How was your week?
Today I was standing in line at Kroger with my husband.
He asked me if I was okay. I mumbled something.
But I wasn’t okay.
I had been running a grocery list in my mind on the drive over.
It wasn’t the grocery list of things I needed to pick up from the store.
As I was standing in line, I let the weight of that list come down on me.
I guess it was written across my face.
At that moment I knew that I needed to start a new list…. a list of blessings.
And I did….right there in line at Kroger.
And then I found myself telling my husband the sweet blessings.
You know what?
My list of blessings is way bigger than that other list.
I also found that sharing my list of blessings made made me feel even better than counting them.
Sure that grocery list I had been running in my mind is significant.
There are some really really critical things on that list.
But, if I keep running them over in my mind I won’t accomplish much more than create anxiety.
Instead…thanking God for what he has done for me lifts my spirits.
Thank God! Pray to him by name!
Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
Sing him songs, belt out hymns,
translate his wonders into music!
Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,
you who seek God. Live a happy life!
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence.
Remember the world of wonders he has made,
his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered—
There are more things you and I can both do…
We can keep our eyes open for God.
We can watch for his works…
We can be alert for signs of his presence.
And we can remember all the amazing things he has done.
[sigh] I don’t know about you….but I feel so much better now.
It’s Joy Day!
Joy Day! is the day when we take time to look back over the past week and count ‘seven.’
‘Seven’ blessings, gifts, the good and the not-so-good things of the past week…we list them and give thanks.
I’ll start….
I’m thankful
- that I didn’t need to go any where the evening it snowed.
- for an email of possibility. Nothing to count on…but possibilities are where God works.
- that my body talks to me. I don’t like what it says…but none-the-less…it keeps me on my toes.
- that God’s word is life to me. (It’s a song we used to sing with “our” kids that has immense meaning now.)
- for cooking with a friend and wonderful meals.
- for my sweet cat who loves to lay across my arms while I type on the laptop.
- for an incredible week on the blog…numbers-wise, and God’s provision to keep things going here.
Okay…it’s YOUR turn!!
Scroll down to the comment section…Share Your Extraordinary Thoughts….and list your ‘seven.’ I can guarantee it will change how you see the world around you. It’s the best!!
Want even more joy? Take the Joy Dare here.
Thank you for stopping by today.
I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day.
Joyfully,
Diane
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It’s so easy for us to become overwhelmed by our lists. Today, I am thankful for:
1. a successful first Mary & Martha gathering! Was so much fun.
2. kids that helped me clean the house for said event.
3. earning lots of free product to give as gifts at Christmas.
4. extra side work for my hubby.
5. small reminders of His love.
6. a kiss from teenage daughter
7. a puppy who keeps my lap warm.
A thankful list is the best kind. Yes?
Thanks for taking time to share your ‘seven’ Barbie. 🙂
I rejoice with you for your success with your gathering.
Enjoy your time and may you bless many through this endeavor.
I am Thankful:
l .That the Lord uses me to help others.
2. That I have been blessed with the support of incredible Godly Women.
3. A sweet post on FB about Mom from my 32yr old son.
4. For my Brother’s support and help.
5. For God’s Grace, Mercy, strength,comfort and wisdom in my time of trial.
6. That my daily needs are met.
7. Thankful EVERYDAY for my full time job and its Health Ins./ other benefits.
6.
Debbi, I rejoice with you in your ‘seven.’ 🙂
God has amazing ways of encouraging each of us through others and it is wonderful that you have a loving supportive family.
May God’s presence be strongly felt in your new week and may he give you the desires of your heart.
Joy & Hugs…
You call it a grocery list, I call it ‘laundry’…..sorting it through and doing it one load at a time is the answer, I know. But I just wanna toss the whole works in the washer and make it all different NOW (you know the end result of THAT is…LOL)….or…ignore it and hope it magically gets changed by the laundry fairy. :-/
My laundry, your list…….yes, gratitude and counting the good helps us change perspectives so we can ‘get ‘er done’. And I’ll trust you’ll ‘get ‘er done’. I will admit it’s worrisome to me when it comes to bodies and health. JUST sayin’…….
JOYS!!
* I get to have the Bug for the weekend!! Joyjoyjoyjoy!!
* I now have two pairs of shoes. Wooohoo!
* It’s warm today…..as in sweatshirt weather.
* I carried a cup of coffee into he-who’s-been-waiting-on-me-forever.
* I can walk a mile in my new shoes. LOL
* The squirrel’s have a nest in the tree out front.
* The sister’s smile–oh, what a beautiful smile.
Hmmm….I like the way you explain my list as your laundry, Mel. Wouldn’t it be great if things would magically come out of the “laundry” changed. 😉
I hear you regarding bodies and health. I’m praying for your healing every day.
The Bug for the WHOLE weekend?!!!! Dance of joy!! And everything else on your list brings me joy for you too! Well…maybe not the squirrel’s nest. [wink]
This has been a really tuff week, and I have been feeling very down, angry and fustrated! I opened your blog this morning and your words hit me right where I needed it.I have many blessings, and lot’s to be grateful for, even when life is throwing me a curve ball!
1. Having my grandaughter spend the night and spending the day with her yesterday.
2. Seeing Christmas thu the eyes of a child the glitter, etc.
3. A wonderful husband who is there for me always!
4 A wonderful vist with a friend last night.
5. Fresh sheets that dried out on the line…what a wonderful smell.
6. The love of a kitten and a puppy sitting with me on the bed as I type this
7. Almost done with my class and one stress gone.
Renee…I could sense that even as you tapped out your gratitude list the worries and cares started to lift. I know we still might have the events and sources of worry and care…but worry and care can leave us. Praying your new week bring unexpected joys and resolution of your challenges. [hugs] Thanks for coming by Renee and taking time to leave your ‘seven.’ 🙂
Hi, Diane, Here’s my seven this week:
1. Having not 1 but 2 reliable vehicles to go where we need/want to go. So many in this world depend on public transportation…or their own 2 feet!
2. Food in the pantry & frig, enabling me to whip up something healthy & good to eat. Most especially for canned pumpkin to make lots of pies, breads, cakes or whatever I decide! (o; There was no pumpkin exactly in South America where I lived several yrs. But a large kind of squash that would do in a pinch!
3. Sunshine! It’s peeking in & out these days & I just love that!
4. A couple dozen deciduous trees & the Autumn Ballet of the Leaves that entrances me.
5. Big, beautiful, fluffy white clouds. I cannot resist checking them out every time I’m outside or near a window, but especially when we’re in the car.
6. A variety of birds stopping by on their migration to sunnier climes.
7. A pastor who faithfully preaches the God of the Bible…& how we can apply the Word to our lives.
Praying for showers of finalcial & spiritual blessings for you & your hubby this autumn. Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills…don’t know what the cattle bring at market right now but God is not limited to even the earth’s cattle barns. His storage barns are so much larger than the earth could ever hold! Thank You, Gracious Lord of Creation!
Sweet Carolyn…there is so much joy in your ‘seven.’
Enjoy baking up pumpkin ‘whatever’ to your heart’s delight. 🙂
God created Autumn to be pretty spectacular with wonderful contrasts. His creativity amazes me.
Thank you for your faithful prayers. I have no doubt that God will bless us. His timing is often a bit different than ours….but he surely knows best. And there is the comfort.
May your joy cup overflow this week and splash everyone around you.
[hugs]
Joy Day
I went to sleep thinking now tomorrow is Joy Day
1 possibilities in an email for my friend Diane
2 God has been raising up over and over Christian friends to show me Christian love…ex. A last minute ride to the dr =No problem! Four friends will prepare my entire annual dinner for 12 and help me set up for I’m not to fret How. I was totally shocked! My Mom got choked up and said Oh Gwen The Lord provides!!!
3. Mom was rushed to the hospital but released that next day. Bloodwork perfect. Had an infection. Sounds good on phone
4. My husband is a handsome, loving Christian man who turned 53 on Friday!!! Pottery Barn issued a gift card for a small sum so I bought the giant dice they have. Oh such fun we had playing Farkle with these huge dice !! And as we listened to Tenth Avenue North sing Weary we began to weep and suddenly my voice lifted in praise and prayer and prayer for healing for close friends and loved ones and thanksgiving. We smiled and played on with Curt winning by 50 points. God is worthy of our praise
5.i needed help picking out toys for my shoebox child and there was a ten year old boy. He took his job of helping so seriously. I talked to him about how God used HIM to help this boy. And did he pray to God? Yes he said. Sometimes in his bed. So I asked him to pray for this boy. We don’t know who he is but God does. We don’t know if he is hungry. Or thirsty. Or if he has clothes. If he’s cold. So we can pray for him. He is somewhere in this world and God knows and God chose him to choose just the right things this boy would like too. And I told him God used me ( hunched over my walker, dragging feet) to help me just at the right moment. The Mom was mouthing Thank you as I talked to this oh so quiet young ten year old. I know God planned that encounter!
6. I was mixed up and crying for help and got help
7. I love Jesus. I pray to continue to grow in Him. To become Christlike. I think my biggest earthly feat would to have my children rise up and call me blessed. That they see Jesus in me. It feels like others see Jesus in me but I long for my adult children to see really see It. Not judge. Not avoid me. Not scold me. But see that despite all my love for Jesus grows and grows in such a new way. I fought to die during CPR this past summer, but Jesus blocked the way by a molded plasticky looking cover over the tube I desperately fought to get in. God must have plans for me. Plans for good and not for evil.
8. My atheist neighbor came to me for advice on how to deal with evil. Pure evil. She wanted to hear hope in Jesus, etc. I prayed. We talked. If for just this moment I was to be kept alive….? God knows.
9. I get afraid. When I am afraid I will trust in You Lord.
Gwen…if you could see me right now, you’d see a cheesy grin on my face. Your ‘seven’ turned into ‘nine’ and they are each bits of gratitude that when shared become joy for not only you, but me too. 😉 I’m humbled that you go to bed thinking about JoyDay! I know you have been through so much Gwen…yet your love for Jesus shines like the noon day sun. And the boy who helped you pick out toys for your shoebox….that was a divine appointment too…I’m pretty sure. And so was the visit from your neighbor and the friends preparing your annual dinner. God is using you in the lives of soooo many.
Yay for your mom’s healing. Praying for Curt as well. [hugs]
This is a great idea, its way to easy to get bogged down in the negative. These are the things that make me happy……plus Coffee.
1.Family that I spent lunch with today.
2. I got all my bulbs planted yesterday and I can still stand up straight !
3. I have people around me that I love and trust.
4. Two of my grown children have married people I am proud to call my children.
5. I am blessed to be able to help my mom and in-laws stay in their homes as they age.
6. I have Gods word to read when the “stinkin thinkin” starts.
7. My husband loves me just the way I am.
Because of your post, I am changing my email signature line to:
Thanksgiving…time to count my blessingS
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence –
Psalm 105:5
I love it!!!! What a fabulous…no… Extraordinary idea!!!!
Hi Diane 🙂 I love that you made your blessing list instead of complaining ( so much better) 🙂
My blessing list for this week is …. drum roll please….
1. My husband is celebrating his 50th birthday tomorrow so Yay!!!
2. My sister is celebrating her 55th birthday tomorrow so Yay!! again 😉
3. I have a temp Holiday job for Thanksgiving and a few days in Dec. so Yay again!!! ( we have lots of yays!!)
4. I think that my husband and I finally found a “home church”” so Praise The Lord and Yay!!! ( note to oneself* Praise The Lord for all of the above also) 🙂 <3
5. We sold a some furniture after less than 30 mins of being on Craigslist woo hoo!!
6. My sister is moving closer by so Yay!!!
7. (( Most biggest Yay!! )) God is Awesome and Always is and Will be!! He Love me!! Praise The Lord !!!
Haha! Babette…you know I found myself in a spot to slide into the whole or do what I talk about all the time! 🙂
Happy BD to your husband and best wishes for 50 more!! And HB to your sis too!!
Congrats on the holiday job! And finding a church! And selling your furniture! And for your sister to move close! Wow! That’s a lot of goodness to be celebrated!!! Yay! God!!
Hi Diane,
Thanks for reminding us that we can always change our focus and our list when we turn our eyes on God and give thanks instead….
Today I am very thankful for the time we had last night celebrating my husband’s birthday with his brother (also his bday month) and his family…grateful the dinner turned out well and everyone enjoyed it…for our girl’s help in the kitchen. Blessings to you 🙂
Thank you for your kind words Dolly!
And thank you for taking time to share you blessings, too!
May your week overflow with JOY!! 🙂
What a beautiful post, thanks so much for sharing! This week I am thankful:
* my daughter has gotten better ( she was ill all last week)
* I am able to homeschool
* that I am a part of a beautiful church that is obedient to the Holy Spirit
* that I have a husband that works hard for his family
* that God supplies all of our needs
* we found a great homeschool co-op in our town
* my new blog is growing
I found you on Works for me Wednesday. I would love it if you shared at my new link-up: http://www.joyfocusedlearning.com/2013/11/anything-goes-link-up-1.html
Thanks for your encouraging words, Angela!!
And…thanks for sharing your blessed ‘seven.’ God is sooo good!!
May your week be filled with moments of JOY!
p.s. Thanks for the invite. 🙂
Diane,
I love your enthusiasm, love for God and outlook on life. I frequently find myself doing a list of blessings in my mind. It can turn the day around in a hurry.
Robyn…you just made my day. I was just telling my husband that I felt like I had lost that part of me and here you are telling me I still have it. Thank you for those warm words of encouragement. Truly. [hugs]
Love the idea of Joy Day♪ My 7…1)healthy new grandson, 2) making some goodies for Thanksgiving, 3) finding a new place for an oil change for my car that’s close to my work and reasonably priced,4) finding out I have a bad power cord and that’s why my computer is being schitzo, 5) cold but sunny outside,6) getting to use up a Groupon on a restaurant,and 7) discovering a method to rid my house of fruit flies! Have a wonder filled weekend♥
Thanks Laurie for sharing your ‘seven’ today. 🙂 I rejoice with you in all your blessings.
May your week overflow with JOY!
[hugs]
Dear Diane,
I stumbled upon your blog by sheer accident, an accident that I think was meant to happen. I am grateful for an extraordinary number of blessings! I am grateful that I found you because I was starting a Grateful Journal and everything I am finding here will help me! I was going to enter one blessing in my life per day, but now I see that I will go where it takes me each day. Thank you. Nancy B
I love divine appointments, Nancy! I am so blessed that this corner of the blogosphere has something just for you. 🙂
It’s so exciting that you are starting a gratitude journal. You will be amazed at what that does for you. 🙂 I hope you can come back each week and share some highlights from your journal for Joy Day!
Wishing you a joy-filled week and a Blessed Thanksgiving!
~Diane
1. Sharing before and after stories Friday night with beautiful and beloved women. 2. Plans for Thanksgiving dinner with childhood friends. 3. Realizing giving grace is knowing what someone did but treating them like they did the opposite. 4. The safety of someone who totaled her car last night. 5. Someone taking the time to say thank you 6. The faith of my 93 year old neighbor whose just been diagnosed with cancer and given 3-6months to live. She is sitting on go. 7. For the Gospel that sets me free from guilt, condemnation and fear.
Cheri, I am rejoicing with you in your ‘seven.’ Each one is filled with grace. God is so good.
May your new week overflow with HIS JOY!
Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving Celebration!
~Diane
LOVE your photos!
I’ve been counting blessings for three years now, into the thousands, and your so right…life changing.
Lisa…that is wonderful! I love that you have amassed a list into the thousands!!
Thank you for dropping by and for your kind words about my photos.
Wishing you and yours a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving! 🙂
Today, I thought “Wow! I am truly blessed to have a husband, that when my hair is falling out, just says hand me the clippers”. He lovely buzzes off the remaining bits of my hair. Then gives me a kiss.
Rona…you really are blessed to have such a wonderful loving husband. I’m so sorry for your hair loss. Glad your husband still sees your beauty.
I don’t know if you realize this…but I am the gal that posts the kitchens on my Longaberger Lifestyle Facebook page that you sometimes comment on. 😉
May your week overflow with God’s JOY!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
What an encouraging post! I am actually counting my blessings from A to Z on my blog’s Facebook page. Today was the letter “V” for victory in Christ. 🙂
I loved the translation of Psalms 105 that you shared. So lovely to “meet you” this weekend! 🙂
I love how you are counting blessings on FB. How fun and inspirational. 🙂
Don’t you love reading other translations? Sometimes it takes a verse and makes it come alive and become even more meaningful.
Thank you for stopping by and saying ‘hi’ Lyli!!
May your week be filled with HIS JOY!!