforts to count my blessings--no matter what. I have dedicated myself again to the endeavor and have tried to count my blessings--and have succeeded.

As a matter of fact, counting forty blessings per day used to be intimidating. And, so was 34. However, I now wonder how many I really could count in a day. Forty seems like a small number for how many blessings there are in my life and all around.

So, tonight, something happened. Ironic.

I received bad news. Life-altering bring you to your knees bad news style. Much like every month or so has brought me in 2014. Bad news which shapes the entire future of my husband and I. Serious stuff. Really bad news.

I admit. I was tempted to stop counting my blessings. I was tempted to throw in the proverbial and cliched towel. I was ready to say, "I surrender and give up."

I was willing to stop trying for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month of November 2014).

Life can sure stink.

I am reminded once again how life has never been and will never be fair.

I was again reminded how not one time in my life have I traveled the easy path. Everything good has come hard and after much blood, sweat, tears, prayer, and journaling. Life requires great work and great sacrifice--if you are doing it right. It requires traveling the less traveled path, and because of it, it means the path has not been cleared and is full of potholes, tripping hazards, head bopping dangers, biting and stinging insects, etc.

I lost a great deal of time dealing with the latest obstacle and challenge in my life. So, I am not sure if I will be able to write enough words to win National Novel Writing Month of November 2014 (NaNoWriMo).

I lost time.

I lost ambition.

I lost a great deal of water and became dehydrated from crying for so long, so hard, so violently.

I questioned the Blessings Giver and asked where was any blessing? Just one. I was not even asking for a lot. Just one. That was all. I looked. I searched. I found none. Not one. The Blessings Giver who was always so abundant in the past had a dried up well regarding me.

How am I, and was I, supposed to count my blessings through another thorough letdown in 2014? This question pounde3d my head like a hammer and my heart stammers. Where is the blessing? How can there be a blessing in this? How?

How is it the Blessings Giver is so silent now?

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Give thanks in all situations.

How? How can I do this through this--what I am dealing with now? How, how, how?

Giving thanks is what I am supposed to do at all times, for all individuals, for everything.

Giving thanks can help me gain perspective over my circumstances and challenges.

Giving thanks is usually the very things I need for perspective.

Tonight, I was given more news, which made me want to stop counting my blessings as I was reminded of how much I have lost in my life. But, I was reminded of something. Not counting my blessings means missing blessings. This is why I should count them all the time and for all things and individuals.

I never want to miss a blessing.

I never want to waste a blessing.

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1 Chronicles 16:4-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of theLord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.5 Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres. 6 The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God’s Covenant.

7 On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to theLord:

8 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.
9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
    Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
10 Exult in his holy name;
    rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
11 Search for the Lord and for his strength;
    continually seek him.
12 Remember the wonders he has performed,
    his miracles, and the rulings he has given,

New Living Translation (NLT)