Thanksgiving is upon us. I am so excited. I love the holidays. As I am sure many of you are doing the same, I have been pondering my blessings. I am abundantly blessed. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty in my life that could be improved, but there is a lot more in my life that I honestly can't imagine having any better because it is so near perfect. As I have been thinking about my blessing I have become my mindful of my thoughts and attitudes towards my blessings. For example; My husband is off work right now due to an injury. I am frustrated that he hurts and so I tend to get mad - it's much easier for me to be mad than worried or hurt. That is some seriously wrong thinking. I have a two year old. A beautiful two year old. But, she is a two year old - terrible twos - but why am I allowing myself to get short with her when I do. Wrong thinking again. My house does not clean itself - I complain -I must have forgot how thankful I am to have a house to clean, how thankful and blessed I am to have a family to clean up after. So, I am having several self talks as I am counting my blessings and choosing my attitudes and responses. I encourage you to do the same. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
D. J.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wow, there is just so much God is showing me right now. It's amazing. As I have mentioned, I have kinda been in a blah pattern for a while. Not really hearing from God, but knowing he is there. I had let my praying fall back substantially, I had not been reading His Word near often enough. I had been more dependent on my own abilities rather than leaning on God's. I think we all get to this point sometimes, it happens a little at a time, so little we hardly notice it until it has grown. So, I started blogging - sharing my experiences hoping to help others, then I got back into singing with our worship team, I made church attendance a must - not just Sunday Morning, but Wednesday, and for church functions. I have just been doing what I know to do, adding a bit more over time.
In doing these things, the walls blocking blessing have been falling all around me. Most recently I have been basking in and enjoying the peace that only God can give. Everything around me is far from "peachy", but I am trusting God to see me through, as I do what I know to do and follow Gods promptings. Last night my eyes were opened to be praying for someone I had no idea I needed to pray for, someone very near and dear to me, for things that I was shocked that needed to be prayed for. My eyes were opened to what has been "attacking" another dear person in my life. I was so prompted to pray and the prompts were VERY specific! This is a blessing to hear from MY God and to know that I know Him well enough to hear His voice. It's humbling knowing that God already knows the needs of these two individuals, yet wants me to pray. He could handle this all on His own, but He wants my prayers.
For the first time in my life, I have prepared a prayer closet. I am so excited. It was another one of those things I felt prompted to do and while it looks really silly, I already find peace there. I am so excited to get into a regular groove of reading His word and praying (journaling) daily. I am excited to meet one on one with my Heavenly Father.
Focusing on God's word for my life - day to day life, rather than on my own stinking thinking continues to be a priority for me. It's hard to be attentive to this at all times, but a must. If anybody has any helpful ideas please let me know.
I pray God's peace for you this week.
Lots of love,
D. J.
In doing these things, the walls blocking blessing have been falling all around me. Most recently I have been basking in and enjoying the peace that only God can give. Everything around me is far from "peachy", but I am trusting God to see me through, as I do what I know to do and follow Gods promptings. Last night my eyes were opened to be praying for someone I had no idea I needed to pray for, someone very near and dear to me, for things that I was shocked that needed to be prayed for. My eyes were opened to what has been "attacking" another dear person in my life. I was so prompted to pray and the prompts were VERY specific! This is a blessing to hear from MY God and to know that I know Him well enough to hear His voice. It's humbling knowing that God already knows the needs of these two individuals, yet wants me to pray. He could handle this all on His own, but He wants my prayers.
For the first time in my life, I have prepared a prayer closet. I am so excited. It was another one of those things I felt prompted to do and while it looks really silly, I already find peace there. I am so excited to get into a regular groove of reading His word and praying (journaling) daily. I am excited to meet one on one with my Heavenly Father.
Focusing on God's word for my life - day to day life, rather than on my own stinking thinking continues to be a priority for me. It's hard to be attentive to this at all times, but a must. If anybody has any helpful ideas please let me know.
I pray God's peace for you this week.
Lots of love,
D. J.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Say "NO" to Stinking Thinking
My goodness, our Wednesday night sermons are so awesome! We are covering spiritual warfare and our pastor is phenomenal at teaching this subject!
I have allowed myself to be consumed now, for quite sometime actually, with negative thinking regarding our finances, my time, my relationships, my personal job performance, my weight loss battle...you name it I was not thinking positive thoughts, I have been constantly worried, frustrated and hopeless. News Flash -- God does not want us to live in a constant state of worry and he certainly doesn't send us ill will. I realized I have been thinking more on the worldly things and have been spending less time in God's word. What a waste of time! That stinking thinking blocks God's blessings. What you think about you bring about! As a man thinks, so he is! What does God say about you! What does God promise His believers? I encourage you find scriptures that point you, your thoughts, your words and your actions to God. Ponder things that are pure, lovely, and true and let God handle the rest! You have to make a daily commitment to this, sometimes hourly, sometime even more frequent! Hold your thoughts captive, when you think a negative, wrong, or worrisome thought, capture it, cast it out and replace it with God's Word!!
By the way, while I have been consumed with this worry and stinking thinking you would never have known it to see me. I am a very happy person, even when I am full of doubt and worry, it takes a lot to get me down. I think it's important that we realize that some people don't "show" and "express" their needs, just because they are happy doesn't mean they don't need prayer, support, and encouragement. The scripture tells us to pray for one another -- it doesn't say only pray for those in need -- pray for one another!
On a final note - those of you who read this, please email your friends and invite them to follow my blog. I want my little personal lessons, experiences and ponderings to help others, the more who know the more can be helped.
Lots of love!!
D. J.
I have allowed myself to be consumed now, for quite sometime actually, with negative thinking regarding our finances, my time, my relationships, my personal job performance, my weight loss battle...you name it I was not thinking positive thoughts, I have been constantly worried, frustrated and hopeless. News Flash -- God does not want us to live in a constant state of worry and he certainly doesn't send us ill will. I realized I have been thinking more on the worldly things and have been spending less time in God's word. What a waste of time! That stinking thinking blocks God's blessings. What you think about you bring about! As a man thinks, so he is! What does God say about you! What does God promise His believers? I encourage you find scriptures that point you, your thoughts, your words and your actions to God. Ponder things that are pure, lovely, and true and let God handle the rest! You have to make a daily commitment to this, sometimes hourly, sometime even more frequent! Hold your thoughts captive, when you think a negative, wrong, or worrisome thought, capture it, cast it out and replace it with God's Word!!
By the way, while I have been consumed with this worry and stinking thinking you would never have known it to see me. I am a very happy person, even when I am full of doubt and worry, it takes a lot to get me down. I think it's important that we realize that some people don't "show" and "express" their needs, just because they are happy doesn't mean they don't need prayer, support, and encouragement. The scripture tells us to pray for one another -- it doesn't say only pray for those in need -- pray for one another!
On a final note - those of you who read this, please email your friends and invite them to follow my blog. I want my little personal lessons, experiences and ponderings to help others, the more who know the more can be helped.
Lots of love!!
D. J.
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