Blessings Celebration - 18 Years

The year was 2000. The month, October. I can see the apartment as though I was standing in it right now. The green sofa facing the window. The TV in the far right corner. It was late at night, and I was working on getting a book ready for the printer. The deadline was in the morning. I hadn't been feeling well, as I had bronchitis. Over most of it not, just a deep cough remained.

Uncomfortable, I repositioned myself to sit up more on the sofa so I could continue working. Then I coughed. I felt an explosion in my back. Slowly I rolled off of the sofa, onto the floor. I laid there, trying to get up the strength and courage to move. Finally, I rolled over and crawled back to the sofa and slowly stood up. Gingerly, I walked to the bathroom, to get ready for bed. 

The morning came all too quickly. The pain in the back was intense and that made getting ready and to the Office very difficult. I finished the book and sent the file to the Pre-press department, and I prepared to go home. 

A friend saw me and noticed that I was hurting. She mentioned that she knew a great chiropractor and even had a free first visit coupon. That was the first of MANY blessings that God would provide along this journey. 

Had I known on October 25, 2000, what the next 18 years would hold......well, I don't think I would have made it passed that first night. BUT GOD—He knows when and how to send encouragement along the way! The blessings are abundant and my God is a gracious God who loves me! 

Please join me on this Blessings Celebration day, and take time to thank God for His goodness, and count your blessings! 

You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps

of the right-hearted. Your blessings surround them like a shield.

Psalm 5:12 (VOICE)

Counting the Blessings

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 67. Here is what I learned.

God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him. Psalm 67:7 (AMP)

God is the source of our blessings; may every corner of the earth respect and revere Him. Psalm 67:7 (VOICE)

God shall bless us,.... The Holy Spirit blesses with regenerating and renewing grace; with faith, comfort, joy and peace, by shedding abroad in the heart the love of the Father and the Son; by applying precious promises; by testifying adoption; by making meet for heaven and happiness, and working up for the selfsame thing eternal glory. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 

God shall bless us - He shall ever be speaking good to us, and ever showering down good things upon us. Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Being blessed by God provides an overwhelming sense of peace. Since surgery, I have to say that although my body is in extreme pain, and I can’t get comfortable, I find myself smiling. For God has blessed me with not only His love, but He continues to send gifts along the way to remind me of His love and that He “knows what I like”. 

Last week, a person sent me a book which she thought I’d enjoy. Now, this person did not know I was having surgery when the book was sent, but God knew that having a new book to read would be perfect following surgery. 

The afternoon, I arrived home from my surgery, I had an email waiting telling me that I won a contest. I won a Larry Dixon Al-Anabi 2010 Champ 1:24 Autographed Top Fuel Dragster NHRA Die cast. It will look great on my Sports Wall. 

Then the past few days, my Ponder Morsels for each day have been awesome for what I needed to focus on and remember. God blessed me with truths to keep my soul refreshed. 

God blesses me in so many ways, and as I think about each blessing, I can easily smile in spite of the pain I feel. 

Counting the blessings God sends my way is not only an easy way, but it’s the best way to create a positive day! 

Counting Blessings!

Last year, I posted the poem below on my Blessings Celebration date. I'm posting it again, because it is that time of year for me to specifically focus on God's wonderful blessings. 

If you want to create a positive day, week, year... just take some time to notice God's blessings, and then thank Him for each one. I guarantee that each day you do this, you won't have any trouble creating a positive day! 

(Click on the image for a larger view.)

Counting blessings!

Day two of no morphine or Tylenol 4. How am I doing? Spiritually, very well, Physically, not so well. The pain level is high and my headache is severe. But it has been worse. I'm so thankful for all the tricks I've learned over the past 10 years. 

What tricks? Here are a few.

1. Strawberries and other fruits with "red meat" help reduce inflammation and pain. So, I'm eating strawberries throughout the day. 

2. The aroma of Essential oils fills the apartment  24/7 from the potpourri pot. Today it was peppermint to help with the nausea.

3. Changing my focus. I worked on "short" projects today, so I could keep busy without overdoing anything. By having short term projects, I could finish one and move on to the next. By keeping the mind busy, there is no time to focus on the pain.

And NUMBER 4: Count my blessings! This is one of the best medicines available and you can get it without a prescription! Counting my blessings today started with the two most recent gifts God has give me!

Yes, God has sent a GIFT

each day of this journey!

On Day One God gave me a grill! Someone was throwing it away. It was dirty, but a little Dawn dish soap cleaned it as good as new! It's the perfect size for me and will easily fit on the balcony.  Can't wait to enjoy the summer aroma of charcoal and grilled meat and vegetables! 

Today God gave me a H2OTUGO! I have a TUGO (a drink holder for luggage) which I've modified to fit on my crutches. The H2OTUGO is a pocket that will hold a water bottle. The company is sending me a FREE one because I wrote and told them how I use their TUGO, and how it helps me keep a drink handy. A big THANKS to TUGO!

Will God give me a gift every day? 

I have to say YES! 

God already gives me gifts EACH and EVERY DAY! Sometimes, it's a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Or a kind word from a friend. Or maybe He makes Max do something to make me laugh. God has SHOWERED me with gifts—my problem is that I don't notice so many of them. My 365 Days of Thanks is making me more aware of ALL the wonderful things God does and provides for me. Each day, I find it harder and harder to write down ONE thing... because there are SO many.

I'm very blessed, and when I stop

and count my blessings

it makes me aware of just how much

God loves me. 

Today, it could have been very difficult to create a positive day, with my high pain level and the severe headache. However, by taking time to count my blessings, it turned the day around to a very positive and encouraging day.

Yes, even a high pain day

can be a POSITIVE DAY—

if I count my blessings!

Blessed!

Back to the doctor today. God has blessed me with two awesome doctors! I know I've blogged about them before...but they are really good! My pain management doctor is so sweet and such a great doctor. And my chiropractor is so kind, compassionate, and a great encourager. God knew exactly who I'd need on my team. God has equipped me with the doctors who work well together and work hard to provide the care I need. 

I'm also blessed with some great friends. It's amazing how God puts people together. It's cool to see God's hand in creating a friendship. That way you know the friendship has a good foundation; based on God! Friends not only are helpful, but provide laughter, encouragement, and keep me on track! And one good rule for a friend.....be flexible! :>)

"We can bring an attitude of expectant trust to such praying. There is no reason to think that God cannot provide the person we need or to help us find him. He (God) has resources we cannot imagine, and ways of communicating His will to those who seek Him! (The Friendship Connection, pg 64).

God blesses us by sending people into our lives. Some we know very well, others we may only see once in a great while. Creating a positive day, includes noticing the people God brings into your life. God introduces us to people for specific reasons! And an easy way to create a positive day.....is to count your blessings! Start right now.....and name one blessings! Soon your list will start growing!