Multitude Monday, Vol. 5

This week, it's just been about thanking God for the simple things for me.  Thursday started Fall Break for us, with my hubby taking off so we could all spend some time together.  We didn't end up doing some 'big stuff' that I originally wanted to do, but ended up being blessed anyway with a bunch of 'small stuff'.  I think that's part of the lesson of doing this One Thousand Gifts, is finding beauty and gratitude in ways we might have otherwise missed!

53.  New Lifegroup friends

54.  The ambience the autumn sun and falling leaves give the outside of my house

56.  A lazy Fall Break morning!

59.  My first NBA game experience! (via free tickets!)

61.  The sound of falling rain on the roof

63.  Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

65.  Small roadtrip & family time at the pumpkin patch (more free tickets!)

66.  The wide open spaces of the rural Oklahoma countryside

69.  Time spent with friends we don't get to see very often

70.  A few stolen moments to myself to sit and just be quiet

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

Shining Light

It seemed I was having a case of negative/critical self-talk and attitude today. And as the day went on it just got worse, as I found my self, once again, failing my expectations. (Eyes on me.)  I was driving home from errand-running and feeling stressed, irritated, and defeated.  (Running theme in my life lately.  I'll expound on that later.) Then, right in the middle of complaining to myself about myself, a song came on my iPod random shuffle that stopped me.  It quieted me - that voice inside my head.  I just stopped and listened:  

Joy

I love you Lord

I worship You

I'll love You Lord always

So thankful Lord

You saved my life

You saved my life today

Chorus:

Let me be a shining light for you

Let me be a joy to you always

Let me be a shining light for you

Let me be a joy to you always

And Lord I'd love

To bring to You

The honor to your name

Just look at what

You've done for me

I'll never be the same

      (Chorus)

Conviction.  My behavior wasn't very edifying, and I was definitely not being "a joy" or "a shining light" - to anyone - let alone to or for God.  I played (and sang) the song 3 times on the way home and offered it as my prayer.  My spirit calmed, and those complaints and irritations seemed to melt away.  They didn't magically disappear, mind you, they just became less important and my stress level decreased.   I honored God by giving them to Him, along with my praise.  (Eyes on Him.) And once again, found my way into His grace. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30, MSG

"I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord , for it is good."  Psalm 54:6, NLT

(P.S. - I probably also stopped scaring my 2yr-old daughter with my nonsensical rants from the driver's seat!)   ;-P

 

Multitude Monday, Vol. 4

Well, it's Monday again.  And I've found myself unprepared for my post and lacking in general on my One Thousand Gifts journey.  I'll admit that I've slacked on my gratitude journaling this week.  Just busy-ness and forgetfulness mostly.  I started to feel bad, guilty. But, then I thought to offer myself some grace. I could use some today.  Just one of those days I'm feeling inadequate and all up in my head wondering how I can 'fix' myself and my circumstances.  But then I was reminded of a word I heard recently that talked about letting go of perfection, to stop begging God to do this, do that and simply let Him in, worship Him, offer Him the sacrifice of praise and get my eyes off of myself.  Because only as I draw myself close to Him will He be able to do a work in me.  Then the other things will fall into place, somehow.  The plan will be made known as He sees fit to reveal it to me, piece by piece.  It's a little harder "do" than "say", but I get it and am working on it. 

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. "  2 Cor 12:8-10 NIV

So today, I am thankful for His Word, and these other words that have stayed upon my heart, that all allow me to once again embrace His mercy and grace. 





 

Multitude Monday, Vol. 3

I can't believe it's already Monday again!  But alas, here we are again, and though I've already had a rough entry into this week, I'm here to highlight some of my blessings from this last week on my One Thousand Gifts journey.  For God inhabits the praises of His people! 

38.  Beautiful blue skies and cooler temps - YEA!
42.  Always thankful for PAYDAY!  ;-)
43.  I am so doggone blessed by my kids.  They can be so cool. They're so smart and cute and can be terribly sweet when they're not fussin at each other!  Heath is so creative and imaginitive, perceptive.  Tender.  Sensitive. Funny.  He sometimes surprises me with sweet compliments. 
Hollie is so stinkin' cute, just full of life and happy.  She has a joyful soul.  She sings & talks somewhat loudly in public, in her 2-year-old dialect (which I could listen to forever!), drawing many-a-smiles from others.  She's a snuggler.  She's smart.  Passionate.  Slightly ornery. Yet generous with her 'thank you's'.   Blessed by these two AWESOME gifts.  Truly - they leave me in AWE.
46.  God's mercy and grace. 
50.  A de-lish  Double Chocolate Cupcake from SaraSara! YUM!

Looking forward to a great week!  If you'd like to join in with your own One Thousand Gifts, you can join the Gratitude Community here.