Sometimes It's Easy....

I'm still counting my blessings....on my way to finding joy and thankfulness....even when the hard and difficult times come.....thankful in every circumstance.

I've found that it's not quite so difficult to find blessings when things are quiet and comfortable. But, when the storms come it is sometimes not so easy to look and see beauty in this world that I can say I am thankful for.

That is when my journal comes into hand....looking back and seeing how God has always been faithful to me and knowing that He will remain faithful. He has never lied to me, never led me astray.

He is not the one who changes or lies or reneges on a promise. No, He is constant.

It is the world--sometimes me that changes and looks at this life from a view that is not God's view.

And, so I continue in my quest to attempt to view the world, myself and others as God does. For only He knows the total truth, the answer to every question, the ease and peace to every worry and anxiety.

#49 to 54

a granddaughter who makes me laugh and smile every time I see her--she is

great joy

my son who went grocery shopping for me (and bought everything on my list)

because I was tired and already had enough on my "to do" list

spontanteous laughter with several friends at church

yarn of many colors

listening prayer

healing of past wounds

Please visit Ann and perhaps you will find yourself starting to count your blessings along with her.

Beth

Blessings

And so it is Monday again....already!!

#42 to 48

Roses that still bloom in October with droplets from

a recent rain

Shelleen singing her heart out for

The LORD

The colors of Autumn

Time to just be me without distractions from

the world

Smoke from my neighbor's chimney

I know he is warm

Lydia saying "NaNa" for the first time

Homemade cinnamon rolls

(Thank you, Pam!)

On My Way....

Monday to Monday---

All I can say is that this has been a rough, long week. I cannot believe that it is Monday morning again....amongst the trials, busyness and yes....some laughter thrown in for relief....there are still blessings and thankfulness to be counted upon:

#34 to 41

clouds just before sunset with colors splashed through

fallen leaves upon the deck

a tree near my work with glorious autumn tuning

the very first shipment of squares for the homeless project

three children who love and support one who has done them

much harm

being able to pray for someone who has caused me much

hurt

playing an entire song on the piano with no mistakes

people gathering together to help those less

fortunate than themselves--and doing so with

joy

Have a wonderful day--and remember to be aware of the blessings that come your way throughout your journeys.....

Beth

On My Way to One Thousand Gifts

On this rainy Monday morning, I look back over the week and find that I have much to be thankful and grateful for:





#18 the soft touch of a baby's skin while she is sleeping

#19 time for relaxation and just being me.....finding joy and hope in myself that I didn't
know was there

#20 meeting new children

#21 a friend who loves and cares for me--sometimes in spite of myself--a friend to laugh, cry
and share with

#22 the Holy Spirit's guidance and counsel in my life

#23 healing prayers

#24 raspberry colored clouds in the sky

#25 the knowledge in my heart that God loves and cares for me--I matter to Him,
and even when I think otherwise, His plans are the best because He knows the
outcome and I don't

Beth

Catching Up.....Blessing Upon Blessing

Friday: A wonderful beginning and stressful end to the week....started with a migraine driving on my way home from work--couldn't see properly out of my right eye (the aura that starts the whole thing). Came home--took some medicine--went to bed praying that the pain would not become intense and last for the entire weekend. Stayed in bed all Friday evening....the pain did come, but at least my vision cleared.

Saturday: Residuals left from the headache--a dull ache in my head and some nausea. Still carried on with my plans and went to breakfast with a friend. We went to the Soda Jerk in Hummelstown and wandered around a few shops. The headache intensified--we were both tired--came home and took a nap. Awoke with the headache.

Sunday morning: The headache was still there--praying that this will go away--I have a meeting to attend. This headache actually woke me up at 3 a.m. Took some more medication and back to sleep--slept through church and the meeting!! Woke up--still some residual--dull, throbbing type pain behind my right eye....

Sunday afternoon: Finally woke up again....Andrew is home from his camping trip....finally feeling more like myself. Read a little bit, made cinnamon rolls (recipe from Pam),
then back to bed until this morning.......

And so the week begins--not much accomplished this entire weekend, but at least the headache is gone....just in time for me to return to work!!

Moving on with "One Thousand Gifts":

#7: Wearing a red tee-shirt, I stepped outside and sat in a deck chair. I closed my eyes and raised my face to the sun. I felt and heard a "whirring" noise next to my right ear. Upon opening my eyes, I saw a tiny hummingbird--wings moving so rapidly to create the "whirring". I have never before seen a hummingbird near my home. I suppose the red tee-shirt had this little one thinking I was a feeder. Now, I'm going to start my own CHRISTmas list--'hummingbird feeder'.

#8: Wind chimes blowing softly in the breeze--a melody that is written by God just for me to hear.

#9: 'Popeye eggs' for dinner which took me right back to good memories of my children when they were young. The next day at work, someone mentioned what they had made for their evening meal the night before. I said that I made 'Popeye eggs'....and my youngest, Lindsay (who works with me), said: "And did they make you think of me?"....and yes, they did....

#10: Rain

#11: Ducks quacking on the creek as they and I awaken.

#12: Cool evenings of sleeping with the windows open and blankets to snuggle under.

Beth

Gratitude

Monday's will begin to look a little different around here. I've blogged for a time, stopped for a time, and then began again. I have had good times, bad times, and in between times. I can honesty say that I have spent more time bouncing back and forth between the bad and the in between times, and less time focusing on the good times. They are there--definitely there--but I tend to lose my focus.

I do not suffer from the "have nots". Through a very long learning process, I've come to realize that what I do not have I basically do not need.

What I do suffer from is the "just nots"--the just not rights, the just not good enoughs, the just not 'perfect' enough, the just not worthy enough for God to love me. I know in my heart that He does truly love me, but from time to time I slip back into these patterns--old tapes playing over and over in my mind......lies.....lies told to me by others and then used by Satan to try to bring me down.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to believe these lies.....having been told them by those who meant a lot to me....those who should have loved me unconditionally and did not.....those that I loved.

I am healing.....slowly healing....learning to replace these lies with the truths from God.

I sometimes find myself overreacting to situations or words spoken by others.....situations and words that take me back to places that I thought I had put aside....places that I thought were healed....obviously they are not totally gone.

I have tried to take the word "why" out of my vocabulary because sometimes there isn't an answer just within my grasp. Only God knows the answer to all of my "whys". So, I rest in the assurance that there are reasons for my "whys", and perhaps I don't need to know right at this very moment.

And so, I begin again...

As I'm looking around the world of blogging, I discovered a blog that I had not seen before. This is Holy Experience. And in this blog I found the "Gratitude Community".

Yes, I am thankful. Yes, I know of all the blessings that God has bestowed upon me....the very obvious blessings. But, have I thanked Him for all of these blessings? Sadly, I can say that the answer is "no".

Blessings come in all sizes--from the smallest to the largest. And so the Gratitude Community.

There are a few suggestions listed in this blog regarding your own list of gratitudes:

1. Pray that He will open the eyes of your heart.

2. Begin giving thanks for the daily washing in the fountain of His gifts--a scrap of paper or journal. Notice and write down from the obvious to the little. And begin to feel more joy, less stress, better health, more connected in your relationships, and more delight in your everyday life.

There is more detail regarding this at the Gratitude Community. If you are feeling as I do sometimes, if you just want to really be thankful and grateful for all that you do experience every day, if you want to feel more joyful and less stress, if you want to find wonderment in your life every day, I would suggest stopping by and reading some of the posts and lists of thankfulness.

Today, I begin my own list. I've kept a 'gratitude journal' in the past. But, this is a new list--starting this morning.

1. Lydia's laughter and her dimple in her left cheek.

2. Friends who care for me deeply and understand and do not care if I cry....cry in times of

sadness, happiness or for no reason at all. These tears have been held back for too long

and I am thankful that my emotions have returned.

3. After a particularly stressful morning at work, I walked outside during lunch. There was

an orange and black Monarch butterfly just sitting on a bush. I walked closely towards it,

and it did not fly away. I thanked God for showing me this, and the realization came

upon my that I am a new creation in Jesus Christ--not just on the day I accepted Him

as my Savior, but each and every moment of my life.

4. A very blue sky with puffy white clouds.

5. Sitting on my deck each morning with a cup of coffee and watching the world come alive.

6. A spider web--intricately woven--with drops of dew hanging from it. An awe-inspiring

sight.

7. My love of music--a gift from God--and how He speaks to me so often through music.

Thank You, God for showing me these things and opening my heart and eyes. I pray that You will continue to point me to You through the beauty of Your creation, Your people, Your very presence in my life, and replace the lies with Your truths.

And the list will continue on next Monday.......

Beth