Habit 1

My mom had a friend who had the sweetest spirit. Even when she was days away from meeting our Lord, if you asked her, "How are you doing?" she always responded, "I am blessed."

That is the type of woman I want to be.

Therefore, my first new habit of 2011 is to count my blessings every day.

It is hard to be discontent when you count your blessings. 

* A personal relationship with my Savior

* Friends

* Food to eat

* Clothes to wear

* A nice, warm house to live in when it's freezing outside

* Brownies made with lots of help from little hands

* Clean water

* Toothbrushes and toothpaste

* Books to read

* Soft pillows and a soft, warm bed

* Snuggles

I could go on and on, but I'll stop with this...

* The love of my family

I feel more content already. :)
Truly I am blessed.

Discontentment

God has really been laying on my heart lately how easily I fall into the trap of being discontent. So I am going to concentrate 2011 on the art of being content.


Phillipians 4:11-12 says, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."



I believe the key word in these verses is "learned." In our society (and apparently in societies many years ago) there is always the pull to want something different than what we have.
 
I found these quotes by Kent Crockett on contentment:
 
* The grass is always greenest in the center of God’s will.
 
*A nicer golf course won't make you a better golfer. A nicer environment won't make you a better person.
 
*Has it ever occurred to you that the things you now have were once things you were trying to get?




* Contentment in life is not found in a perfect set of circumstances but by choosing to be happy in every situation.

The last quote is my favorite - being content is a choice. And it is my choice to make 2011 a year of purposefully learning contentment.
 
A website that I have recently fallen in love with is http://www.aholyexperience.com/. Ann Voskamp is such a beautiful writer, and I have told more than one person that her site has changed my life. ;) One thing I am doing to intentionally learn to be content this year is by following the 100 Day Calendar found here. More and more I want to have a grateful heart, for truly God has blessed me with so much. I am choosing to develop 3 new habits over the next 100 days.
 
It's hard to be discontent when you count your blessings.