1,000 Blessings

Good morning, dear readers! Can you believe it is only three days until Christmas? I hope you have been savoring the holiday season … counting every blessing and thanking the good Lord for it. For every gift comes from Him! ❤

I thought I’d share with you, today, some of my blessings list! You don’t have to read the whole thing 😉 … but perhaps it will inspire you to start looking around you and seeing the joys.

What are you most excited about concerning Christmas? Sweet time with family and friends? Rest? Delicious food? Thoughtful gifts? Precious Christmas hymns? Candlelight services? Laughter and games?

Have you let your heart be still and in awe of the loving Messiah?

Please comment below with a list of YOUR blessings! 🙂 Let’s share the JOY OF THE LORD!

My Blessing List

family around the table

cutting up sweet potatoes at the kitchen counter

reading beautiful, poetic writing

new people in the house

laughter

a child’s innocence

playing games with my family

chocolate

women’s Bible study

late-night run to town

singing along to the radio with sisters

sharing from the heart

book mail

uncontrollable laughter

story inspiration

helpful reminders & encouraging comments on my blog

precious words of God

fiery orange tree

laughter in the morning

long walks

fall festivals

sharing prayer requests

Ann Voskamp’s testimony

needs met

phone call with dear, sweet friend

breathless tears and laughter

prayer in the quiet of the morning

health issues not as bad today

smell of freshly-made soap

little brother’s happy voice

fall scenery

exploring downtown with sisters

thunderstorm

selling soap

sunflower butter oatmeal bowl

rainy morning

new month

feeling good after workout

dressing up pretty

savory food

encouraging Youtube videos

leaves on the ground

rays of sun, amidst the cool air, like a balm on my face

little brother playing with my hair

hot tea

organized and clean space

vacuuming the floors

trying a new recipe

cooking wholesome food

vigorous walk in the cold

wood stacked snugly, ready for winter

pumpkin pie

less anxiety than usual

starting a new & exciting book

leaves blowing past my window

pastor speaking with passion, joy, and humor

lovely conversations with my aunts

seeing new people

growing fellowship in church

pastor speaking truth

gas in my car

genuine smiles

day of rest

writing blog post, happy

family Bible study

hugs from my ladies’ group

encouragement & counsel from friend

lunch, coffee, conversation

prayer time in the night

getting soaps labeled

fresh, clean, healthy hair

good book

prayer time

laughter with sisters over movies

job interview

Bible reading plans

godly women who support me

cozy, roaring fire

friends coming to visit

feeling of  overwhelming peace and joy

texts from dear ones

songs

encouraging words, warming the heart

seeing sister in the morning, who unexpectedly stayed home from work

pretty frost on the trees

dragon time essential oil

people following my little blog

laughing & dancing with mom and siblings

laughter

Chick-fil-A fries

quality time with people

baking & cooking for Thanksgiving

people

hope

sunshine coming through my window

catching up on my to-do list

anticipating little brother or sister

Thanksgiving food, rest, joy, and fellowship

fire humming in the fireplace

a day ahead of me

sweet, gracious friends

anticipation, faith, and expectation

books

blogging

laughing until I cry

the ability to express thoughts & ideas through writing

Advent family devotional

praying with my family

sibling camaraderie

truth

phone calls with friends

anticipating going to Christian conference

Bible studies

kind, caring words spoken to me

shopping with sisters

singing along to Christmas songs

power of prayer

cookie exchange

cozy living room

organzing

laughter and fun games with siblings, cousins, and friends

Christmas cards

the wonder of the season

buying Christmas gifts for family

hope

birthday wishes & outing with special friends

sweet & beautiful words from friends

pizza, gluten-free & dairy-free

wandering through huge bookstores

buying books

chocolate cake with whip cream frosting (and safe for me to eat!!)

warm weather

cleaning my room

the Holy Spirit, filling my heart with passion & joy, and my eyes with tears

Bible study & fellowship at friend’s cozy house

mint green purse

brother coming for Christmas!

stepping out of church into snow swirling; fat snowflakes falling on me; driving home through winter wonderland

prayer time bringing peace to my soul

Jesus’ words … the way they comfort me

Christ, my Joy

O HOLY NIGHT – Scotty McCreery

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Days of Blessings

(picture found on pixabay.com)

Hello, sweet friends. 🙂 How is life going for you? I am doing well, myself. Christmas season has officially begun! I’m excited for the coziness and loveliness of this next month.

A couple things I determined I would do this month of December … One: be intentional about counting my blessings. Two: organize my quiet time again. Want to join me? 😉

Everyday, I make a point of posting about something I count as a blessing on Facebook. I decided to read through the gospel of Luke this month – it’s been beautiful so far. I’m journaling my prayers daily again. My prayer walks started to dwindle as cold weather crept in, so I decided I should start journaling in order to keep growing in my prayer life. Either praying out loud or writing down my prayers has deepened my time with the Lord, and grown me as a prayer warrior, I believe. 🙂

I’m also going through the devotional book, Completely Loved: Recognizing God’s Passionate Pursuit of Us by Shannon Ethridge, which has daily Scripture reading. It isn’t my favorite devotional, thus far, but it has had some beautiful points.

Furthermore, I’m doing a 54-day devotional on the Bible App (YouVersion, or whatever) called Good Morning Girls – Intentionally Focused. The daily reading is super short, with, like, a couple verses to read. But it helps me gain my focus for the day and starts off my quiet time nicely.

So, December is off to a good start. I’m looking forward to finishing the diet I’m on, Christmas songs, increasingly delighting in my quiet time, birthdays, Christmas, family time, hanging out with new friends … whatever else the Lord has in store.

(found on pixabay.com)

My dear sisters in Christ, I know life can be hard. Keeping up a consistent time spent with Jesus can be a struggle. Anxieties and fears can creep in. Discourage us. Cripple us. Lie to us. But the truth is, our God is faithful. And He loves you. And you don’t have to walk alone. Seek godly friends who will challenge and encourage you in the faith. Who will help you press on toward the prize. Who will remind you how much your Heavenly Father loves you. Ask God for friends who delight in Him.

(If you have the YouVersion Bible App, and would like to connect with me on that, please do! Tell me your username in the comments below, and I will try to find you. My username is Shantelle Mary and this blog is linked to my profile.)

You’re not alone. ❤

Seek the Lord, because He is so worthy. Find your joy and rest in Him this Christmas season.

“Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted His people.” Isaiah 49:13

“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8

“How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.” Psalm 139:17

“‘I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ says the LORD, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:11