wrappin' it up! day 30...

...and soon I really will be "wrapping!" Hahaha!

This 30 day challenge to turn my complaints into thanks and be grateful for something every day has been a wonderful journey. However, I am so glad it's day 30!

Don't get me wrong, I am truly thankful that I chose to do this and chose to share it with my peeps!
Even if there are only a handful of you out there ;)

So often I go through my days complaining or feeling stressed. I forget to look for God's blessings in my life. Thankfulness is a conscious decision to be made daily.

          Psalm 136:1(NIV) "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever."

          Ephesians 5:20 (NIV) "...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of

          our Lord Jesus Christ."

I set out in the beginning of this month with a challenge to find something to be thankful for each and every day. I found it difficult after the first 10 days, but then I began to find things that I was thankful for that just appeared to me out of the blue...like organization! HA!

Some days it just seems impossible to find something to be grateful for. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in the amplified Bible it reads:

"Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and five thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus."

Gratitude is more than a saying or a feeling...it's a way of life. To have an attitude of thankfulness about everything, even the mundane, can bring us joy. Joy? Really? SURE!

John 15:11 "I have told you this so that my

          joy may be in you and that your joy may be

         complete."

         Nehemiah 8:10 "...for the joy of the Lord is

         your strength."

When I am folding the fourth load of laundry that day, or doing yet another load of dishes, I try to find that attitude of thankfulness. Because it's not what I am doing, it's how and why I am doing it. If I look at it as a chore, it will feel that way. Isn't man's chief end to glorify God and love Him forever? (Thomas Watson)

          1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of 

          God."

I challenge you to look upon your daily tasks with a change of heart...with a heart of gratitude. When you fold that next basket of clothes...think on how many are without warm clothes this winter. When you wash that next dish, think about how many are hungry or literally starving. When you sweep your kitchen floor, thank God that you have a safe home for your family.

          Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell

         God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, 

         which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you

         live in Christ Jesus."

THANK YOU for allowing me this opportunity to share my heart with you! It has truly been a blessing!