thankful=joyful.

Thankful=joyful. This has never made more sense to me than it has now. I have been compiling a list of daily gifts for months now, after being inspired by the book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. I can actually see how it has changed my way of thinking and how I view my everyday life. Ordinary things are now seen as gifts.. moments are not taken for granted, but are seen as the biggest blessings.

I have found that being thankful for everything..good or bad..big or little..can truly make you joyful. God surrounds us with gifts everyday..be it a pretty sunrise, puffy clouds, a smile, laughter, flowers, hugs and kisses, messes to clean, patience, struggles..there is always an opportunity to thank our Maker. He is so good to us and is constantly seeking a relationship with us. He loves and cares about us so much and always wants what is best for us. Be it trials or open doors, He has a plan..guiding us through this small period of time here on earth before we get to be with Him for eternity. He is so worthy of our praise in good times or bad. And it is such an awesome feeling to think He puts these gifts in our lives every single day.

I find when I get off track, when my priorities are out of order, when I lose focus of what is really important, or when I simply stop acknowledging my gifts..I not only feel, but know I'm not at my best.

I know I am at my best and the most joyful when I am reading His word daily, nurturing my relationship, praying and talking to Him throughout my day, asking for help, praising Him, being thankful, meditating on verses I write on my chalkboard, setting an example, teaching my children and being mindful of my gifts. Without a doubt everything else just falls into place.

Thank you, Jesus, for being the greatest example of love. Thank you for loving me even though I am so undeserving. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for my so many blessings. And thank you for the gifts you place in my life everyday.

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus replied: "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. this is the first and greatest commandment. and the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."

colossians 3:1-2

since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

1 peter 1:3-9,

praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to e revealed in the last time. in all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. these have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though ou do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

love this.

1 thessalonians 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

matthew 6:9-13

our Father in heaven, 

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven.

give us today our daily bread.

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

1 peter 3:3-4

your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

colossians 3:15-17

let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. and be thankful.  let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, ad songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

proverbs 31:26-27

she speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

luke 8:16

no one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

2 timothy 2:23-24

don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. and the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.