#WednesdayWordswithFriends : Gratitude

Good Morning Friends,

Well, today's guest couldn't be here so I get to share some thoughts with you on a word that, for years, has been a "buzz" word.

GRATITUDE is one of those words we love to hate.

What?

Hear me out LOL!

I love to be reminded to share and show gratitude and yet, I hate the fact that I have to be reminded.

Shouldn't gratitude come as naturally as breathing?

Yeah, it should but how often do we remember that?

I know I tend to forget so easily to show gratitude at all times and in all situations.

So I'm going to take a moment to share some gratitude with you....

I am grateful for the creator of this beautiful meme reminding me to be grateful. I don't know who Angie KK is or where/how I came across this and saved it to my computer but I appreciate such a lovely reminder.

I am grateful for Each of YOU my friends, family, fans and fellow authors! For your love and support and the many ways you show those attributes and bless my life.

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for every blessing ever bestowed upon me and the many blessings to come.

These are a FEW of the things I am grateful for and hope to spend time every day expressing thanks to not only those lovely people directly responsible for these blessings, but to God for all He has gifted me with from the gift of life and love to every, single, breath I take. In fact, I'm making a commitment to do so right now and hope you'll not only join me but hold me accountable.

I recently read a short book, The Gratitude Jar, in which the author tells how her life changed by practicing gratitude every day for thirty days. Check it out!

The practice in this book is to write what you're grateful for on little slips of paper and put them in a jar (or container) designated for the task. I think it's a great idea but so is a gratitude journal or simply sitting around the dinner (or breakfast) talking about what you're grateful for. Any daily practice of gratitude works!

Doesn't matter how we express gratitude, only that we do.

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and hope you'll drop by this weekend and see who's in our Saturday Spotlight!

Meanwhile, as you go about your day, please remember to show and share gratitude.

I'd love to know if and how gratitude has changed your life.

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures - Treasure Boxes

Good Morning Friends!

Surprise....two weeks in a row I share something I treasure. A rarity, I know LOL! I pray you are blessed and in finding out what I treasure, you'll consider all of the treasures in your life.

In the spiritual work I've done over the years, I'm learning that gratitude and appreciation are two of the most important attitudes we can have. I know it may sometimes seem like there is nothing in life, or rather in certain situations, to be grateful for and/or appreciate, but like Love and Forgiveness, Gratitude and Appreciation are choices you make.

What do these have to do with treasures?

Everything!

God loves a grateful heart and the law of attraction states that what you focus on, you receive more of (thoughts and things of like quality). Therefore, reminding ourselves of what we treasure and sharing our treasures with others, is a form of gratitude and appreciation, and practicing these opens your eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to receive even more things to appreciate and treasure.

We all have items we want to hang on to and treasure boxes that come in all shapes and sizes to put them in.

Here are a few of mine.....

Some are bought and some are homemade (bottom left is one my brother made for me) but all are crafted with love.

Luke 12:34 tells us....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also and Philippians 4:8 exhorts us....Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This is what gratitude and appreciation do....cause you to focus your mind and heart on the good things in life.

So when you're feeling down and negative thoughts are crowding your mind, take a few moments and pull out your treasure box (physical or literal) and remember how blessed you really are!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care, God bless and remember....Gratitude/Appreciation is a superpower

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Grace & Gratitude

Good Morning Friends,

Well here we are, the last Thursday Thoughts in March 2015! End of the 1st Quarter.

Now's the time when most people look back over their resolutions and/or goals and see how they've done. And now's the time when most people give up because they just aren't where they wanted to be.

Don't be one of them!

Look over them, readjust if necessary and then express gratitude for how far you've come!

Then ask God for the grace to continue.

Next to LOVE, Grace and Gratitude are the most powerful aspects of faith you can express.

You might also consider incorporating writing and/or saying affirmations into your daily schedule. I can hear you lamenting now...I don't have time...

YES you do!

Say them while in the shower, while getting dressed, while waiting on the coffee to brew, while waiting on the kids to get in the car, while preparing breakfast or lunches. Mutter them under your breath while in traffic or the car line at school or at the bank.

In other words, use the time you would normally spend complaining to show grace and express gratitude.

Meditation is also important....Joyce Meyer has said, "If you can worry, you can meditate." All this means is shifting those worrisome thoughts into positive, faith-filled ones. Meditation is simple and can be done in as little as 5 minutes a day...better yet 5 minutes 3 times a day (morning, at lunch, before bed).

Here's the thing, we tend to make every little effort to change a big deal when really, it's a minor adjustment in our thinking and speaking. And, remember, any small improvement is a step in the right direction.

Have a Blessed and Grace-filled day!
PamT

#TuesdayTreasure: Peace

This weekly post is supposed to be about something I treasure and today the thing I not only treasure but crave during this holiday season (and every day) is PEACE.

You may wonder how to cultivate and maintain an attitude of peace in such a tumultuous world.

Here are a few ways....

Gratitude: Being grateful for the little things in life helps us to focus on the good instead of that which is less than we desire. Gratitude and Peace go hand in hand.

Love: Focusing on the love of God and the love in your life will produce a profound peace in your heart.

Focus on the Present Moment produces much peace. I've heard it said that stress comes from focusing on the "coulda/shoulda/woulda" situations in our life. Yes it's true we need to acknowledge where we are and where we've been, but ONLY in order to determine where we desire to be! Once we realize that, we can move toward it with hopeful expectation.

These are a few ways I strive to maintain peace in my life. I pray they help you.

Something to think about!

"Inspirational with an Edge! ™

#ThursdayThoughts: Thanksgiving & Gratitude

If you've followed me for long you know I do my best to be uplifting and positive. Well today is the one day set aside each year to give thanks but as you also know, I am a firm believer in having and expressing an attitude of gratitude.

So let me take a few moments to THANK You for being a faithful friend and follower (reader, fan).

May God bless you 100 fold each day!
PamT

Thursday Thoughts: Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well it's finally here, the one day we set aside to say Thank You each year. Although I appreciate the holiday, I believe gratitude is or should be a way of life. Every day and in every situation, we can find something to be grateful for.

Illness wrack your body? Thank God for what doesn't hurt or which organs and systems work with 100% efficiency the way He created them to function.

Loneliness pervade your life? Thank God for the material substances you have.

Grief overwhelm? Thank Him for the family and friends still alive and thank Him for the time you shared with that/those loved one(s).

Have more month than money? Thank Him for what you DO have, after all, some folks have less than you.

There's an old saying that whenever you complain about something you lack, look around and you'll find someone who is less fortunate.

No matter where life has brought you thus far, take a moment to reflect on all you have to be thankful for and vow to make the changes in your heart and mind, thoughts and words, so that every day is Thanksgiving Day! 

Now here's a little poem I wrote several years ago that I'd like to share with you again.....

A day set aside for grateful hearts

To express gratitude to God for gifts He imparts.

Since His mercies are new every morning, Dear

Shouldn’t we Thank Him each day of the year?

When you gather with family and those you love

Please remember to give Thanks and Praise to God above.

Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever! (1 Chron. 16:34)

And since tomorrow (11/29) is my beloved's birthday, I'd like to share with you a poem I gave him for Christmas back in 2006... 

I searched the town over, both near and far

To find a card to express how special you are.

No words touched my heart

or tickled my ear

Nothing could explain

how much I hold you dear.

Not a phrase or verse, no prose or art

Can articulate the deepest sentiments of my heart.

You’ve supported my efforts

until all my dreams came true

Even still, there are no words

that voice how much I love you.

So I offer you these simple words straight from my heart,

Not much I know, but hopefully a start.

You hold a place in my heart

that none can surpass

And my love for you will forever last.

Please accept this as it’s meant with love and good cheer

And know your love blesses me each day of the year!

Merry Christmas , My Love!

                          Your Love

  

Happy Birthday Terry.... RIP

Don't forget the "Holly Jolly Blog Hop" where you can visit authors all over the web who are spreading the Holiday cheer!

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Tuesday Treasure: Simple Things

Happy Tuesday Morning and I pray it is a Blessed one for you out there!

A couple of songs have been running through my head this morning.... the Christmas jingle about "my favorite things" and the tune sung by Kenny Chesney about the simple things in life.  This brought to mind a question....

How often do we really appreciate the simple gifts we are blessed with on any given day?

The more I study and experience living in alignment with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit/Angels & Saints, the more I'm beginning to realize the necessity of gratitude for the simplest things.

Like sunrise splashing color across the sky & weeping its tint onto the hills.

After all, gratitude (thanksgiving) is one of the most basic courtesies. 

All of the spiritual leaders I study tout the value of gratitude for everything in life, even (especially) the simplest. So as you go about your day today, think of all the treasures in your life....and send up prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving for each and every one of them....then, do the same for the dreams in your heart.

Speaking of dreams....  just a reminder....Tempered Dreams (and the entire series) is available in Ebook @ Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords and will soon be available in print!

Dr. Scott Hensley (introduced in Tempered Hearts) has built a wall around his heart since the death of his wife and parents.  Katrina Simmons is recovering from scars inflicted on her as a battered wife.  Can dreams be renewed and faith strengthened?  Can they find joy and peace in God’s love and in love for one another?  

Read an excerpt HERE!

Thursday Thoughts: The Heart of the Matter

Good Morning Friends!

Today I'd like to share with you what's on my heart and that is....the condition of your heart.

Tuesday I talked about the power of gratitude to change your life and circumstances. I'm still a firm believer of that, but gratitude is a byproduct of something much deeper.

A pure heart.

Now many may think they can't achieve purity of heart but I do believe that is a lie straight from the pits of hell!

We can have a pure heart but in order to do so we have to tap in to the root of our thinking.

Consider this... a child is born with/in absolute purity. So many times we look at the fruit (circumstances) instead of the root (heart).

I did a keyword search on Bible Gateway on "pure heart" and came up with 10 scriptures. My favorites are....

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God." and 1 Peter 1:22 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,"

So how do we do this?

First recognize that nothing or no-one outside of your SELF can achieve a pure heart. You must long for purity and that begins with your thoughts!

Our hearts are born pure, the rest is learned behavior.

Second, realize that no person, place, drug, surgery, relationship (other than one with God) will make you happy, produce purity nor change the condition of your heart. Only you can do that and it begins with your thoughts.

You may still wonder how to get away from the negative circumstances in your life, how to feel more positive, loving, grateful, etc., etc., etc.

Philippians 4:8 tells us how.....[ Meditate on These Things ] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

A pure heart will emerge when you purify your thoughts and as I mentioned Tuesday, gratitude is one way to begin doing so!

In my column, Pamela's Ponderings, I spoke on the Art of Love (Feb) - and mentioned taking love breaks throughout the day. Try this, it really works! One thing I'd like to add though is this....Before you can fully love someone else, you have to love yourself.

So take some time to connect with the Source of Love (God) and dwell deeply in the wells of love within you, then let that love flow outward into the lives of everyone you come in contact with.

Something to think about.....

"Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm)

Tuesday Treasure: Life & Gratitude

Good Morning from the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera, TX!

Yep, I'm back at my home away from home and while on my morning walk I saw our brand new baby calf (only 6 days old). That little creature made me think about this stage we call life and I wonder....are we grateful for this gift we've been given?

In her book, The Magic, Rhonda Byrne (author of The Secret) talks about gratitude using the Scripture "whoever has, more will be given and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken (or lost)." Variations of this passage is found in Matthew:13:12; Mark 4:25 & Luke 8:18 and is attributed to Jesus.

Ms. Byrne says that the key to this scripture and a major key to life is Gratitude. "To whoever has "gratitude for what he has" more will be given. Whoever does not have gratitude, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."

Could there be some truth in this statement?

I mean think about it! Are you grateful for the life you have, the air you breathe, the people you encounter, the work you have to do, the water you drink, the sun that shines down your daily dose of vitamin D; the rain that cleanses and renews?

One of my favorite sayings is "God won't give you something else to complain about." Spiritual leaders across all denominational lines teach the value of gratitude. Self-help gurus and emotional healers encourage us to write a list of things we are grateful for every day. Even if it is something on your wish list, write down that you are happy and grateful for it in advance!

Now I'm not saying a healthy dose of gratitude will solve all of life's problems but I'm betting it'll make them a whole lot easier to bear!

Something to think about.....
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm)

Need help developing an attitude of gratitude? Check out The Magic by  Rhonda Byrne in Print & Ebook and while you're at it, read or watch The Secret too! (Print, Ebook, DVD)

PS: Yes I'm aware that The Secret and The Magic are controversial in many Christian minds. For those of you who are wary of reading these books, check out  Top Secret: The Truth Behind The Secret by Robert M Price for a look at these principles from a Christian stand point! Also available in Print & Ebook!