"Everything is a Blessing"

I was so inspired by Extreme Makeover Home Edition this week.  The whole message of the story of the severely wounded military home owner was about counting your blessings no matter what happens and "it's not what you can't do, it's what you can do."  This is the message I feel God is encouraging me to share with others.  It just happens to be everywhere I look these days just encouraging me all the more.  Does that happen to you?  Once something is brought to your attention do you see it everywhere you look?  Do you find it in scripture that you've read many times in your life?

Check out the show and see the message I feel compelled to share.
http://abc.go.com/watch/extreme-makeover-home-edition/SH559052/VD55254180/harris-family-part-1
http://abc.go.com/watch/extreme-makeover-home-edition/SH559052/VD55254180/harris-family-part-1

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Thanksgiving for today
275.  Rain
276.  Peppermint
277.  Christmas cookies
278.  Snuggling on the couch watching Christmas shows with the kiddos
279.  My kiddos coming home safe from school
280.  Text deals
281.  Microwave instructions on things like stuffing and mashed potatoes

O Come All Ye Faithless

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Thanksgiving for today
270.  Dog food that arrives on time
271.  Fuzzy purple blanket
272.  City bus
273.  Finding anything on google (like a figgy pudding recipe)
274.  Weather forecast

Ephesians 5:18-20

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Ephesians 5:18-20

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Thanksgiving for today
267.  Learning the history of Christmas songs
268.  My kiddos trying new foods
269.  80s music

The Courage to Be Obedient

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."--Joshua 1:9

It is really easy to slip into fear and complacency.  Why is it that we argue with God when He tells us to do something knowing that He has never failed us in the past and will not in the future?  I am trying to stay strong and courageous no matter the circumstances around me.  I am trying to take time daily to listen to God and follow His plan for my future.  I am trying to leave Him in the driver's seat and not take over.  When fear and doubt sneak up on me, I am stopping to look around me and thank God for the blessings that are in my life.  There are many.  You just have to pay attention and look.  If you aren't spending time with God on a regular basis, fear and doubt will sneak right in.  And, I'm not talking about just going to church once or twice a week.  I'm talking about making God a part of your daily life and talking to Him personally.  That also means taking the time to listen, which is hard.  I'm still learning to be still and really listen.  What have you found that works for you?

How do you connect with God?
How do you find the courage to be obedient?
How do you know you're hearing God's voice?
What if your friends or family are encouraging you not to listen?  (We all know that's not how they would word it, but it is the same nonetheless)

Please comment.  I really do want to start a conversation and really do want you to spend time thinking about this.  Please don't worry about saying the "right thing" in the "right way."  Just comment.  Let's struggle through this together.



My prayers are constantly for the courage to be obedient.  

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Thanksgiving for today
264.  Someone comes and takes my trash away.  :)
265.  Joy at lunch box surprises
266.  Eagerness to learn

Give Books

"Do give books--religious or otherwise--for Christmas.  They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal."               Lenore Hershey

Done and under the tree.  Just hoping someone does the same for me.  :)

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Thanksgiving for today
258.  Jump drives
259.  Nativity in my house that make me smile every time I see it.
260.  Repaired Bible
261.  Rudolph suit for dogs
262.  Dad running Christmas errands for me
263.  Gift cards

2 Thessalonians 3

My devotion reading for today set my mind reeling.  Here is 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 from the Message.

^6-9 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.

^10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.

^14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

Do you know people who are "freeloaders"?
What is our responsibility to them?
Are we really helping them if we just let them sit back and take, take, take?

I happen to know from experience that even if you CAN'T do something, you always CAN do something else.  Running into a barrier shouldn't keep you from trying.  Just look for ways around it.

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Thanksgiving for today
254.  Lorenzo's BBQ
255.  Finding  clean towels
256.  Piano lessons
257.  Being able to use my power chair through the bank drive through

The Most Difficult Thing

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.  The fears are paper tigers."
                                                                                         --Amelia Earhart

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Thanksgiving for today
247.  Kiddos Christmas play practice
248.  Random Acts of Christmas Kindness
249.  Watching our daughter lead worship
250.  Nativity that reminds me of the kiddos Christmas play
251.  Arthur's Pizza and the great waitresses
252.  Seeing others smile in surprise
253.  A warm cozy house