The Finale

So amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

I absolutely abhor conflict.  I will try to do everything to avoid it.  In the past I have been a peace keeper.  Not a peace maker.  A peace keeper, tries to keep his or her surroundings peaceful regardless of the chaos that is going on internally.  

I am learning to become a peace maker.  I do this by knowing that I must allow God to work in the situation and not to be discouraged by the conflict.  While I am in the midst of conflict, God sends angels to help and comfort me.  Working through the conflict is the only way to make peace. In that I am blessed.


Since I didn't blog yesterday, I will post two Joy Dares today.

February's Joy Dare: 29

A gift dull, a gift shimmering, a gift clean 

the cold that dulled my taste buds so I was not hungry and lost some weight

a thin sheet of ice covering a puddle

laundry

March's Joy Dare: 1

3 gifts at 3 pm.

finishing reading A Holy Experience at 3 pm and then seeing the March 1 Joy Dare :)

beautiful piano music in the background

green and white tea cooled enough to enjoy

A Holy Experience

Verse Three

When you look at others with their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high

I used to think the grass was always greener in someone else's yard.  I thought that as a Christian, wealth was part of the package.  Then I happened across a verse in Proverbs 30:8b, "give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread."

That verse nagged at me every time I read it.  I tried to ignore it, skim over it quickly, but there it was.  Finally I confessed my greediness and can honestly (most of the time) pray this verse to God.  

God has always provided for me.  I've never gone hungry, never gone without clothes, always had a roof over my head.  Sometimes it was someone else's roof, but a roof nonetheless. God has abundantly blessed me with all those and more.  

I am ashamed that I grumble because I don't have everything I want.  I have everything I need!  I pray that I will always thank him for his provision, his love, his grace.  I will count my many blessings and name them one by one.

February's Joy Dare 28:
Three gifts from the past--that help you trust the future
My green and brown leather Bible
Songs and hymns from days gone by such as His Eye Is On The Sparrow
A book of family history dating back hundreds of years, with stories of God's provision through it all

One Thousand Gifts

Verse 2

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?  
Count your many blessings ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

I've been burdened to the point of it affecting my health!  I felt like I couldn't even bear that cross.  After reading helpful books like, "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow and "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp I have learned to be thankful for what comes my way, counting the blessings and knowing those doubts have flown away.  I've been singing more as the days go by, too.  

I challenge you to be thankful in all things, in good times and in bad.  God is God and He has all things under control.  Blessings on your week!

February's Joy Dare: 27

Three ugly-beautiful gifts:

The compost bin my husband bought for me

Over-ripe/rotting fruits and veggies to be put in that compost bin

The finished compost that nourishes the soil of my gardens

The Song's Second Line

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost 
Count your many blessings name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.


It's easy to let yourself become discouraged.  Especially when you don't understand why things happen. I've been discouraged countless times, thinking that all is lost.  


Only when my focus is on God and I am counting my blessings and naming them can I even begin to see what the Lord does for me.   I don't think I can count that high.  I plan on naming my blessings that I count, writing them down in my journal.  


I thought today would be a great day to make bread.  Especially since we are almost out of bread.  The first loaf was pumpernickel rye.  I forgot to put the yeast in so instead we had unleavened bread, which reminded me of Jesus.  A blessing indeed. 


The second loaf was honey wheat.  I remembered the yeast.  However, the loaf stuck to the pan and it got sort of not so nice looking when I finally got it out of the pan. Sigh.  But, we do have a loaf of bread that is still going to nourish our bodies.  Another blessing.  


Count them. Name them. Be surprised!


February's Joy Dare: 25
a gift nearly worn out, a gift new, a gift make-do
food chopper
a bar of dark chocolate
leftovers for dinner
February's Joy Dare: 26
three gifts seen as reflections
baptism
how often I miss the blessing (awareness)
reminiscing about playing Twister while my sons play it

One Thousand Gifts