a life of gratitude e-book

Cindy Keating ~ a life of gratitude.

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~ a life of gratitude ~

contents introduction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 03 the 31 day challenge ~~~~~~~~ 08 day 1 begins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~10 a challenge to continue ~~~~~~~ 41 join the community ~~~~~~~~~~ 42 about the author ~~~~~~~~~~~ 43


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~ introduction ~

gratituDe A readiness to speak and show appreciation for the life you’ve

been given. A humble acceptance for all that God has blessed you

with and entrusted you to care for.

~~~~~


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Have you ever watched four-year-olds play soccer?

It’s hilarious. It’s like watching bee’s swarm honey, men swarm BBQ’s, and women swarm chocolate. ~~~~~ I witnessed something beautiful last summer as I was watching one of my son’s soccer games.


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12 four-year-olds were sporadically chasing after one tiny soccer ball – as if it were a giant bag of candies – but there, parked in the middle of the field, was this little girl looking down at the grass. Her mom yelled, “Lacey, what are you doing? Follow the group. Chase the ball. Score a goal.” She replied, “No thanks, mommy. I found a ladybug.”

Profound. It’s something I will never forget. How on earth did her sweet little eyes manage to see a ladybug hiding in the grass while running right alongside the circus?


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Gratitude. It’s the ability to see brilliance in the little things when everyone else around you is choosing to run at a rapid pace.

Gratitude. It’s the freedom to break free from the crowd to pursue and define what you deem and value as most important.

Gratitude. It’s a quiet confidence you feel in your soul as you bask in life’s joyful moments amidst the chaos of everything else going on around you.


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We are in this world, but does that mean we have to play the game?

i ’d r a t h e r be l i k e L a ce y . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~


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~ the 31 day challenge ~

*This e-book is laid out with 31 scriptures on gratitude, and 31 topics to gratefully

ponder. Each day will feature one passage of scripture for you to read, and one act of gratitude in which you can participate.

By taking a few minutes everyday to acknowledge the things you appreciate

about your life, you cause your heart to grow, your thankfulness to deepen,

and your perspective to change.*

warning Participants may begin to view their life through a happier lens. *All passages of scripture are taken from the New Living Translation*


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Gratitude ~ This is what I believe it means to be hearers and doers of the word. ~ This is what I believe it means to live successfully, to exude significance, to be happy and thankful, and make a difference in the world. ~ This is what I believe it means to live a red carpet life. ~~~~~~~~~ let’s begin.


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~ day 1 ~

Hebrews 12:28 “Since we are receiving a Kingdom

that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him

with holy fear and awe.”

your health What three things about your body are you grateful for? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for your health…


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~ day 2 ~

psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

nature Look out your window, what three things of beauty do you notice all around you? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the beauty of nature…


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~ day 3 ~

colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

Your employment List three things about your job that you are so grateful for. …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the blessing your employment is…


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~ day 4 ~

john 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that

everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Your country What makes your country so amazing? Name three things that make it such a wonderful place to live. …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the amazing country you live in…


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~ day 5 ~

psalm 136:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

technology What three things about technology do you really appreciate? Why are you grateful for that? …take a few minutes to thank God for how convenient technology makes life…


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~ day 6 ~

james 1:17

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He

never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

Your friendships Name three people you couldn’t do life without. How have these people blessed your life? Why are you grateful for them? …take a few minutes to thank God for the quality friendships you have in your life…


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~ day 7 ~

colossians 3:15

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as

members of one body you are called to live in peace and always be thankful.”

Your faith What three aspects of your faith sustain you? Why are you so grateful for that? …take a few minutes to thank God for the richness of your faith and how it sustains you…


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~ day 8 ~

psalm 118:28-29 “You are my God and I will praise you! You are my God and I will exalt you!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Your family You know couldn’t live without them. What three things so you love about your family? …take a few minutes to thank God for the richness of your faith and how it sustains you…


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~ day 9 ~

romans 8:28 “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those

who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Your home The only place on earth you can call your own. What three things do you love about your home? …take a few minutes to thank God for the warmth and comfort of your home life…


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~ day 10 ~

psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give

thanks to him and praise his name.”

aging One day we will all grow “vintage.” What three things about getting older have you come to appreciate? …take a few minutes to thank God for the process of aging and the wisdom gained…


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~ day 11 ~

matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the

desires of your heart will also be.”

Times of rest What three things do you do to rest and relax? How do these things help you rejuvenate? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for times of renewal…


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~ day 12 ~

hebrews 13:15 “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God,

proclaiming our allegiance to his name.”

laughter What three things make you let loose and laugh? Why are so grateful for that? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for laughter and how it lightens the load…


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~ day 13 ~

psalm 118:5-6 “In my distress I prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered me and set me free.

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

today Stop. Look around. Notice. What makes today so amazing? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the gift of today, The gift of now…


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~ day 14 ~

colossians 3:16 “Let the message about Christ, in all its

richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”

Your dreams What three dreams have come to pass in your life? Take a moment to acknowledge how blessed you are. …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the answered dreams in your life…


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~ day 15 ~

psalm 103:1-2 “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my

whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”

Your mentors You would never be where you are without the mentors you have had. Write out why you are grateful for the people who greatly impacted your life. …take a few minutes to thank God for the people who poured their lives into yours…


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~ day 16 ~

Colossians 2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you

will overflow with thankfulness.”

fun & celebration What three things allow for you to unwind and make light of life? …take a few minutes to thank God for the good times, the fun times, the happy times…


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~ day 17 ~

psalm 105:1-2 “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim

his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him;

yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.”

Life opportunity When you look back on your life, what three life experiences are you grateful to have experienced? …take a few minutes to thank God for the opportunities you have had in life…


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~ day 18 ~

lamentations 3:22-23 “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Your city What three things do you love and appreciate about your city? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the beautiful city you live in…


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~ day 19 ~

lamentations 3:57 “Yes, you came when I called;

you told me, ‘Do not fear.’”

Your basic needs met Reflect on what it means to have your basic needs met. Now name three things that you are so grateful for. …take a few minutes to thank God for the things that other people would give anything to have…


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~ day 20 ~

philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Your heritage Think about where you come from. List three things about your heritage that you are grateful for. …take a few minutes to thank God for the generations that have gone before you…


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~ day 21 ~

psalm 107:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is

good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Your country’s history

Your country has gone through a lot for you to live in freedom. Reflect on three historical events that led your country to this place. …take a few minutes to thank God for the soldiers who fought for your freedom…


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~ day 22 ~

psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”

Your neighborhood

What three things do you love and appreciate about where you live? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the street you live on…


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~ day 23 ~

1 Thess. 5:16-18 “Always be joyful. Never stop praying.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you

who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Your story

Everyone has a unique life perspective; a unique story. Reflect on three things that make your story unique. …take a few minutes to thank God for the story you have lived and will continue to live…


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~ day 24 ~

isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help

you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Your talents & abilities

What three talents do you possess that you are so grateful to have and share with the world? …take a few minutes to thank God for your talents, your abilities, your unique strengths…


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~ day 25 ~

1 chronicles 16:8-9 “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim

his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him;

yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.”

The right to vote What makes you so grateful that your voice can stand for something? …take a few minutes to thank God for democracy and your right to be heard…


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~ day 26 ~

psalm 107:29-30 “He calmed the storm to a whisper

and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them

safely into harbor!”

growth through hardships What three difficult times in your life have taught you your greatest life lessons? What are you grateful? …take a few minutes to thank God for redeeming the bad days into support for other people…


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~ day 27 ~

jonah 2:9 “But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise and I will fulfill all my

vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

Your special life moments What three special life moments have shaped you? How have they made you a better person? …take a few minutes to thank God for the times in life that were pivotal moments…


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~ day 28 ~

ephesians 5:4 “Obscene stories, foolish talk and coarse

jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”

Your support system When you need a shoulder to cry on, where do you turn? Who give you advice? Why are you so grateful for your support system? …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the pillars of strength in your life…


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~ day 29 ~

psalm 34:1&3 “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let

us exalt his name together.”

3 people who inspire you Who are three people who challenge you to be a better version of yourself? What have they taught you? …take a few minutes to thank God for the people who push you towards greatness…


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~ day 30 ~

1 timothy 4:4-5 “Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we

know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.”

Your life We all live amazing lives. List three amazing things about your life that you are so grateful for. …take a few minutes to pray and thank God for the amazing life you lead…

~ day 31 ~


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1 chronicles 23:30 “And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs

of thanks and praise to him.”

Your ________ This day is blank. Use it to reflect and write down what you are grateful to have learned this month. …take a few minutes to thank God for this month and the amazing journey you have been on …


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~ a challenge to continue ~

a life of gratitude Like any good habit in life: sleeping, working out, clean

eating, reading your Bible, praying, etc. Gratitude becomes a habit when you purpose to put it into

practice each and every day. It is a daily discipline and it requires focused determination to train your mind to acknowledge the wonderful things going on around you. When you do this, a reshaping takes place and all the hard things in life start to pale in comparison.

Imagine what the world could be like if we all saw our lives as amazing?

We could change the world.

~~~~~


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~ join the community ~

red carpet life Deepen your faith.

Embrace your significance. Live with purpose.

~~~~~

sign up to receive our weekly community newsletter redcarpetlife.me is an online community premised on the belief that we all live red carpet lives. By deepening our faith in Jesus Christ, by embracing our lives as significant, and by living each day with purpose, this is what it means to walk a red carpet everyday.

redcarpetlife.me


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~ about the author ~

cindy keating

A singer-songwriter, worship leader and blogger, Cindy lives in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, with her husband Chris, and her two little boys, JT & Audie. And yes, she’s one of those dreamers who believes

it’s possible to change your pocket of the world. Read more at CindyKeating.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @CindyKeating Facebook: facebook.com/keatingcindy Pinterest: pinterest.com/keatingcindy Google+: plus.google.com/+cindykeating1 Instagram: instagram.com/keatingcindy

a life of gratitude e-book

Documents

life of gratitude

cindy keating

act of gratitude

life youve

red carpet life

day challenge

little things

little girl