Apart from immersing myself in Scripture, starting a gratitude journal has been one of the most life-giving practices for me this past year. January 2017 was devastating for me in a lot of ways, and it marked the beginning of quite the rollercoaster of a year. I’ve found my heart has softened so much over the past year, and that I am becoming a more joyful and compassionate person as a result of keeping this list of blessings. I hope to continue making additions to this list forever.
In this journal, I record anything I am grateful for and anything I love— big or small, simple or profound (A lot of mine happen to be coffee-related. Coffee coffee coffee).
1. Hot mug of coffee warming chilly fingers
11. Moonbeams
37. The smell of lilacs
52. Lungs that inflate
84. Kind words from someone: “You always brighten my day”
199. Compassionate acts
223. Forgiveness
272. Laughing hard with girlfriends
307. Joy that comes from the Spirit
352. Moments that make your breath catch
421. Surrenduring to the unknown
440. Being in love with life
463. Cardamom lattes in Cannon Beach
505. Cotton candy clouds at sunset
542. Those who make me a better person
592. Mistakes: portals of discovery
623. The guts to go for it
633. “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream”
645. Cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies
658. Life-giving conversations that last for hours
668. Four words: “Let there be light”
674. An able body and a sound mind
Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our “Yes!” to His grace.
Thanksgiving is necessary to live the most whole, the most full life.
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
Philippians 4:11-12
We have to learn how to be thankful, whether empty or full.
The full life of giving thanks— this is the secret to living joy in every situation.
God never withholds gifts from us. He gives and gives and gives. Gives love, grace, peace, hope, joy… They’re always there for us. These aren’t things we earn by doing good works. They are freely given, no matter what we do. God gives gifts, and we give thanks.
We only deepen the wound of the world when we neglect to give thanks.
-Ann Voskamp
I encourage everyone to start some sort of gratitude practice, whether it is keeping a gratitude journal, or taking a few minutes each day to count your blessings in prayer, or picking one person each day and telling them all the ways you’re thankful for them, etc.
Practicing thanksgiving is transformative, and eventually it becomes second nature.
To everyone who has offered their support: thank you.
Thank you for your prayers, for your encouragement, and for your donations. I feel so blessed!
I am 25% funded at the moment, and I have nearly reached my first financial goal of $5,000. Feel free to keep the donations and prayers coming, they are so appreciated!
Thank you for being a part of my story, and for trusting the story that God is writing through me, through my squad, and through this ministry. Thank you for your partnership and for your investment in His Kingdom.
God Bless you all!
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