In EVERYTHING – Give Thanks

I stopped by a friend’s home a few days ago. Understandably, she is distraught because her high-school-senior-son is missing out on his final year of baseball, as well as missing out on his Senior Prom. And she went on to feel sorry for those college students who are delayed in their graduations and other friends who are having to cancel or postpone their weddings. I get it. It’s a difficult and disappointing time for so many.

I responded to her by telling her about my morning “aha”. I know this is TMI (too much information), but it’s my truth. I say: “I am sitting on my toilet this morning. I am pooping. I say to God: ‘Thank you so much for my system working so good. Thank you for this toilet. Thank you for the water in this toilet. Thank you for this bathroom that has a door on it and it’s indoors. Thank you for water to drink. Thank you for my home. Thank you for my lights. Thank you for technology. Thank you for YOU, God – Who promises to never leave me or forsake me.’”

She got the picture. And, so do you. It’s expressing gratitude for what we do have. It’s seeing the bigger picture that this all will pass and we’ll be telling our grandchildren about the 2020 pandemic. We will talk about the faithfulness of God Who brought us through while telling them about those who got very sick and many who lost their lives. This time will go down in the history books.

Yes, we are inconvenienced. Yes, we are missing spending times with friends and family. Yes, we miss going to church and concerts and sports games and restaurants and previously planned events. Yes, we want to go back to “business as usual”. Yes, we want our “normal” to be normal again.

But, instead of what we don’t have or what we don’t get to do – let’s consider what we do have. So, what to do when we don’t know what to do? We count our blessings – even name them one by one. I mean it. Since you’re at home with your kiddos – why not play the “I am so blessed” game. “You have one minute to tell us what you’re thankful for!” I did the exercise. I gave myself one minute, using my phone app. Ready! Set! Go!

I heard my dishwasher running. I wrote down "dishwasher". My eyes went to my piano that Papa played, I play, and our grandson plays. I wrote down "piano". I was seeing -- I wrote down "my eyes", and hearing -- "my ears"; I was sitting in a comfy chair -- "my furniture"; I saw my computer -- I wrote down "computer and internet". I glanced over at my refrigerator -- I wrote down "refrigerator".

When we express gratitude, rather than being bugged and annoyed by this time when we can’t do anything about it in the natural, we can express to God how thankful we are for what we do have. A grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges and blessings they have. The grateful heart is like a magnet that collects reasons for gratitude -- for the paper clip to hold those pages together; for the milk in our cereal; for the song that soothes us; for the clock we hear ticking; for the light that turns on; for the car that takes us to the OPEN grocery store. Thank you, Lord!

May this time of uncertainty and inconvenience, become a time of really being thankful people for what we do have. May we choose gratitude as a habit that we choose daily as a way of life – even after this crisis is over. May we be overwhelmed with the beauty and abundance of all God has given us!

Amping Up Gratitude Through Appreciation

Gratitude just can't be emphasized enough. Radical gratitude means we’re going to walk through life being grateful in every situation, no matter what — in times of plenty, when times are tight, when times are good, bad, right, or wrong. We can develop an attitude of gratitude by choosing to be grateful in every situation. The attitude of radical gratitude actually can become a ministry when we realize how well it serves others.

We know those clergy "ministers", but, you and I, as believers, are also ministers. When we minister to someone, we are serving them. The Latin word for minister is "servant". Every Christian is a minister, which means we serve others. And that ministry can be called the "ministry of appreciation".

Here's what I know about appreciation and depreciation. If you’ve ever bought a car, you know the meaning of depreciation. The moment you drive it off the lot, it’s worth less than what you paid for it, even if it’s a brand-new vehicle. Depreciation means to decrease in value. But, APPRECIATION means to raise in value. When we appreciate our spouse, we raise their value. When we appreciate our kids, we raise their value. When we appreciate our boss and co-workers, we raise their value to us and to the company. When we appreciate our friends and those who serve us at a store or business, we raise their value.

We can make a ministry out of raising the value of people simply by appreciating them. I’ve discovered that everyone needs massive doses of encouragement. I’ve never met anybody who’s said, “Oh no! I don’t need a compliment! I have too many. Please, stop! I’m too affirmed. Don’t give me any more.”

We ALL have a need to be affirmed, to be loved, to be appreciated — and so does everyone else. If we want to be used by God, here’s one way: Affirm everybody. Appreciate everybody. Show gratitude to everybody. BTW -- I sure do appreciate YOU, my beloved social media friends and family!

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

Wondering What God’s Will is For Your Life?

I saw this Fall embellished version of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – read it, took it to heart, and, whoa-la -- my blog for today! Thanks, God, for the inspiration! I love it when I see and hear from Him. I’ve always said, my blogs are for me AND you!

Clearly, this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5, speaks more about God’s will being in our actions than His actions. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for THIS IS GOD’S WILL for you in Christ Jesus.” When we do our part – staying in a mindset of rejoicing, pursuing Him in prayer and having an attitude of gratitude IN ALL circumstances – we can let go, and LET GOD! BTW – notice the scripture says “…give thanks IN all things” not FOR all things. So in the middle of an illness or a crisis of some kind….right smack dab IN the middle of “the things”, we thank God for His goodness, love, mercy, and grace. That is HIS will for us.

God knows the beginning to the end of our story and when we live in sheer resolve to keep Him up front in our lives – His will, just naturally, is a part of every action, reaction, decision and follow-through. But, dear Lord, how can I rejoice ALWAYS, pray CONTINUALLY, and give thanks IN ALL circumstances? That sounds like a waaay over-the-top, unrealistic challenge! But God never speaks in “impossibilities”. He is always "all things are possible” speaking! I believe that we can ALWAYS purposely focus on our heart’s attitude. It expresses itself throughout the day with silent prayers of vital communication with the LORD. We can always be "on line" with God so when the Holy Spirit moves us to pray, we can instantly agree with Him. When in agreement with the Holy Spirit, we are praying continuously. The heart attitude of praying without ceasing means an ever-open heart to the Lord’s leading.

If we are praying without ceasing -- even while driving, changing the baby, washing dishes, or running a lawn mower -- we can be open to the leading of the Spirit when He urges us to pray for something or someone. We all need a refresher course in clearing our heads and hearts to hear directions from Heaven-Central! And, when we stay connected to the “hot line” by rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks in all circumstances….we can be assured God’s plans and will are being done on earth as they are in heaven.

Where we are – He is and when we trust Him as we’re doing our part to rejoice, pray and give thanks – He gives us peace and understanding. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6). Get that? We’re “IN ALL HIS WAYS” when He gets our attention. We don’t have to look far or go far --- because He’s already there.

Welcome, Fall. Welcome, Change

Sandwiched between blazing summer and chilly winter, fall is the "cooling off" season. The rain brought CHANGE to us quickly here in Frisco. When I arrived back home from a quick trip to Austin, my home was so chilly that I put the fireplace on. My kids came over and smelled the “pumpkin spice” aroma that is in my air freshener and pumpkin spice coffee was ready to brew. Soon, the leaves will be changing colors. Last month, it changed on the inside of my home. My little fall vignettes are pictured here.

I've always loved decorating my home with seasonal changes. September isn’t too soon for me to decorate my home with harvest and fall decor'. Most of all, I love the heart of gratitude that naturally comes with it. And, wonderful things happen when we are grateful. It not only brings honor to God when we speak of His goodness, but our faith seems to soar to new heights because that attitude of gratitude opens shut doors and brings joy into the open windows of our souls.

With leaves changing colors, changing our home's decor', changing the a/c to heat, changing our summer to fall wardrobe, we know that change is inevitable. It's not only about accepting the changes, but I say triumphantly, “BRING IT ON!” We all experience changes and I’ve found that accepting those changes with gratitude makes the changes bearable. Like the birds I see flying South for the winter, my sweet grandchildren, Braden and Ruth, are changing their “habitats” with their move to Austin on October 24th. Thanks, God! I know You orchestrated that one. Their home in Atlanta sold in less than three days on the market. Ruth’s application for a NICU nursing position in Austin was not only immediately accepted, but she received a substantial pay increase, The first home they saw was perfect and they’ll be moving in without any delay. And, to top it off, Ruth’s “triplet” sister lives within five minutes of their home. Yes, thanks, God! You showed off on this one!

Sometimes “change” is wonderful, and sometimes “change” isn’t so easy. In fact, it can be downright painful. When my husband graduated to heaven, my status changed from "married" to "widow". I've learned that we should expect changes because it's that part of life that we CAN'T change. Change is inevitable, so why not begin to accept the changes with the grace that God gives us, and be thankful that He will carry us through those changes -- to an even better place of destiny and purpose?

Maybe we should begin our change from dissatisfaction and opposition to change, to the willingness to accept change. What if this month of October we started a NEW season of gratitude and thanksgiving? I don't know what tomorrow and its changes will hold for me, but I know I'm sensing God camping out with me in this atmosphere of thanksgiving. Once again, I hear Him saying "Trust Me. I've got this....in every CHANGE of life."

Start With Gratitude and End With Gratitude

Start and Finish With Gratitude
Yesterday, this picture and message was posted on my cell phone timeline by Facebook. FB said this was the first photo I ever uploaded from my phone to FB five years ago today. That made me smile because this is the week of Thanksgiving, and it seems that I was in the gratitude and thanksgiving mode at this time five years ago.

It is a product of our upbringing and circumstances that we are "by nature" either complainers or praisers. Most people would agree that we have a lot to be grateful for. After all, most of us live a lifestyle of conveniences. We live in comfortable homes, wear nice clothes, and have reliable transportation. We have no shortage of clean water or healthy food. We have access to quality healthcare and education, and basically live a good life with a lot of freedom, safety and security.

It’s easy to take these wonderful blessings for granted and sometimes get into the bad habit of focusing on what we don’t have while millions of people around the world live without the basic necessities of life. I remember our missions trips to South Africa, Belize and Mexico, visiting those who lived in small huts and cardboard dwellings with a minimum of conveniences and witnessing children digging for food and anything worth selling in a city dump. Lord, may I remember them, especially when I even start to complain about ANYTHING!

Those without a place to live would love to have a home to clean, yet a homeowner is likely to complain about cleaning their home. Someone without transportation dreams of having a car to drive, while someone who owns a car is more likely to complain about the cost of maintenance and unexpected repairs. It is so easy to forget how blessed we are!

Just think about the blessings we often overlook -- like getting dressed on our own, driving to work, going to the grocery store, sending emails and text messages, and hundreds of other routine activities of life. It’s where the majority of our time goes, so why not learn to show gratitude for them? Choosing an attitude of gratitude not only honors God…it’s good for us!

No matter what, it's possible to BECOME grateful -- even if it's not our natural "bent", but it does take discipline. It's like learning to dance or play an instrument or any habit that is formed -- it takes practice and doing it over and over again. The reality is that a grateful heart will make way for EVERYTHING we encounter to find the good in it, and, best of all, it opens the door for blessings. We just have to replace complaints and fault finding, with praise and thanksgiving. I love Nancie Carmody's thought-provoking words that turn complaining to thanksgiving:
I AM THANKFUL
...for the mess to clean after a party because
it means I have been surrounded by friends.
...for.the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed.
...for the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means I have enough to eat.
...for my shadow who watches me work
because it means I am out in the sunshine.
...for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that
need cleaning and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home.
...for the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking.
...for my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
...for all the complaining I hear about our government
because it means we have freedom of speech.
...for the lady behind me in church who
sings off key because it means that I can hear.
...for the piles of laundry and ironing
because it means my loved ones are nearby.
...for the alarm that goes off in the early morning
hours because it means that I'm alive.
...for weariness and aching muscles at the end of
the day because it means I have been productive.
-- Nancie J. Carmody

Fall is Almost Here!

Fall is Just Around the Corner
Yesterday, the cooler temperatures made for a brisk, refreshing morning walk. I had my peppy, jubilant face on and I’d exclaim to other walkers “Good morning! Isn’t this a gorgeous morning?” I sensed I was being powered by a heart of gratitude. I turned a “routine” walk into a charged-up expression of joy. I became very aware of so many reasons to be thankful.

I noticed a beautiful, stately cat sitting in a position of “king on the mountain”, observing everything like a watchman over his domain. Immediately that made me think about My Heavenly Father Who keeps a watch over me….and you. Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” I breathed in that morning, crisp air. The fact is….I COULD breathe without devices to help me breathe. I was walking – that was a huge blessing, because since I broke two toes, it hurt too much to wear closed shoes. The day before yesterday, I was having an irritated, scratchy throat. Yesterday morning, the sore throat was gone. I heard dogs barking (they like to be ferocious watch dogs inside those protected fences, but I’m sure they’re all bark and no bite). The fact was, I COULD hear them barking. I saw gorgeous scenes – sunflowers galore, and a single yellow rose growing on a rose bush. I always like to think that’s my sweetheart reminding me of our forever love (yellow roses were our favorite). Most importantly, I COULD see. Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Fall/Autumn really is my favorite time of the year. I sense, just around the corner, the leaves will begin turning into their gorgeous colors and soon we'll be able to turn up the thermostat in our homes. We'll start thinking about our families gathering together, and all the other beautiful symbols of this upcoming season.

The most beautiful part of this upcoming Fall season is that attitude of gratitude that comes along with it. I was lavishing in it yesterday. And that gratitude should include thanking God for the season He has us in – right now.

Every day is a gift, and whether that day includes joy, happiness, peace and comfort or whether it's stress-filled and challenging -- we know it's a part of this season that God has us in -- and in this season God is working ALL of the season for our good. Regardless of what season we are in, let's savor everything that it holds -- because THE ONE who controls the seasons, is THE ONE who will carry us through each one. So, let’s turn up the volume on gratitude. Wake up that heart of gratitude and let’s amp up our bodies, souls and spirits to the goodness of God, the blessings He’s given us and our todays and tomorrows that are in His hands. Happy Fall, Ya’ll!!!

Thankful to "Thank" My Way Through Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving week when we amp up the hearts of gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. This morning I woke up and......oh, let's begin there. I woke up. I got out of bed. Oh, I'm so thankful for my bed and a good night's sleep. I got out of bed. Oh, I got out of bed all on my own. I went to the restroom. Oh, I could go to the restroom all on my own, and my "plumbing" worked.

Whew! I think you can see what I mean. Hearts of gratitude START with being thankful for each detail of our lives. Of course "the usual" -- thankful for God, family, friends, home, car, clothes...... but seriously -- go beyond those. Let's START this week with this little exercise. Get a stop watch and set it for one minute. Now, you have one minute to name as many things as you can that you are thankful for. On your mark, get set, GO!

I did the exercise, and gave myself one minute, and as I started the stop watch, I heard the dog's paw prints running through the house. I said, "I can hear." I heard the dishwasher running. I said, "dishwashers". My eyes went to the piano that Payton plays and I said, "piano". I was seeing -- I said, "my eyes". I was sitting in a comfy chair -- "furniture". I'm cozy and warm in my daughter's "home". I saw my computer -- I wrote down "computer and internet". I glanced over at the refrigerator that holds food -- I wrote down "refrigerator and food".

In reality, literally everything from the breath we breathe to the bills we pay is a celebration of thankgiving. The bills we pay? Seriously? Oh yes, because those bills represent something to be thankful for -- a car payment (we have a car); a house payment (we have a home); an electrical bill (we have a warm home). Everywhere we look, we see things to be grateful for. And, when we live in an attitude of gratitude, rather than being bugged that the computer is too slow, we say, "I'm so thankful for my computer". Instead of complaining about our "old" car, we say, "I'm so thankful for a car." Instead of saying "I have nothing to wear, we say, "I'm so thankful for my clothes." Instead of complaining about our boss or a co-worker, we say "I'm so grateful for my job."

A grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges and blessings they have.

The grateful heart is like a magnet that collects reasons for gratitude -- for the paper clip to hold those pages together; for the milk in our cereal; for the song that soothes us; for the clock we hear ticking; for the light that turns on; for the safe drive home; for the clean water from our tap, for the time we had with our loved ones. Thank you, Lord!

May we choose gratitude as a habit that we choose daily as a way of life. May we adjust our lens and see our lives and our world through the eyes of a grateful heart. May we be overwhelmed with the beauty and abundance of it all. When we live with that kind of gratitude, we will experience Thanksgiving Day.....everyday!

The Attitude of Gratitude

I've loved seeing FB posts by many of you who are expressing 30 days of gratitude in this month of Thanksgiving. Others are just randomly posting how grateful they are for their faith, God's love and life's sweetest blessings -- their family, friends, their health, their precious times together making memories -- all those things that money just can't buy.

I love it! And, if you and I have let that attitude of gratitude slip us by, just maybe it's a perfect way for us to start our day and week -- this week -- with simple words and thoughts of gratitude!

Zig Ziglar was such a dear friend and such had such a tremendous influence in our family's lives -- in so many ways. You could tell where he came from -- and that an attitude of gratitude was right up there in his values. What was Zig's secret? Zig's widowed mother of eleven raised her children alone. Though extremely poor, Mrs. Ziglar instilled a strong work ethic in her children and raised them to believe that both she and God loved them. She also taught her children to practice saying "please" and "thank you." Those lessons stuck. Her formula of work, love and faith made their difficult lives easier and enjoyable.

Zig said, "When we neglect to require our children to say `thank you' when someone gives them a gift or does something for them, we raise ungrateful children who are highly unlikely to be content. Without gratitude, happiness is rare. With gratitude, the odds for happiness go up dramatically."

And even more so, how much our Father God wants to bless His kids as He sees our attitudes of gratitude! To acknowledge Him for not just the big things, but all the daily blessings in each and every day.. So, today, I'm starting with saying "Dear God. Today I woke up. I am healthy. I am alive. I am blessed beyond what I deserve. Thank you."

No Peace -- No God! Know Peace -- Know God!

I spent the last week thinking about, preparing for and putting on a Spring Dinner Party for 14 of my girl friends. I wanted to celebrate Spring and celebrate them. So, I put together a great meal, if I do say so myself, made sure my Spring decor' was out, planned fun games, made little potted plants and butterfly bookmarks and my Avon rep friend made special little gift packages for each lady. I pulled out all the stops -- in fact I used my best china -- the bowls, plates, dessert plates, cup and saucer plates, tea and water glasses.

The night before, everything was set up and ready to go, except for baking and cooking the meal. The first thing on Thursday was to get my baking started. No sooner did I open the oven door to put the first batch of cookies in, the handle on the door came off and so did the glass door. OH ME! What's a girl to do? I prayed. God's wisdom showed up for me and, all except the handle, I put the door back together again with electrical tape. Who knew that electrical tape wouldn't melt from the high heat? I sure didn't need that interruption, and it was sure a work out to open the door carefully for every batch of cookies, rolls, baked chicken, but I made it!

The night was a complete success! I insisted that the girls NOT help clean up. This was their night. Besides, I like to take my time cleaning up. Remember I said I used all those dishes and glasses? I rinsed my first batch for the dishwasher and got it started. Then, when I turned on my garbage disposal, the sink only bubbled up and then BAM....the disposal crud, and all that water blasted out from under my sink!!! The pipe broke and it was like Niagra Falls coming with all that yuck accompanying it. I had the good sense to turn off the faucet and quickly get towels and more towels to clean up the water, pull out all the under-the-sink cleaning supplies, and put out my large, crud-filled kitchen rug on the back porch. But, alas, no sooner did I have all that cleaned up than the dishwasher water started to drain, and again -- Niagara Falls came blasting out again! Holy Mackeral -- Holy Niagara Falls! By 1 am, I had all the water cleaned up, and ALL the dirty dishes washed in my laundry room sink! I'm still using the laundry room sink until the plumber comes out. I thought about the folks whose homes were under water because of floods. How could I complain?

I could have gotten myself in an all-out tizzy if I had let myself go there. But, what would have been the use? Wherever we are, wherever we go, whatever we do -- we will encounter "stuff". It's life. Life throws some crazy things our way. But, the bigger picture is.....what are we making of those times? I could have easily allowed the enemy to win rather than remembering the beautiful night I had given to my sweet friends. I was so grateful for the fun we had. I was determined to be in the Winner's Circle at the end of these shenanigans, so I made sure to exude an attitude of gratitude no matter what. When we do that, blessings and God's favors can happen right in the middle of those times if we think and believe, "This will work out for my good, because I sure do love God and this is no surprise to Him!" Good things will come out of this.

Living with a heart of gratitude, keeps the heart and mind from looking at what we don't have, to what we do have -- and in that place, I've come to experience love, hope and peace that gives me the "knowing" that whatever happens, God is surely a part of the equation to bring about beautiful things for me, as well as for those that God sets up as "my assignment". No pain, no drain, no rain -- no complain -- JUST GAIN....when we KNOW God! We KNOW Peace!

Who Are You Hanging Out With?

Day 349 of Photo Inspirations -- Who Are You Hanging Out With?
On Saturday, I went for my monthly weigh-in at Weight Watchers.  For 30+ years, Weight Watchers has been my accountability and sustainability partner to keep this girl in line when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight.  I reached my goal weight many years ago, but I still go in to be sure I'm still at goal.....and, it's a great way to be sure I'll stay on point for the Christmas holidays.

I've been wanting to highlight one of Weight Watchers leaders, Renny Berry​, for quite some time, and on Saturday, after visiting with him just a few minutes, I knew now was the time.  Often, when I go in for my monthly weigh-in, I see Renny there -- Mister Cheerleader extraordinaire -- ever cheery, energetic, effervescent, upbeat, and enthusiastic.   On Saturday, when I went in -- he was his usual self -- going to each member as they came through the door with hugs and doling out life-giving words that made each one feel like they were sincerely loved and appreciated.

Yes, we were "drinking the Renny koolade".  His computer was down so he couldn't help most of the ladies, but because I'm a lifetime member, he could weigh me and note my progress.  That's when I was able to tell him how much he blessed me each time I came in and how I would sure like to interview him for my blog.  He told me he could sum up who he is in one word.... "GRATITUDE".  He said, "Before I get out of bed every day, I think of 12 things I'm grateful for.  Living with an attitude of gratitude makes all the difference."  Immediately, I knew we were on the same "gratitude" page.

I, typically, just go in for my monthly weigh in, but, this day, he urged me to stay for the meeting, and I was so glad I did.  Not only was I inspired by his training about living a healthy lifestyle, hearing his own weight loss and well- being journey, but his overall optimism caused us to feel like we can accomplish anything with the right tools, goals, and undaunted persistence and determination.

As he spoke, I looked around the room and saw these posters that put everything Renny said into perspective.  I thought...."what a place to be -- this was a safe place -- it was an encouraging place -- it was a postive place".  And I thought about those of us who often hang out with negative folks, on purpose.  I thought about those who watch negative tv shows and listen to negative commentary on the radio, read it online and they just settle there.  And, have you noticed, negativity attracts negativity?  

I don't know about you, but I'm determined to go to places and hang out with folks that build me up, make me strive to be a better me, and make me look at the brighter side of life (one caveat is -- "unless God has me mentoring someone who needs my encouragement").  I think I'll just keep hanging out at church, at motivational meetings, at Weight Watchers, and with optimistic friends and family.  I like the way Jim Rohn puts it...."You can't soar with eagles if you're hanging out with turkeys."

I think I'll go soaring with my eagle friends today!

Blessed to be a Blessing

Thanksgiving Week is here and I'm so thankful! My family are on their way to me! I'm ready for them! I've got the Treasure Hunt ready to go for my big 8-year birthday boy. Most of my baking and cooking is done, and all that goes with 11 of us in my not-so-big house. Only 3 or 4 times a year, do I think about "back when" I had a big house that had plenty of beds and bedrooms for all of us. But it's okay -- I've got the blow-up and fold-up mattresses ready to go -- and soon the "camping indoors" at Nana's will begin. But, there is just no way to complain or wish for the "good ole' days"!!! Our trip to Mexico last month, certainly put an exclamation point on that! Witnessing the numbers of people there that have such a meager existence -- they live in one room (if you could even call it a room), have no running water, and no adequate roof or walls in what they call "home". Having that "visual" certainly causes me to capitalize THANKSGIVING! We are blessed.

And, BLESSED, is the operative word -- not, "lucky" or "fortunate" or "deserved" or "privileged". We ARE BLESSED! And we are blessed -- to be a BLESSING!. We can't just simply say "THANK YOU", and go on our way. We MUST do something about those blessings. In fact, we're held accountable for them. Luke 12:48 says ".......when someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." There is responsibility that comes with blessings. Actually, it becomes a cycle of blessings, because we see in Proverbs 11:25, "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped." It's that "give and it shall be given", law of reciprocity....that just keeps on giving.

So, this Thanksgiving week, while we're in an attitude of gratitude, let's remember that we are blessed to bless; gifted to give; forgiven to forgive; loved to love.

Are You Aboard the Titanic or the Good Ship Lollipop?

Ever run into folks who you’d think they were onboard the Titanic – they are always expecting an iceberg – dismal in their outlook on life and they refuse to be full of good cheer and great expectation?

Then, there are others, like my friend, Debbie, who continue to inspire me, and my Life Group that meets in my home each Thursday. She’s one of those who, you would think, are onboard Shirley Temple’s “Good Ship Lollipop”. Just a year ago, Debbie and John, her husband, moved from the only state, California, they’ve ever lived in. They started life over again here in Tulsa, in their business and church, and they continue to celebrate God's blessings in their life. Debbie loves babies so much (she oozes with love for them, and they know it) that she volunteers every weekend as a baby caregiver in Life Kids, and she volunteers her time during the week in the church offices. But her love for Oklahoma has taught me so much about appreciating even the everyday, simple blessings of God, that oftentimes, we take so lightly, and so for granted. Here is her Facebook post from yesterday:

"Reason #213 why I love Oklahoma: Dinner at a "trendy" Italian restaurant (yes, there are trendy restaurants in Tulsa). It was fabulous and the waitress attends the same church we do. A drive through some beautiful countryside with spectacular estates (yes, people in Oklahoma have money). Fed two friendly horses some carrots and apples just a mile from our apartment, said hello to a flock of sheep (without their wool) and saw two baby deer right across the road from our complex. Oh, almost forgot, we saved a turtle crossing the road and relocated him to the edge of a quiet little lake. Great night altogether."

Don't you just love her wit, but above all, her appreciation for things that money can't buy -- just the overall attitude of gratitude? I responded to her post: "Oh how I love how much you love Oklahoma.....and life! You are always on the "Good Ship Lollipop" and that makes me smile so much!" It sure makes me want to amp up my gratitude for the many simple blessings of life that are all around me. No Titanic for me! I'm boarding the Good Ship Lollipop, too! — with Debbie Krzych.