Be Kind to Thyself

"Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it." ~ Proverbs 4:23

and

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

~ Philippians 4:6-7

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I'm thankful that NOBODY can take away my memories of the good things that have happened in my life and the good people that I've known. 

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I'm thankful that I don't have to go to jail because I did the right thing years ago.  Paul, the evangelist, preached Jesus and he was sent to jail. 

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I'm thankful that my home hasn't burned down or been knocked down by a mini-burst, although it came close once. A tree behind our house about ten feet away was toppled by one and took out our son's play-house several years ago by smashing right down through the center of it. Thankfully he wasn't in it at the time. My husband was in our back bedroom and I'm thankful that God's finger pushed the tree the other way and his hand protected my husband and home from harm. 

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I'm thankful for finding a cookie recipe online at "All Recipes" that is made without refined sugar. It's called "Healthy Banana Cookie." It has 5 ingredients to mix together and bake. The original recipe called for bananas and dates, but I've also made it with bananas and a chopped apple, bananas and prunes, bananas and dried apricots, bananas and dried pineapple. I'd like to try bananas and raisins next. We liked them all except for the banana and prune version.  Oh, and, I would suggest you store your extra cookies, that is if you have any leftover after your family discovers your baking, in the refrigerator. I'm personally not into eating little hairy, green aliens from a deep, dark cookie jar. smile! 

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They say that "miracles" are myths, but I'm thanking God for this Christmas miracle! I know her parents are praising God for it too!
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This weekend I found this large appreciation plate at the thrift store and just had to purchase it for my growing collection of gratitude items! 😉

It was made by Hallmark in 2005 and around the edges it says "a grateful plateful" and "a thankful heart"(repeat)! And on the back is a poem about a grateful heart.

Please accept this simple treat

for being extra kind,

for when it comes to thoughtfulness,

of course, you come to mind.

And even when the smallest crumbs

of food are finally gone,

the plate is yours to keep,

or else feel free to pass it on.

For as you honor someone else's

caring attitude,

You'll be a link within a lasting 

chain of gratitude!

I Choose

I CHOOSE what I put into my mouth and what comes out of it. Today I give praise to the Lord for his creative "painting" I was able to get a snapshot of  last Saturday. Thank you, God, for sharing your wonderful art with us! It was absolutely beautiful! 

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I CHOOSE  not to listen to the lies that the devil tells me. I'm thankful for God's Light in my pathway! 

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I CHOOSE to praise God for keeping a sister of my heart in the land of the living. This is the special spiritual sister who gave me the keys to gratitude and she is the reason for this blog so we could keep in touch after she moved away!

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I CHOSE to marry my sweet husband several years ago.  He CHOSE to surprise me, along with his family, with a birthday party this last weekend. My sister-in-love, his youngest sister, CHOSE to take me to supper on my birthday. Thank God for both! 

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I CHOSE sometime ago to be grateful for containers in one of my past posts. Now I'M CHOOSING to be grateful for transparent clear containers. I'm in the process of rearranging my storage containers in the kitchen. I went to the store and purchased one-half gallon size clear glass Ball Jars for healthy food storage with additional lids and the opaque plastic containers get the junk food out of sight and out of mind.  Again, thank you Lord, for all the good ideas. Keep them coming! 😎

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"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." 

~ Daniel 6:10.