21 Ways to Celebrate Gratitude

 

Idea #6: Create a Thanksgiving Paper Chain

 

Guest post by my friend Shelley Hitz

Thanksgiving season is soon approaching and this year, I encourage you to take the opportunity to celebrate gratitude.  In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, take a moment (or two) to celebrate gratitude. 

Don’t forget to check out the free book giveaway below.

 

 

 

Idea #6:  Create a Thanksgiving paper chain by writing down what you are thankful for between Thanksgiving and Christmas on strips of construction paper.  Use a variety of colors to make it fun and create a paper chain with them by stapling or gluing each strip of paper to the previous one.  Watch and see how long this chain gets!

See all 21 ways to celebrate gratitude this Thanksgiving at Shelley’s website: http://www.bodyandsoulpublishing.com/21-ways-to-celebrate-gratitude-during-thanksgiving-this-holiday-season/

Free Gratitude Resource:

On November 14, 15 and 16^th, 2012 you can download a FREE Kindle copy of the book, “21 Stories of Gratitude:  The Power of Living Life With a Grateful Heart.”  

Get your copy here:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YWM3WI

 

Book Description:

 Are you living life to the fullest? Or are you merely surviving from day to day?

One way to live life to the fullest is to live each day with a grateful heart. In this book, we share 21 stories of gratitude to give you encouragement and hope in your own journey. Gratitude is possible! Even though many times we cannot change our circumstances, we can change the way we see them. We can ask God to empower us to change our thoughts.

Our prayer for you is that you find encouragement within these pages. And we pray that you will ask God for His strength to renew your mind with His truth and the hope He offers each one of us every day. It is only through Christ renewing our minds that we can truly live each day with a grateful heart.

 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

 

 Other Gratitude Resources:

·        21 Days of Gratitude Challenge:   Take the 21 days of gratitude challenge to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.  You can do this by yourself or as a family.

·        21 Prayers of Gratitude:  Read a prayer of gratitude for 21 days to focus your heart on God and all He has given us.

 

About the Author:

Shelley Hitz has been writing and publishing books since 2008. She is also the author of the website, FindYourTrueBeauty.com, that reaches thousands of girls each month around the world. Her openness and vulnerability as she shares her own story of hope and healing will inspire and encourage you.

Shelley has been ministering to teens since 1998 alongside her husband, CJ. They currently travel and speak to teens and adults around the country. Shelley’s main passion is to share God’s truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites and speaking engagements.

You can find more about Shelley at www.ShelleyHitz.com or invite her to speak at your event here: www.ChristianSpeakers.tvhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YWM3WI

Walk with me and see. What a difference a miracle makes!

Here is a trip down memory lane. Or should I say valley... Would you walk with me? In celebration of this special day.. 


I can remember it like it was yesterday…

Stephanie and I were waiting patiently, in what was an all too familiar place. My hospital room It felt like forever since I had been home. Even when I had been, my mind was always in a fog and all I did was sleep. But now things were going to be much different. I was heading home with the ultimate do over.. Another chance at life!

As we waited, I gazed at Stephanie., thinking about all that had taken place in the last week…

Just a five days earlier… My body was shutting down, it had seen it’s limit. I was dying.

Chapter 19 - Walking in the valley

Page 165

“A new sensation now grabbed hold. Panic followed by something odd. It was a cold, hollow, empty feeling. With no frame of reference that was the best way I can explain it. Tied to it was a sense of pain and panic. Was this what death felt like?

I sat up on the edge of the bed and I looked down. Sweat continued streaming down my arms. I felt weak. Maybe I really was dying. I didn’t know. I’d had so many different ailments and feelings by this time. This was very different. This was a scary emptiness.

Something was very wrong.

My kidneys were shutting down and my body was going into defense mode. It had been pushed to the brink.

“Steph-a-nie.” My voice was barely more than a strained whisper.

How she heard me, I will never know…”

Page 167

“Then, they put me into an ambulance and hauled me up to Toledo Hospital.

Things blurred past. From one hospital to the next. From the dialysis unit to my own room. The next 14 hours I struggled to stay awake and alive. At 4:00 a.m., I was moved from the room I’d been in over to the ICU where I was put on nitroglycerine to control the blood pressure. It had been 22 straight hours of shuffling.”

　

I surrendered to God, accepting defeat to death. Laying in intensive care, I new my time was finished unless a miracle happened..

"Lord If you take me I’m yours.. And if you leave me here I’m yours Lord. So whether you take me or leave me, I’m yours”

Those were the words I prayed to God as I lay there…

48 hours later.. God gave my life back to me. And I have pledged to make sure it was worth saving!

I remember leaving the hospital that day. It was a hot, dog day of August. The sun was making it’s way down to dusk. I had a feeling of complete peace, freedom, and tranquility. It felt as if I had been cleansed and given a new beginning..

As we pulled out of the parking lot, I reached over and turned on the radio. The Lord had provided the perfect song. A victory song for this very moment..

This is the song that was just starting on the radio… Born Again by Third Day. Click Play and imagine for a moment as you keep reading…

I just gazed out the window at the sun setting, with a smile on my face that would not leave. Tears began to well up… Till they over flowed. My heart was humbly overflowing with love and appreciation of everyone that had ever prayed and believed, and even those that prayed and doubted. You were not alone, there were many times I did too..

I thought about those that were tested and the ones that couldn’t. Though I don’t know who you all are, your courage, generosity, potential sacrifice and Christ like love was a gift from God. You were my inspiration at dire times of need, just when things seemed hopeless.

There were those that called to see how I was doing, those that would just sit with me and give me there time and friendship, and those that sent cards of encouragement.

To my family, friends, my brother Tony, and a Stranger who is now a friend. My life would not be the same with out you!!!

I praise God for you all!! May you all be blessed abundantly!! Because you have blessed me more than you will ever know…

　

I am now off this morning to run my first 5K for the Transplant Games of America.
Who would have thought… Two years ago I finished a race for my life, one that I shouldn't have. But God seen me through to the finish line..

Now I will be running another Race to commemorate and celebrate the first... 

What a difference a miracle makes!!

Thanks for walking down the lane with me..  Will you say a little prayer for me today? And praise God for your own blessings.


Praise God for Romans 8:28 on this date of 7-28!

Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Rom 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Rom 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

The walk continues…

It just hit me... I really wrote a book.

It was Saturday morning on December 31st. New Years Eve! I was feeling a little lazy and trying to get enough ambition to drive around and deliver books to some of the book stores that were going to carry "Another Second Chance". The morning was creeping towards noon when the phone rang.

"Hi Troy, this is Cindy Auxter how are you?" she said with the sweetest voice.

I've known Cindi for a long time, but hadn't spoke with her for years. I was friends with her kids in the small town that we grew up in. (Lindsey, OH) My mind began to race, wondering why she was calling me. Cindi began to explain that her husband had just read an article in the LifeStyle monthly publication that is distributed along the north cost of Lake Erie.

"I didn't know that you had a kidney transplant! How are you doing now?" she asked.

"I'm doing great!" I said in a hurry. I was immediately more interested in where and how her husband got ahold of the January publication in December. I was suppose to have the books in the book stores before the publication came out. Here I was sitting in my lazy boy. For the next few minutes, we began to exchange questions and answers.

Then she asked "Troy, I was wondering if you had any extra books that I could sell here at my store "Thingamajigs?"

"Yes I do" I said with out hesitation. "How many would you like?"

"How about 24? I think I could sell quite a few. I have had 3 people come in this morning asking for them." She said.

"Really?!" I said in disbelief. Her store isn't even a book store and it's not listed in the article. Why would people come in asking for it? I wasn't going to continue questioning, what appeared to be a huge blessing, so I told her "I will be over in a little while".

I got off the phone, showered, and got dressed. Then started running through the house like a crazy man, getting ready! I was throwing books into boxes and boxes into my truck. I looked like someone evacuating for some kind of national emergency. When everything was loaded, I leaped into my truck and fled from my house!

I began to make my rounds to each store on my list. I arrived at Thingamajigs in a flash, carried a box of books in, and set them on the counter. Cindi was so excited for me as I pulled the books out of the box. I showed her the cover.

 "Wow! That must be quite a feeling to hold your own book?" she said as more compliment than question.

I had heard this question a number of times. Each time I heard this, I had a hard time replying to it. It isn't that I am not excited, because I am! It's just that I hadn't had "THAT MOMENT". The one that I have always heard about. You know, you open the box and it's like giving birth to your baby. You hold it for the first time. Your so proud, you want to cry. I hadn't had that...

 I worked so hard to produce this book. Then began a race of labor, campaigning through IndieGoGo to help pay for it. Then the books showed up and I was in a hurry to get them signed, delivered, and mailed to the Contributors of the campaign. Then began a search of book stores that would put them on their shelves. Now I am on a race to deliver them. While doing all this through the Christmas season.

There just hasn't been a moment to smell the roses...

Just as I was saying my goodbyes to Cindi, she said "Oh wait! I have that publication of LifeStyle! Let me give it to you!" So she ran back to get it and brought it back to me. "Here it is Troy. It's a great article!"

 "Thanks Cindi!" And off I went.

I threw the article in the passengers seat and began the half hour drive to J & R Gospel Gift Shop in Sandusky, OH where my next stop was. My mind was racing with all of the things I still needed to do. I glanced over at the stack of boxes, as I hit the last stop light exiting Fremont. I sat waiting patiently. It was as if God said "Son, take a breath."

So I did.

I pulled away and drove for a little while. Listening to nothing but the humming of the tires rolling along Rt. 6. I watched the harvested fields on my right and the marshes on the left . There was very little traffic, it felt like I was the only one on the road. I glanced over and the article caught my eye. I picked it up and began to gaze at it. I had written this 3 weeks ago, but that was the last time I had seen it. It looked different in an actual publication.

I just stared at the bold red heading "Local Author Troy Lewis Book Release and Signing" I started to read the article. One paragraph at a time. Then I made it to the part that said "Miracles still happen and there is always "Another Second Chance". Troy Lewis will be having a book signing at Davinci's Gallery & Coffee House (115 S. Front St., Fremont, OH) on Saturday, January 14th from 10:00am-2:00pm.

I glanced back to the books for a moment, then back to the bold red print at the top of the article.. I just stared at it. 

My eyes began to well up. It was happening. That feeling.

It came over me. Much like winning the championship game, when you didn't stand a chance.

A joy, like that of my daughters being born. A pride, like that of my Father in Heaven telling me "Son, I'm proud of you."

My emotions got the best of me as I cried out "I did it. I really did it. Thank you Lord Jesus." 
God had chose that moment to allow me to realize this feeling of victory. When it was just Him and I. On the last day of 2011.

Thats when it hit me... I really wrote a book.

Praise God that I didn't quit!
The walk continues...