finding blessings

 12th Day of Christmas ~ Sunday, January 5, 2025 (6:14 a.m.)

Wonderful God,

Thank You. I woke up wanting You to make me aware of blessings today. They are here. All around me. Just look at that sky!

I am warm. Safe. Loved. Grateful. That’s four blessings right there. Thanks Dad.

Jeremiah 17:5-14

1 Peter 1:6-7

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

John 15:1-11

Ephesians 1:3

(7:24 a.m.)

♪Counting My Blessings♪

♪Oh My Soul♪

Blessed Father, thank You that my greatest blessing of all is getting to know You as Father. Trusting You enough to call You Dad.

Looking back through my own prayers of the past 15 years, I see that my conscious decision to leave out pertinent details concerning certain circumstances leaves a lot of holes and wonder of what may have been going on at the time. Even here, I thank You Lord.

While the particulars of many situations were intentionally left out, the essence of Your goodness and Your grace are profound. Father, thank You for teaching me all those years ago to ♪accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. In-between♪ (Philippians 4:8).

It is absolutely YOU I long to worship and adore! Thank You for showing me the way out of the trap of resentments and bitterness I had unintentionally laid for myself all those years ago.

Thank You for repeatedly leading me to the foot of the cross. Every single time I don’t know where to turn or what to do.

Just like now. In searching how other people find blessings, I read a different account of the fruit of Your Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Described by the writer as gifts, not works. Amen!

Love–not hate

Joy–not despair

Peace–not anxiety

Kindness–not harshness

Goodness–not meanness

Faithfulness–not unfaithfulness or dishonesty

Self-control–not instability

Noticing the absence of gentleness, I add to the list - not brutality.

Father, empower and enable me in remembering and exemplifying the Truth of this rendering. I want to live in, with, by, through and for You. I love, need, trust  and want You. Use me as only You know is best. Finding Your blessings along the way.

Thank You. Praise You. Amen!

(371 words ~ 7:49 a.m.)