Gratitude List (#171-193)

So, it's been a tough week for me. As I have evaluated and pondered why this is,

I have come to a few conclusions! 

1- I  too often let me emotions rule me and not my will. This is a result of:

2 - not consistently being in God's Word, which REMINDS me of Truth. 

3 - I have not been DAILY offering my gratitude to the Father.

I've realized that as I grow older, my "emotional state" from time to time

seems to be worse than it used to. 

At times I don't "feel" like I'm going to "make it."

I feel "beat up" and "depressed" over my continual sin.

I tend to think I "hate" being sanctified.

I don't "think" things are going to be "o.k."

 I read a wonderful quote from Hannah Whitall Smith's book
The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life this a.m. that was so relevant,
and that I wanted to share:

Cease to consider you emotions, for they are only the servants;
and regard simply your will, which is the real king in your being.
Is that given up to God? Is that put into His hands?
Does your will decide to believe? Does your will choose to obey?
If this is the case, 
then you are in the Lord's hands, 
and you decide to believe,
and you choose to obey;
for your will is yourself.

And the thing is done. 
The transaction with God is as real, 
when only your will acts,
as where every emotion coincides.
It does not seem as real to you;
but in God's sight it is as real.

And when you have got hold of this secret, 

and have discovered that you need not attend to your emotions but 

simply to the state of your will, 

all the Scripture commands to yield yourself to God, 

to present yourself a living sacrifice to him, 

to abide in Christ, 

to walk in the light , 

to die to self, 

become possible to you; 

for you are conscious that in all these your will can act, 

and can take God's side; 

whereas, if it had been your emotions that must do it, 

you would, knowing them to be utterly uncontrollable, 

sink down in helpless despair. (pp84-84)

 
This coming week, with the Lord's help, I choose to:
1-ignore my emotions
2-pay attention to the state of my will
3-preach the Truth to myself by consistently reading the Word
4-bring all my worries/emotions to the Father
5- pray with thanksgiving

And so the list goes on.
I am grateful for:

40 degree weather at noon

an afternoon tea-party with #1 and #3 and new friends

hearing my dear husband weekly bring the Word to me

scarfs

the process of sanctification

snail mail

#1's willingness to be hired to fold ALL the laundry

blue, sunny skies

Christmas projects
birds at the bird feeder

Harry Potter

family worship

lots of blankets to keep us warm

my dishwasher

paint, markers, and colored pencils

midnight snuggles with #5

movie nights with my hubby

new friends willing to watch all 5 children
forgiveness

cozy afternoons, sipping tea, and reading The Bronze Bow to all

Thai food

my new wool winter jacket
difficult days