Here’s how it works
This November 1(that’s today)I am putting out a challenge to all women and Men who want to bless their family and friends with 30 Days of ways to be Thankful.

“30 Days of Being Thankful” will challenge you daily through out the whole month of November to be thankful for every gift that the Lord has provided to you as well as teaching your children simple ways to be thankful.”

This is a journey to learning to be thankful for the smallest things and seeing God all around you as we move through each day. I pray that this challenge will stay with you long pass the 30 days.

I wanted to let you know now, so that you can prepare your hearts in seeing if this challenge is right for you.

I hope that you will join me in this challenge as we learn to be thankful for the smallest things that the Lord provides and ways to teach our children the importance of being thankful.

1. First and foremost, get that this is about giving thanks, and if moved to, sharing what you’re thankful for with others. The goal is to consciously engage in (at least) one moment of thankfulness every day this month. That’s it.

2. The thing for which you give thanks can be big or small–it doesn’t matter, because even 30 small gratitudes will add up to something awesome by month’s end. Not sure what to be thankful for?

What you’re thankful for can be anything at all–as long as you’re consciously thankful for it. That’s the key.

3. Truly, being thankful is enough. Sharing it via social media or in some other way is a gift to the world, because there are so very many people (we bet you know a lot of them!) who really struggle with giving thanks for the things that they have, or the people or events in their lives. Modeling being thankful is a way to gift them because as you share what you’re thankful for, you shine a light–a light that tells others that it’s ok for them to be thankful, too. If you chose to share on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter,Google+,pinterest or any other social media platform please use any of the following hashtags #30daysOSparkle, #OSparklechallenge to keep track. Join the Facebook event here

4. If you decide you want to share what you’re thankful for, you might simply say it aloud, or you might choose to write it on paper, blog about it, share it with those you love over dinner, draw something, or even sing it. As with other 30 Day Projects, there’s simply no wrong way to do this. Just make the way you do it your own–as unique and special as you are!

Please feel free to leave a comment each day for what you are thankful for,or if you are a Blogger and choose to do the challenge post your blog link in a comment so others can follow and support your 30 Days of being thankful.

Day 1: I am thankful for all those near and far who have made me the person I am.
Every time I think of you, I thank my God. Philippians 1:3

Day2: I am Thankful to wake up another day to greet my family with Good Morning Hugs and Kisses! Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

Day 3:  Today I am thankful for FREEDOM! “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

Day 4: I’m thankful today for my family.
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Day 5: Today I am thankful for my husband of 16 years! A thank you is not enough for all that you do for your family. God Blessed me with many wonderful things in this life and you are one of them.

May my husband trust in You with all his heart, and not lean on his own understanding; may he acknowledge You in all his ways, and may You make his paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

Day 6: today I am thankful to The Lord that I can be made new everyday. Today’s mistakes can be left behind.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

Day 7: Lord I’m so Thankful for my Boys! They are a your gifts that I will Love and Treasure forever.

Day 8: today I am thankful for my Mom! raised 4 kids that she could be proud of,and did/does all that she can today and everyday to build and maintain her business. Shes “THE WOMAN” that always out does the man!
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Day 9: I’m thankful for all the blessings that God has given me throughout my life and continues to provide.
God’s blessings are like a river. They fill the city of God with joy. That city is the holy place where the Most High God lives. (Psalm 46:4 NIRV)

Day 10: I’m thankful for my 14 yr old niece Anissa Mercedes! You are an Amazing girl! I came home today and she had cooked dinner,bathed Gaby and had Gio take out the garbage! Oh and the dishes were all clean and put away as well as the living room! Really Amazing! All young ladies should be as caring,respectful ,good hearted and loving as you are to EVERYONE! God blessed you with so many talents,and he will always take care of you! Love ya sisi.
1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV-84) : Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.

Day 11: Today I an thankful to all the service men and women who have sacrificed there lives for OUR FREEDOM!
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13.

Day 12:I thank The Lord for the time I had with my 2 Brothers who have now passed on. They were amazing men and brothers loved by many. They fought a good fight there time with us and are greatly missed.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.”
(Philippians 1:3, AMP)

Day 13: Today I am thankful for all the opportunities that present themselves. God knows when to close one door and Open another.

Day 14: Today I am thankful for my friends & neighbors that always help me at a moments notice.
John 15:13 NIV
Greater Love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Way behind!
Day 15: I am thankful for my sister Thelma and for her personal sacrifices to help the family where needed. And for loving my sons like her own.

Day 16: today I am thankful for a job I just got, that I wasn’t really looking for. Yet dropped into my lap.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Day 17: today I am thankful for my salvation, and the super natural way that God blesses me in natural and seamless manner.
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Day 18: I am thankful for God providing us 2 new cars this year and a way to pay for them.
Matthew 6:26 ESV
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Day 19: today I am thankful for the opportunity to share my faith with others,as God has allowed me to share the Gospel with other women as well as minister to children of this generation so they too can grow with Gods foundation and pass along to generations to come.
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Day 20: today I am thankful for my families health,I can’t complain my eldest son has not missed a day of school in 3 years,and my youngest has rarely been sick at all the past 2 years.
Proverbs 17:22 ESV
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Day 21: today I’m thankful that I do not not stress about anything! God blessed me with a talent that many wish they had and struggle to control.

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Day 22: Today I am thankful that I can pay for food and gas and have provisions for my family.

Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Day 23: Today I am thankful to have participated in the St.Judes Walk with my husband and children. And to know that we walk for children that we don’t know,yet could be our own.

Psalm 103:2- God is the healer of our diseases

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Day 24: today I am thankful to my Church Christ Fellowship. I have grown in my faith immensely since attending service as well as becoming actively involved as a small group leader and a childrens ministry volunteer. I an thankful for all the voluntary services they offer to the community to bring them closer to GOD and salvation.

1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Day 25: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to rest!

Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

 Day 26: Today I am thankful for my friend Corinna,who passed along 4 tickets to a Heat game tonight. It was a wonderful gesture and surprise for my boys and niece. They were Happy Happy Happy!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:37-38

Day 27: Today I am thankful for my son Gabriel, he is perfect!

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Day 28: Today I am thankful to be able to spend time with family on Thanksgiving.Happy Thanksgiving to you all! May the Lord continue to Bless you with abundance, Love,Happiness and Good health. May you enjoy todays feasts.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Day 29: Today is Black Friday and I am thankful that I have NEVER been a fan of this frenzy! This Holiday I will seek ETERNAL SAVINGS in the Lord.
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

Day 30: Today I am thankful to you all that participated in this challenge.  We go through life with such speed that we forget to thank God every day for the all that we take for granted. I’m so happy that so many of you joined me in the  “30 Days of being thankful” it was so nice and encouraging to read what/who you were thankful for.  Today at service Pastor Rick Blackwood shared how we in Miami are Blessed by the water that is collected in Lake Okeechobee (blessing from above it collects rain),and how its a resource that is channeled (a blessing) down to us here in Miami.  We “the Church” can choose to be like Lake Okeechobee (channel blessings) or like The Dead Sea, collecting water(blessings) but is stagnant and murky and not shared with others.  So with this I am thankful for the analogy cause I believe that this is what I have been able to share these past 30 days with you all.To have shared my gratitude accompanied by scripture verse,taking my learning’s of the Bible and applying His word to my everyday life and channeling it down to you. I pray that you will continue to acknowledge all that you are thankful for beyond today. Just because the month has ended does not mean that you have to cease from sharing your gratitude every day with your peers. Share it on your FB and your Twitter feed every morning! As we now exit the month of being Thankful and enter the month of Giving, I encourage you to really step back and try to become joyful about your giving. We have the opportunity to let the gifts we purchase be an obligatory purchase or we can choose to give a gift.

I think this was what Paul was talking about when he said, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.“

The attitude behind it really matters. There is a huge difference between buying stuff that you feel (or are) obligated to, and intentionally (and cheerfully) giving something to another person.

James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from God. It comes down from the Father. He created the heavenly lights. He does not change like shadows that move.

Thank you all and may God Bless you

XOXO Outersparkle Janet