Thanksgiving: What are you thankful for?

God Winks in being thankful!

This week is thanksgiving and I am sure that if I open my eyes I will see God wink many times.  I pray my eyes are open.  There is always something for which to be thankful.

Can you already see things for which you could give thanks?  In the last week, month, or year?  Could you list them quickly? 

Looking back over the last year, I have much for which I am thankful.  I will list several:

1)  Our blog started in February as God surrounded me with the people that would share my vision and the labor.  Thank you Katie, Tina and Khloe.

2)  I continued to grow personally in my own journey of finding my identity and security in my Father's love.

3)  My boys are healthy.

4)  My husband lost his job and God quickly provided a new job where he is thriving in his strengths.

5)  I found a group of women in Women's Empowerment Univerisity that share my passion for being used by God and sharing Him with those around us through the minisitries He has given. 

6)  I have more than one woman I call a true girlfriend that is a safe place for me, truly I am blessed!

7)  God taught me He is my first love and through that truth I am free to love others unconditionally.

8)  I have a wonderful home that I can share with others through hospitality, which I enjoy!  I am told I can make a pretty good meal!!  I have a few 9 year old boys that love my spaghetti, so I am told. 

9)  I have a committed husband who is a loving and wonderful father to our boys.

10)  I have a career through which I can exercise my gifts and share my faith freely.  I am able to have the flexibility to live out my values and grow as a person.

WOW...I could go on, truly....but I am blessed beyond measure.   I know life is hard, my family and I have had our share this past year, but we have each other and I am grateful.  I know your life might be hard right now, but I pray you will see something for which to be thankful.  I heard it said that each day might not be good but there is good in each day.  What good can you find today?

I challenge you to list at least (more if you can) five things for which you are thankful and see if your attitude changes.  I didn't say your circumstances would change right away, but your attitude just might.  As your attitude changes by thinking about all the good, your circumstances might just change as well.

Blessings to you and your family and Happy Thanksgiving!!

 All of us at God Winks......Joni, Katie, Tina and Khloe

God Winks: Mirror Mirror - how you see yourself

God winks:  How do you see yourself? 

I saw this picture last week and it really moved me.  I am not sure I knew at the time all that it meant to me but over the last few days, I have come to appreciate this perspective even more.

In the last few days, really for more than a year, I have watched my in-laws deteriorate in health with dementia, slowing down, and everyday tasks becoming difficult.  I don't like the idea of getting old without my health. 

But, this picture shows it doesn't matter what you see on the outside, but rather how you see yourself in the mirror from the inside!  How do you see the woman God made you?  As a child of God, you are renewed, free, and beautiful!  You can always see yourself as the princess you are!

 

Today, in the mirror, I noticed the highlights are growing out and the grey hairs are showing.  Every time there seem to be more.  I am not sure I like it or that I have the reminder the clock does not turn back.

But, I remember this picture...although the body changes on the outside, how I view myself from the inside does not ever have to change.  I am a beautiful child of God.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I believe in good skin care and taking care of yourself. You can slow it down. However, no amount of cream can prevent you from aging to some degree as you get older.

 BUT, what cannot be taken from you is how you see yourself. 

See yourself how God sees you:

Psa 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

                         I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
                         your works are wonderful,

                         I know that full well."

God Winks: To Do List God Winks?

 



God winks in a to do list?!

Has your mind every been so full of things to do that you are overwhelmed?

This weekend I was talking with my step-mom about her recent move.  She had a lot on her mind about everything.  I shared how when I have a lot of things on my mind, I write it all down.  I call it my "Bugs List!"  I just dump my brain on a piece of paper.  After I do my "brain dump," I go back and prioritize them into a "to do list!"

The neat thing and the "God Winks" was that I had just read this quote from Jack Canfield an hour or so before our conversation.  I was able to share it with her later and encourage her as well!

God just seem to confirm even to me the importance of putting it all down on paper and then my mind would go to work on what was important.   Thanks God!

What can you do?

1.  Grab a piece of paper and pen.
2.  Go to a quite place if you can.
3.  Write down everything that is "bugging" you, all the tasks, projects, etc..
4.  Go back and put A, B or C next to them to prioritze them  ( A (#1), B (#2), etc.. )
5.  Chart them out over the next couple months if necessary.
6.  Look at what is first and make a plan to do it this week.
7.  Take the next one and keep going

You can do it!!

God Winks: Lost and Found

Did you ever lose something really special, very valuable or not, and fret over it? 

I did.  I lost a gold necklace years ago.  When I let go of the necklace, prayed and released ever finding it, God spoke to my heart.  Now, I know some of you might think God can't tell you where that necklace is!?  Well, He can and He did. 

As I quieted myself before Him, prayed and released the worry and concern, a thought came to me in prayer, "Go to your car and pop the driver's seat up."  I did.  As I released the driver seat forward, out slid the necklace to the rear floor board.

I remembered this story as I traveled to see my step-mom, Joyce, one last time before her move to Ohio.  She had lost a necklace very precious to her because part of it had been in a ring of my Dad's.

When we were eating breakfast the first morning I was there, we caught up like we always do talking for a long time.  I mentioned that I had been praying she would find that necklace as she was packing and sorting up her home before the move.  She was not confidant and was sure it had fallen off the last time she wore it over two years ago.

We didn't think much more about it as we went about doing all the things we love together:  board games, card games, shopping, Hallmark movies and lots of talking too!  We managed to fill a few boxes and put things down in the garage for her upcoming tag sale too!!

I left on Tuesday and got back to my life in Ohio.

Friday morning Joyce calls me and says, "You are never going to believe what I found!"  Of course, somehow I did know.  She quickly confirmed what I already knew in my heart, she had found the necklace while cleaning out her jewelry box!!

God winks BIG TIME in the finding of a precious necklace containing memories of my late father.  I was thrilled!  God had not only answered prayer but showed up and off to my step-mom. 

No, things lost are not always found, but in this case, over two years later, God allowed her to find it after knowing my story and my prayers for her.  HE was glorified.  He was seen as real and personal to my step-mom!!

I was thrilled!  Praising a God who cares for the widows and the little details of life that mean much!!

How do God Winks show up for you in what may seem too small for Him to care?  He does care!!