Weekly Gratitude Journal

Life is never all beautiful or all ugly. Usually it's a combination of both, the ugly and the beautiful. The darkness and the light are both a part of our everyday lives. What keeps us stuck in hopelessness, helplessness and despair is focusing on the ugliness in life, the dark and difficult things, to the point that we lose sight of the beautiful. The first shift of focus that we need, that I need, is to look up. When my focus shifts off of myself and my circumstances and onto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of my faith, the Beautiful One Who gave His life for me so that I can live and walk in a real, vital, living relationship with the Creator of the Universe, then my circumstances can be seen in proper perspective. My eyes become unveiled to the beauty and blessings that God has placed in the midst of life's messy and difficult days. 

Yesterday, I had a glorious morning of Bible study and heart communication with God. My whole mindset was shifted from discouragement to hopefulness. It seemed as if the whole day I was enveloped in God's  peace and presence. 

Today I woke up anticipating more of the same. My husband had an early morning meeting, so I got up and went to our corner Starbucks, bought myself a Venti Americano, and came back home anticipating a quiet morning with my Bible and journal. I was also hoping to spend some time preparing my heart for a church event I'm leading tonight. What actually happened is that I spilled that great big Americano coffee all over my light colored bedroom carpet. I spent the morning cleaning the carpet instead of enjoying a quiet morning. That dark, ugly mess on my bedroom carpet could have become my focus and could have set the course of my whole day. At exactly the same time that I was cleaning up a big mess, my husband was having a very encouraging and hope filled meeting that confirmed some things the Lord had already been speaking to us both. Beauty and blessing were happening simultaneously with mess and frustration. It was my choice which one of those two things I would hold onto, would focus on, for the remainder of this day.

This world is daily declining further into chaos and confusion. At exactly the same time, God is working in people who's hearts are committed to Him and His ways. He is maturing His church, those willing to let Him do so, so that they will shine in the midst of the darkness. I can focus on the sin sickness of the world or on the work of Christ in me and His people. My focus determines my attitude which determines the direction of my day. Today is a good day, coffee spills and all. In the middle of my mess, I see God's beauty and blessing all around me. And I will thank Him with all of my heart.

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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)

#15,794-#15,815

6-6-2022-

-a book I've been wanted gifted to me from my friend

-a beautiful morning quiet time

-a nice long walk

-dinner with my nephew and his family

6-7-2022-

-our youngest grandson who is two years old today!

-God's provision-I never take it for granted. Thank you, Father!

-eating, meeting, praying and planning with my Visionary Leadership Team

6-8-2022-

-strawberry season

-friends that pray

-a good visit with my oldest daughter and granddaughters

6-9-2022-

-a quiet morning with Jesus

-a sale on soy wax for making more candles

-an encouraging phone conversation

6-10-2022-

-laughing together

-cozy candlelight on a rainy spring day

-the rose bush I planted with my grandson full of yellow roses

6-11-2022-

-God helping me to have a really productive day

-pot roast slow cooking in the oven

-a nice chat with my sister who is home after a month long trip to Europe

6-12-2022-

-our oldest granddaughter is nineteen today

-and my big sister is seventy today

-discovering the cutest little plant shop not far from where I live-(I bought a new plant!)

still following,