Weekly Gratitude Journal

Just when our nation was at the breaking point due to the effects of a world wide pandemic and the resulting shutdown and economic impact we all watched via video a horrific murder of a black man by a police officer occur. Anyone with a conscience who watched the video has to know that no human being should treat another human being like that. In the days since, our cities are in chaos as protests for George Floyd have now been hijacked by anarchists who don't care what they destroy or who they hurt. The Floyd family is begging for the senseless rioting to stop. 

To be honest, I'm weary of words. I'm overwhelmed and overloaded with social media lectures and chastisement and shaming and finger pointing. Shaming and guilting people never produces heart change. In fact, sometimes it just fortifies resistance. I believe that it takes divine intervention to change the human heart. I believe that real change happens when the Holy Spirit convicts the sinful human soul and a person chooses to repent and to cooperate with God in the transformation and renewing of the mind. I don't believe people will begin to love their fellow human beings by being bombarded with posts on social media. I'm asking God to search my own heart in regards to racism and the way I see, love and treat others. 

How do people handle the brokenness of this world without the strong foundation of God and His love and His care and His truth? I'm so very thankful that He is my refuge and strength. Like the Bible says, "I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living."

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

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)

#13,329-#13,350

5-25-2020-

-our youngest grandson's birthday today!

-a successful and fun Mickey Mouse themed birthday breakfast

-Memorial Day-thank You, God, for those who've laid down their lives for our country

-another loaf of fresh sourdough bread

5-26-2020-

-our granddaughter's back healed!

-time with my grandgirlies

-seeing a huge bald eagle by the river

5-27-2020-

-this beautiful, warm, sunny day

-Jesus-King of Peace and Bridge Builder

-such an encouraging evening of dinner, conversation and prayer with our church leadership

5-28-2020-

-the first butterfly I've seen this season

-blue, blue sky with feathery cirrus clouds

-a sweet sense of God's presence during tonight's prayer meeting

5-29-2020-

-a Friday Date Day drive to the beach

-meeting up with our kids and grands who are at the beach for a few days

-singing to worship music with my guy in the car

5-30-2020-

-a lightening/thunder storm

-cozy candlelight on this gray, rainy day

-the three words reserved for God alone, "I worship You!"

5-31-2020-

-Sunday morning small group

-ordering "to go" lunch and sitting in the car with my guy eating it 

(restaurants aren't open here yet)

-our kids checking on us when Antifa rioters threatened our neighborhoods

still following,