Count Your Blessings

Thanksgiving is the day that millions around the US take time to think about what they are truly thankful for; nice sentiment but shouldn't we be thankful more than just one day a year? Well this November my church has challenged us to spend the entire month of November in a state of thankfulness. One month out of 12 still does not compare to living in a state of continual gratitude for what the Lord has done and continues to do for us daily but 30 days is better than 1.

For me, being thankful should mean more than just saying the words, it should be an attitude, a thoughtful reflection. So for my thankful month I have decided to make it much more personal; instead of simply saying I'm thankful for my family or my health, the Lord laid it on my heart to take it a step farther. For each and every single day this month I want to be thankful for something specific each day. I want my thankfulness to be genuine and real to me personally.

Although these prayers are personal, I thought I would share them with whoever happens to read this blog. Maybe it will give that person a chance to take a look at their own life and find those things they are grateful for and see the many blessings we are given each and every single day. Enjoy my list and if you would like to comment please do it, I'd love to hear what you are thankful for!

Nov. 1st: Today I am thankful for the amazing weather! I got to spend the day hanging out with friends outside enjoying Your wonderful creation. I need to take more time to marvel at the beautiful world you have given to us.
Nov. 2nd: I realized today have grateful I am that You have guarded my heart in each and every realtionship I've ever had. Break ups can be a mess and watching my friends go through them is heartbreaking but it made me take a step back and see that You've protected me from this devistation and I'm truly thankful.
Nov. 3rd: It was a little more difficult today to come up with something genuine to be thankful for...everyday-life feels like routine and nothing exciting going on but my thing I'm thankful for today is to not only have a job when most don't but that the job I have is so laid back I spend my days reading books I enjoy and I am being paid for it. I am so ready for a new job but at the moment I want to take time to see the blessing that I have right in front of me.
Nov. 4th: Tonight I was reminded of Your forgiveness. I taught a lesson for the junior high about not being a hypocrite, about living a life of integrity. (these lessons seem to speak more to me some nights than to the kids) I hate to admit it but I am a hypocrite some days and I don't always live with that integrity...thankfully I have Your forgiveness that is freely offered if I simply confession and change my ways. How awesome it is that we have the opportunity each and every day to turn over a new leaf which allows us to progress to a better, more Christ-like woman or man.
Nov. 5th: I take for granted the simple fact that I can go work out...today I am thankful for my health and the ability and desire (most of the time) to go workout. There are so many people who are dying because they don't take the time to take care of the vessel You have given them; thank you for the wake up calls You so politely give :)
Nov. 6th: I am truly blessed to have amazing friendships; the kind of friendships that are so valuable and authentic that I am able to be a shoulder for them to cry on and them in turn for me. That is such an unbeliveable gift that I never want to take for granted.
Nov. 7th: Today I went shopping...I am thankful for the things I got but more than that I am blessed to be so financially stable that I can go out and buy the things I want. There are so many who can not even afford the things they need and I am able to get new dresses and belts. I don't understand Your reasons but I do need to remind myself how truly blessed I am.
Nov. 8th: I am thankful for a full week of overcoming one of my temptations. I know there is nothing I can do on my own and I thank You for that perserverance and never giving up on me even when I don't have those awesome weeks.
Nov. 9th: I'm so grateful that You give us eyeopeners...those AHA moments when everything seems to come together. Everything in the world may not make sense but for that brief moment it feels like You are confiding something in us that no one else knows and that personal private realization is priceless.
Nov. 10th: Claire!!! I am so thankful to have Claire as a friend. She is an amazing, godly woman who encourages, challenges, and loves me. A simple voicemail from her brightens up my day and I don't know if she realizes how much her friendship means to me. I am blessed with such awesome friends and I need to take more time to tell them how grateful I am for them.
Nov. 11th: We are celebrating Veteran's Day today and while I'm thankful for the freedoms that these men and women have fought for and the men and women who fight on a daily bases to protect them, today my heart is burdened by the families of those brave soliders. I am grateful to these wives, children, parents, husbands, and siblings who have to say goodbye to these soliders and never know if its their last goodbye. I am thankful for their sacrifice. They are to be honored today along with their beloved soliders.
Nov. 12th: