This Time of Year: A Time of Reflection

This time of year makes me very reflective. I am not sure why, but it does. 

Is it because another birthday has passed?

Is it because of Fall and the changing of the seasons?

Is it because Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year are approaching?

Is it because I associate Fall with giving thanks?

Is it because on September 26, 2015, we put our cat Kara to sleep?

Is it because of the second round of IVF failure that happened at this time of year?

Is it because I started using my favorite online journaling program, Penzu, at this time of year?

Is it because I started reading ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp?

Or, is it because of all of the above?

What is it that makes me reflective at this time of year? It is because of all of the above indeed. I have no doubt. 

Life is rarely about the "or" situations, but is about the "and" situations. 

Hence, I am going to focus on writing and journaling about this:

"A Way of Life: The Faithful Trio of Prayer, Bible, and Thanks"

This is my spiritual memoir told through journal entries. 

(Written on September 13, 2016 in the evening.)

This and That

I have decided to include a little of this and a little of that on this blog. Therefore, check it out each day. I will tackle everything from counting our blessings to preparing for Thanksgiving, preparing for Christmas, preparing to close this year, preparing for the New Year,  journaling verse by verse or passage by passage through the Bible, and thoughts on politics and the elections.

This is a biblically focused blog.

I will talk about my thoughts on the Bible.

I will also talk about prayer and share some of my prayers. 

This blog is also a conservative focused blog for when it comes to politics.

I might even talk about new stories from the day. 

I will tackle the thought stuff in love and in living the ancient words of the Bible today, centuries after the text was written. 

Mainly, however, this is my personal journaling blog and is my memoir. 

I will try to journal five days a week. Sometimes, it may be seven and sometimes it may be two. Stay tuned and see. 

Welcome to the journey of this thing called the Christian life, where we will try to be biblically focused and we will try to do what is right. The Christ and Word centered life is not easy, but it is abundant and fruitful. 

Joy vs. Happiness and Psalm 9:1-2 (MSG)

Lord, thank You for these verses. They have certainly blessed my socks off. And, that is putting it mildly.

I can live these verses for the rest of my life and I want to do so.

If my tombstone was large enough, I would want to include these verses on it. But, this would also do: "A woman of joy, who lived Psalm 9:1-2 (MSG)." So, until then, I want to try to live this verse every single day, moment by moment.

What incredible verses to live each moment.

Joy can be found in every moment. Happiness cannot. Joy is not contingent on anything. Happiness depends on choice and often times on outer circumstances and emotions, both of which change with the wind. Joy is inner and is deeper. It depends on nothing but faith. Joy is eternal while happiness changes by the moment and mood.

Joy is not something we can intentionally gain. It is given to us by the Holy Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Therefore, joy is not something we manufacture. Rather, it is given to us when we believe in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 9:2 The Message (MSG)
9 1-2 I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,
    I’m writing the book on your wonders.
I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
    I’m singing your song, High God.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Joy: Psalm 9:2 The Message (MSG): My new life verse

Psalm 9:2 The Message (MSG): My new life verse

Every now and then, a verse will come around and ruin me. This is one of those verses.

Let me explain, though, what I mean by ruin. It grabs my attention so much, so hard, so powerfully, so awesomely that I cannot think or do much of anything else after I read the verse. I become obsessed with it, in the best form of the word, where I memorize the verse, pray on it, meditate on it and think on it as much as possible. I spend as much time thinking on it and praying on it as possible and I also journal about the verse or verses. 

When a verse grabs me, my heart and mind, it is  challenge of me to look at any other verses for a while. The verse becomes what I eat, drink, and breathe. It becomes part of me and a way of life and living. 

Sometimes my focus on a verse like this lasts days. Sometimes, it lasts weeks. Sometimes, it lasts months. Sometimes, it lasts years. 

This is one such verse. So, stay tuned. I will write a great deal more about it at least in the next blog post.

This is my new life verse:

Psalm 9:2 The Message (MSG)

A David Psalm

9 1-2 I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,

    I’m writing the book on your wonders.

I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;

    I’m singing your song, High God.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The Blessing of Repeated Mistakes

I keep making the same mistake. Repeatedly. Over and over. I am a woman of redundancy with this error. I am constant with this wrongdoing.  (Have I made my point yet? I ask with a mild grin.)

The worst part is how I know I keep making it. I learn from my wrongdoing. I have my eyes opened. I repent and turn from my wicked ways. It works for a while. I even excel with doing it right. For a while.  Then, I slip and fall into my own ways. 

Ugh. 

It gets worse. I have repeated the exact same mistake off and on for over two and a half years now... Actually, it has been since Wednesday, November 06, 2013. 

I hang my head as I make this confession. 

How can I be such a fool?

How can I keep hurting myself in such a way and so deeply? 

When am I going to learn and apply what I learn? My life would be drastically different if I did. Is it because much is required for me to do so? Do I keep slipping because I realize how much I need to change in order to live in such a manner?

The previous paragraph is an important one, I realize I need to think and pray on for a while. And, I shall. 

I keep forgetting to count my blessings. This is my thorn. This is my error and repeated mistake. It is the one I have made since November 2012. 

The Bible says repeatedly and in different ways to always give thanks and to be grateful for everything.

This is how I should live. 

It is a blessing to make this mistake repeatedly because I know what it means to not count my blessings. I know the difference of what my life is like if I do count them. 

It is how I want to live.

I want to live a life of infinite blessing.

How Will We Choose to Handle Each Moment?

Life is a challenge--and that is on a good day and in a good moment. Our days and moments are not perfect. They never have been. Nor will they ever be. 

What sets us apart is how we handle every moment.

What matters is how we choose to handle each moment. 

Are we going to choose to complain, throw a fit, cry, holler, go numb, deny, ignore, regret, yell at God, or something else that does not help?

Will we search for, find, and count the blessings of every moment of every day? And will we try to remember them?  This what sets apart the wise from the foolish, the mature from the immature, and the godly from the ungodly. 

The Purpose and Meaning of Life: Be blessed with who and what we have now

All of us have a purpose. This purpose is what brings meaning to our lives. 

We all have the same purpose and the same meaning. It is what defines us as individuals and is what unites us. It is the appreciation of life as it is today and in this moment, no matter what is or is not happening.

If we cannot count our blessings for what we have now, we will never be satisfied and will always want more. If we cannot be trusted with the blessings we have now, why should we be blessed with anything more? We surely do not deserve more. 

If we are not thankful for what we have in our lives today and in this moment, there is nothing and no one that could possibly make us happy. 

What we have should be all we want or we need. And, if we are blessed with something or someone new or different, we need to count them as a blessing we did not anticipate. We should realize how blessed we are because what we had we already counted ourselves as blessed. With the new blessing, we are even more blessed and even less deserving. 

Infinite Blessings

Life has infinite blessings.

Each day.

Every moment.

No matter what. 

Whether times of sunshine or storm, we are still infinitely blessed. 

What separates a foolish mind from a wise mind is the realization of how through it all, we are blessed. The wise find blessings, and count them, in every situation. The wise know how no matter what happens, we are thoroughly blessed. 

What blessings have you had this year?

What blessings have you had this year?

Journal about them.

List as many as you can all day and throughout the night from now until December 31st.

This is the end of year blessings counted challenge.

Happy Snowy Thanksgiving

Enjoy your day as you count your blessings of the past, present, and future.

Give thanks

Colossians 3:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

-- 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.

Count your blessings in your journal.

Prayer, Thanks, and Terror on Monday (Cont.)

November 23, 2015, Monday
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Thank You, Lord, for...
I am thankful, Creator, for 22,843 words so far with my National Novel Writing Month book, "Prayer, Thanks, and Terror."  This means I have reached my word count goal of at least 4,700 words today. (Yay!)
That I have journaled 78 pages between November 16, 2015, and now. Letter-size pages. Single spaced. 12 point type/font.
That I am seeing more of my life's purpose. Prayer. Thanks. Terror. Prayer journaling. Blessings Counted Journaling. Living a life of gratitude.
The size of our backyard--it is one of the larger ones in this neighborhood.
How my husband holds my hand.
B's whiskey colored eyes that I want to get lost in.
How I like my husband and do not just love him.
How B is my best friend.
How B puts up with me--warts and all. In which I have plenty. Too many.
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How do I fully live today?
Have I lived more ingratitude than gratitude? As a whole, yes. Over the last two years, yes I have. Over the last month? Yes. Ingratitude seems to prevail--when I want with everything I have and am to live every moment with gratitude and a life of giving thanks.
Do I live fully or do I live empty? This is a question Ann Voskamp reminds me of in her book, "One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces."
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Is my wanting to write a book on living a life of giving thanks pointless and futile? Isn't the market drowning with books on giving thanks?
I cannot help but wonder if rather than a title that says, "Prayer, Thanks, and Terror," is should be, "How to Give Thanks in Spite." After all, this is a lesson I have sure learned--and learned well, I must admit.
Ahh. Yes. That is it. "How to Give Thanks in Spite." Or something like that.
How can we look around this great, big, ugly world and find the beauty in spite?
How can we give thanks when we don't feel like it?
How can we give thanks when we are so busy we can barely breathe, let alone take time to count our blessings?
How can we give thanks in spite of the latest challenge we face?
How can we give thanks when we feel anything but thankful?
How can we give thanks in spite of the ugliness of this world and all of its challenges?
How do we count our blessings in spite of terror?
How can we give thanks during a new holocaust?
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News article title: "Geological Discovery Proving Source of Earth’s Water Amazingly Similar to Biblical Account of Creation"
Read more at this link: https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/54514/geological-discovery-proving-source-earths-water-amazingly-similar-biblical-account-creation-health-and-science/#SB20Zg2IHoAwqxFP.99
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What do I want to devote my time to?
Giving thanks.
Truly. That is what I want. It is, also, what I crave.
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Prayer, Thanks, and Terror on Monday (Cont.)

Written: November 23, 2015, Monday

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Before I begin, it is time for a cappuccino. Please pardon me, my prayer journal. Lord, I will pray as I go get the delightful drink. (1102 a.m.)

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Thank you for twenty-one thousand twenty-three words so far out of fifty thousand for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), in which I am writing a book on prayer, thanks, and terror. 

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My prayer: Lord, teach me how to pray about terror and teach me how to always give thanks. I realize that it would be impossible to ever perfect either one, but I can continually strive to learn a better way. Lord, please teach me how to best pray for terror and always give You thanks. The truth is, I cannot do either without Your help and assistance. 

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Inspirational article title: "The One Simple Trick to Help You Notice God in the Every Day"

Link: http://sheridacon.com/2015/11/23/the-one-simple-trick-notice-god-in-the-every-day/

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I am grateful for...

Caramel cappuccino

How first the cat had to come check out out what I did as I took a bath. Then, the beagle decided to join him. They both opened the bathroom door wide open and let out all of the hot air. Sigh. I pretend to complain. The truth is, I would not have it any other way. 

Cat and beagle are hanging out with me again as I sit in my study and start to count my blessings once again. 

Losing two pounds over the weekend. Two of many, many, many more to go. 

The new bluejeans we bought over the weekend since I had a pair split open on my in the seat last week since I have worn several pairs so much. They are all at that stage, where each of the four remaining pairs could tear any day, any moment now. (Sigh.) I only bought three new pairs, with the hopes I will lose weight. (Weight has always been a struggle for me--ever since I was twelve or so.)

Finding a birdbath warmer that helps prevent the water from freezing. It should arrive in the mail later today. The birds will sure appreciate it. 

How my hair is slowly but surely growing out from a very short pixie. It's far from being anywhere near likable, but it is what it is. Hopefully when I go to get my hair trimmed the week of December Eleventh, my stylist will be able to give it some style. My hair just needs to grow a great deal more between now and then. 

I am looking forward to setting up our Christmas trees and other Christmas decor after Thanksgiving. 

That B and I found a really good pizza joint over the weekend. B loves pizza, so it's a pleasure to find something that pleases him. It's a little whole in the wall, which is our favorite kind of establishment. 

For veterinarians.

Watching Zack beagle sleep. Warms my heart. Thank God for such a major blessing. I still cannot believe, Lord, how he is almost sixteen years old. 

Our washing machine and dryer.

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Inspirational article title: "Sunday Scripture"

It's about giving thanks.

Link: http://www.incourage.me/2015/11/sunday-scripture-17.html

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Inspirational article title: "6 Steps to Find More Gratitude in Your Life"

Link: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-life-changing-nature-of-gratitude/

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Inspirational article title: "How Gratitude Can Change Your Life"

Link: http://www.thechangeblog.com/gratitude/

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I am thankful, Lord for...

The rumble of a purring cat.

How Sinan cat came to bed several times last night to snuggle. 

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Inspirational article title: "What does the Bible say about thankfulness/gratitude?"

Link: http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-thankfulness-gratitude.html

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Inspirational article title: "A Life of Gratitude"

Link: http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/life-gratitude/

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I am thankful for yesterday when I cooked our white chili. Both Zack dog and Sinan cat came into the kitchen and begged. They thought it smelled good. It's too bad dogs and cats shouldn't have chili because of the spice. At least their noses liked what they smelled. 

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Inspirational article title: "Living a Life of Gratitude: It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and overlook God's glorious gifts."

Link: https://www.guideposts.org/faith-in-daily-life/living-a-life-of-gratitude

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Inspirational article title: "How You Can Live a Life of Thanksgiving all Year Long"

Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/thanksgiving/how-you-can-live-a-life-of-thanksgiving-all-year-long-1442749.html

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Why have I tried to live a life of giving thanks, a life of gratitude, since November 06, 2013:

The truth is living a life of thanksgiving grew out of desperation. My husband and I just went through a nightmare of life circumstance. It was a storm that tore us to shreds on the inside. Just thinking about this time and I tense. And, it's been over two years now. 

I reached the point where it was either give thanks--or fall apart. There was no middle ground in this terrible, trying, heartbreaking situation. The situation was so poignant and life-changing. Sink or swim. 

I have always been someone who tries to live a life of excellence. I always try to give it my best. I push myself, needless to say. Sometimes too hard. 

Therefore, when God presented this passage to me from the Bible, His Word, I decided to seek living a life of excellence in giving thanks:

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). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

I realize I have quoted this before, but this passage of Scripture becomes a way of life and a way to live. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 presents the best way to live. 

Here's another version of the Bible of this passage:

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.

This passage became the bane of my existence and why I existed at once. 

How on earth could I give thanks in this nightmare? (I thought in November 2006.) How is this even possible? How can I give thank when I am so hurt? So sad? So deflated, so frustrated, so angry, so confused? How could I give thanks for the very thing that was one of the biggest nightmares of my life (literally)? And, how can I give thanks in the very thing that destroyed marriages? How could I? 

How could I offer thanks for infertility? Every day for thirty-nine years, I wanted to have a baby. Every day. There was never a time I didn't want to have one. 

How could I give thanks to this--when B and I were both only children, so our family was already small? How could I give thanks knowing one day I would have no family at all? At least with children, and larger families, the odds are that you will most likely have someone survive past you. 

How could I give thanks where every single place I went, I saw a child--and I could not, would not have one? How could I?

The pursuit of living 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 made me angry and it hurt, on the one hand. However, on the other, I realized it was, frankly, the only lifeline I had. 

IVF didn't work out (two rounds of it). Neither did adoption. Consequently, B and I had to let go. How do you give thanks for this? 

I sit here, over two years later, and I am grateful, oh so grateful, that I tried to give thanks in spite. I really had no choice. I either had to learn how to give thanks or I think I would have curled up into a ball of despair and I do not think I would have ever come out of it. The pain was so deep. 

The truth is giving thanks saved me--and keeps saving me. It is my lifeline. 

Giving thanks in and for all things has changed me and my life entirely. 

The challenges I have gone through since I started to try to life a life of thanks have been quite doable. It's made me a great deal stronger and has given me purpose. Great purpose. Life purpose. I simply cannot emphasize this enough. 

Giving thanks at all times, in and for all things, even in times of storm and challenge, creates joy in my life. Joy is something that isn't dependent on anyone or anything. Joy lasts in spite. Joy is deeper and long-lasting. Counting my blessings, and living a life of gratitude, has taught me how I do not want to live a shallow life of happiness. Happiness is fleeting and short-lived. It depends on different people, things, circumstances. Joy lasts through everything and everyone. 

This is why when I deal with a challenge now, I am to thank God. I know that in the times of storm and challenge, the Lord has always, and will always, bless my socks off. The key is I need to look past myself, past the challenge, and look for the blessings of each and every moment. In which, there are several. 

Yes. It is true. Every moment is full of multiple blessings. Not just one or two. The catch is we have to look for them and count them. 

Ever since I have started to count my blessings in spite, and search for the multiple blessings of every moment, I have learned how beautiful life is and can be. Even in times of storm.

I never would have been able to handle Kara's death (our cat) as well as I did if not for my counting of blessings. The truth is that since I counted my blessings all along (or at least tried to over the last two years), it was far easier to realize that it was because of her I wanted to life a life of thanksgiving and gratitude all along. It would, and will be, the best way for me to honor her and her life. 

That is not to say I still do not cry about Kara no longer being with us. I do. In fact, I got a little weepy earlier thinking of her. But, I realize that thanking You, Lord, is not dependent on anything--other than simply doing that--counting my blessings. 

Counting my blessings means I can get through anything and at any time. 

Blessings are eternal. They are not temporary. The blessings I count today, I can count in one year, five, ten, twenty, and decades from now. They are continual and life on. 

I would much rather live a life of gratitude than ingratitude. Life is so much sweeter because of this.  

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Lord, thank You for...

Cheese

Cheese crackers

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Prayer, Terror, Thanks: My Personal Journaling on Nov/23/2015/Mon

Readers and friends, welcome to the week of Thanksgiving in the United States of America. This means I am going to make sure gratitude and giving thanks is my main focus for my personal journaling entries, which I turn into blog posts. That being said, though, I will still try to include articles of current events and news.
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I am participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in this month of November, and am using my personal journaling of prayer, terror, and thanks to create a book of at least 50,000 words in this yearly writing contest. I just started writing this book for NaNoWriMo last week. Therefore, between now and mid-December, I will be blogging a great deal more than usual as I participate in this contest. Please forgive the additional material each day. I know I already mentioned this, but I wanted to make sure I was clear and explain the reason why. Writing at lease fifty thousand words in less than two weeks creates a great deal of writing.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
(Note to self: I need to write a total of four thousand seven hundred words per day for the rest of the month of November in order to obtain this objective and win the writing contest of NaNoWriMo. Gulp. That's a lot of words for me to write, before the end of November. that being said, though, I know for a fact that it can be done. I have been known to write 10,000 words in one day, after all. Given this, I need to move up to my study immediately and use a keyboard with my tablet so I can write as much as possible today. Another gulp. I know I can do it. It's just a little pressure. The pressure is of the self-inflicted, of course.)
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Saturday and Sunday I didn't get much writing done at all since I started reading a book on spiritual warfare to help me learn how to pray about terrorism. It's a book called, "The Strategy of Satan" and it is by Warren W. Wiersbe. The book was written in 1979, but it reads like a modern book. It is extremely informational.
Check it out here: http://smile.amazon.com/Strategy-Satan-Warren-W-Wiersbe-ebook/dp/B0066E8WR2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1448287876&sr=1-1&keywords=the+strategy+of+satan
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Now, I am going to focus on giving thanks and counting my blessings. Hence, here are some inspirational blog posts about thanksgiving:
Title: "What I Learned about God from 365 Gratitude Posts on Facebook"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/what-i-learned-about-god-from-365-gratitude-posts-on-facebook.html
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Title: "The Power of Your Testimony of Thankfulness - Powerpoint - November 23, 2015"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/powerpoint/powerpoint-november-21-2013.html
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Title: "Thanksgiving's Greatest Enemy"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-s-greatest-enemy.html
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Title: "2 Words That Will Change Your Life: Thank You"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/2-words-that-will-change-your-life-thank-you.html
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Title: "A Story of Persistence - Thanksgiving Devotional - Nov. 22"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/thanksgiving-devotionals/a-story-of-persistence-thanksgiving-devotional-nov-2.html
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Title: Thanksgiving Devotionals on Crosswalk.com
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/thanksgiving-devotionals/
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Title: "The Power of a Thankful Heart"
Link: http://www.ibelieve.com/faith/the-power-of-a-thankful-heart.html
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Title: "What I Learned From Keeping a Gratitude Journal"
Link: http://www.ibelieve.com/food-home/what-i-learned-from-keeping-a-gratitude-journal.html
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Title: "yada, yada, yada: a secret way to cope when you are pretty much sick of the world, the holidays & a crazy life"
Link: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/11/yada-yada-yada-a-secret-way-to-cope-when-you-are-pretty-much-sick-of-the-world-the-holidays-a-crazy-life/
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Title: "A Prayer for a Thankful Heart"
Link: http://www.ibelieve.com/food-home/a-prayer-for-a-thankful-heart.html
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Psalm 100:4-5 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
4 Enter his gates with a song of thanksgiving.
Come into his courtyards with a song of praise.
Give thanks to him; praise his name.
5 The Lord is good.
    His mercy endures forever.
    His faithfulness endures throughout every generation.
A psalm by David.
-- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.
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2 Corinthians 9:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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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). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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Each of these statements requires a different mindset and way of life. They are not one in the same. There is a difference with each. It is my goal, and my hope, to live each of these in gratitude and thanksgiving:
We either live a life of gratitude or ingratitude. Which will we choose?
We either live a week of gratitude or ingratitude. Which will we choose?
We either live a day of gratitude or ingratitude. Which will we choose?
We either live each moment today in gratitude or ingratitude. Which will we choose?
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My Blessings Counted Journaling, Gratitude Journaling, Thanks Journaling, and My Blessings Counted List:
Thank You, Lord, for...
Yesterday terrorism was prevented. Terrorists around the world made threats to attack and either didn't or were thwarted. Thank You, Jesus. To You be the glory forever and ever.
Thank You, Lord, for last week. Thank You, for speaking to me, guiding me, and helping me see things differently. Thank You for the insight You gave me into prayer and terror last week. I pray it only increases this week, and the week following, and the week after that.
I am quite grateful for this week. I cannot wait to see where You lead me and see all of the blessings You give me and those around me.
Thank You for the holiday of Thanksgiving. Lord, I cannot believe it is the week of Thanksgiving and that it is already here.
Lord, thank You that I know the true origins of Thanksgiving here in the United States of America--not the origins Massachusettes has chosen to focus on, hence the U.S. focuses on. I know that the true and first official Thanksgiving took place at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia, and was when the first men landed on this land from England to establish the first permanent English colony back in 1607 (well before Plymouth and the pilgrims). (See this link under the tab of "The New World": http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/four-centuries.html) They gave thanks to God for their safe passage from England to the shores in modern day Virginia. The first official Thanksgiving was about thanking You, Lord, and was not about Plymouth, turkey, pilgrims, the Native Americans, etc. It was about giving You thanks. This was the premise and foundation of this nation. And, this should be the foundation of my life, Father.
Thank You for my time in Virginia and how I was able to step foot at the place of the First Landing, at Historic Jamestowne and the site of the original fort (which is above water), Berkeley Plantation (which was also the place "Taps" was written), Yorktown Battlefield, Surrender Field near the Yorktown Battlefield), etc.
Thank You for the beautiful mountains I can see outside my study window. Purple mountains with a slight dusting of powder sugar.
Abba, I am so thankful for my husband and best friend. He is such a good man and is so good to me.
Thank You for the weekend we just had.
Thank You, God, for...
Coffee
My tablet
The keyboard that goes with my tablet
My journal
The way I journal
Clean sheets
Clean bath towels
That my husband and I can actually go home this year for the holidays, since it's so close, and is a nice day trip.
That my dad does not mind us bringing Zack Beagle over so that he does not have to wait so long to be let outside and so that Zack can hang out with us.
That the weather looks better as far as traveling to my family home on Thursday and then returning to our home the same day.
The really good white chili I made yesterday. It's been years since I made it. I am not sure why it took me so long to make. I guess I just never think of it. Well, it is certainly on my mind now. Yum! I also am grateful that B (my husband) enjoyed it as well. Also, I am thankful we have at least two more meals of the chili, so I may not need to do any more cooking for a few days.
How the birds love coming to our home and know that they can find food and water here, so this is the hangout for the sparrows in our neighborhood.
Pumpkin. I just so thoroughly love and enjoy pumpkin. Yummers!
I just remembered a recipe I keep wanting to try, but I haven't. Sigh. Therefore, I think I will try it today. Thank You, Father, for bringing it to my attention once again. It included pumpkin, one of my favorites. (Thank You, Jesus.) But, it also includes another favorite: coffee. (Another: Praise the Lord and thank You!) I will try this recipe in a bit and see what I think. Only, I will cook it in a bowl, not in a mug. The recipe is: Title: "Pumpkin Spice Latte Mug Cakes. " Link: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pumpkin-spice-latte-mug-cakes/e9a9f174-c088-467f-a5e6-2a4c464c9776?src=SH
I am quite grateful that my word count toward my National Novel Writing Month, prior to today, was: 17,924 words. (By the way, you don't have to write a novel in November in order to be part of NaNoWriMo. The only requirement is you write 50,000 words of a project, whether it is fiction or non-fiction. This is why my personal journaling of: "Prayer, Thanks, and Terror qualifies.)
Thank God for my home. What a major blessing it has been, is, and will be.
Thank the Lord for my coffee maker. Goodness. I shudder to think what I would do without it or without coffee.
Thank You again Lord, how even though construction is going on nearby, a lot of it let me add, how quiet it is and has been. I see big tractors doing their thing in a field nearby and know they are making noise, but I hear little to none.
Thank You for the Warren Wiersbe book, "The Strategy of Satan."
Thank You for one thousand seven hundred words for today so far.
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(838 a.m.) I am hungry. Therefore, I think I am going to go try the mug pumpkin spice latte cake. Be right back.
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Thank You, Lord, for the new recipe. The pumpkin spice latte in a mug recipe. I changed a few things in the recipe, though, so it would have less sugar. I used sugar free maple syrup rather than sugar. I also used a little more pumpkin than they recommended and I added a hint of vanilla extract. Then, when I cooked it, I cooked it all in  large soup bowl, which is also where I stirred up the ingredients. It wasn't pretty when I pulled out, since it wasn't in a mug, but I really could care less if it's just me eating the recipe. Rather than using whip cream on top when I served it, I used half-in-half. The consistency is like pumpkin pie with how I added the additional ingredients and I can see making this a couple of times each week and whenever I have a sweet or a pumpkin craving. (Now that I ate my helping for today, I cannot help but think that I might want to add a packet of the sugar substitute and maybe one pack of sugar to add to the flavor, plus the sugar free maple sugar. Thank You, Lord, for this realization.)
Which just reminded me, thank You, Lord: I haven't made pumpkin soup this year. What was I thinking? Never mind how that's something I can do with the leftover canned pumpkin if I don't finish it in a few days after making mug pumpkin spice latte cake, and after I make pumpkin lattes.
Thank You, Lord, for canned pumpkin.
Thank You, Lord, for pumpkin lattes.
Thank You, Lord, for reminding me the little things often mean a great deal more than a big thing.
Whew. Yes. Dividing the mug pumpkin latte cake recipe into two would have been wise. One is much too much. I will finish this tomorrow or the next day. Thank You, Lord.
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It's my goal between now and Thanksgiving to see how many things I can thank God for. I want to move my heart and mind to giving thanks in and for all things, in spite of terrorism or the threat of terrorism. I want to give thanks because You are so good to me, Lord, and because You tell me to do so, pure and simple. Never mind how every single moment is full of blessings to count, if only I would stop, look around (search for them), and count them. Then, if I would only remember the blessings You, Lord, have given me for the rest of my life.
Isn't it better to give thanks than not?
Isn't it better to count my blessings than focus on all of the blah and yuck of this world?
Doesn't giving thanks move my focus to what really matters and what really is important in my life? It shifts my perspective and helps me to live a life of joy, not just happiness.
Lord, I realize that You waste nothing. Everything that happens in my life, You can use for Your glory. Therefore, I would really like to bring You even more glory through living a life of gratitude than ingratitude. I would rather focus on Your blessing than the blah and yuck. I would rather find Your blessings in times of storm than focus on the what-could-should-be's.
As a Christian, Lord, I know I deserve no blessing whatsoever. But, I also know that You bless me anyway and in order to bring yourself glory.
Thank You, Lord, for helping me want to try to always give thanks--in all things and for all things, in spite of the storms.
I also realize well how it's been in the storms You have blessed me the most.
Lord, help me to keep my focus on living a life of blessings counting and not on if-only or this isn't fair.
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Thank You, Lord, for...
This day to give You thanks.
This moment to give You thanks.
Zack Beagle
Sinan orange cat
Kara, our deceased black and white cat, who was a feral. She was also deaf, declawed, and had lung and breast cancer before she marched into our lives and adopted us in September 2014. She was only supposed to live to February 2015, but made it to September 26, 2015.
The life lessons we learned from Kara.
The faith lessons we learned from Kara.
My favorite coffee mugs
How Zack just came upstairs to join me on his dog bed in the study.
This new personal journaling system. I am writing my journal on my tablet in a document, then, I email it to myself once I journal enough pages. Then, I save it in/on the Cloud. Then, I save it to my laptop, to my eternal hard drive, and to an app. I also print it out so I can set it on my bookshelves. It sure makes it easier to review my journaling with the print out. I also save it to my e-reader as an e-book.
Lord, thank You for the new vision You just gave me, which is also a reminder. I want to count as many blessings as I can between now and Thanksgiving, because it is that time of year. But, also, given that it is this time of year, I want to count as many blessings from this past year as possible. Therefore, I will do precisely that after Thanksgiving as well.
Thank You, Lord, for putting this on my heart: I want to count the blessings from 2015 and from the past as well. This will be my focus between now and New Year's Day.
Thank You, Lord, for helping me to remember this in the middle of praying about terrorism.
I am grateful Sinan is hanging out on the floor outside the study so I have my two favorite furry critters hanging out with me. It means so much to me, Lord. Thank You for trusting me with them.
Lord, thank You for 2,704 words so far of my 4,700 word count goal for today. Needless to say, I am well beyond the halfway mark for today for my NaNoWriMo word count goal. The halfway point is 2,350 words.
How Zack beagle wags his tail in his sleep from time to time. It is so precious and touches me so.
I am thankful for the couple of snows we have had so far, along with the cold snaps we have had. I love the beauty of the snow and the way I can actually breathe, and not feel stuffed, when it's a cold day.
Thank You, Abba, for the reminder that I now have a bathtub I can use. I have had one since we moved in the last part of July. But, I am so used to not having a bathtub to use that I forget to take a bath. Lord, You jsut reminded me of it, and now that I am at my halfway point of my word count goal, I can plan to take one soon. I can then pray about terrorism as I do that and thank You, Lord, for things that I just simply won't share with the world.
I am grateful for email, for the internet, for my cell, for technology, for apps, and how I can carry all of my journaling on my cell and on my tablet.
I am thankful for all of the resources on the internet for and about giving thanks.
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Article: "Beyond Sunday: Worthy of Thanks"
Link: http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/beyond-sunday-worthy-of-thanks.html
Article: "12 Things to Thank God for in the Midst of Affliction"
Link: http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/mark-altrogge/12-things-to-thank-god-for-in-the-midst-of-affliction.html
Article: "The Power of a Grateful Heart: 21 Verses of Thanksgiving"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/the-power-of-a-grateful-heart-21-verses-of-thanksgiving.html
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Thank You, God, for...
Vinegar and water for cleaning.
That we have two bathtubs and a full-size shower in our house.
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Regarding terror:
News article: "Emails show DOD analysts told to 'cut it out' on ISIS warnings; IG probe expands"
Link: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/23/emails-show-dod-analysts-told-to-cut-it-out-on-isis-warnings-ig-probe-expands.html?intcmp=hpbt1
My personal thoughts and commentary:  I thought we lived in a free country with a free press. To tell the DOD what to say as to the truth about ISIS (I'm not talking about their intelligence) means censoring. Censoring is what communism and socialism does. This is disturbing. But, it isn't surprising.
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What else am I thankful for? Let me think.
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A New Day and a New Month: Living a Life of Thanksgiving and Gratitude

Nov/18/2015: I just realized I never published this on my blog. Sorry it is out of order.
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I regret, as I sit here in my study, at 7:52 a.m. on the first day of October 2015, that I did not say first thing: "Lord, thank You for this day--an opportunity to remember Kara and count the blessings of her. Thank You for the opportunity to live a better day today because of her and I want to live well for her." As silly as it might sound, I want her to be proud of what my life becomes as I live life anew for her memory and to make sure not one day of her life with us over the last year not to be in vain.
It's interesting. I cannot believe that I am thinking along those lines now. Never mind writing it (journaling it) and sharing these thoughts out loud and with others.
However, the more I think about it... Why is it silly to live a life of blessing, where I can count a trillion because of her alone? Why is it odd to be extra attentive to count my blessings of her and because of her? Shouldn't we all have something or someone in our lives that blesses us so much that we cannot help but live a life of thanksgiving and gratitude... a life of blessing?
It does not matter who or what brings this life transformation. What matters is that it does. Living a life of gratitude and giving thanks... a life of blessing... Isn't this how we are supposed to live and why? And, what better life could we live?
And, all of this comes from a cat.
From our Kara Beara. Little Bit. Lady Kara. Baby Girl. Girlie.
All of this comes from "just a cat."
I roll my eyes. Whoever says that she was "just a cat" has no idea what they are talking about. Anyone who has owned a critter, and has invested everything possible in that companion, knows good and well Kara was not "just a cat." Only a fool would ever claim she, or any of them, are.
Kara was a companion. A loyal companion and friend at that.
Furthermore, Kara loved for the first time in her life--and she was loved.
Our cancer kitty was the biggest love bug and I could tell how much she appreciated everything we did for her. The lifelong feral cat became a loving and loved family member and she knew it. She knew how good she had it. She lived a life of thanks, where she basked in her love for us and our love for her. Her mannerisms showed this.
She was happy.
Content.
Grateful.
Kara remembered the life she had in the wild and realized how good her life was.
Isn't this the way we are supposed to live? Isn't this how we are to live a life of faith?
Kara lived a blessed life and she counted them. My husband and I will try to do the same because of her.
It's truly a blessed life we live.
This month... this year... this decade... this life... I will be purposeful about living a life of blessing because of her.
This morning I woke up and failed to give thanks for her and this new day where I can remember our Little Dove. I regret that. I will try to not do the same tomorrow. But, I realize I may mess up and fail to do so again. Therefore, once I remember, which I pray is in the morning that day, I will make sure to remember her and count as many blessings as possible. I will live that day with thanksgiving and gratitude.

38 Days of Counting Our Blessings: A Thanksgiving Journaling Challenge and Journaling Prompt

Thanksgiving 2015 is in 38 days and I cannot help but think how it's that time. It's time to start counting our blessings. What do you think?
What are you grateful for and do you appreciate?
Why don't you list some blessings right now in your journal? Write anything that pops into your mind. There is nothing silly to count as a blessing, and it's okay to count the same blessings each day, provided you are truly thankful for them again, of course.
Count as many as you possibly can and list them in your journal.

LET'S PUSH OURSELVES IN OUR GIVING THANKS
I think it's important to push past our comfort zone when it comes to counting our blessings. In other words, it's important to count more of them than you think you could or should. The truth is every simple moment we have several things to be thankful for and we will never run out of blessings to count. This is true and we should always strive to live a life of gratitude, even during times of challenge.
Therefore, I suggest on a normal basis to count a bare minimum of three blessings per day in your journal. I recommend this for those who have never journaled before.
For those of us who have journaled, I recommend counting at least ten blessings per day.
Now, for novice journal keepers and for experienced journal keepers, since we are approaching Thanksgiving, let's do this challenge.

THE THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING CHALLENGE
Let's count at least 34 blessings a day between now and Thanksgiving.
No. I am not kidding.
34 blessings. Let's count at least that many between now and Thanksgiving.
34 blessings counted per day x 38 days = 1,292 blessings counted at least.
Shall we?
Care to join me?
Please note that the reason for counting 34 blessings per day is that's approximately 1,020 blessings counted per month.
Just imagine counting 1,020 blessings per month per year. That's 365 x 34 = 12,410 blessings counted per year or 124,100 per decade.
I will share my daily list with you, or at least parts of it each day, with the hopes it inspires you in case you get stuck and don't know what to count as a blessing. It's okay to count the same blessings I do, by the way. Again, just make sure to count them only if you are truly thankful for them.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO COUNT 34 BLESSINGS PER DAY?
Thirty-four blessings each day seems like a lot of blessings to count. Maybe even too many. However, if you do the suggestions I mention, you will easily count thirty-four as a bare minimum each day. Now, let me give you some suggestions on how to count that many blessings:
Again... if you are truly grateful for some one or something, it's okay to count them as a blessing multiple times.
Do not forget to think of your present, past, and future and what people, places, things, and events you are grateful for count as a blessing. Make sure to ask yourself a lot of who, what, where, when, why, and how questions, and think of memories, and you'll find blessings to count. Also from where you sit as you journal your blessings counted list, look around. I guarantee you'll find things to be thankful for from the past and present and maybe even the future. Be grateful for every memory you have; they sure count as a blessing.
Also, when you count your blessings, look at each blessing individually and see if there are more blessings you can think of to count from that blessing. I find that with every blessing I list in my journal, and thank the Lord for, I can find multiple blessings to count from the one.

Here is a template you can copy and paste and use for yourself for the next 38 days

34 DAILY BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST TEMPLATE
I am thankful for...
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2
3
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5
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15
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And more...

MY PERSONAL BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST AND A JOURNALING PROMPT FOR YOU
Here is my Thanksgiving and Blessings Counted List for Monday, October 26, 2015 (and don't worry... I will not share my entire list each day and what I do share is just meant to be a journaling prompt to help you find blessings to count in your own life):
1 This day
2 Yesterday
3 The weekend
4 The weather
5 The memories made this weekend
6 The sun
7 The stars
8 Fall/Autumn
9 Each of my pets
10 My neighbors
11 The block I live on and all of the people
12 The neighbor I live in
13 The city I live in
14 My state
15 My country
16 My continent
17 What I eat
18 What I drink
19 My technological gadgets (cell, tablet, laptop, PC)
20 My husband
21 My family
22 My friends
23 Email
24 The things I can look up and learn on the internet
25 My home
26 My car
27 My belongings
28 A good laugh
29 A good book
30 A good movie
31 A good television show
32 Anniversaries
33 Birthdays
34 This moment
What else can you count as a blessing?

MORE THAN ENOUGH
I am thankful for who and what I have today. If I am not grateful for them, then I will not find anyone or anything else a blessing. Who and what I have now is more than enough and I do not want to take any of them for granted or overlook them.
If what I have now isn't more than enough, I will never find or get what or who is more than enough. Who and what I have now are far more than I deserve and that's what makes them such a blessing in this, and in every, moment.
I want to count my blessings, not my gripes and complaints.
I want to count my blessings, not the would've could've should'ves.
I want to count my blessings and not miss or overlook one.
I want to count my blessings of each and every moment. They are more than enough.

Blessings and Lessons #1 and #2: Thanksgiving and Love

Blessing and Lesson #1 Live a life of thanksgiving, not just a season

That's the first blessing I count and is the first lesson I want to mention because of Kara, our feral cancer cat.
Kara found my husband ("B") and I and we brought her into our garage for a couple of weeks while we helped her acclimate to being indoors and to us, and as we waited for her appointment with our veterinarian. It also gave her time for her meds to work to their full capacity. Then, we brought her into my study and locked her in there for a few days so she could acclimate to there and our Beatle and our orange cat.
She never looked back. She never tried to door dart and she grasped she was safe and had plenty of food and love. She was a completely different cat... almost immediately and over the last year.
Kara was feral. She had an opinionated demeanor and insisted on things going her way. Sure, this is true for any cat. But, put a cat inside permanently, after being an outdoor cat, and they are even more opinionated. Most of her behavior and attitude was out of self-defense and she slowly learned she had no threat in us or in our home.
We could tell how thoroughly grateful she was to no longer have to sleep with her head in the air and she didn't have to find food. But, she was far more grateful to be able to love and to be loved. This was how she lived with us and was how she died with us. Thankful. Loved and loving.
Kara knew where she was and came from and she lived fully a life of thanks. She could have swelled on what was. She had a horrible life until us. But, she didn't focus on that. She didn't look back. She was grateful for what she had now.

BLESSING AND LESSON #2: LOVE AND BE LOVED
Kara learned how to give unconditional love and how to receive it.
She never knew love before us. We know she was abused, for the way she cowered at first if we made fast movements and the way she always held her down to show she was contrite and humble. She also was fixed and declared. So, this shows she had another human in her life. They probably dumped her because either they didn't know how to handle a deaf cat, or because they were moving in our community that had a lot of military, or they knew she had cancer. Therefore, she didn't know the fullness of love a human could give her. Not until B and me.
Once we convinced her we were no threat and would never hit her or dump her, she thrived. And she knew love and she loved. And it was thorough and unconditional.
I cannot imagine being about ten years old and never knowing love.
It breaks my heart to think. I'm getting weepy at the thought.
Do I know what's it means to fully love and be loved? At first blush, I would say no, if you were to ask me right now. Then, I picture girlie and I smile. My heart warms. You bet I know! It's because of Kara.
I am thankful for Kara teaching me to live a life of thanks and blessing... and for teaching me how to fully love and be loved.

The Blessings and Lessons Learned from Kara: Live a Life of Thanksgiving

THE BLESSINGS AND LESSONS FROM KARA: LIVE A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING

Written on October 14, 2015, Wednesday, 758 a.m.

A SEASON AND LIFE OF THANKSGIVING
Fall is my favorite season of the year and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Therefore, this is my absolute favorite time of year.
Even though Kara went Home at his time of year, I will choose to not allow it to shadow on his time of year. She wouldn't want that. (Never mind how she doesn't deserve that either.) Rather, I am choosing to allow her passing to count even more blessings. After all, that's the reason why this is my favorite time of year.
I started daily counting my blessings two years ago in 2013 and it is a practice I still do today. Some days I may not count one on the page, but I sure look for the blessings in each moment and I do my best to count them and not allow them to pass by and miss them. Giving thanks is the one thing that helps far more than I can express or comprehend to bring peace and joy to every situation, no matter how much of a challenge a situation might be.
A day or two after Kara died, I woke with this thought and prayer:
"Thank You, Lord, for this day to remember Kara and count my blessings of her. I will live a better life because of her and for her."
She and her memory deserve no less. Hence, I am going to put this into practice in this memoir about our moments with Kara (then, now, and in the future). This is, and will be, an inspirational memoir of giving thanks (counting our blessings). I will live a life of gratitude because of her and this blog post to book memoir is about my story as I try to do so.
Given that it's almost the middle of October, I want to count as many blessings for and about Kara between now and Thanksgiving. It gives me 43 days to count as many blessings as possible.
This is exciting. I will turn my grief into gratitude and will do it in her name.
Care to join me in counting thanks for the blessings of every moment throughout our day (and night) for the next 43 days?
Care to join me in living a life of giving thanks, not just a season of giving thanks?
Let's do it because of a seven pound elderly cat who succumbed to breast and lung cancer... and for whatever reasons you can think of to live a life of gratitude rather than complaint.
Shall we?
Let's get started counting our blessings.

A Tough Weekend

This weekend was another tough weekend. My husband had a three day weekend, which was simply delightful in that regard. However, it was a tough one.
We sailed along mostly smooth sails, with a few moments of waves last week. Then, this weekend we were caught in a storm of grief and bounced around all over the place and we both thought we would drown at times. But, we tried to remember our ultimate LifeSaver, the One who is in control of the storms and who creates the storms.
Grief is a strange thing. You just never know when the waves of grief might hit or if they become so strong the waves produce a storm.
How long is grief supposed to last?
My husband and I both have counseling backgrounds and know grief and loss and how to walk people through it, let me add. Therefore, you have context for these next statements:
We have learned through experience how time does not heal all wounds. This is a lie and don't let anyone tell you differently. {We have told folks this in counseling and then we quickly add...} But, time is a great teacher and it teaches us how to live life with the pain and how to make the pain a companion and not an enemy.
We have also counseled people to do their proper grief work and wallow in it as much as possible for three days or so and then start to slowly pick up the pieces.
However, we add, there will be times... Times that you don't see coming... Times that might make sense whatsoever, triggered by what you may perceive as silly at the time... Times that you have to start all over with your grief work. It happens. Don't try to make sense of it. You can't. Just know that this is normal. Just wallow in it for a couple of days, then pick yourself back up and try to gather the pieces again.
And, through it all, remember the most important thing of all: To count your blessings every moment. That's the secret to not allowing the grief to carry you away. That's the secret to slow life in this normally fast paced world. While grieving it's even more important so it keeps your feet firmly planted on earth and keeps you in the now and helps you live intentionally and with purpose so you can turn your grief into something to work for you and against you. For, in your grief, you will count far more blessings because beauty sure stands out in times of grey or black or navy blue.
Huh. All of that makes perfect sense. It shows great wisdom of life experience and our backgrounds. Implementing it is a little more of a challenge.