The Names of God

I'm going through a study created by Loving God Greatly about the names of God. I've always wanted to do a study like this. Just to focus on God, his character, his names and to really get to know Him better. This study came up as part of my church's womens ministry opportunities. It started before Thanksgiving and goes through Christmas. Perfect timing, right?

So far I have learned about Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who provides), Jehovah Rohi (the Lord is my Sheperd) and this week we're learning about Wonderful Counselor. I've been saturated in the bible daily. Meditating over these verses and trying to find obersvations, applications and finally prayers using the selected verses. In this process I'm being reminded so much about things I already knew about God. It is helping draw my mind to him more often. I've discovered that the things I so wanted to know, I already new. But now I'm seeing them in new ways. Isn't that how God works?

In the last few days I've had a song by Amy Grant running through my head. It's and oldie, for sure. The name of the song is Emmanuel. It's from one of her earlier records. What a great reminder of the names of God. I know we'll be talking about Emmanuel in an upcoming week. But this song is running through my brain now.

Last night at our small group bible study, we were discussing prayer. We defined prayer as communion with God. Once someone said that as the definition, no one else really wanted to say anything, because that summed up what everyone was thinking. Different words could be used instead of communion like talking, communication, or fellowship. But ultimately it is time with God. Where I was moved to think differenly after this discussion was in the area of adoring God as part of my prayer time. This isn't something I do nearly enough. I tend to have the Santa approach to prayer and focus on how he can meet my material and spiritual needs. I need to make a point to choose to focus on him. So this is my goal moving forward. To not allow myself or Satan to distract me from worshipping and praising and focusing on God in my prayer times.

Thankful for Mini Habits (the book)

I stumbled across a book a few weeks ago. I don't even remember now where I found it. The is called Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results. It is about setting stupidly small goals and how just getting started will often spur a person on to do more and thus achieve more.

This premise is truly fascinating. Start small and be content with achieving that small goal, but be encouraged when that small action is the catalyst for further action. I've read several books about habits. It's intriguing how the mind works. Mini Habits spends a little time going into the mechanics of memory. Because it lays that groundwork, starting small makes a lot of sense. So that is the impetus to kick-start the blog.

Let's see where this road leads.

Thankful, Naturally

Being a positive person doesn't come naturally to me. I tend to automatically focus on the things in life that don't measure up. Here's how Merriam Webster defines automatic -

largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex 5 b: acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously c: done or produced as if by machine : mechanical

That's me...spontaneously, unconsciously, involuntarily focusing on the most minute of imperfections - like a dang machine. While this might be my natural inclination, I don't have to settle for this characteristic.

I have control over my mind and I can make the choice to change my focus. For now it requires concentration and conscious effort. It may even take a quiet internal conversation with myself to get the right perspective, but it can be done. I can choose to accentuate the positive and appreciate the beauty, blessings and bounty of my life.

And someday maybe my automatic response will be celebrating the good, the right, the positive in life...automatically, naturally!

What r u thankful 4?