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…

Tell me it's not "God's Story"!

Friday (11-11-11), Stephanie and I went to the annual Food Show at the IX center in Cleveland (like we do every year) sponsored by The Food Network. Friday night we went out for our annual fancy night out to Lolas (Michael Simon's restaurant, in Cleveland- He is the Iron Chef from the Food Network)

While we were waiting to be seated, Steph went to the restroom (downstairs). In the basement was a banquet room where a gathering was taking place.

It was some of the Food Network stars!

My lovely wife spotted one of the stars from a distance and through the crowd. Scrunching down ever so cutely, as to peak through a crack in the wall, she tilted her head, smiled and waved. The star was Robert Irvine (Restaurant Impossible, Kitchen Impossible) the big marine looking fella with the British accent!!

He smiled through the crack in the crowd and started to wave (confused). Laughing, he called her in and the show began. She began to beam with excitement, acting like a school girl at a rock show!! lol She explained that we were huge fans and that we would watch his show all the time before my kidney transplant! So she asked if she could go get me and bring me down to meet him.
"Sure! Go get him!" So she did.

As soon as I walked in the room, Robert greeted me (along with others) with a strong hand shake, big smile and a bold British voice.
"So you had a kidney transplant?" he asked. I began to explain briefly about the journey.
"That sounds like quite a story?!"

"It is, I'm actually writing a book about it!" I said.

"Where's it at?! I want one!" he said. I explained that it wasn't finished yet, I was self publishing it, and that I was still working on financing.

"Where would I go to donate to your project and twitter all of my fans?" After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I began ripping through my pockets searching for a card. Finally after finding it, I gave him a card with the info to the indieGoGo site. Suddenly his agent walked up, took our pictures, then asked for our email address and has promised to send us the pics.

My mind was running wild! I couldn't believe what was happening! Everything was happening so fast! I couldn't keep up with it all!
Then Robert Irvine grabbed my shoulder, looked me square in the eye and said "Troy" then paused "I have polycystic kidney disease" I stood in awe...

I shouldn't be surprised, but I was. These things have happened through out this journey! It is God's Story not mine, I just wrote the things I lived, the things he created! Because I believe that was his will. NOT MINE. I never would have thought about writing a book (not ever). This has been a Leap of Faith that some have not understood (including myself at times)

Why would God create a story that has little funding, no official publisher, no advertising, no literary agent, then have a construction worker by trade who was a slacker in school write it??!
Answer: Because he is God!!
I have heard that this type of book wont sell, there's too much God.
My conclusion: I pray that God is everywhere in this story! Because it is His story !! I will continue to walk by faith as He guides the way!

The walk continues...
Go to the www.indiegogo.com site and search "Another Second Chance"
Go to the "Contribute Now" button and click it! Then choose your selection! You will have your book before the January Release!!!