Giving thanks when it's hard...

It's been a lovely weekend after a very rainy week.

I think we're sometimes hesitant to be honest and admit that it's easier to give thanks when the weather is to our liking, or to be exact, when our life circumstances are to our liking.

The words of Habakkuk in chapter three amaze me,

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!"

I don't think Habakkuk's words are a natural response of the flesh,

but a supernatural response of the spirit.

The mind and emotions may kick and scream that life isn't fair, 

may want to do anything but rejoice, 

may want to do anything but choose to be thankful, 

but once your will makes a choice I believe the Holy Spirit helps you, 

helps me, to do the impossible...

to actually praise and thank God in the middle of our rainy day, 

in the middle of our messy circumstances, 

even in the middle of our heartache.

So, I'm going to be honest with God and tell Him when it's hard to give thanks,

when it's hard to rejoice,

and ask for His help.

-help to see the blessings in my life through the rain, when things aren't going my way

-help to trust and know that He is in control no matter what

-help to remember that He will never leave me helpless or relax His hold on me

And so, I've made my choice,

 I will give thanks, I will count my blessings, I will rejoice,

even on the rainy days, 

even in the middle of messy circumstances,

even in the middle of heartache.

**************

In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.

In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,

just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.

And so I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#3841-#3867

9-30-13-

-a slow morning after a busy weekend

-texts and facebook messages about how good retreat was

-white pumpkins

-candles glowing

-hot tea in a favorite cup

-Handel's Messiah playing in the background

10-1-13-

-October!

-the sound of rain on the roof

-laughing with my friend when we got caught in a huge downpour as we were going into the Olive Garden for lunch

-hot soup with salad and breadsticks, the perfect lunch on a rainy day

-a fun day with no agenda, just what I needed

10-2-13-

-talking on the phone with my big sister

-a hair cut and color 

-loving texts from the Hubs

-dinner with our dear friend from Ghana, Bishop F.

10-3-13-

-four year old granddaughter having a sleepover with us

-having coffee with our church's Mom2Mom group

-going to our church's prayer night in spite of not feeling well, and being glad I did

10-4-13-

-taking a nap-fighting off a cold

-an open house at our daughter's for our Ghanaian friend, Bishop F.

-a beautiful day after a rainy week

10-5-13-

-spending the day with our two oldest grands

-them going on a run with me

-making one of our family's favorite dishes for Bishop F. and our daughter and her family

-our church leaders and Bishop F. praying together for America

10-6-13-

-Bishop's message to our church about having a harvest mindset

-all our kids and grandkids together for Sunday dinner

-God's help to give thanks in all things

gratefully yours,