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Friday, November 1, 2019

EMBRACING GRATITUDE

It's NOVEMBER already, when many of us look forward to Thanksgiving Day at the end of the month (the last Thursday), a day set aside to "give thanks" to God and others. There are also some, who begin the beginning of November, focusing on "giving thanks" daily. Then, there are quite a few that have made this a daily habit of having an attitude of gratitude, looking for "things" - "gifts" in each day.

It's been said that if you begin a new discipline and do it regularly it can become a new habit, but truthfully "on average, it takes more than 2 months (66 days)  before a new behavior becomes automatic" contrary to the 21 day myth ... I guess it depends on the behavior, and the reason for this 21 days was to inspire and encourage you to make any change feasible. 

We try to teach our little ones to say "thank you" when given something when young so that this habit becomes part of their response throughout life. And, of course, the needed response of "you're welcome" forms and develops the beginning of understanding that daily we can find at least one thing, one time, to say thanks, and multiple this a thousand times to our Lord, God Almighty that has provided EVERY THING to us! For me, it's counting His blessings ... our daily blessings from our first breath when we awake to every little and big thing that happens throughout our day. I want this attitude of gratitude so much to be a part of me, that I just don't want a day or a month, I really want to EMBRACE Gratitude as part of who I am, as a child of God! I desire to follow Ann's example in her well-known book "One Thousand Gifts" and the habit that many started upon grabbing hold of this beautiful, heart-felt book to "dare to live fully right where 'we' are". Here's what the book description begins with and over a million copies sold:

"New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts."

Ann Voskamp and Faith/Study Gateway
even decided to make this available as an
Online Bible Study
starting
November 18th through December 22nd
(5 weeks)
{with book, study guide and weekly video teachings plus freebies for joining}
Session 1 Attitude of Gratitude
Session 2 Grace in the Moment
Session 3 All is Grace
Session 4 Trust: the Bridge to Joy
Session 5 Empty to Fill

On November 4th
Ann Voskamp
will be giving a Premiere of
ONE THOUSAND GIFTS
on her Facebook page
9 PM (EST)


There is so much left to
EMBRACE
in
2019
and definitely not enough days

but

I'm thankful that GRATITUDE is an important one
to embrace and carry forward in my life journey
so that I'm wanting to approach this
Thanksgiving and Christmas
season
with
my eyes on Jesus
counting my blessings
while
seeking JOY in what
really matters

I couldn't find a better example than
Ann Voskamp 
to show me, lead me
help me
EMBRACE
Gratitude

So now

How do I go about embracing gratitude?

I've read and heard that by:

  • Starting a gratitude journal. ...
  • Being grateful for life's hardships.
  • Making gratitude a lifestyle. ...
  • Being intentional with appreciation. ...
  • Living in the now. ...
  • Focusing on the positive. ...
  • Clearing my mind. ...
  • Realizing that gratitude is not dependent on “stuff” ...
are the first basic steps

I've learned only one of these (maybe two) as part of my life
so it looks like I have much to do still
Hope it's not too late
to make gratitude my lifestyle
Accepting Ann's Invitation!

and look what else I found besides the 
Bible reading plans at You Version


Crosswalk.com
has
30 Days Prayer Challenge of Gratitude
Jesus Calling/ Jesus Always
10 Day Gratitude Challenge
and many
others, I'm sure


I have the ones above, however, I'm very intrigued in the one with Maree Dee (although I don't know her and it's from 2018), she certainly has what I believe I need to EMBRACE ... gratitude in the midst of the unexpected so that's where I am headed until November 18th ... 


Now that's enough to fill your calendar and few spare minutes

yet it doesn't take any time 

to find at least one thing

and whisper

Thank You, Lord!

every day


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Bless you for your visit and encouraging words! I thank you and I am humbly blessed by YOU and the time you spend with me... Peace, "Mazmagi" Peggy