What Are You Looking At?

I was sharing with someone about my daily "Thankful Train"...which I've been doing for over a year now. While telling her about my intentional, purposeful daily quest for thankfulness, I realized that my outlook has changed. I start each day in search of the *good* things; anything and everything that pops up to be thankful for. 

Friends, this is not normal for me. I spent most of my life with let downs and a feeling of "not good enough." And let me tell ya, looking at the bright side of the day was never on my radar. I had that, "if anything bad is going to happen, it will happen to me," attitude. I was subconsciously looking for what's "wrong", and lets be honest, we usually don't have to look too hard, negative things seem to be so much easier to notice than the good stuff. It's just human nature. When I accepted JESUS back into my heart and life, I felt a reason to be thankful. I felt forgiven, restored, redeemed, new...whole again. 

I was grateful. Thankful. I decided I'd wasted too many years being negative. I'd been given a "do-over" of the heart and spirit. I no longer had to walk around with a dark cloud of shame and regret following me. 

So today, I'm thankful for the choice to notice and share all the Blessings The LORD showers upon me. I pray that each of you will join me in noticing how many gifts you're given each day...the small and simple as well as the large and wonderful. You have a choice today friends...negative or thankful. 

It matters. 

Choose wisely.

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!"~Psalm 105:1

Jump on the "Thankful Train"...what are you thankful for?

IS YOUR BASKET TOO SMALL?

We walked into the grocery store on Thanksgiving afternoon to pick up a few last minute items to take to the family dinner. Once inside, my husband asked, "Do you think we need a basket?" "Probably," I replied, "we have to get drinks and a few other things." I started walking toward the aisle, while he headed out to get a basket. All of a sudden I hear a loud clanking and rattling sound moving quickly toward me. I turned around to see my husband hunched over the tiniest basket...you know...the kind that the grocery store sets out for little kids to push and shop along side their parents. I started cracking up and said, "What are you doing?" He curiously looked at me and said, "You said we only needed a few things so I though this was the perfect size." I continued to laugh and said, "That's a kids basket!" He didn't seem to care and it made total sense to him, (a few items=a small basket.)

People laughed as he passed by and turned around to stare at the tough looking guy pushing the kiddy basket around the store. We continued to shop as I tried to stay quite a distance in front of him to let it appear as if he was shopping alone. Everything fit inside his little basket perfectly until he grabbed the last item, a large case of water bottles. He had to balance them across the top and carefully hold it as we headed toward the checkout line...passing the smiling onlookers.

In the beginning the basket seemed like the perfect size for the minimal items, but ended up being too small. Your life can be like that tiny basket. You may be limiting the Lord through doubt and self-defeating, destructive thoughts. Your basket of faith and trust may be too small. The negative things you are saying about yourself and others may be hindering the growth in your life.

The Lord has an abundance of blessings and love He wants to shower on you, He is your Heavenly Father. Are you allowing Him enough room to fill up your "basket"? Are you willing to seek a relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and daily scripture study, allowing Him to renew your mind, body and spirit? Start speaking the life giving words of the scriptures over your life and all those you come in contact with. Ask yourself today, "Is my basket too small?" Don't limit the things the Lord has prepared for you.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

" In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." Psalm 94:19

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Philiippians 4:8-9

PRAYER TRIGGERS

I've found there's nothing more important than learning the habit of 'PRAYER TRIGGERS.' This one simple word of advice will be life changing once you begin to form a habit of it. A Prayer Trigger, is something that triggers your brain to instantly pray. When worry, fear, anxiety, doubt, sadness, etc...begins to fill your mind and body, that should instantly trigger you to Pray. No matter where you are, stop what you're doing and say a quick prayer.

example: "Heavenly Father, please remove all these thoughts and feelings that are not of you. Carry my burdens, lift them from me and please fill me with Your complete peace right now, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer overcomes all negative situations, circumstances, emotions and thoughts. Prayer should not only be restricted to the morning and evening. It should be all day. The enemy doesn't limit his attack on you to only certain times. He is filling your mind with negative, self-defeating thoughts constantly. Why should you allow him free reign over you during the day?

Let each negative thought and emotion begin to be your 'Prayer Triggers.' Once this amazing, transforming habit is formed, you will begin to see changes in your daily thoughts. Start today and focus on your personal Prayer Triggers. It's time to let the Lord help you overcome the enemy's devices. You are not alone! He is faithful when you call upon Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Genesis 4:6 "Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Genesis 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

1 Thessalonians 5:6 "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

CLEAN UP THE MESS

Story By Lisa Petrarca

With my hand on the doorknob, I took a deep breath, turned the handle and stepped inside. Immediately taking in several deep breathes, trying to anticipate what awaited me at the top of the stairs. The aroma was strong, but I couldn’t be sure until I rounded the corner. Just as I suspected there it was, three separate spots on the carpet.

I immediately began to yell and scold my dog, who replied with a wailing howl, knowing that she was in trouble once again. She refuses to consistently use the doggy door to relieve herself outside.

There is no rhyme or reason to her behavior; it just seems to be whatever her mood is. This leaves all of us very anxious when we walk in the door.

What would happen if I just left the poop on the floor? Day in and day out letting it pile up…before long it would leave such a stink that it would become unbearable.

Now, lets replace the “poop” with our thoughts & feelings. Have you allowed negative thoughts and feelings to pile up? Do you start your mornings off by filling it with all of the things you need to accomplish? Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, jealous, hurt, angry with your spouse, children, friend, or neighbor?

God wants us to take every thought and feeling captive. Start your morning out talking to Him. Ask Him to help take away all of the negative things that is stealing your happiness. Open up your Bible…read a scripture and start your day right.

You’ve made a choice to clean up the “poop” before you leave the house. You are on your way to taking control of your thoughts and feelings by turning them over to your Heavenly Father and asking for His help.

HE IS THERE TO HELP US CLEAN UP THE MESS!

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.
PSALM 142:1-3


I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “Your are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.”
PSALM 142:5-7