Pause To Be Grateful

November is a great month to intentionally focus on gratitude. Unfortunately, the world we live in seems to easily focus on the bad, the negative, what's wrong with everything and everyone. It would change our world if we all remembered to pause every day to be grateful for the blessings we all have, for the people in our lives, and for the beauty that surrounds us. There is always something to be thankful for. Will you join me in taking time every day to write down what you are thankful for, for the daily gifts in your life? When you change your focus and begin to look for daily gifts, write them down, and see the beauty in every day, it changes how you see the world. If you don't like to write in a notebook, there are apps that allow you to keep a daily gratitude journal. Yes, life is busy, but it only takes a few moments to pause and be grateful. 

Give Thanks

Speak thanks, make it a part of your every day life.  

Let your life reflect gratitude, in all things.  

Good days, bad days.  

Be thankful.

Remember on this Thanksgiving to put your family and loved ones first, not food, not football, not shopping.  

People.  

They are what truly matters.  

Time with them is precious.  Make your moments count. 

Life is short, appreciate and be thankful for the moments you are given.  

Psalm 100 Living Bible (TLB)

 Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth!  Obey him gladly; come before him, singing with joy.  Try to realize what this means—the Lord is God! He made us—we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  

Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.   For the Lord is always good.  He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.

Colossians 2:7New Life Version (NLV)

 Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him.

Hebrews 12:28The Voice (VOICE)

 Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him. 

Gratitude

Stop

Stop.  

Put your phone or tablet down.  

Step outside.  

Take a deep breath.  

Now, look around.  

Do you see it?  

Do you see the flowers, the clouds, the green grass, maybe a butterfly or bird flying by?  

Don't miss the beauty that surrounds you, everyday. 

Relax.  

Take it in, and let the stress of life go as you breathe in the simple, yet oh so complex, 
beauty of creation. 

Let. It. Go

Worry strips away joy.  Worry puts us in a false reality, often making things worse than they truly are.  Worry destroys our lives.  

Today, decide to let worry go.  Push it out of your life, and close and lock the door behind it.  Work hard to keep it out of your life.  As soon as you find worry creeping back in, actively take steps to overcome it, and send it out of your life.

Focus instead on joy, love, laughter, and gratefully live every moment of this life you are given. Live with purpose and passion, and leave loving footprints on the lives of everyone you encounter.    

The Signature of the Creator

Do you see His signature all around you?  He shares a sunset, a flower, a beautiful lake, majestic mountains, a peaceful prairie, a singing bird, a butterfly, so you know He is there, everywhere.  He cares for you.  He loves you.  He is there for you.  

What's Your Viewpoint?

Perspective affects our lives.  

Do you tend to complain and be angry, or do you try to speak words that are uplifting and helpful?  Are your words negative, or words that of praise and thankfulness?  This world is filled with sadness, ugliness, and hurt, but it is also filled with joy, beauty, and healing.  Which do you focus on?  Which do you speak?

What is your perspective?  

Where we place our trust greatly affects our perspective.  Is your trust placed in yourself, the powers of this world, in others, or in God?  God makes a difference.  He is in control, He will change your perspective if you truly place your trust in Him.

Do you need to change your perspective today? 

What will you do to change your view?  

What steps can you take to see the dandelions as wishes instead of weeds?