TIs’ the season for spending quality time with the ones you love.  For many people, Christmas is their favorite time of year.  They go all out with decorating the house, buying presents, and blasting Christmas music. 

For me, I can’t help but consider those who struggle with this time of year. Maybe it’s their first Christmas without someone special in their life. How can this time of year really be jolly when so many are hurting? 

When the pressures of the holiday season get too hard, I try to focus on the blessings God has given me versus spending time and energy on what I don’t have.  In all honesty, there’s nothing I can do about it, so I choose to focus on the blessings I still have. I challenge you to focus & give thanks for the many beautiful gems of heaven around you, from your consistent breath to the movement of your limbs, to your job opportunities, to the smile from a stranger, to the Christmas lights we get to see driving down the street.  Change your perspective to the blessings God continues to shower on you daily.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This week’s word: Focus on What You Do Have

This week’s activity: Spend 10 minutes each morning focussing on God’s many blessings in your life.  Write them down and thank God for each of them.  Yes, there will always be areas and situations in our life that may be extremely tough to deal with.  But God, will never leave you or forsake you.  He is there with you. He is your strength.  Focus on the blessings He continues to pour out in your life whether big or small.