Leah Richardson

This time of year prompts me to remember all the goodness in my life, all I have to be thankful for.  And to consider if my response is one flowing from a grateful heart.  A couple of days ago, I heard a statement that has lingered in my mind…What if,

WHAT IF TOMORROW’S BLESSING DEPENDED ON TODAY’S THANKSGIVING…HOW MUCH MORE OF A GRATEFUL HEART WOULD WE HAVE TODAY?

This bids the question then, what am I ungrateful about?  What am I mumbling, grumbling and whining about:  God’s timing?  God’s terms?  God’s will?  God’s ways?….

Would I be more thankful if I looked beyond the blessings to the Source, the One who is the ultimate blessing in my life?  What if I decided to choose thanksgiving for God’s will…Jesus’ Words…the Holy Spirit’s ways…

The Bible encourages us to choose a heart of gratitude, to offer praise and thanksgiving for the will of God in our lives.  Believing His will and ways for our life are always good and perfect.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever! (Phil 4:7, Psalm 118:1)

When Jesus returns will He find faith on this earth?  Will He find expectant…willing…grateful hearts?

I pray He will.  I pray He finds us looking beyond the blessing to the Source.  I pray He finds a heart of gratitude for the Source.

I encourage you not to rush off and rush around to count and enjoy and glory in all your blessings without stopping to recognize and thank the One, Lord Jesus, who provides them all as an expression of His lovingingkindness.

Give thanks with a grateful heart…

Look beyond the blessing this Thanksgiving to the Source…

The above photos are my precious family…Jim, my husband, and Lauren, my daughter,  my parents and my brother, Frank,  my sister, Eva Anne, and her husband, Tim,  my nephew, Joseph who just turned 12, and my niece, Lana… Thank you Lord.

For my family, friends and you this Thanksgiving…I pray that the Lord will

open to you His good treasury, the Heavens, to rain down blessings upon you in His perfect timing and your due season.  I pray God blesses all the work of your hands so fully that all His favor and blessings shall come upon you and overtake you…Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.  Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.  Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of  your herds and the young of your flock.  Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.  Blessing upon blessing in every way every day!

a grateful heart pondering…WHAT IF TOMORROW’S BLESSINGS DEPENDED ON TODAY’S THANKSGIVING…

leah

What a wonderful weekend in Seaside Florida!! November still takes the top spot, to me, as the best month to visit the emerald-green waters and sugar-white sand of the Gulf Coast of Florida.  I was visiting last weekend because my precious friends at the beautiful Seaside store, Pizitz Home & Cottage, hosted a book signing for INTERIOR WISDOM during the Seaside Wine Festival.

When you step into Pizitz, you are immediately enveloped in endless bleached shades of white and taupe and driftwood.  My dear friend, Janet Porterfield, who buys for the store scours the country for just the right luxuries and necessities to fill your beach-side dwelling. The beauty of this shop is only overshadowed by the smiles and gracious style of the women who work there…Vicki, Susan, Elisabeth and Linda.  The minute your flip flop crosses the threshold, you feel at ease, at home, and appreciated.

The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from Heaven, and I am so thankful for the treasured things I have found for myself and my clients at Pizitz. But more so, I treasure the gift of the friendships I have made there.

Susan Byrd, a designer at Pizitz, and I pose for a picture before our busy, busy day began.

Some precious friends, Cynthia and Katie, surprised me and stopped by to purchase Interior Wisdom for Christmas gifts.

Whenever I had a break from signing Interior Wisdom, I would look out at the lounging crowd who enjoyed a picture perfect “chamber of commerce” day.

Yes Lord, every good and perfect gift does come from above…thank you for the innumerable gifts you bless each of us with when we take the time to stop and look around us.  As we approach the busy holiday seasons, help us to remember each day to look up, look within, then look around...because you have custom-designed good and perfect gifts that are just waiting to bless our day immeasurably! …now that’s INTERIOR WISDOM!