Wednesday, October 15, 2014

STORIES OF BLESSING #1

A NEW LAYOUT FOR DAILY POSTS ON THIS BLOG

After today, I want to ensure that you never receive more than one email a day, if you subscribe to this blog via email. Hence, I will combine several Stories of Blessing in each daily blog post. I will put dashes between each story of blessing to help your eye separate them.

#News #Plans #Blog

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THE BLESSING OF A NEW DAY (AND THE MORNING)

Written 2014-10-15 06:35:13, Wednesday

I have always been an early riser and have gone early to bed. I'm one of those who also is early bed, needless to say. I get more done in my day between the time I wake and noon than most people do during their entire day.

Mornings are significant in my opinion and is why I enjoy mornings. They mark a new day of opportunity. Every day is a blank slate. I have the choice each day to make it anything I want.

Each of those facets have great appeal to me. There are few things we can control in our lives, but mornings are one of them.

There are few guaranteed blessings we have in our lives. Mornings are daily blessings. Daily. (Another blessing.)

Whenever I think of the blessing of a morning, it increases my faith and brings me closer to the Lord (yet another blessing). After all, it's Him who created mornings and the opportunity of a blank slate.

Mornings bring nothing but opportunity. This is why they are such a blessing.

-- By Stacy Duplease of Virginia

#Blessings #Morning #Opportunity #StoriesOfBlessing #StoriesOfBlessingInMyLife:ASpiritualMemoir

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THERE IS NO GOD LIKE GOD: A CHRISTIAN BLESSING

Written 2014-10-15 07:15:37, Wednesday

NOTE TO READERS

Stories of Blessing is meant to focus on every kind of blessing we find in our lives. Hence, I will include Christian and Biblical blessings I find in my life. I share one of them right now.

Again, I cannot wait to hear about all of your blessings.

ONLY GOD

God is God. He is not a god. He is the Lord of Lords. There is none like him.

2 Samuel 7:22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

22 This is why You are great, Lord God. There is no one like You, and there is no God besides You, as all we have heard confirms.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Why is this a blessing?

God is unique, since no one and nothing is like him. God is unique because he is the only one. God is unique because he is creator and nothing and nobody existed before him. Any gods or idols are those people have turned to rather than God.

God is great indeed and there is none like him because he is so great. And, a great God, who has created everyone and everything is the one to believe in and trust. He can do far more and is far more.

What a blessing.

-- By Stacy Duplease of Virginia

#Bible #Biblical #Blessings #Christian #Faith #God #StoriesOfBlessing

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*** Blog post updated last on Oct. 15, 2014 at 11:12 a.m. ***

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Take advantage of opportunities

Snow: Is it yucky or is it an opportunity?

Snow: Is it yucky or is it an opportunity?

Is snow a pain, miserable, and yucky--or is it an opportunity? That is the question.

The weather in my area has been below freezing for two days. We actually got some snow--and it rarely snows here. My husband has been on two-hour delays getting into work the last two mornings.

Is the snow and ice yucky? Is it something to dislike? Is it something to groan about and complain?

Snow shows the power and glory of God. The beauty is staggering. It brings moisture and freshens the air.

Sure, it can be a challenge to drive in, but if you leave early enough (which is the key, by the way... just a tip from this Colorado native gal) , it can be fun.

Another thing to love about snow: It makes breathing easy. I can breathe easier when it snows.

Another two-hour delay of hubby going into work. That means less writing time for me today, which with a writing conference coming up, time is precious for my writing. But, do I focus here? No. No way. Why? I like to take advantage of opportunities. The snow brought us a special opportunity to do something unusual on a work day. We went out for breakfast. What a special time.

Also, I rarely turn on my radio in the car. I use it for quiet time to be with God and listen. but, I turned it on today to a Christian music station--and the song that came on as I got close to home was one of my favorites. So, I sang at the top of my lungs and worshiped God through the glory and splendor of the snow. It gave me an opportunity I would not have had otherwise. I was able to have some special time with both my men this morning--God and hubby.

Yep. Life is good.

So, the next time you have something that your first instinct is to take as yucky in your life, turn it into something good. Take advantage of the opportunity God gives you through the yuck.

To God be the glory!

(Images credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)