Friday SHINE.....

Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 8

Happy Friday, SHINE!

Oh, girls, I have so much to share with you today! Not to mention, we have our Friday Challenge to get to!

Ready?

Okay, so I was at a bookstore this week here in St. Simon's. It's kind of our little family tradition to stop by a bookstore and get a book on our way to the beach.

Usually, I don't get anything. Why?

Let's see if I can make this short and somewhat understandable. 

I have to be really, really careful with what I read. When I read something it goes deep, deep down into my heart and soul. If it is something disturbing, or anything slightly disturbing, it takes me a long time to shake it.

This also goes with things that I watch on T.V.

 I know, it's weird. My husband does not get it, but he knows me well enough by now to know how I am. He respects it. (i think.)

If I read something, it has to be very, very light or very very spiritual and enlightening. I have gotten to the point where I only want to read something that is good for me! Kind of like food. If I eat a lot of sugar or unhealthy food, I don't feel well afterwards. If I fill up on good stuff, like fruits and veggies, I am content and healthy.

Make sense?

Ok, so here I am at the bookstore perusing the stationary and coffee side of the store. 

Suddenly, I am feeling pulled to get a book. 

Hmm? Where do I even look? I don't usually just "get a book" so casually without any premeditated thought.

As I am feeling pulled, I walk over one aisle and land in the "religion" section. Ahhhh, of course.

Ok, this is good. This is safe and good for me.

So, here is the part where you may think I am crazy, or crazier than you even thought. I sit down in the middle of the aisle, cup of coffee in one hand, and pray that God leads me to the "right" book. 

I'm dead serious.

I am on the floor, and I open my eyes and the first book that I see is, "1000 gifts" by Ann Voskamp. Okay, girls, it's  not just sitting on the bookshelf with the spine facing me, it is actually turned around laid out flat against the bookshelf beckoning me to pick it up.

Not to mention it is on the very bottom shelf. If I were not on the floor, I never would have seen it. 

I have heard of this book. I do believe Heather Heaton and Michele Fort mentioned it to me a while back. I pick up the book, and skim through it. I grab my phone to see if anyone on  facebook has read it and would recommend it. 

God very vividly tells me, "It doesn't matter what they say. I am the One that wants you to get this book. " Whew. Okay then. I put my phone back in my purse and march straight to the front of the store and purchase this $16.99 book. 

So, here I am today on page 113 of this book. As I am reading it on the beach yesterday, God tells me something. (again.)

He tells me that He wants me to start making a list of 1000 things that I am thankful for.  This is what the girl in the book does, and her whole life changes because of her thankfulness.

Okay, God. I'm on it. 

Not only does He want me to do it, He told me to lead SHINE girls in doing it too. As well as my family. Lem is also going to talk to his bible study guys about doing it. 

Alrighty then. Done.

So, what's our challenge today?

Yep, you guessed it.

I want you to start a list today of things that you are thankful for. Carry this notebook around with you  at all times if you can. 

I want us to get to 1000 things that we are thankful for. Seriously, 1000.

Now, I have no idea how long this will take, but that's not the point. The point is to change our perspective, girls. 

Where are you right now? Are you grieving? Are you lonely? Are you bitter? Are you angry? Are you confused? Are you hurting? Are you disappointed? Are you lacking joy? Are you just going through the motions in this life? 

Or something else completely.

We sometimes ONLY see the looming, ominous shadows, and forget about the great beautiful light in the sky! If we are looking UP to HIM, we don't see shadows anymore! Yes, they may still be there, but they are not our focus....HE is!

Girls, we are changing our focus today. No matter what our circumstances are this very second, we are giving thanks and acknowledging the Lord in the simple, yet profound act of thanks.

God is all around us, girls. Let's notice HIM!

So, today is YOUR new day! The day your life will change! 

Day one of your new life.

I will be checking in with you to see how your list is going, so be prepared. :)

Girls, I didn't stumble upon this little book by accident. God is telling us something here. He wants JOY in our lives! Daily! Not because of our circumstances, but because of our thankful hearts towards HIM!

"As long as thanks is possible, then JOY is always possible!" One Thousand Gifts.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."1 Thessalonians 5:18 

So, who's with me?

making my list,

jill

**p.s....weekday give-away drawing will be this afternoon! it's not too late to enter! be looking on the blog for the winner! you will not even believe how today's give-away gift coincides with today's challenge. ONLY God could have planned it like that. He is utterly amazing.