So I haven't posted anything for a really long time, even though I meant to. Oh well, those first few posts really helped me put things into perspective. There's so much to be thankful for even when we don't think so. God throws a lot of unexpected things in our way, but He never gives us anything that we can't handle, and that is a lesson that I am still learning. I am still trying to truly trust that. Life isn't always easy, but I know that in the end it will all be worth it, when we are with God for eternity.
A lot of times I let my past haunt me, and that sounds like something really bad happened, but it didn't, quite the opposite really. I have such amazing memories, and oh too often I let my memories keep me hanging on too tightly to my past. We don't want to forget what has happened to us, but we don't want to let it keep us from living our lives now. Things are going to change, and we don't need to like it, but it needs to happen to allow time to go on. It might hurt at first, but once we realize that this is life now, we'll see how amazing it really is. How wonderful everything is, even what seems like the worst.
It's just over a week until Christmas, and I am happy to say that I feel as though I am really in the true spirit of Christmas this year. The Christmas season didn't come a moment too soon, and not a moment too late. It's been wonderful!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
On the first day of Christmas I am thankful for...
I knew this would happen. I knew that as soon as I got into the swing of things I would stop writing in this, but I'm still going to try. It's the first day of December, and really time to get into the spirit of giving, and a spirit if happiness and thankfulness.
I am so thankful right now for God's grace. No matter what I do, He still loves me, and will never let me go. Even though I am a sinner, God still wants me, and He still works through me. I have a friend who was going through a tough time, and God has allowed me to hopefully help him. I don't know if he's really alright, but I'm still praying that he is.
I haven't had the best times recently, but I'm learning that maybe I am, and I'm just not seeing it. I'm also learning that God has put people all around me who can help me out in anyway they can. I sometimes have a tough time opening up to people, but I am slowly getting to know that there are people all over my life who I can open up to, who love me and will always be there for me.
I have seen God at work so often in the past month or so, and it amazes me at how much He can show me when I'm not necessarily trying to see anything. He has taught me that I don't even have to try to open people's heart to Him, because I can't, only God can do that, but if I have a Christian attitude all the time, I can do my part without even trying. God has shown me that He loves, and He cares, no matter what happens. My eyes have also been opened by God to the love all around me, and the caring where I thought it would be the least likely to find. I love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and I know that He loves me even more.
I am so thankful right now for God's grace. No matter what I do, He still loves me, and will never let me go. Even though I am a sinner, God still wants me, and He still works through me. I have a friend who was going through a tough time, and God has allowed me to hopefully help him. I don't know if he's really alright, but I'm still praying that he is.
I haven't had the best times recently, but I'm learning that maybe I am, and I'm just not seeing it. I'm also learning that God has put people all around me who can help me out in anyway they can. I sometimes have a tough time opening up to people, but I am slowly getting to know that there are people all over my life who I can open up to, who love me and will always be there for me.
I have seen God at work so often in the past month or so, and it amazes me at how much He can show me when I'm not necessarily trying to see anything. He has taught me that I don't even have to try to open people's heart to Him, because I can't, only God can do that, but if I have a Christian attitude all the time, I can do my part without even trying. God has shown me that He loves, and He cares, no matter what happens. My eyes have also been opened by God to the love all around me, and the caring where I thought it would be the least likely to find. I love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and I know that He loves me even more.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Gratitude Journal-Day 5
Gratitude Journal-Day 5
Today was one of those days that you just don't know where the day went. I'm thankful for these types of days though, because they allow you to take a break from business, and just relax for a little while. I'm grateful for the time that I've had to relax and replenish my energy this week off of school. Often times I let myself get so busy and so overbooked, and I get extremely stressed, it is weeks like this when I am able to remind myself that "This too shall pass".
I tend to worry very often, about things that aren't worth worrying over. Recently though, God has been giving me comfort, and teaching me to that I can always turn to Him. I haven't been as worried lately, and I am so grateful for that.
Today was one of those days that you just don't know where the day went. I'm thankful for these types of days though, because they allow you to take a break from business, and just relax for a little while. I'm grateful for the time that I've had to relax and replenish my energy this week off of school. Often times I let myself get so busy and so overbooked, and I get extremely stressed, it is weeks like this when I am able to remind myself that "This too shall pass".
I tend to worry very often, about things that aren't worth worrying over. Recently though, God has been giving me comfort, and teaching me to that I can always turn to Him. I haven't been as worried lately, and I am so grateful for that.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving Day
So today I'll take a break from my usual Gratitude Journal, and talk about Thanksgiving. I realized how truly blessed I am today right before we sat down to eat Thanksgiving dinner. My Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, and I were all standing in our kitchen around our countertop. It was covered in so much food, and my youngest cousin read a prayer that my Grandmother had printed out for our Grace. I really understood the true meaning of Thanksgiving as we bowed our heads, and prayed. She didn't say all of the words correctly, because some of them were rather large, but that made it even more authentic. I think that a lot of times in the past years during Thanksgiving, I didn't really truly grasp what it meant to be thankful, but this year I really felt the meaning of Thanksgiving.
There are so many memories that I have that are from Thanksgiving, or this holiday season, and I look forward to it every year. The music, the family time, the friend time, the snow, the trees, the lights, the turkey, the food, everything gives me such a sense of nostalgia, and I absolutely love it. Even though Thanksgiving is over in just a few short hours, I hope that I can keep the thankfullness that I have in my heart year round.
There are so many memories that I have that are from Thanksgiving, or this holiday season, and I look forward to it every year. The music, the family time, the friend time, the snow, the trees, the lights, the turkey, the food, everything gives me such a sense of nostalgia, and I absolutely love it. Even though Thanksgiving is over in just a few short hours, I hope that I can keep the thankfullness that I have in my heart year round.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Gratitude Journal-Day 4
Gratitude Journal-Day 4
So today I've been thinking about traditions, and different seasons. I'm extremely thankful for the things that make certain times of the year oh so special. There are certain things that have happened year after year for me during certain holidays or times of the year, and it makes me so happy when they happen again, and so excited for them to happen. The Christmas music that I listen to every year makes my heart swell, and though I so desperately want to listen to it earlier and earlier this year, I have to stop myself, because if I don't, then it's not as special anymore, and it loses the meaning for me. There are certain things that I will not allow to be changed. For instance, as we were getting the house ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow, my dad suggested that we make the cranberry chutney tonight, instead of tomorrow, and I instantly said no. Every year for almost as long as I can remember, I wake up on Thanksgiving morning, get dressed, and go downstairs and help my daddy make the cranberry chutney. I am so thankful for the traditions and memories of different holidays and times of the year that make life so special!
So today I've been thinking about traditions, and different seasons. I'm extremely thankful for the things that make certain times of the year oh so special. There are certain things that have happened year after year for me during certain holidays or times of the year, and it makes me so happy when they happen again, and so excited for them to happen. The Christmas music that I listen to every year makes my heart swell, and though I so desperately want to listen to it earlier and earlier this year, I have to stop myself, because if I don't, then it's not as special anymore, and it loses the meaning for me. There are certain things that I will not allow to be changed. For instance, as we were getting the house ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow, my dad suggested that we make the cranberry chutney tonight, instead of tomorrow, and I instantly said no. Every year for almost as long as I can remember, I wake up on Thanksgiving morning, get dressed, and go downstairs and help my daddy make the cranberry chutney. I am so thankful for the traditions and memories of different holidays and times of the year that make life so special!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Gratitude Journal-Day 3
Gratitude Journal-Day 3
Today I'm really thankful for people. People who I don't know, people I do, I'm just thankful that God put us all here in this world together. Today I went to a flea market with two of my best friends, and there was a man there selling phone cases, he had cases for all three of our phones, and he was really nice. It made my day seeing somebody in such an upbeat mood!
I'm really grateful for the ability to solve conflicts. God sends us little trials to get closer to Him, and He also gives us the ability to overcome the trials. It's not always noticeable, but there is always a way out. "This, too, shall pass"
Today I'm really thankful for people. People who I don't know, people I do, I'm just thankful that God put us all here in this world together. Today I went to a flea market with two of my best friends, and there was a man there selling phone cases, he had cases for all three of our phones, and he was really nice. It made my day seeing somebody in such an upbeat mood!
I'm really grateful for the ability to solve conflicts. God sends us little trials to get closer to Him, and He also gives us the ability to overcome the trials. It's not always noticeable, but there is always a way out. "This, too, shall pass"
Monday, November 22, 2010
Gratitude Journal-Day 2
Gratitude Journal-Day 2
I'm extremely thankful for my memories. A lot of who I am can be found in the memories I have. The best times of my life so far are in my memories, and I never want to have to give them up. When so many things have changed, the past is the one thing that will always be the same no matter what, and even if things are going badly now, I can look back and think about amazing fun things from my past. My memories are a humongous comfort to me, and I constantly think about them. I don't think I'm the only one who thinks about the past a lot, but I believe that I am one of the only people who looks back on the past for comfort. Even some of my saddest memories can make me smile, because they brought me closer to somebody, or because things are better now.
I'm grateful for the present, too. The time I have to live right now is a gift, and we can never be sure of how much longer we'll have to live. I'm thankful that I have time to spend with the people in my life, and time to get to know God better.
Another thing that I'm extremely thankful for is my Christian faith and the love of Jesus. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and there isn't anything better than that, nothing compares to Him. God will always be there for me, and He will always love me. He loves us so much that He sent His one and only begotten Son to die for us.
I'm extremely thankful for my memories. A lot of who I am can be found in the memories I have. The best times of my life so far are in my memories, and I never want to have to give them up. When so many things have changed, the past is the one thing that will always be the same no matter what, and even if things are going badly now, I can look back and think about amazing fun things from my past. My memories are a humongous comfort to me, and I constantly think about them. I don't think I'm the only one who thinks about the past a lot, but I believe that I am one of the only people who looks back on the past for comfort. Even some of my saddest memories can make me smile, because they brought me closer to somebody, or because things are better now.
I'm grateful for the present, too. The time I have to live right now is a gift, and we can never be sure of how much longer we'll have to live. I'm thankful that I have time to spend with the people in my life, and time to get to know God better.
Another thing that I'm extremely thankful for is my Christian faith and the love of Jesus. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and there isn't anything better than that, nothing compares to Him. God will always be there for me, and He will always love me. He loves us so much that He sent His one and only begotten Son to die for us.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Gratitude Journal-Day 1
Gratitude Journal-Day 1
So I'm going to start something new, and from now until Christmas I'm going to try and post about at least one thing a day that I'm thankful for.
I'm so thankful for my friends. All of them. I am in awe at what amazing friends God has given me. I have people who I can turn to about anything, people who I can always have a good time with. They genuinely care about me and they want me to be happy. I was standing in church this morning watching, listening, and singing along to many of my friends singing praise songs, leading our congregation in worship of the Lord, and realized how amazing they all are. This isn't the first time that I realized what wonderful people all of them are, it happens quite often. Even though I sometimes feel like there's nothing good going on, I should remember how amazing these people are. For a while I was having kind of a tough time with finding friends who care, and who want me to be happy, but recently God has given me some of the most amazing people ever.
I'm also thankful for the church that I am a part of, and my fellow Christians. I have been extremely blessed in the recent years with showers of love and care from people all throughout the church. My Christian faith has grown a lot in the past couple of years, and I have so many people who are growing with me and so many people who are leading us. It's through church that I met and became close to many of my best friends. God has been pouring out blessings through the church for me, and sometimes I don't even realize how amazing they all are until they're gone.
My family is always there for me, and I am extremely grateful for that. I know that I can always talk to anybody in my family, and even though we don't always get along, we love each other, and there isn't anything that I would change. It's simple, the way we care about each other, I am the oldest of three children, and though we have our arguments, I wouldn't trade them for the world. My parents always care about us, and always want us to be happy, and they are amazing parents.
There's a lot to be grateful for in the world, and sometimes I don't realize it, because sometimes I let my troubles cloud the way for them. I really am blessed in my life.
So I'm going to start something new, and from now until Christmas I'm going to try and post about at least one thing a day that I'm thankful for.
I'm so thankful for my friends. All of them. I am in awe at what amazing friends God has given me. I have people who I can turn to about anything, people who I can always have a good time with. They genuinely care about me and they want me to be happy. I was standing in church this morning watching, listening, and singing along to many of my friends singing praise songs, leading our congregation in worship of the Lord, and realized how amazing they all are. This isn't the first time that I realized what wonderful people all of them are, it happens quite often. Even though I sometimes feel like there's nothing good going on, I should remember how amazing these people are. For a while I was having kind of a tough time with finding friends who care, and who want me to be happy, but recently God has given me some of the most amazing people ever.
I'm also thankful for the church that I am a part of, and my fellow Christians. I have been extremely blessed in the recent years with showers of love and care from people all throughout the church. My Christian faith has grown a lot in the past couple of years, and I have so many people who are growing with me and so many people who are leading us. It's through church that I met and became close to many of my best friends. God has been pouring out blessings through the church for me, and sometimes I don't even realize how amazing they all are until they're gone.
My family is always there for me, and I am extremely grateful for that. I know that I can always talk to anybody in my family, and even though we don't always get along, we love each other, and there isn't anything that I would change. It's simple, the way we care about each other, I am the oldest of three children, and though we have our arguments, I wouldn't trade them for the world. My parents always care about us, and always want us to be happy, and they are amazing parents.
There's a lot to be grateful for in the world, and sometimes I don't realize it, because sometimes I let my troubles cloud the way for them. I really am blessed in my life.
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