Showing thankfulness for what we have been given

On this blog there are several posts about how much God has given us and how much we have to be thankful for. Last year, I went through 30 days, each day counting another blessing and there are also other posts speaking of how much we have been given and how our hearts should be overflowing with thankfulness for it all. There is so much that God has given us! There is so much that gives us reason to be filled with thankfulness and gratitude to God.

If we are given a gift that we love from a friend or family member, we show that we are thankful for the gift by using it with joy. How do we show that we are thankful for the gifts God has given us? How do we use these gifts? What does God command us to do with these gifts?

My challenge for myself, and to all of you reading this, is to focus on how we use the gifts that we have been given. Study the Bible to see what we are commanded to do with these gifts, read books and use them. Over the next month, I plan to post updates and ideas and passages from the Bible about how we are to use the gifts God has given us. I hope that you will also join me in this challenge.

Step out of your comfort zone

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone 

~ Neale Donald Walsch 

Stepping out of our comfort zone can be hard, but really it's where the magic happens. Would we really learn anything if we didn't dare take a step away from what we know and are comfortable with, would we really have any new experiences that way? Would we really be able to achieve greatness and bring glory to God in everything that we did if we only stayed with what we were comfortable with?

My last post was about how to seize each moment and make the most of our time here on earth. A big part of that is to step outside of your comfort zone.  So my challenge for you today is to take a step forward, a step away from what you know and into the unknown. Move out of your comfort zone.

Make every moment count

God has given us many gifts, and we have the responsibility to use these gifts wisely. Think of the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30). The servants who invested their talents and multiplied them were blessed while the servant who hid the talent in the ground had it taken away from him. We have to use what we have been given in the best way possible; in the most God magnifying, God glorifying way.

Every day, every hour, every moment we are here on earth is a gift.  God has given us the wonderful gift of life and he has given us time to spend this life. Isn't that amazing? The thing is, how do we spend that time? How do we make sure that we invest the time that God has given us in the best way that brings glory and honour to His name?

This is something that I have been thinking about over this past week. I can't say that I have all the answers, and it's definitely something I need to word at. I've started writing a list to help me

• love EVERYONE
• Don't waste time, fill your days with purpose. Wake up each morning knowing what you will accomplish
• Count your blessings. You have so much, don't get caught up with what others have. 
• be content
• Laugh lots
• Be busy. That way you won't waste time.
• Pray constantly  
• Know that God is with you every moment of every day. 
• surround yourself with family and friends
• always have faith
• don't worry what others think of you, think about what God thinks of you
• Make at least 3 others smile (or laugh) each day
• Take time to breathe and appreciate the time you have been given