Saturday, November 29, 2014

STORIES OF BLESSINGS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2014, PART 5

STORIES OF BLESSINGS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2014, PART 5

TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST:
BLESSINGS COUNTING EXERCISE FOR 2014 (AKA THE END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE)
2 WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW, AND WHAT IF AND 2014: AN END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE
3 MY END OF YEAR BLESSINGS
4 END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE: ANOTHER EXERCISE

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1 END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE (THE BLESSINGS OF 2014)

Written 2014-11-29 20:33:15, Saturday

BLESSINGS COUNTING EXERCISE FOR 2014 (AKA THE END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE)
What blessings have you had in 2014? List as many as you can, as fast as you can, for the next ten minutes. Keep writing. Do not stop. Count every blessing that comes to mind, even if it is a repeat blessing. Be thorough. Write as many as you can, as fast as you can and do not censor yourself. No matter how goofy or petty they seem, get them down on the page. 

Repeat that exercise at least twice a day until the end of the year. 

Make sure to count a minimum of forty (40) blessings per day.

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2 WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW, AND WHAT IF AND 2014: AN END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE

Written 2014-11-29 20:40:45, Saturday

Ask who, what, where, when, why, how, and what if questions of 2014 to help you remember what has happened in the year 2014 and all of the blessings you have had throughout the year. Ask the questions, then answer them. This should help stir up several blessings you can count you have not counted--or remind you of ones you have already counted. Count them again. 

For instance, who was in your life in January 2014? What memories did you make with them or have of them? 

Or... What did you do in February 2014?

Be thorough. Ask yourself as many questions as you can. This will stir up memories, which will then help you find blessings to count. Then, answer each question and this will stir up more memories and will give you more blessings to count. 

Count as many blessings as you possibly can, as fast as you can. 

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3 MY END OF YEAR BLESSINGS

The year 2014 has been one of change. It has been one of challenge, one of heartbreak, and one tough year. To make it worse, it was the same for my husband, B. To make things better, it was the same for my husband, B. 
Is it one I wish I could have skipped or pressed fast-forward through? 
Well, that is a good question, particularly with the lastest round of challenges which happened today. 
No. I would not have wanted to skip this year, no matter how tough it has been. For, I said earlier, it was a year of change. It was a year of growth. 
Huh. Something just came to me.
Back in November 2013, I dedicated myself to wanting to count my blessings and devote 2014 to making sure I learn how to do so. I wanted 2014 to be a year of blessing, for I determined to count my blessings. 
Earlier today, and even this evening, I wrote how I would count my blessings, then not, count them, then not, and so on and so on all year long. I even said I did a rather lousy job of counting my blessings, needless to say. It was a half-hearted attempt at best. Sure, at times, I really tried. But, at other times, not so much. 
So, what came to me? This year, of 2014, has indeed been a year of blessing. It has been one of change and growth. I have learned how strong my faith is and how often times the biggest blessings I receive are during a time least expected and during the most painful and challenging times. 
I also learned tonight how I do not ever want to miss the opportunity of counting my blessings. I never want to miss a blessing. This is a shame to have happen.
This year of 2014 meant plenty of times I have missed my blessings and did not count them and get them down on the page so I would not forget them.
Consequently, I have learned the importance of counting my blessings and what is at stake if I do not: a missing of a blessing. It is tragic when the latter happens. I do not want to miss any blessings--ever. 
If there is one thing I have learned this year it is how life changes quickly and can be quite challenging at best at times. If I am counting my blessings, I can handle the challenges so much better and easier. And, I am able to find even more blessings to count in the process. 
This year of 2014 has helped me to see how important it is to count my blessings--and to get them down on the page to remember. After all, when life gets tough, the larger the blessing Iist I have to read and remember, the better. 
2014 was a year of blessing--and every year hereafter will be as well. I choose to focus on my blessings and count them. I do not ever want to miss a blessing. This life is hard enough without doing that. 
So, yes. 2014 has indeed been a year of blessing. 

More than I thought or realized.

It was certainly a year of learning about blessings and the counting thereof. 

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4 END OF YEAR BLESSINGS CHALLENGE: ANOTHER EXERCISE

Written 2014-11-29 21:17:47, Saturday

Grab your calendar and go through every day, every event, and find at least three blessings from each. (From the ones you can remember, that is.)

Also, go through your journaling and do the same.

And, your Bible studies and sermon notes.

Your emails are another source of other blessings to count. 

Our lives are full of blessings we didn't count at the time, but can after the fact. 

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STORIES OF BLESSINGS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2014, PART 4

STORIES OF BLESSINGS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2014, PART 4

TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST:
1 THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS CAN BE WHEN WE ARE NOT GIVEN THE BLESSINGS WE SEEK
2 CHRISTIAN AND BIBLICAL BLESSINGS: FAVOR
3 1 CHRONICLES 16:8 
4 HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GIVE THANKS AND COUNT OUR BLESSINGS?
 
 
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Be a blessings counter.
 
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1 THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS CAN BE WHEN WE ARE NOT GIVEN THE BLESSINGS WE SEEK
 
Written 2014-11-29 19:52:15, Saturday
 
I have noticed a particular trend in my life, particularly the last twenty-nine days. It has been a reminder of a life lesson I have learned time and time again over the last four decades. 
 
I am a dreamer. I dream big dreams. I dream impossible dreams. 
 
And, I have great faith and much hope.
 
I tend to get so excited pursuing a dream, having a vision, that I lose sight of what the Blessings Giver wants to offer me. I lose my way through the excitement and usually stop counting my blessings--or I count the wrong ones--the ones that really do not mean much.
 
Needless to say, I have learned this lesson: The biggest blessings in my life have been the blessings I sought, but were not given. For, in my excitement, I have lost track and have not counted my blessings like I could or should. I lost my way and the blessings I was not given were the biggest blessings of all and they led to even more blessings.
 
A no isn't always a bad thing. It usually frees us up for something far better.
 
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2 CHRISTIAN AND BIBLICAL BLESSINGS: FAVOR
 
Blessings are favor the Blessings Giver, God, gives to us. They are gifts given to us by the Almighty. 
 
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3 1 Chronicles 16:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.
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.

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4 HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GIVE THANKS AND COUNT OUR BLESSINGS?

Written 2014-11-29 20:10:46, Saturday

How important is it for me (and us) to count my (our) blessings?

The worst mistake we can make is to miss a blessing. In this life, there are challenges. Every blessing we can count is precisely what equips us to deal with the challenges and storms of life. Each blessing arms us, equips us, prepares us, strengthens us, and grows us to deal with what comes next. Hence, when we miss a blessing, we miss everything the Blessings Giver has to offer. We miss a blessing and we miss a great deal more than an item to count on our list. Every blessing runs deep and matters. 

How important is it to count our blessings?

Read the following verse:

1 Chronicles 16:4 Expanded Bible (EXB)

Then David appointed some of the Levites to ·serve [minister] before the Ark of theLord. They had the job of ·leading the worship [celebrating; extolling; invoking; offering prayers] and giving thanks and praising the Lord, the God of Israel.
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Do not miss the significance of this verse. 

Some Levites (priests) were assigned to give thanks. 

Chew on that for a moment. Let it roll around in your mind for a moment. Try to fully grasp what this means. Counting our blessings is so important it was one of the duties assigned to a specific priest to do for the rest of his life and in service to the Lord. 

Giving thanks, counting our blessings, is profoundly important.

It is profoundly sacred to do so. 

As a matter of fact, several verses in the Bible talk about offering a thanks offering or a thanksgiving offering. It is so important to give thanks and count our blessings that it was presented as a sacrifice to the Lord. People were to bring their thanks and blessings to the altar. 

It is a ministry of thanks... gratitude... thanksgiving... blessings... counting of blessings... whatever you prefer to call it. 

Counting our blessings is profoundly important and deeply sacred. 

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STORIES OF BLESSINGS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2014, PART 3

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)
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.

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)

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.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. The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God’s Covenant.
On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to theLord:
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.
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)
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.












STORIES OF BLESSING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2014, SATURDAY, PART 2

STORIES OF BLESSING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2014, SATURDAY, PART 2

TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST:
1 MY ONE WORD FOR 2014 AND 2015
2 MY WRITING
3 ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR MYSELF: NANOWRIMO 2014
4 MY REFLECTION (AND ANALYZING) OF COUNTING MY BLESSINGS FROM NOVEMBER 2013 TO NOVEMBER 29, 2014
5 MY WRITING: THE METAMORPHOSIS

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MY ONE WORD FOR 2014 AND 2015

Written 2014-11-29 13:49:26, Saturday

ONE WORD
One Word is a word you choose to focus on for an entire year to focus your life, who you want to be, what you want to accomplish, and in an effort to increase your faith and bring you closer to the Lord and His Word, the Holy Bible. 

It is meant to help us to get focus off of self and put back where our focus should remain: on God and the Bible. 

One Word is meant to be about character and how we want to live a life of a strong, growing, abundant, and sustainable faith. 

One Word is not about doing.

It is not about focus on things or others.

It is shifting focus of our every effort, thought, behavior, feeling, dream/vision, situation, relationship, to Jesus Christ and the Bible. This is the underlying reason to decide on one word to focus everything on for an entire year. 

One Word is the word God reveals to us. It is not what we want it to be or hope it would be. It is what God wants us to focus on. And, if God issues us a challenge, it is harder than we can imagine and it takes God to help us accomplish the feat because it is not anything we could accomplish on our own. 

MY ONE WORD LIFE
Several years ago, I learned how to focus on one word for my year. The one word is so I can increase my faith and grow closer to the Lord. This is the main purpose. It gives laser-point focus for what I want to do, how I want to live, and my focus for the year. It lets me know what to focus on and what to let go because it does not fit into my one word. 

Give it a try. It is a really useful too, particularly when it is focused on every day all year long. It is not particularly helpful or meaningful if it is forgotten (as I have learned several times over). 

My one word for 2014 was BLESSING.

I may have counted one thousand two hundred thirty-eight blessings so far, in just November 2014 alone, but it does not mean I focused on this One Word for all of 2014. Sadly. Needless to say, I have learned a great deal of what to do and what not to do that I hope to apply to next year. 

I believe BLESSING is my word for 2015 as well, but it is far more than that. It is my LIFE'S ONE WORD. 

My 24 x 365 Blessings Challenge is my way of trying to live the One Word of BLESSING and see how it can transform me and my life. 

I hope to be able to actually accomplish all of this. I cannot imagine how this will grow my faith and bring me deeper in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. I look forward to the journey. 

HOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR ONE WORD FOR 2015?
So, how about you? What is your One Word for 2015?

2014 ONE WORD
Did you have one word you were focusing on for 2014? If so, how did it go?
If not, and even if you did, what one word would you use to describe 2014? 

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ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR MYSELF: NANOWRIMO 2014

Written 2014-11-29 14:21:29, Saturday

I am probably a crazy person. Actually, there is no question about it. I am indeed crazy and a little masochistic. I evidently enjoy torturing myself, if I stop and think about it. 

However, it is in the best sense possible and is for the best reason possible. 

Since the year 2009, I have tried to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month of November), where there is a challenge to write a book of fifty thousand words (yes, that is 50,000) in one month. 

I have won two of the six years (2009 and 2010).

This year of 2014 has yet to be determined. 

However, I have not won three of those years (2011, 2012, and 2013). 

I have tried to write over six books for this year's National Novel Writing Month and have fallen flat on my face with each attempt. I sigh as I admit to this. I frown as my head starts to pound as I feel disappointed with myself. 

Well, as of thirty minutes ago, I have decided to take this blog and turn it into a blog book for National Novel Writing Month of November 2014. I have a total of 39,000 words so far. Consequently, I need to write 11,000 words at least today and tomorrow in order to "Win" NaNoWriMo 2014. 

Hence, I am going to write like a madwoman about Stories of Blessings and counting my/our blessings. I will even share more of my Blessings Counted List. 

I want to see how much I can get written to help inspire you to count your own blessings. 

It is actually the perfect time of year for me to approach this endeavor--and is perfect for you to take up the torch of counting your blessings. 

I hope the writing I share with you will inspire you. 

I also hope the writing I share with you will help you to see how blessed you truly are, even though you may have thought the exact opposite. 

So, am I crazy? You bet. But, it is in a good way. 

I want to share with you the Blessings Giver and help you to become a Blessings Counter.

I issue you this challenge:
If you were to do anything for the rest of your life, and make one goal, and have one vision, may it be this:

Be a Blessings Counter.

I guarantee you and your life will transform into something completely unimaginable to you now. And, it will be for the absolute best. You will learn how life is good--because the Blessings Giver is so good. Our lives in each and every moment are overflowing with abundant blessings. 

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MY REFLECTION (AND ANALYZING) OF COUNTING MY BLESSINGS FROM NOVEMBER 2013 TO NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Written 2014-11-29 14:34:24, Saturday

Back on November Sixth of 2013, I decided out of desperation to try to become a Blessings Counter. 

Yes. It was out of desperation alone.

I had to count my blessings, for I had no other option. I was out of options. My life had just been dealt one of the largest challenges I ever had to endure. It was quite painful and it has only been recently that the pain from that time has become a friend and not an enemy. The pain is a companion now and is not something that causes me to suffer. 

Yes. Time does not ever heal a wound, contrary to what some say. Time teaches us to bear with the pain patiently. Time brings us to the point of when we realize the pain is not an enemy. It is always there and will always be most likely. At times, it will be worse than at others. But, the pain will always be at least a shadow, a scar.

Therefore, when pain can become a companion, it is quite helpful and is a reminder of growth. 

I tried to count my blessings for a while and did really good with it, but counting them hurt. It reminded me of how unblessed I really was in areas I wanted nothing more than to be blessed in. Needless to say, I stopped. (Looking back now, I see that was a grave mistake.)

Then, in April, there was another quite painful thing that happened. Stack it on top of the October 2013 pain and that meant the pain was magnified. It was additional pain on top of already experienced deep pain. Pain stacked feels more than pain doubled. It is pain added on top of pain. How do you count blessings through this? 

I made the mistake of not trusting that counting my blessings, even if I repeated them from before, was the very thing that would help heal me and get me through. It was the very thing that would help my dreams to become bigger and more impossible. The bigger and more impossible dreams that are dreamt prove there is a Blessings Giver. For, on my own, on our own, these things would never have been able to happen. It has taken the Blessings Giver. 

Then, things got even more stressful when my husband, B, and I realized we would have to let go of several of our dreams and visions of our future. We had to let go of our hopes and dreaming for a better life. We had to realize it may not have been what the Blessings Giver had in mind at all. Maybe the Blessings Giver wanted us to have less so we could offer more. 

I counted my blessings again. 

Then, we got more bad news.

I stopped counting my blessings again.

More bad news. Worse than before.

Stopped counting my blessings. 

Then, things started to look up and I stopped counting my blessings again. Not like I did before. But, I still lessened the counting of blessings. 

I am starting to learn this loud and clear: I MUST count my blessings day and night, regardless of what has happened, or hasn't happened, regardless of how busy I am or not, regardless of whether I am in pain or having great joy.

Blessings are given by a Blessings Giver and are dependent on no one and nothing. 

So, blessings are always given. Freely by the Blessings Giver. And, I should always give thanks, regardless. For blessings are in every moment without fail--and I do not want to waste one moment. 

I will count my blessings--and do The 34 x 365 Blessings Challenge and count 1,000 blessings per month for thirteen months and then maybe do it every month for the rest of my life.

Who couldn't use more blessings?

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MY WRITING: THE METAMORPHOSIS

Written 2014-11-29 19:04:37, Saturday

I keep fighting counting my blessings and sharing my stories of blessing--with the hopes of hearing yours. 

So, I will stop fighting it and will count away. 

I will spend the rest of my life searching for blessings from the Blessings Giver and counting them.

This is the purpose of my writing.

It is to help people to learn how to count their blessings and how each moment, no matter what, is full of many blessings. we just need to search for them, count them, and remember them. This adds to the sweetness and joy of life. 

STORIES OF BLESSING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2014



STORIES OF BLESSING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2014

TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST:
1 A new/old layout and an explanation of "topics in this blog post section" of every blog post
2 An End of Year Blessings Counted Challenge check-in
3 The 34 x 365 Blessings Challenge
4 Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

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A NEW/OLD LAYOUT FOR THIS BLOG AND EVERY BLOG POST

Written 2014-11-29 12:39:53, Saturday

I have a great deal to say about blessings, gratitude, and thanksgiving (giving thanks), I must admit. One blog post a day just is not enough. Therefore, I am going to start doing several blog posts, but will combine them all into one. 

This really is not anything new. I did this when I first started this blog and have decided to start to do it again. I do not want to shortchange you and everything you could get from this blog. 

I am sure that not every topic will catch your eye. However, I hope that with additional blog content, it will increase the likelihood you will find something to read. I will try to include a "TOPICS IN THIS BLOG POST" so it can help you decide if you want to skim the blog post or read it. I hope this helps and offers a little more structure than the free fall from earlier in this blog. 

PLEASE NOTE: Every time you see "-------------" it denotes a change in topic. This is to help make a separation visually so we can tell the switch between topics when we read each blog post.

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AN END OF YEAR BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE CHECK-IN

Written 2014-11-29 12:45:35, Sat. 

So, how is your End of Year Blessings Counted Challenge going for you so far?

Today, we are to count 40 blessings of 1,320 blessings between now and the end of the year. (or whatever you decided). 

I admit, I got excited and started my End of Year Blessings Counted List a day early. This challenge technically begins today. It is going easily for me right now. If I look back at 2014, there is much to count as a blessing, in spite of how challenging this year was at points (this is a blessing in and of itself). So, counting 40 yesterday and 35 today so far has been a pleasure actually.

This challenge is actually more than another challenge I've issued. It's what I want to do for the next year--and do between November 2014 and December 31, 2015. I'm calling it "The 34 x 365 Blessings Challenge." See the next section below.

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THE 34 X 365 BLESSINGS CHALLENGE 



THE 34 X 365 BLESSINGS CHALLENGE (AKA THE 2015 BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST CHALLENGE OR THE 1,000 BLESSINGS COUNTED PER MONTH CHALLENGE)

As of November 01, 2014, I decided to count at least 1,000 blessings per month for at least the next year. 

Actually, it's from November 01, 2014 to December 31, 2015, which means I would count at least 13,000 blessings in 13 months. 

How will this change me and my life? Will it? (How could it not?) 

What will it mean for me and my life?

What will it mean for my writing? 

What will it mean for my faith?

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN ME?
Do you want to join me in this endeavor--and count 1,000 blessings per month from now until the end of 2015? 

If so, attach a comment at the end of any blog post--and let's encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and share our stories of blessing through counting so many blessings.

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Colossians 2:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

-- 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.

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(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering your Present, LLC 2014. All three images in this blog post.)