Are you a party pooper?

Dear Friend,

Have you ever encountered someone in your life who always seemed to have something negative to say about everything? People will call them a Negative Nancy or a Party Pooper. I know I have...because it used to be me! Whenever anything happened (whether good or bad), I immediately became critical and expected the worse. Unfortunately, I took that same approach with God, and it made it difficult for me to focus on Him and His goodness.

The bible tells us in Psalm 100:4 that we should, "enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise." Well I found it almost impossible to do this because my focus wasn't on Him, it was on the things that I felt I had a right to complain about (which was everything). I've now come to realize that instead of wasting time and picking apart all the wrong things in life, He just wants me to praise Him about every little thing that IS going right! I used to think HE only wanted my praise for the big blessings (like the cars, houses, money, etc.) But, He reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give Him thanks in all things (like shoes, heat in your home, a toothbrush, life, and health).

So today counter every negative thought and/or moment by redirecting your focus to the see the positive in it. If you choose to focus on the what you don't have, you'll never be able to appreciate what you do and besides.. life is too short to live stressed when you're JessBlessed!

Love,

Jess

Jessica Thompson M.ED (@jessblessed) is a third grade teacher for LL.OWENS school in Pine Bluff, she is an active member of Canaan Christian Center and the Vice President of Operations for LMJ (LaKisha M. Johnson Ministries) Ministries. Jess is married to Eddie and they have five (5) beautiful children.

Watch today's Coffee and Conversation: The Proper Protocol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P65Z59DT3bw