Most mornings - way, way too early - I watch what I have dubbed "News Lite."

These are mostly the overnight and early morning reports out of Denver, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque. There is also one national "lite" news show called "The Daily Buzz" that I will pause at during my flipping between the reports from the different cities.

I call them "lite" news shows because they mix police reports, politics and other "important" stories with constant updates of weather, sports, traffic reports, and personal interest stories. There is a lot of laughing and bantering. It's the news but usually not too serious at 5:18 in the morning.

Right after New Year, The Daily Buzz gave me a great idea. Co-host Lisa Spooner told of an idea of taking a jar and filling it daily with a short note about a blessing you identified every day of the year, and then pulling them out next Christmas season and reading them.

I think this is a swell idea. Here is what I have been doing.

For each day of 2013 I have printed out a scripture verse on "blessings" and then write down the blessing I identify for that day. I slip the sheet into my "Blessing Jar." Then next Advent, beginning on December 1, I will begin pulling the blessings out and reading them a few at a time.

At the beginning of the New Year, I told our Presbyterian Church congregation:

I expect some of the blessings to be profound. I expect many to touch my heart. I expect most to be simple and maybe even silly. I also expect that I will miss days, and do make-up days. I will be consistent sometimes ,and inconsistent about doing it at other times. I just want to concentrate on blessings and the grace we receive from the Lord God in Jesus Christ this year.

So far in these early days of January this has come to pass, but there has been an unexpected benefit. I find myself making mental notes during the day of possible blessings to write on my little cards. So all day long, I am identifying the blessings Jesus Christ has put on my path. What a wonderful way to look at life. I find myself noting one blessing after another.

As I recount each blessing I have received, I also find myself reciting that good old prayer, "Lord let me be a blessing to someone today."

We have all received one blessing after another. God's grace is not limited. - John 1:16



The Rev. Steve Nofel is co-pastor of Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church.