Weekly Gratitude Journal

Let's be honest. It's a daily challenge to wade through all of the fear, negativity, strife, chaos and confusion going on in our world right now and to stay focused on Jesus and to stay filled with His peace. I have to make a daily choice to turn off the negative noise and to fill my mind and heart with the things that are true and lovely and excellent in God's eyes. Giving God thanks is an indispensably valuable tool in times like these.

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

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

#13,419-#13,440

6-22-2020-

-Jesus' care and provision for us

-a brief encounter with the cheeriest little girl and her mama on my walk today

-big yellow butterflies

6-23-2020-

-God's help when I feel stuck in my prayers

-holding my youngest grandson while the older grands enjoy time in the pool

-s'mores around the backyard fire pit

6-24-2020-

-sweet time with our two middle grandgirlies

-finding two five dollar bills in the road on our walk to the park 

(two grandgirlies so excited to spend their find!)

-a huge answer to prayer for a physical healing for our great nephew

-God doing a deep work in our church leadership

6-25-2020-

-Psalm 139

-new glasses ordered

-an encouraging Zoom meeting

6-26-2020-

-a sweet Friday date day

-the most beautiful drive to the beach

-a walk, (and a talk with Jesus),  by the sea

6-27-2020-

-loving my new glasses

-listening to encouraging worship, prayers and messages when I feel heavy hearted for our nation

-holding my grandson

6-28-2020-

-a trip to look forward to

-God working in hearts and lives

-knowing that we can trust God in these chaotic and uncertain times

still following,

Praying For Our Nation

Next Saturday, July 4th, 2020, here in the United States we will celebrate our 244th year as a nation. I'm not sure that in all of the years that I've been alive that there's ever been a more tumultuous time in our land. Because of that, I felt led to focus on some scripture based prayer points that we could all use in intercession for our land.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, June 28th, at Woman to Woman Ministries, where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with:

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Susan B. Mead

Sue Moore Donaldson

Weekly Gratitude Journal

Restaurants and stores are open in our county now-a bit of life returning to "normal."  But things still feel surreal as we don our masks to go out in public and as we see the rise of violence and unrest in our nation. I want to be aware of what is happening in our world, obedient to what God would have me to do and I want to also live with His peace ruling my heart and mind in the midst of the chaos. It doesn't always come easy. I have to keep my mind filled with God's word and worship and also remember to notice His blessings and take time to thank Him-all of which remind me that God is in control and can be trusted with all that concerns me.

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

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

#13,396-#13,418

6-15-2020-

-the comfort of God's Word during these trying times

-the promise that all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose

-ministry friends 

-a sweet time with our three year old grandson

6-16-2020-

-talking to my friend who's been out of state 

-God's care and provision for us

-a quiet evening in a week when every other night is full

6-17-2020-

-phone conversations with my siblings

-oldest daughter and two middle granddaughters finally getting to see their youngest nephew/cousin

-walking and praying with my friend

6-18-2020-

-a really good night's sleep

-dinner IN our favorite mexican restaurant

-powerful presence of God in prayer meeting

6-19-2020-

-a beautiful day to walk around Lake Sacajawea

-good news about a loved one

-dinner with friends 

6-20-2020-

-encouraging prayers

-hanging out with our oldest granddaughter

-the first day of summer

6-21-2020-

-God at work in us and our church

-a fun Father's Day gathering with our family

-our awesome grandkids

still following,

Our Father God

"that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." 

John 17:23 NKJV

The gospel of John, chapter seventeen, is Jesus' prayer to His Father. In verse twenty three of John seventeen Jesus prays that His followers will know that the Father sent Him and that the Father loves them just as He loves Jesus. Pause and think about that for a moment. Your Father God loves you just as much as He loves His Son, Jesus. How mind blowing and heart healing is that! 

Growing up, I actually didn't think much about Father God. When I thought of God I always thought of my Savior and Friend, Jesus. The truth is, Father God was a stranger to me, much like my earthly father became to me in the years after he left mama and us kids for another woman. I knew he was still my dad and that in some way he still loved me, but the truth was, in the real ways that a good father cares for, provides for, protects and is interested and involved in the life of their child, my father was no longer there for me. It wasn't until I was married with children of my own that one Father's Day weekend, mourning my lack of a close relationship with my own father, I suddenly realized how well Father God had cared for me in my dad's absence. He had cared for, provided for and protected me in very real and evident ways. I realized that all along, my Father God had indeed been interested and involved in my life. There hasn't been a Father's Day since, that I haven't paused to thank God for being such a good Father to me.   (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, June 21st, at Woman to Woman Ministries, where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with:

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Susan B. Mead

Sue Moore Donaldson

Weekly Gratitude Journal

Well, this past week's gratitude journal is full of entries pertaining to the newest addition to our family, grandchild number eight, our fourth grandson. He's eight days old today! I've got a full day today, so I won't linger long here and will just get right to posting this past week's journal entries. Just a note to anyone who might read this, during these times of difficulty in our nation and our world, keeping a daily list of God's blessings is such a good way to battle discouragement and despair. Why not give it a try?

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

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

#13,373-#13,395

6-8-2020

-our daughter and newest grandbaby doing great

-baking a birthday cake with my grandson to celebrate his little brother's birth

-God's speaking to me about how He sustains me via Psalm 3

-praying and worshipping with my grandson before bed

6-9-2020

-waffles piled high with fresh strawberries and whipped cream

-God's blessing of affordable help with some yard work

-our new grandbaby is home from the hospital and we finally got to "meet" him!

 big brother age 6

big brother age 16

big sister age 17

 Nana

Papa

 Auntie and youngest cousin, age 18 months

 cousin, age 3

the siblings all together

6-10-2020-

-my grandson holding and singing to his new baby brother

-my oldest grandson holding my youngest grandson

-the cousins meeting their newest cousin

6-11-2020-

-an especially sweet time with the Lord in my quiet time

-baking my oldest granddaughter's favorite red velvet cake for her birthday tomorrow

-bringing my daughter and newest grandson to their postnatal check-up and they are both doing great!

6-12-2020-

-our oldest granddaughter is seventeen today!

-the two middle grandson's, (cousins), so excited to get to play together

-youngest granddaughter fascinated with this new "living doll baby" that has joined our family

-a wonderful birthday dinner for our granddaughter hosted by friends

6-13-2020-

-a bouquet of hydrangeas from our backyard

-going antiquing with a friend - some of the shops nearby are open now!

-our grandson finally conquering learning to ride a bike!

6-14-2020-

-a couple in our church so excited to tell me about God's faithfulness to them through the coronavirus shutdown

-baby grandson's first outing

-God's work in us even through the hard things

still following,

Truth to Lean on When Life Gets Difficult

We are living in chaotic times, We are still going through the effects of a world wide pandemic and the resulting disastrous economic impact from the quarantine/shutdown. On top of that we are in a time of great civil unrest, division and strife. Like you, I have thoughts and opinions about all of the above. But, if you're like me, you've had more than enough of people's opinions. (Social media overload, anyone?)  What you and I need, is wisdom, guidance, hope and help from God Himself. Today, I thought I'd simply share a portion of Scripture that is written for times like these.

" Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, June 14th, at Woman to Woman Ministries, where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with:

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Susan B. Mead

Sue Moore Donaldson

Weekly Gratitude Journal

Right in the middle of this time filled with chaos and strife in our nation and world, God gave us our eighth grandchild, making the final count a nice even four boys and four girls. He was born a month early, but is doing great as is our daughter. He weighed in at 5 lbs. 8 oz. and is 18 1/2 inches long. Unfortunately, we haven't met him yet, (neither have his siblings), due to the coronavirus restrictions at the hospital. We are all very excited for his mama and him to come home!

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

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks, 

piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.

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

#13,351-#13,372

6-1-2020-

-it's June!

-time with our two youngest grands

-finding tv shows we both enjoy

6-2-2020-

-finding boxwood on sale to replace some old scraggly shrubs

-God's Spirit flowing through me when I get stuck in prayer and have no words

-physically hard work in the yard and staying away from social media is a great stress reliever

-neighbors popping by for a visit as I worked in the yard

6-3-2020-

-God's provision for a medical bill

-a walk and visit with G.

-three year old grandson saying to his mama, "Mama! My heart is so happy! God loves me!"

6-4-2020-

-the joy of looking forward to the birth of eighth grandchild

-a rebate in the mail

-praying together

6-5-2020-

-my daughters sending me photos of the grands that make me smile

-a movie that made me cry

-our county starting to "open up"

6-6-2020-

-blooms on my spider plant

-a long enough break in today's relentless rain for a walk

-my husband home from an overnight trip

6-7-2020-

-church!

-eating lunch INSIDE a restaurant

-our grandson, born a month early, but he and mama are doing great!

still following,