Count Your Many Blessings

"Count Your Many Blessings"
During the month of November we receive a lot of
messages about gratitude and the need to give thanks,
because of the Thanksgiving holiday. It is important to
give thanks, and I'm grateful for a holiday that does
remind us every year to give thanks. I also know the
importance of making gratitude a daily habit, and not
just a once a year occasion.

One of my favorite Bible verses says, "give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you." I Thessalonians 5: 18 This doesn't tell us to
give thanks FOR all circumstances, but to give thanks IN
all circumstances. We may not like what is going on
around us or what is happening to us, but we can always
give thanks in the circumsances, because we know we
are not alone. God is omnipresence--which means God
is everywhere present. We are not alone ever, and for
this we can be thankful.

Counting our blessings on a regular basis, also helps us
to stay out of ingratitude or taking things for granted.
There is always something I can be thankful for, and I'm
working on being aware of all that I have been blessed
with in my life. One of the things I have noticed is that
the more I am grateful, the more I have to be grateful
for.

I trust that as you approach this holiday, and each day
that follows, that you will continue to look for all of the
many blessings that are coming your way.

Prayer
Living, loving Spirit,
We are grateful for the many blessings You have given
to us, and that as Your children we are surrounded in
abundance. We ask only that we might be more aware
moment by moment of this abundance, and that there
would not be anything we take for granted. You are our
Source. We give thanks at this Thanksgiving time, and
always, for all You give to us, and that most of all that
You are always with us. Thank You, God. We pray
these things in the name and after the nature of Jesus
Christ. Amen.

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Hopper Happenings
Wes and I traveled to Arizona the last part of October,
and I spoke at Unity of the White Mountains. We had a
wonderful visit, and were able to also visit with some
dear friends. It became very clear to me during the visit,
that I need to continue to pray about what my next step
in ministry is to be, and whether my ministry will be a
typical church ministry or something different. We are
continuing to live in the question, and are surrendering
any preconceived ideas or expectations. Thank you for
your prayers on our behalf.

Wes was honored at Unity Church of Overland Park
with his Licensed Teacher Certificate and pin on Nov.
5th at both of their services. He is grateful for the
support he received, and particularly from Rev. Nancy
Jerome, as he completed all of the requirements.

On a recent trip to the St. Louis area we acquired a
new member for our pack. She is a 6 wk old
mischievious, lab-german shepherd-plus mix puppy,
Tippy Hedrin Hopper. For over a week our outer
peace has been laced with yips and squeals as Tippy
and all of us have been adjusting. It has made life
interesting, to say the least.

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving, and many
blessings to count.

Peace and love,
Sandy