Count Your Blessings

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Philippians 4:11 (NLT)

All pictures are  taken and edited by Lesli Allyn Blogs unless otherwise stated.

If you where to  sit  and think  honestly, would  you find that you spend more time complaining rather than  counting your  blessings? We  have  all  had  instances in our live where we couldn't  take  our eye's off of   ourselves and  what we are lacking. The  danger in  complaining is that   we  begin to lose  sight of  what God is  doing right now in this moment and we  fall into  the trap of  discontentment. The thing is,  we may   never have everything  fall into place the way we would like or have all the things we desire, but keep in mind that the very thing you are  complaining about someone somewhere would love to have  a portion of what you have.


Today I challenge you   to  purposefully  count all the blessings  in your life  as well as how God has blessed you over the years. Nothing is too small  to list. Keep  this list where you see it often and  throughout the day  add more things as you think of them .You can keep this  list on your phone , office  or  posted around the house. What this will do is  build  a heart of gratitude and  worship. We  will begin to  look back at our list and pin point  where His  love  towards us kept us from being discourage  by our circumstance and how He   graciously  reached His hand down to us and gave us the ability  to  keep  going. Let this act of worship shift your thinking and  heal your heart.




Love,

Being Thankful in Unfavorable Circumstances

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ERV )16 Always be full of joy. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

All pictures taken and edited by Lesli Allyn unless otherwise stated

You may read  verse  with a  huge  question mark over your head especially when your  current  situation is  less than favorable.   "Whatever happens always be thankful ,  Always be  full of  joy"   How can  I be   when I am in  pain, my heart is  broken and I  have no clue what my next steps are?

There is  more to  the verse you just have to  dig a  little  deeper.   God isn't asking you  to  mask your pain and simply gloss over  your situation.  This  verse encourages  meet your  problems head on and  actively pursue  joy  and heart that is grateful.  Remember God wouldn't drop you in a place/situation that He wouldn't equip you  get through and  find  victory on the other side.  

The season you find yourself in  may be a means to  eliminate any distraction, grow you and  confirm that  you must  rely  on God fully  for  everything.   Joy  comes from God   circumstantial   happiness is fleeting  and can  be totally  dependent on  a person , material things  or a job. Are What you need is something more substantial  and that's the love and  joy that validates, heals , renews  and that is  given freely by the God  that created you.

Don't lose  focus  God is present even  when you feel like you are at a standstill.   Remember there is  purpose for your  pain something you need to learn or experience so that you will be fully capable  of helping someone  else  who may find themselves in a  similar situation.  The  good  news is you will get through this  and  things  will not always be this way and you will be a stronger  person having survived this  season in your life so  keep going!

Love,