One Thousand Gifts

Thankfulness.  Still after all these months of praising the Lord for the blessings in my life, I find that I often struggle with keeping a positive perspective.  Why is that? Why am I so stubborn?  It reveals to me the depth of the innate darkness that can fill my heart if I am not daily seeking, praying, meditating and breathing in His power and might.

I must think I know something or experience something no one else does in order to preserve my pessimistic attitude. How else can I justify my flawed view of life under God's Grace?

I find it creeps up during the day as the kids get difficult, or when I become aware that my husband might be late, or When I am wiping up the floor for the 15th time that day after someone spills milk, or water, or juice.  I suddenly lose the ability to see my life through a positive perspective, forget I live in a free country, never mind that I can praise my Lord without question, and that happiness is something we enjoy just by living when it comes to a comparison between the US and other countries, or heck my life compared to someone down the street.  Yet, my attitude stinks over the small stuff.  I become complacent regarding the true joys in my life and the abundant blessings God has bestowed, even in my sinfulness.

My hearts longing is that I would find the path to be joyful even amidst the hardest parts of each day, to rise with peace, to move through time with my children with joy and let the difficult or challenging parts of my day roll off without mention, to take them in stride and view them in light of God's amazing Grace.

When I take even just a moment to reflect upon life and its journey through this Grace filled lens I see how absolutely, wonderfully blessed we are and that my challenges and struggles are light in comparison to much greater needs and worries in the world.  Then I consider that in order for my children to attain such a Grace filled perspective I must reflect it to them or they also will grow with the understanding that life, when challenging is not positive, which is so far from the case.  I must model for them the ability to PRAISE God at all times, to see His GLORY in light of all circumstances and to ALWAYS have a heart of praise.

Lord, create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Lead me beside still waters and show me, daily the path to your righteousness so that I might find peace and joy in you.  Keep my eyes looking upward for my happiness rather than around me so that I can overlook the hardships of each day.  Give me your eyes to see and your ears to hear.  Thank you Father for your unending, unconditional Love!
Amen

Blessings
161.  Fall weather which inspires the holiday spirit
162.  Cool mornings, the smell of dew in the air
163.  My precious daughters instant "hi mommy" when she wakes from sleep
164.  Good friends who share God's truth
165.  God's perfect, flawless and inspired word
166.  Scripture's amazing ability to explain itself without error
167.  God's unending promises
168.  The smell of pancakes on Saturday morning
169.  A husband and daddy coming home after several nights away
170.  The joy our children share with one another when excited
171.  3 big brothers saying goodnight to little sister with kisses and hugs
172.  The movement of little brother as he's almost finished forming and preparing for birth
173.  God's perfecting Timing
174.  Sunsets in Arizona
175.  Fresh fallen rain