Does your attitude need adjusting? This is the season when its so easy to slip on over into jealousy, self-pity, worry and stress. I find that I often need a good talking-to. So I make myself pray consistently each day for strength, grace, a loving nature, peace and an Attitude of Gratitude toward God.
Join me here every Thursday in the month of December for some encouragement and some understanding… lets help each other look to God to help us get through the holidays victoriously and with gratitude!
Here’s How:
Copy the image here and put it on your blog.
Enter the url of your Attitude of Gratitude post in the Mcklinky below and share how you are cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude this year. 
Last night was our ladies Christmas Party at Church. All the regulars were there and a couple of new ladies. We ate some of the best food, laughed and talked and encouraged one another. It was really relaxing and fun. Then we played Dirty Santa. Our ladies really do have fun with that. We all come bringing a gift from our hearts and know that someone we love will take it home. Lots of good-natured kidding and swapping of gifts happens when we play that game. Then we mingled and talked some more, helped clean up and headed home.
It was a simple, not-very-fancy, but beautiful event where 17 women who have one thing in common gathered. We love Jesus and try to serve Him.
Its easy to get down about not having Christian friends. Its easy to have a pity-party about not knowing any “Like-minded” people. I’ve been there. We’ve all probably had times in life where we felt alone and needed a friend.
During those times, instead of crying out for others to listen and commiserate, I challenge you to lift it all up to the Lord who knows what you need. Determine that you will not be miserable this Christmas but that you will find your joy in the Lord.
Sometimes we’re alone for a purpose. There are times when you just might need to be alone with God for a while. Jesus knew what it meant to be alone (John 16:32). He knew that His Father was with Him though and that He really wasn’t alone. In those lonely times, you can find peace and joy. And it may be that you need to be the one to reach out and offer friendship first.
This year, I am not alone and I am grateful for my friends in Christ. I am grateful for my Church. We don’t all have the same ideas. We don’t have the same kind of lives or families and we certainly don’t like all the same things. If you dug deeply, you’d probably find several different beliefs on how to bake a cake, how to keep a home and even on doctrine. The power of believing and being a follower of Christ overcomes everything else.
I really don’t have to walk this path alone. I have support when I need it. And even if I only had one friend who was a Christian, I’d have that friend and we’d have Jesus in common … and that would be enough!
What people in your life are you thankful for? How do they lift you up? Post about your Attitude of Gratitude using the Mcklinky below.
Thank you Father that you don’t leave us alone. You are always with us. Thank You that You have given us the Church to help us live gloriously for You. Help me to be grateful today for whomever you have put in my life. Fill my heart with gratitude for the life You have given me and the people in it. Help me to reach out beyond myself to do Your will. Give me strength to shake off misery and throw it away, to look at the beauty of what I have. Amen.
About Sylvia
Hi Sylvia!
It took me the better part of the day (between doing the regular house stuff and chasing the baby) to write my Gratitude post. I knew what I wanted to say but it all came out too corny. I don’t know why it was so hard to write a post about who I’m grateful for. I still didn’t fully express my feelings. Maybe this is something I need to work on. Thanks for putting this together, I suspect this will be a time of growth for me.
{{{Millie}}} I’m so glad you took the plunge and wrote about what you are thankful for. I am on my way to read your post now. But, sometimes we just have to risk being corny and say what’s on our hearts.
Love
Sylvia
Better late than never, right? I just put my post up. Like Millie, it feels corny to me, but it is true.
I enjoyed reading your encouraging post, Sylvia. I am glad for you that you are not alone and find so much encouragement from your family and church.
Wardeh, your post wasn’t corny at all, it made me cry!
Nice tears, though. I’m so glad you are cultivating your grateful attitude this December!
I have enjoyed everyone’s entries. Sylvia, your prayer at the end of your post was especially touching. Thank you.
This makes me wish I were writing a blog! Maybe a gratitude blog, making note of the things that I am grateful for. . .
Emily
A little late for last week, but it’s there!