Inspiration

Last week, I reached a milestone – I had counted 1000 gifts since I began my journey in April 2012. I had a two-fold purpose in counting my blessings everyday:

• To have a positive outlook on life.
• To journal the everyday things I am grateful for.

Now, as I look back over the past year, I’ve found that I’ve reaped so much from simply counting my blessings.

1. The blessing of obeying God’s Word

The Bible is filled with promises of blessing for those who obey God’s Word. And God’s Word says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). So often we strive to find out what God’s will is… Well, the above verses sums it up pretty well – God’s will is for you to give thanks in all circumstances. It is easy to thank God when everything is fine and dandy. But when difficult situations arise, can we still thank God for them?

2. The joy of finding things I can be thankful for

This habit of counting my blessings has encouraged me to always be on the lookout for things I am thankful for. Whether it is a movie date with my husband or watching my boys cuddled up together fast asleep, I get excited and look forward to writing it down. Not a day goes by when the thought, “Oh, I should note this down in my journal”, doesn’t cross my mind.

3. It helps me be content with what I have

There are a lot of things I am not happy with – a rickety washing machine, sickness, temper tantrums… When I choose to give thanks, it helps me be content with what I have. The washing machine, though quite loud, still does its job pretty well. Times of sickness remind me to appreciate the days when we enjoy good health. And temper tantrums… well, they’re no fun at all – but I get to have one-on-one time with the culprit, on the other side of the tantrum.

4. A testimony of sorts

“I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.” (Psalm 35:18)

The Bible encourages us to share with others what the Lord has done for us. Documenting my blessings does just that. I share it on the blog – that’s my assembly. Some day, I hope this collection will also be my testimony to my boys – reminding them of God’s hand in our lives.

5. A reminder of God’s faithfulness

“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” (Psalm 143:5)

There are days I look back, read past journal entries and blog posts and I marvel afresh at God’s handiwork in my life. The account of my past blessings encourage me, especially on those days when I’m in the pit of despair and feel far away from God. I recount all the wonderful things God has done for me and I’m filled with hope. I know that my God who’s been my rock until now will keep me in the days to come.

Do you count your blessings? What side effects have you experienced?

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I can’t believe we’re almost 2 months into 2013! It seems just like yesterday that I was working on my word for the year and listing the areas I wanted to work on.

February is about that time we get a bit discouraged with ourselves. We’ve made resolutions that we haven’t had much success in keeping… Goals toward which we are making little or no progress…

Well, maybe you’ve made a lot of progress in your goals over the past month. But I haven’t :). And that’s why I needed a visual reminder. Something to remind me everyday what I need to focus on.

I made this board early last month and hung it prominently in my bedroom – on a wall I see early in the morning and late at night. It was pretty easy to make – and believe me, I am definitely not the creative/crafty type {isn’t it obvious?!}. I simply took an old cardboard wall-hanging, covered it with white paper and used brightly colored pens to write down my focus.

A bit about my board:

• Health: Last year our family went through several bouts of sickness that wore us all down. This was a reminder to pray that my family would remain healthy this year.
• Persevere: My one word for this year and the areas I needed to concentrate on (Prayer, Fitness, Home).
• Fruitful: This is the prophetic word we received from our church for the new year. Something I need to be constantly reminded of, especially on days that I feel unmotivated.

I love that when I sit down to pray, this board stares me in the face. I cannot but pray for God’s help to keep me going this year.

Do you have a visual reminder of your vision, or a favorite verse perhaps?

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I’ve always loved reading, but I’ve never been intentional about the books I read. I read just about any interesting book that came my way. I soon realized that I didn’t have time to read ALL the books in my Kindle library. I had to choose the books I wanted to read – books that would enrich my life.

This year, I’ve decided to read books that will help me improve in the areas I am working on. Specifically:

• Prayer
• Home Organization
• Fitness

Whenever I come across a good book that falls in these categories, I add it to my to-read list. Every month, I include one or more books from this list in my monthly goals, so I’m motivated to read them.

Here are the books I’ve picked up till date. I’m sure I’ll be adding more to this list in the months to come.

Prayer:

Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home

Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

Home Organization:

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living

Fitness:

42 Days to Fit: A realistic diet and exercise challenge to help you get fit…and stay fit for life!

I try to pick up good Kindle books when they are available for free. Click here to find websites that publish lists of free Kindle books on a regular basis.

I know most of you would love to read but can’t find the time. Here’s a post that lists 15 ways to fit more reading into your day.

So, my suggestion is this. Take some time to list out specific areas you need help with – Leadership, Planning, Marriage, Parenting, etc. When that is done, find a good book on each of those subjects and devour it.

If you’re really short on time, I encourage you to start with your Bible. There’s no better way to enrich your life :)!

What’s on your reading list this year?

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Psalm 139:5 has been running through my mind all day. I looked it up in various translations and here’s what I found:

You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. (NKJV)

You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (NIV 1984)

You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. (NASB)

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. (NLT)

I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. (MSG)

All the versions have the same underlying meaning (obviously!). God hems us in – surrounds, encloses and places a hedge around us. He protects us.

When I think about the things I fear, this verse comes to my rescue. God has hemmed me in – behind and before. He has placed a hedge of protection around my family.

According to the Geneva Study Bible, this verse also implies:

You so guide me with your hand, that I can turn no way, but where you appoint me.

I love knowing that God’s hand is always around me, nudging me to move in the direction He has planned for me.

What is our responsibility in all this?

• Simply trust that God has hedged us in.
• Stay connected with God, so we can feel His nudging.
• Live in such a way that we do not leave the gate wide open for evil to enter.

If you feel vulnerable and unprotected today, pray. Ask God to cover you with His arms and protect you from what you fear. And then, rest in the assurance that God is in the business of mending fences, no matter how mangled.

Photo Credit: BFS Man

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2013 is here! There’s something about a new year that gets me all fired up to change for the better. But that feeling soon evaporates if I don’t have the right motivation. Anybody know what I mean? 🙂

So, this year I decided to pick out One Word that will motivate me. I was reading through the book of Galatians when I came across this verse:

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

The words echoed in my head – Do not give up… in other words, Persevere… And that’s how I came up with my word for 2013!

2012 was a year of getting my priorities in order. I learnt a lot of hard lessons and improved a bit in these areas:

• Being consistent in studying the Bible
• Respecting & serving my husband
• Training my kids – spiritually & intellectually

So, this year I decided to apply the word “Persevere” to 3 other areas of my life that need improvement. This year, I will intentionally persevere in:

1. Building up my prayer life.
2. Working towards a healthy lifestyle.
3. Organizing my home.

Last year I made a list of things I was looking forward to, and they all happened :). I’ll be following the same pattern to accomplish my goals this year as well. Stay tuned to read more about it in the coming weeks.

Have A Blessed 2013!

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“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

HAVE A BLESSED SEASON!

…and I’ll be back to blogging next year :).

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“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”

~ Galatians 6:4-5, The Message

Image Source: Money Saving Mom

Over the past few months, I’ve been reading several letters written by Paul in the New Testament. One thing I found common in Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, Colossians and Corinthians was how he introduced himself. All four letters start with the words, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God“.

I love how Paul acknowledges his position as the will of God. He knew that he was where he was, doing what he was doing by the will of God.

I asked myself the same question; do I believe I am where I am by the will of God? Do I acknowledge that God has given me responsibilities according to His divine purpose for me? I took a few seconds to write down my roles in life and acknowledge that I am all that, by the will of God.

Sheena – Daughter of God, wife, mother, homemaker, blogger… by the will of God.

I know your roles may be different from mine, but when we’re living in God’s will, our responsibilities are God’s purpose for us. I encourage you to declare it for yourself. Replace Paul’s name with your own and include the many hats you wear in your typical day. Believe that you are who you are by the will of God.

Here’s how this exercise will benefit us:

1. It reminds us that our roles are assigned by God.
2. It motivates us to be faithful in our God given responsibilities, working as unto God.
3. It may raise doubts as to whether what we’re doing is indeed the will of God. In such cases it is better to take some time to pray and seek God’s guidance.

Go ahead. Fill in the blanks below and acknowledge the roles you play by the will of God.

__(Your name)__ – Child of God, ____________ , ___________ , ___________ … by the will of God.

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This month, I intended to review the memory verses that I had been teaching the kids the past few months. So, last evening, after their assignments were done, I drew the sons close and asked them to recite the verses for me.

Jason went first, and he breezed through Psalm 23 with only a little prompting from me. Next was John 3:16. The original verse goes like this:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)

But what I heard from Jason was this…

“For God so loved ME that He gave His one and only Son…”

I proceeded to correct him, “It’s not ME, Jason.. It’s for God so loved the world…”. He repeated the rest of the verse flawlessly, but he left me pondering.

I’ve never said those words out aloud. “For God so loved me that He gave His one and only Son”. That’s the truth, isn’t it? The Word of God is so personal. The fact that God sent Jesus to die on my behalf, for my sins, is personal.

It left a stirring in my heart, as I moved on to hear what another son was reciting. And I heard Judah’s voice sweetly proclaiming, “For God so loved me…”.

Lord, thank you for little children who teach me how to make your Word personal.