Showing posts with label Devotional Bible Study with Journaling and Spiritual Memoir Series. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Thank God for Who He is and What He Has Done

Written: 2014-10-07 12:13:18, Tuesday

What are we to thank God for exactly? I think these verses help answer that question:

Psalm 107:21-22 Expanded Bible (EXB)

21 Let them ·give thanks to [praise] the Lord for his ·love [loyalty]
and for the ·miracles [wonderful works] he does for people [vv. 8, 15, 31].
22 Let them offer ·sacrifices to thank him [thanksgiving offerings].
With joy they should ·tell [recount] what he has done.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

We are to thank God for who He is and what He has done.

This is quite helpful on the day that is so challenging you don't think you could ever see a blessing of God working in your life, around your life, or through your life.

If we look at those two aspects, we could praise God forever and ever. Just open the Bible and in each verse, you could find several things to thank God for. Look around your life right now, right where you are, and you can find many things to be thankful for. Think about your life and I can guarantee you can find a great deal to thank God for and count as a blessing.

Blessings abound. They are all around. Open your eyes and your mind and you'll find them.

Remember how we are to offer Him thanks to the point it is a sacrifice. We are to thank Him so much, and for so much, that it takes a great deal of time in our lives each day--and we are to show Him our gratitude even as we continue on with life and doing what we do.

How can you share the Lord with others? Share the blessings you've counted, and are counting, and will count, in your life.

Blessings are all around, now, in the past, and will be in the future, if only we search for them. We need to be diligent to do so.

Psalm 107:21-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

21 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

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.

He has done great things, is doing great things. and will do great things. Look for them.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Blessings Counted Journaling and Job

Written 2014-10-07 08:33:28, Tuesday

BIBLE READING

I am a day ahead with my reading the Bible in 90 days, round 1 of 5 in 15 months.

I read the Book of Job in the middle of the night. I've read it several times in my life, let me add. When I finished it, I wondered, "What was the point?" Meaning, what is the takeaway or what am I to learn from this?

How frustrating I couldn't figure it out--and I am quite familiar with the Book of Job. Ugh.

Do you ever think this about a verse, chapter, or book of the Bible?

So, what now? How can I figure out the point and what it means for my life? I turn to commentaries then.

Here's the link for Job:

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/job/1-1.htm

I read the introduction to Job from THE LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE (HCSB).

This is the Bible:

http://smile.amazon.com/Life-Application-Study-Bible-HCSB-ebook/dp/B00J37KE66/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1412686648&sr=1-1&keywords=life+application+study+bible+hcsb

And, after I read the "megathemes" section, I tapped my forehead and thought, Duh.

Job brought up the problem of suffering: How and why do bad things happen to good people? Along with, "Why God," and "Where are You," and "If You are an all-powerful and merciful God, why this?"

God never promised us an easy life.

Nor did He ever promise us answers to all of our questions.

He just asks us to trust, obey, and believe.

He asks us in these times for us to turn to Him and look for Him.

He reminds us that in our lives, there will be several unknowns.

And He asks us, "Am I really enough for you?"

Is His grace sufficient?

I pause and take all of this in. I don't want to miss anything and don't want to glaze over something. Rather, I want to absorb all of this.

APPLICATION OF JOB TO MY LIFE

The truth is, I'm dealing with a great deal right now. Life is anything but fair or easy, but it has never been, so this doesn't drive me crazy or upset me.

The unknowns are what tend to really bother me, as they are now. What about Zack? Is Kara okay or will we have to put her to sleep? If she is okay, how will she transition from the garage to my study? How will Kara, Zack, and Sinan get along in time? What should I write? What about B's and my future? When will three people close to me find jobs? What about the future for B and me? How long will it take me to grow out my hair? Will I read the Bible 5 times in 15 months? Etc.

Can I let go of all my questions, and suffering, and just enjoy God and trust He really has this?

Can I let go and let God do what He does?

BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING

This is where Blessings Counted Journaling comes into the picture. This is where always giving thanks should be my priority and focus. Counting my blessings is the answer. Always. Without exception.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014. Poquoson, Virginia Marina)

Saturday, October 11, 2014

The Story of Blessings Counted Journaling

Written 2014-10-04 14:34:20, Saturday

So, what is the story of Blessings Counted Journaling? What brought it about?

I've seen and experienced a great deal in my forty years. I've learned even more, vicariously and personally, through most often the school of hard knocks. I've been blown here, there, and everywhere by the storms of life. I've had quite the journey up to this point, you might say.

Through it all, I remember something my dad taught me long ago: Happiness is a state of being. It's a choice. It doesn't matter what happens, who I have in my life or don't have, I always have the choice as to how I am going to handle any given situation. Am I going to focus on the mess of life or its beauty?

My Granny is the one who taught me about faith in Jesus Christ, how to be a prayer warrior, and the importance of reading the Word of God each and every day and reading it cover to cover each and every year.

Take what my dad taught me, and what Granny has taught me, and combine it.

Never mind how one of Dad's and my favorite Christmas movies is "WHITE CHRISTMAS" with Bing Crosby and our favorite song is "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep." (See this link for the lyrics: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Your_Blessings_(Instead_of_Sheep).)

Hence, the story of Blessings Counted Journaling begins here:

Dad + Granny + Bing Crosby, White Christmas, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.

This seems like a good way to live if you ask me. I want to count my blessings, and focus on them, not on the ugliness or storm. I want to learn from them and make them count. How do I make the times of ugliness, storm, beauty, good, indifferent, and all of them count? After all, every moment is one of numerous blessings. This is what I want to focus on and live.

Blessings.

Blessings can be found anywhere, any time, with anyone.

Then, take every blog post I've written until now, and add this one to it. This is why I do Blessings Counted Journaling. Another reason why I do it is because I'm also a journalkeeper--and have been for over three decades.

The best way to live the fullest life, the deepest life, the most joyful life possible is through Blessings Counted Journaling.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Prayer, Thanksgiving, and Colossians 4:2

It seems as though prayer and thanksgiving go hand-in-hand. Read Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 and this verse:

Colossians 4:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

What do we learn about thanksgiving in this verse of Colossians 4:2?

Read this version as well and answer the same question:

Colossians 4:2 Expanded Bible (EXB)

2 ·Continue praying [Be devoted to prayer], keeping alert, and always thanking God.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

We are to continually pray and give thanks to God.

The formula is:

Prayer + thanksgiving = worshipping God

Prayer and thanksgiving shows our reverence to God. It's how we acknowledge Him as God and have a relationship with Him. In other words, when we thank God, we are praying.

Prayer journal your thoughts.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014.)

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Thanksgiving Offering or Sacrifice

Written: 2014-10-04 13:25:00, Saturday

How important is thanksgiving?

How important is it to thank God, show Him our gratitude, and count our blessings?

Prayer journal your response to each question before you read ahead.

How important is it to count our blessings? See 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:6. (Go ahead. Look them up at this time if you cannot quote them off the top of your head.)

Read these verses to learn how much more important it is than you think:

Leviticus 7:11-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

11 “Now this is the law of the fellowship sacrifice that someone may present to the Lord: 12 If he presents it for thanksgiving, in addition to the thanksgiving sacrifice, he is to present unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. 13 He is to present as his offering cakes of leavened bread with his thanksgiving sacrifice of fellowship.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

A thanksgiving sacrifice...

Let that sink in for a moment. Prayer journal your thoughts.

What does this mean? (What do you think? Again. Prayer journal your thoughts.)

I know what a sacrifice is. It's what you have to give up in order to obey and worship God. It's a sacred act. It's an acknowledgement that He alone is God.

I know that Jesus is the final sacrificial lamb. He is the lamb who was slain so no other sacrifice is ever again needed. Blood sacrifice that is.

It's the blood sacrifice which forgives our sins and allows us to go to heaven and spend eternity with God.

However, there are other sacrifices.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:6 show the importance of always giving thanks. If we are to do it always, for God, isn't it a sacrifice? This is what the New testament says. Leviticus 7:11-13 talk about the sacrifice of thanksgiving as well.

A sacrifice for God--through thanking Him and counting our blessings.

A sacrifice is a sacred rite or practice.

It's going to the Holy of Hollies.

We are to offer thanks so much to God, for so many things, that we do it day and night--as a sacrifice--where we do it rather than something else. A sacrifice. We give something up so we can offer God thanksgiving instead.

And, offering God continual thanksgiving is also like never ceasing prayer and always meditating on the Word. It's something we can do as we do other things--and is what we should do at all times.

Should be and could be are nice, but what does this look like in practice and in application?

And, how can we turn counting our blessings into something sacred?

HOW?

How do we do this? How do we count our blessings at all times? How do we offer thanksgiving as a sacrifice to God? How do we make thanksgiving a sacred act?

It is God who makes something holy and sacred. Not us.

However, our part in the process is being intentional, and purposeful, about searching for all of the blessings in each moment, past, present, and future. We are to search for the blessings and count them. We are to remember what God has done, is doing, and will do. We are to do this at all times. This makes our counting of blessings a sacrifice. We acknowledge the Holy. We look for and recognize God and His work.

Lord, teach each of us to offer thanksgiving as an offering to You. Help us to find it this important.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC and Norfolk Botanic Garden 2014.)

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Searching for Blessing

2014-10-04 12:53:45, Saturday

God is God. He is infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present. He is perfect and sinless. He is beyond time, for He created time. He is Creator. He is the Lord of Lords, god of gods, King of Kings. He is Almighty.

He is also good.

Since God is all of these things, He is glorious. Whenever we see His work, we see His glory. Whenever we see His work, what He has done, we see Him.

God is limitless. He is infinite. Therefore, so are His works.

He does not do one thing at a time. He is the epitome of multitaskers, for He is infinite and all-powerful.

Given all of this, God shows Himself every moment of every day to everyone. We just have the choice on whether we will search for Him and recognize Him or deny Him and ignore Him.

If God shows Himself every moment, and He does, and He is limitless, then He shows His infinite, limitless self every moment. He cannot stop being God. He is always Himself. So, every moment, we, if we look for Him and ask Him to train our eyes, minds, and hearts, then we will see Him and recognize Him and His works, which are limitless in every moment.

Therefore, we receive numerous blessings every moment. We see God. The limitless, infinite One.

Every moment has limitless blessings, then.

A blessing is God giving us favor. A favor we do not deserve.

Isn't the opportunity to be able to look around each moment, and see God, a blessing? And, if we see God, it is His limitless, infinite self. Hence, we receive numerous blessings each and every moment just in seeing Him.

We see God every sunrise and sunset. Every time we see something or someone of His creation. We see God in His animals. We see God in answered prayer. We see God in the rain. We see God in the fog. We see God all around. He is always present.

Is God a flower? No. But, a flower is His creation. His creation shows us Him.

Look at a child and You see God's creation.

Look at the changing colors of the leaves and You see God.

Every prayer answered, you see God.

All of these things, all of these people and critters, are God's creation and are part of Him and reflect Him.

Search for every way God is present at every moment and you find His blessings. Count them. Acknowledge them. If you search for God in every moment, then You will find immeasurable blessings.

Have you ever thought of this or in this way? (I sure hadn't until I wrote this.)

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2009-2014.)

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

2014 A Year of Blessings Counted, Gratitude, and Thanksgiving: Preparation for Thanksgiving and End of Year

(Blessings Counted Journaling)

October 07, 2014, Tuesday, 1258 p.m.

October the First marked the beginning of the last quarter of this year. Needless to say, we are three-quarters of the way through our year.

Three months left is all we have to turn this year into what we had hoped. Three months is what we have left to look back at the last year and count all of our blessings from this year.

Thanksgiving, however, is in 51 days.

What if we spent the next 51 days counting as many blessings as we can? And do so each and every day between now and then?

What if we turned 2014, right now, into a year of blessings counted, gratitude, and thanksgiving? For, there's time. We can do so if we so choose.

Think about it:

2014, the Year of Blessings Counted, Gratitude, and Thanksgiving

What a wonderful epitaph that would be.

What a remarkable goal.

Can you think of anything more rewarding?

After all, a blessing is God showing us undeserved favor and is showing us Himself.

What about turning 2014, no matter what it's been up to this point, into a year of blessing? What about turning it into a year of blessing in spite of what has, or hasn't, happened?

Can you think of anything more rewarding?

Counting our blessings is the result of looking for God and his work in our lives, past, present, and future.

"2014 was a Year of Supreme Blessing."

We've got time to make this our final sentence in our prayer journals and in our Blessings Counted Journaling. How does this sound? Care to join me?

Counting My Blessings with a Troubled Heart--How?

Counting My Blessings with a Troubled Heart--How?
(Blessings Counted Journaling)

October 07, 2014, Tuesday, 1001 a.m. in Garage at My House in Hampton Roads or Newport News, Virginia

A NOTE OF DATE, PLACE, AND TIME
As I do any type of journaling, I try to always jot down the date, day, and time at a minimal. I usually journal at home, in my living/family room and study. Therefore, if I don't take note of the place, that's why. I jot down the place if it's something out of the ordinary, like right now.
I'm in my garage, hanging out with our black, cinnamon, and white colored feral or stray cat, Kara. I'm sitting on one of the most comfortable chairs ever, the patio chair, and have my tablet in hand, along with some coffee with cream and caramel and pumpkin spice syrup.
I want Little Bit, Lady Kara, to know someone is here and she is not alone. She's on her wood pile, hanging out and sleeping. It's a pile of a four by four, with three two by fours on top and is her favorite hang out and place to sleep. Not sure why. I hear a mocking bird, crickets and some type of machine. Are they trimming trees along the front of our house, where there are electrical wires? Hmm. Will look later.
Oh. And as I enjoy the delightful comfort of this chair, I have a designer throw pillow on my lap, acting as a tablet holder so I can journal. I have a jacket on and zipped. It's not cold, but is a little chilly.
Now, if only Kara would eat some more...
And, on to my devotional thoughts.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS, PRAYER JOURNALING, AND BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING
The Bible says how we are to give thanks at all times and for all things. How are we supposed to do this exactly? What does this even look like? Moreover, is it even achievable?
These questions swirl around in my mind, along with all of the unknowns and concerns. How do I give thanks when my heart is troubled? How do I focus my thoughts on giving thanks rather than on what is troubling me?
I just looked over at Kara and thought how amazing it is in the last twelve days how much Kara has become social. She's also getting used to carrying her and letting her all over her body. She no longer hisses as she feels confused about things. She never hissed out of anger, but out of confusion. She hasn't hissed since Friday when she was poked and prodded by the vet. Thank God she's getting more familiar with us.
See. That's what I'm talking about. How do I focus my thoughts to counting my blessings?
Wait. Isn't that what I just did? (Huh.)
Through my troubled heart, I found something to be grateful about and thank God for. How can I do more of this? I pause, think, and pray for the answer. As I do, I cannot help but wonder if it's as simple as that. Is it? Is it just a matter of doing it?
Yeah. I really do think it's that simple. I just need to count my blessings. That's it.

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS
I am thankful, God, for...
A new day. A blank slate. An opportunity to thank You always and throughout my day.
Yay!!! Kara just started eating. I praise You, Lord!
For Kara.
Zack.
Sinan.
Shelley.
Harry.
For B, my husband--and not in this order.
My faith.
Salvation.
Eternity. Heaven.

1032 a.m. Going to go back inside and to study to hang with those critters.

1041 a.m. in study

I am thankful, Lord for...

The sound of the filter of the turtle tank. It sounds like a water feature and is quite relaxing.

For the sounds Kara, Zack, and Sinan make. each individualistic and grip the heart in a good way. Precious.

Zack and Shelly hanging out with me in the study.

I have a pretty table cloth, folded in thirds, and is sitting on my desk. It's a harvest one. It's from WalMart and is orange mainly in color with white, red, and brown, and is of owls. It adds color to my study and is friendly and inspiring.

I also got a tablecloth for the floor when Kara comes inside of autumn leaves and pine cones. It will be what I put on the floor where her box will be, along with her food and water. It will protect the carpet and add more color in here.

I love this time of year. Fall is my favorite season.

I'm grateful for my husband. He is the greatest. He has a huge heart and is a wonderful man, husband, and friend.

My Amazon Kindle Fire HDX tablet.

The online journal, Penzu.

My ability to type. (Thanks Mom for getting me in typing glasses one summer when I was about ten years old. They've paid off for me ever since.)

A good book to read.

Answers, Lord, of how I'm supposed to focus first and foremost on counting my blessings.

How do I give thanks--even when I have a troubled heart? And, how am I to always give thanks? These questions swirl some more in my mind.

How? Through living this verse, along with Philippians 4:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.

Psalm 105:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name;
proclaim His deeds among the peoples.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I am to give thanks to the Lord.

I am to call on His name, in which He has many names and characteristics. I can give thanks for each.

I am to call on His name and pray. As I do that, I am to offer Him thanksgiving.

I am to remember what He has done in my life, in the lives all around me, and in history--and share all of this with others. This is another facet of giving thanks always.

Then, there's this verse:

Colossians 4:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

New Living Translation (NLT)

I am to be devoted to prayer and thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 New Century Version (NCV)

17 Pray continually, 18 and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

New Century Version (NCV)

Give thanks--even when I have a troubled heart.

And, here is a verse I need to focus on most when my heart is troubled--and applying it and live it out:

Philippians 4:6 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Bible and Prayer Journaling October 07, 2014 809 a.m.

Our beagle, Zack, at age 14.75 years has dementia (canine cognitive disorder) and some days and nights are rough. Last night was one of those. It means not getting much sleep as we try to calm him and just be there for our faithful and loyal companion who has done nothing to deserve this. It also means a late night of prayer and suffering from a broken heart as we feel helpless and wish he didn't have to experience it.

As my Granny says, that's something about old age. Your mind goes and you have good health physically otherwise, or your health goes and your mind is sharp.

Zack is in pretty good physical health for his age.

Needless to say, as tears kept streaming down my face, I read the Book of Job and 17.5 Psalms. I am a day ahead of schedule in my Read the Bible in 90 days now.

As I read the Bible and prayed, I kept asking myself what I really want to focus on in my writing. What blog post series do I want to write and books do I want to write?

I need to add another reason why my heart is troubled and why I got less sleep last night. I'm also worried about Kara. We are waiting the results from the vet from.her blood work to see if we can bring her inside. (And, I keep praying she would eat a great deal more than she does.)

So, what do I want to write?

Blog posts and books about counting our blessings through it all, and growing our faith in the process, as we deal with the storms and sunshine of this thing called life.

And, I think reading the Bible all the way through, cover to cover, Five fines in fifteen months would be revolutionary and transforming.

This, consequently, is my plan.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2009-2014.)

Monday, October 6, 2014

Always Give Thanks

Always Give Thanks
Written 2014-10-03 15:55:23, Friday

When are we to give thanks? (Prayer journal your answer before you read ahead.)

We are to always give thanks. We are to give thanks in everything and for all situations continually and without stopping. This is what the Bible commands, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18. And, in case we missed it, look at the end of the verse of 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Expanded Bible (EXB)

17 Pray ·continually [without ceasing], 18 and give thanks ·whatever happens [in all circumstances; in everything]. That is ·what God wants [God’s will] for you in Christ Jesus.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Prayer journal your thoughts to those verses. What did you learn? What do these verses mean to your life?

Give thanks no matter what.

How seriously do we take these verses?

Do we believe they are commands from God?

Do our lives reflect the importance of these verses? Are we living these verses?

THE TEST

Let's do a little test. List at least twenty blessings from two days ago, thirty blessings from yesterday, and forty from today.

Those numbers may seem extreme, but seriously. If you are truly living 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 like the verses were commands given by God, then listing all of the blessings I just mentioned should be easy.

DO WE WANT TO?

Do we want to live these verses?

Do we really want to or are just giving lip service to the idea?

Do we want to apply these verses to our lives? (Or do we want to ignore them?)

The Bible commands we give thanks in and for all and at all times.

How can we do so? What is our plan to live out these verses?

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Prayer Journal your thoughts.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Choosing Blessing

Written 2014-10-02 14:33:06, Thursday

A few weeks ago, B and I walked around Wal-Mart, just walking around aimlessly, looking at stuff, not looking at stuff. Just being and hanging out together. Never mind how walking is good exercise.

We found our way to an aisle which had all sorts of Fall or harvest merchandise and I found a stand up sign that says, "Blessings."

We are trying to pinch our pennies, hoping to save for a house one day, but the sign called out to me and said, "I'm yours. take me." I glanced at B and his eyes smiled at me in the way only they can. It didn't quite make it to his mouth, but I could tell he sure felt the smile.

"Go ahead."

Neither B or I need permission from one another to spend a dime. That's not it. I just like to save money and he knows me and giving me permission to spend six dollars on a sign/plaque which will bring me absolute joy is priceless.

Of course, I beamed, clapped, and said, "Yay! Okay."

He shook his head and a smile came to his mouth this time.

Why did I have to spend the money we're tyring to save? Well, I didn't have to. It wasn't something I needed. But, I wanted it.

My theme for this year has been gratitude, blessing, and thanksgiving. And, it will be my theme for 2015. In fact, I think it will be my theme for the rest of my life.

Counting my blessings is my favorite and best way to worship God. For, counting my blessings requires me to be intentional and alert to God, His work, His presence, his glory.

My life has been full of storm, trials, temptations, tough stuff, challenges, whatever you want to call it. It's been full of yuck. I've seen and experienced a great deal. (Just like everyone else, let me add.) And, a long time ago, my dad taught me how I cannot control most of life, for it is anything but fair. However, I can sure control my reactions to it. My reaction I want to purposefully choose in every moment is to focus on the blessing and not on the storm (or the yuck).

I want to choose blessing.

Life has enough ugly and yuck in it. Why focus on that? What good comes from this?

The answer is nothing good comes out of focusing on the yuck.

However, choose to focus on the blessing, and what bad comes from that?

What bad comes from choosing to focus on the blessings of every moment?

The answer is simple: No bad ever comes from choosing on focusing on the blessing of every moment.

I started to try to focus on the blessing in November 2013 after some very ugly stuff happened in my life. No. It wasn't the ugliest stuff by any means. But, it still hurt and was still a storm. I didn't handle it the best way possible, but I did learn about counting my blessings. Or, at least I started to do so.

However, I started to slip away from this. I allowed myself to fall into the traps I know good and well to watch out for: the traps of busyness and lack of focus (getting sidetracked). These are two traps that seem to be my thorn in my flesh. They are how I stumble and lose focus. It's my continual struggle I need to be constantly aware of in my life.

Then, life brought another storm in April. This meant I slipped away from counting my blessings all the more. Sure, I still counted them from time to time, but not like I could or should.

Needless to say, in July, I tried to refocus on counting my blessings. I was quite successful at it until I got close to my fortieth birthday and then I got sidetracked trying to write and do other stuff for about a month. Now, I've returned to counting my blessings once again. Now, I hope to make it a continual, habitual practice that I stay focused on and do not stray from in my life. I am going to practice Blessings Counted Journaling so much and to the point I am so used to doing so I find it difficult to anything but.

Yesterday, when I took a prayer inventory and discovered my prayer strength is gratitude, I wasn't surprised. It was a good reminder and it brought me to the realization today of how I want Blessings Counted Journaling to be my main focus. I want to write a million blog posts and books on it. After all, I know how this life is full of tough stuff. I've experienced it firsthand and have walked with others through their tough stuff.

I want to choose blessing and help others to do the same.

I want to live my sign/plaque: BLESSINGS.

After all, God is good all the time.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Every Moment is Sacred (Blessings Counted Journaling)

2014-10-02 13:43:23, Thursday

Do you think every moment is sacred?

Prayer Journal: Why or why not? Explain your answer.

If you do not believe every moment is sacred, prove it. Prove how every moment is not sacred.

If you think that a storm in life, a tough time, a nasty time isn't sacred, I say the same: Prove it.

If the tough stuff in life isn't sacred, then you're saying: Pregnancy is not sacred. Birth is not. Raising a child is not. Learning is not. Eating is not. Having a home is not.

The lack of an easy way does not make something less sacred or not sacred at all.

The easy path is not the sacred path.

Nothing in this life is easy. Most of life has its good, ugly, and indifferent. Rarely is one moment in time completely good, completely ugly, or completely indifferent. Every moment usually has shades of each.

However, here is the key. It's how to we choose to view and live in the moment that counts.

Are you going to actively, intentionally, purposefully choose that each moment is terrible and tough? Or, are you going to find a blessing (or several) in each moment?

Oh, how easy it is to focus on the stuff that isn't right in a moment. But, why do we choose to focus on that? Why do not we change it and try to search for the blessing in the moment, even during the really challenging moments?

Why do we choose to focus on the negative and not on the blessing?

Also, if God is working in every moment, and is in every moment, isn't it sacred, whether we choose to acknowledge it as such?

So, I ask again... Is every moment sacred?

The answer is this: YES!

The question, again, is what we're going to focus on: the yuck or the blessing.

Please, do not get me wrong. When you find out you or a loved one has cancer, you or your spouse are infertile, another war has broken out, or another act of terrorism (like a beheading) has occurred, it's rather difficult to find the blessing then and there. We need to work through the emotion and get to the thinking logically part. However, as we feel emotional, we can tell ourselves there is a blessing to be found here somewhere and we search for it, even through the anger, tears, and confusion. It may take a day, two, weeks, or months, but we will actively search for the blessing in even that moment. In fact, we will search for three or more blessings from that one yuck moment. We will take that yuck and find the blessing.

Every moment is sacred, for every moment holds multiple blessings, for God is there and is at work, regardless of what we see, think, or experience. He always is. Without fail.

Search for at least three blessings in every moment throughout your day. Try to get them listed and prayer journaled, so on those really tough days, you can look back at your list and count your blessings when you cannot think of one.

Every moment is sacred.

Every moment holds several blessings.