Let there be "Thanks"

Hello everyone!  It's that time of the year again!  Halloween is over and now the big push begins into the Holiday Season.  Before you know it, we will be singing "Jingle Bell Rock!"  OK, I won't jump the gun yet.   (Even though I must confess, I have already listened to some Christmas music). 

Seriously though, as we begin to dive head strong into this Holiday Season, let's not forget what the month of November is all about!   Sometimes, Thanksgiving gets overshadowed by the Christmas holiday.  It appears that it almost gets "Skipped" when you go into stores, the immediate change from Halloween to Christmas without what seems to be skipping a beat. 

So with that in mind, I know I don't want to forget what November is all about and that is being thankful!  So each day this month, I want to list one thing that I am grateful for each day.   Are you with me?  You will be surprised as you list something specific that you are thankful for.  30 days is just not enough!  I hope that that this little challenge will make you think and reconnect with what is important and really matters.

Are you ready?  Here we go!  Day #1 (2013) I am thankful for my Salvation!

Whoever knows me, knows this.  What is most important to me is my faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  I am nothing without Him!  He is my strength when I am weak, He is the treasure that I seek, He is my all in all!  It is my personal relationship with Jesus that keeps me going!  I know without a shadow of a doubt that He is the one that I can run to and He is the one that will never fail!  Even when I mess up and miss the mark, His love for me is unconditional!

Thank you Jesus for your love and salvation!  To you be all the glory and Honor!

 

No Strings Attached

Today I am so thankful for my wonderful and awesome wife!  Brenda is the love of my life and she is such a tremendous blessing to me!  Her love and support is unconditional.  No matter what, she is and has always been there for me.  She sees past my quirks and my idiosyncrasies, and still chooses to love me for who I am!  That unconditional love.  Even on my bad days!  Yes I do have them.  There are days when I get frustrated, whether it be with kids, work, or just everyday life, she is still there for me, takes me as I am and still always there to love me!  WOW!!!  What more can I ask?  We have shared this wonderful connection with each other now for over 23 years and it has been awesome and I am truly looking forward to the many more years that we have together!  My wife is the best and I would not have her any other way!  So a big THANK YOU and I am so GRATEFUL for YOU! goes out to my loving and wonderful wife Brenda Lorenzo!!!  You are truly the best!

The Gift of Freedom!

Hello All,

I know I am behind on my own challenge here, however, I have not stopped being thankful for something each day.   Today (Nov 6th) is Election day here in the good old United States of America.  So today I am VERY thankful for my right as an American Citizen to vote and have this democratic process in our country to select our leaders.  As we all know, this opportunity did not come without a great price!  This freedom is a gift given to us by the many men and woman who have fought valiantly for our freedom and ability to vote!  The sacrifices that they have made so that you and I can have the opportunity to cast our ballet will never go unappreciated with me and hopefully you feel the same way.

So on this Election day, I am very thankful for my gift of freedom.  So I challenge everyone of you regardless of your political preferences to exercise your freedom to freely vote.  Just remember to be very thankful for all the men and woman who have fought for this right and freedom!

An Attitude of Grattitude!

Hello All, I can't believe that it is November 1st!!!  Where has this year gone?  Last year I started the November Thankfulness Challenge.  This was where one would choose something specific they were thankful for during the Thanksgiving season.  This year it would be 22 specific things that you are thankful for.  It is a challenge, but I am sure that you can do it!  Are you up for it?   Join me.  You will be glad you did.  As I did this challenge last year, it truly made me look and see how many things that I have to be thankful for!  It has kept me looking on the brighter side of things through out the year!  So are you on board?  I hope so.  Let the challenge begin!

So here I go, Day 1.  I am thankful for the support of my family!  My wife and kids, as I have taken on the adventure of going back to school this past year!  They have supported me in this and have sacrificed themselves to help me do what I truly have been wanting to do for a long time now.  So I am extremely thankful that I have their support during this time of my life where I am pursuing my higher education.  I could not do it without knowing they are behind me!  They are my cheer leaders and encourage me when I get down and tell me to hang in there and that I can do it!  Having that support goes a long way in creating that "Attitude of Gratitude!"

A Time of Thankfulness -Day #24 A November Challenge

Day #24!  The final day of the November Thankfulness Challenge.  Day #24 ends on Thanksgiving day.  I know, I am a day late, because I was celebrating with my family!  What a day.  I truly hope and pray that through this challenge it has made you realize how blessed you truly are!  Through this challenge I was challenged to truly think about what I was thankful for.  I am so thankful for all the blessings that the Lord has given me and my family.  It made  me appreciate more what I have and realize that I truly want for nothing.  I hope this challenge did the same for you!  So I leave you with this.  May the Lord richly bless you and your family!   Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."   Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A Time of Thankfulness -Day #21 A November Challenge

Day #21 of the November Thankfulness Challenge.  I would be a miss if I did not include the other part of my family.  My two wonderful little cats!  So today I am thankful for my cats!  You may ask, "Why?"  Why would I be thankful for some little animal?  Well, I must say that these little animals are the best to me and my family.  Cats seem to get a bad rap when it comes to attitudes.  That they are not like the good old faithful dog who won't leave your side.  True, they are not the same in that way, however, I do think they are two peas in a pod so to speak when it comes to loving your unconditionally!  I love my cats, the times that they jump on my bed to wake me up and purr in my face as they give me a big nudge with their cold little wet noses!  It is just a joy to sit there and watch them play with each other and chase each other around the house.  So I am thankful for my cats.  They bring me as well as my family lots of joy!

So don't forget about your little critters!  Be thankful for them! I know I love mine!

A Time of Thankfulness -Day #18 A November Challenge

Day #18 of the November Thankfulness Challenge.  Today I am thankful for "Peace."  The stillness and calm that you feel when you know everything is going to be alright!   Sometimes we get so tied up in just the fast pace of life and we don't take time to slow down and experience true peace.  It's that calming feeling, it's just the simple take a deep breath and relax!  Let the troubles of the day just be set aside and experience a moment of peace.  I know I find peace in many different ways.  Whether it is just taking in the morning sunrise, or the quiet of the morning, listening to music.  This can all be so peaceful. 
However, I would be a miss if I did not mention where I find my "True Peace."  My true piece comes from knowing the Lord!  My God!  It is in Him that I find my peace!  It is in Him that I truly know everything is going to be alright!  Philippians 4:7 says "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
So today, I am truly thankful for peace.  Once again, I know that no matter what the circumstance may be, I can be assured of peace! I can say "It is well!, it is well with my soul!"

A Time of Thankfulness -Day #16 A November Challenge

Day #16 of the November Thankfulness Challenge.  Today I am thankful for The "Holiday Season"  The months of November and December are months of great celebration.  It is a time where we are Thankful and grateful for all things.  It is a time that we come together with family and friends.  It is a time that we set grievances aside and want the same things like peace, love and joy.  As I am very thankful for this time of the year, I also got to thinking today, "Why can't we be like this all year round?"  We should always be Thankful and grateful for the blessings that we have received and are going to receive in the future.  We should always be ready to give our talents and abilities to help others no matter what time of the year it is.  Take a moment to think, and I bet you can find someone that you could help out, whether it be a physical, monetary, or a spiritual need. Sometimes it may just be a smile or a kind word that will make someones day! 

So I take this verse today from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (NLT)  So I am very thankful for the Holiday Season!  So I encourage you all to take this Holiday Season and extend it past November and December.  NO not the decorations and music, but the reason for the seasons!  Spread it throughout the year!  God bless you all!