Over at, “Encouragement for Daily Bible Reading”,a daily Gratitude challenge will be hosted,starting on November 1, 2012. Originally hosted by ,”South Breeze Farm“, this looks like an encouraging challege not just for the month of Thanksgiving, but to carry over each day of our lives.
It’s easy, isn’t it, to focus on all the things that can go wrong, to focus on the mistakes, the “bad luck”, be overly critical and more than anything, keep looking for the bad in everything and complain, forgetting each moment that we have where we are. I guess you can say, look at life with Eeyore eyes.
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This looks to be an encouraging challenge in the light of,”A Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp.
From the Barnes Notes of the Bible, the following observation is shared,
“ We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning.
Chrysostom, once the archbishop of Constantinople, and then driven into exile, persecuted, and despised, died far away form all the splendors of the capital, and all the comforts and honors which he had enjoyed, uttering his favorite motto – - δόξα τω Θεω πάντων ενεκεν doxa tō Theō pantōn heneke- “glory to God for all things.”"
With a challenge like this, be it for a month, or continued on days later, it would be interesting to see what a difference it takes to focus on things that we do have, instead of focusing on the things we don’t.
At the same time, let’s not forget to think of others, and how can we too, extend a hand and reach out to others, be it taking time for those in our neighborhood’s, our communities, our town.
As the year slowly draws to a close (can you believe 2012 is almost over with), this looks like a good challenge to participate in.
As Phillipians 4:6-7 (NLT) reminds us, “6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
How about yourself?
Will you be joining in with the challenge as well?
© 2012, Sunflower Faith. All rights reserved.
3 Comments
Twitter: GingerRWade
Everything just keeps pointing me back to gratitude. I cannot believe I have stopped counting . . . okay, I am listening. {Same thing with those memory verses.}
Ginger Wade(Quote) (Reply)
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I haven’t heard of this challenge, but will look into it. I just recently finished Ann Voskamp’s book and am trying to focus on gratitude in regards to contentment which is my word for the year.
Michelle recently posted..Caffeinated Randomness – I thought I graduated….
Michelle(Quote) (Reply)
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This is my 3rd year, 1st hosting, and it always amazes me how when I change my focus to one of graditude all the things that seems litte are to be thankful for as well as the BIG things. I have also learned to be thankful in ALL things. Things that don’t necessarily make me comfy… I am so happy you have linked up and decided to join in. I love your new look! I need to grab your new button and update it on my blog.
Joyful Reader recently posted..Giving Thanks Challenge – Day 1
Joyful Reader(Quote) (Reply)
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