Today I am jumping off of the world's treadmill. I refuse to buy into the lie any longer that promises happiness and fulfillment with the acquisition of whatever shiny new bauble my eye just can't remove itself from. I, instead, am choosing to live my life in finding happiness through contentment with what God has already provided me right here, right now and making a conscious effort to daily take stock of what those many blessings are. If I turn my focus down to what I have, I may to be able to be so easily lured into trap of incessant desiring.
Just what exactly does John have that he is GRATEFUL for:
1. I awoke today and am breathing. How often do we take this for granted? How often do we complain about whatever state of health we might be in and fail to consider the alternative(s)? The ultimate alternative is that we could no longer be drawing breath and spending time with those we love or pursuing the dreams we long to still achieve. Yes, I have a number of physical afflictions that I do pray and ask God to ease the burden of having to live with, but I have learned that I can still live my life with abundance in spite of my afflictions and I need to be grateful that I have the level of good health that I do have. Many with the conditions I bear are far worse have suffered with them for far less time than I have.
Thank you God for giving me the grace to continue living a good life in spite of my afflictions and thank you that I can live without the assistance or dependence on medical devices or heavy assistance.
2. I have a wife and three great kids. I know many, many men my age and older, and even some younger, who wish they could make the same statement. I have been married now for almost twenty-four and a half years, without interruption and I have lived with my kids all of their lives. I also go to spend all of the early years of their lives as the stay-at-home caregiver. I have truly been blessed to be able to do this. My kids and I have a great relationship and they are all highly intelligent and high achievers.
3. My wife is a wonderful woman who loves me in spite of my habits, hangups and insecurities. She demonstrates her love for me in so many wonderful ways and because of my insecurities often gets treated like she isn't really showing it like she should. She has a highly developed devotional life and she regularly prays for me. She steps in and picks up the slack every time one of my physical ailments knocks me out of my day-to-day routine. She has truly had her wedding vows of "For better or worse, in sickness and in health" put to the test and she has proven her word and her commitment to be faithful and true. I don't know what I ever did to deserve her.
4. My parents are still alive and I have a better relationship with them now than I ever did when I was growing up. I know that both of those statements are not something a lot of people I know can testify to for their own lives. A friend of mine just recently lost his mother after losing both his mother-in-law and father within the past year. My father-in-law, who was a dear friend of mine has now been gone for more than a decade, so my wife can't even make the same testimony. I am truly blessed that my parents are still in my life and I have a great relationship with them that old age has not stolen away from us.
5. I have a good paying job doing something I enjoy. I don't hate going to work everyday like so many men I know. I get to get paid to do something I volunteer to do for free as often I get the chance to, so I think it is a win-win situation.
6. I have a great faith community to be a part of. My church, the body of believers, the ministries I am involved in their, the support from the pastoral staff, the care they provide for my family and the opportunities we all have for growth and to use our gifts and talents for God's kingdom are truly a blessing to have a chance to just be a part of such a community of believers.
7. I own and drive everyday my dream car. It may not be as shiny or as show worthy as I would "dream" of, but I drive the car I always wanted and it is dependable.
8. I have a lot of things that even in recent times I would have thought unattainable and I have had many opportunities to use them for God's glory and to bless others.
I have a great camera and now have some studio lighting equipment to go with it.
I have a new MacBook Pro after being without a "real" portable computer for many, many years.
I now have an iPhone which was not even available for service in my area until just a few months ago.
I have an iPad.
I am doing really good and have been blessed. I have so much to be happy for and so much that I have to make great use of to bless others with. I am doing very well and God has been very good to me.
Just what exactly does John have that he is GRATEFUL for:
1. I awoke today and am breathing. How often do we take this for granted? How often do we complain about whatever state of health we might be in and fail to consider the alternative(s)? The ultimate alternative is that we could no longer be drawing breath and spending time with those we love or pursuing the dreams we long to still achieve. Yes, I have a number of physical afflictions that I do pray and ask God to ease the burden of having to live with, but I have learned that I can still live my life with abundance in spite of my afflictions and I need to be grateful that I have the level of good health that I do have. Many with the conditions I bear are far worse have suffered with them for far less time than I have.
Thank you God for giving me the grace to continue living a good life in spite of my afflictions and thank you that I can live without the assistance or dependence on medical devices or heavy assistance.
2. I have a wife and three great kids. I know many, many men my age and older, and even some younger, who wish they could make the same statement. I have been married now for almost twenty-four and a half years, without interruption and I have lived with my kids all of their lives. I also go to spend all of the early years of their lives as the stay-at-home caregiver. I have truly been blessed to be able to do this. My kids and I have a great relationship and they are all highly intelligent and high achievers.
3. My wife is a wonderful woman who loves me in spite of my habits, hangups and insecurities. She demonstrates her love for me in so many wonderful ways and because of my insecurities often gets treated like she isn't really showing it like she should. She has a highly developed devotional life and she regularly prays for me. She steps in and picks up the slack every time one of my physical ailments knocks me out of my day-to-day routine. She has truly had her wedding vows of "For better or worse, in sickness and in health" put to the test and she has proven her word and her commitment to be faithful and true. I don't know what I ever did to deserve her.
4. My parents are still alive and I have a better relationship with them now than I ever did when I was growing up. I know that both of those statements are not something a lot of people I know can testify to for their own lives. A friend of mine just recently lost his mother after losing both his mother-in-law and father within the past year. My father-in-law, who was a dear friend of mine has now been gone for more than a decade, so my wife can't even make the same testimony. I am truly blessed that my parents are still in my life and I have a great relationship with them that old age has not stolen away from us.
5. I have a good paying job doing something I enjoy. I don't hate going to work everyday like so many men I know. I get to get paid to do something I volunteer to do for free as often I get the chance to, so I think it is a win-win situation.
6. I have a great faith community to be a part of. My church, the body of believers, the ministries I am involved in their, the support from the pastoral staff, the care they provide for my family and the opportunities we all have for growth and to use our gifts and talents for God's kingdom are truly a blessing to have a chance to just be a part of such a community of believers.
7. I own and drive everyday my dream car. It may not be as shiny or as show worthy as I would "dream" of, but I drive the car I always wanted and it is dependable.
8. I have a lot of things that even in recent times I would have thought unattainable and I have had many opportunities to use them for God's glory and to bless others.
I have a great camera and now have some studio lighting equipment to go with it.
I have a new MacBook Pro after being without a "real" portable computer for many, many years.
I now have an iPhone which was not even available for service in my area until just a few months ago.
I have an iPad.
I am doing really good and have been blessed. I have so much to be happy for and so much that I have to make great use of to bless others with. I am doing very well and God has been very good to me.
& Me RPO Sr.
ReplyDelete1- wife of 13 years. Just the best there is
2-Children - 1998, 2002, 2005 -(they are eachothers absolute best friends)
3- My brother "Jodo" - We started a business this year that intends to support our dreams & others.
4- Both parants & a mother in-law that love us & do all they can all the time
5- Our homestead 3 Tree Farms
6- My abilities as an artist
7- Our abundant life. Happy, Healthy & wealthy
8- Musical journey, I play Drums, Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Uke, I've been meandering through my musical journey since I got my first drum set at 4yrs old. No lessons - just patient parants.
9- The car I drive
10- My willingness to look within and not judge others.
Thought you might like to know why I like your blog.Go,Go,Go!