The Train of Life

I came across this today - and being my birthday, thought it seemed apropos. Though I take it with a grain of salt - for while I do want to look forward with hope and anticipation and not dwell on past regrets, I am also trying to enjoy the ride and take in the view of the present - our greatest gift!  ; )

The Train of Life

Some folks ride the train of life

Looking out the rear,

Watching miles of life roll by

And marking every year.

They sit in sad remembrance

Of wasted days gone by,

And curse their life for what it was,

And hang their head and cry.

But I don't concern myself with that,

I took a different vent. 

I look forward to what life holds,

And not what has been spent.

So strap me to the engine

As securely as I can be,

I want to be out on the front,

To see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change

Blowing in my face,

I want to see what life unfolds

As I move from place to place.

 

I want to see what's coming up,

Not looking at the past. 

Life's too short for yesterdays,

It moves along too fast.

So if the ride gets bumpy 

While you are looking back,

Go up front, and you may find,

Your life has jumped the track.

It's alright to remember - 

That's part of our history. 

But up front's where it's happening,

There's so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living -

Is not where we have been. 

It's looking ever forward,

To another year and ten.

It's searching all the byways,

Never should you refrain,

For if you want to live your life,

You gotta drive the train.

~ Author Unknown

Be Still & Give Thanks to our Big God

I've noticed that I get more fearful and worrisome, less hopeful and optimistic when I don't have my mind focused on Higher things. When I'm not in the Word, when I get busy and distracted, and wander from quiet time with Him, being still before Him. This week, and namely this morning I've been confronted with several words/messages pointing me back to communion with Him. When I'm not in that communion, I'm less faith-filled. And likely therefore less faithFUL. Less hopeful. I get caught up in 'what ifs' and the 'whys'. Why can't we get ahead? You get a step ahead only to get knocked back again. Why this...why that...  I get too caught up in me. When the reality is...it's all about Him! So easily forgotten when I get my eyes off of God and turned on myself! Plus...ya know what? That 'stuff'...it's just life. 'Stuff' happens. Always will. But God is bigger! Bigger than all of it! Can't let it get me down. God is meeting our immediate needs. As my husband said this morning, for example. Instead of complaining about rising cost of living expenses cancelling out the pay raise, think in a different way: God was thinking ahead, providing for our needs that we didn't even know about yet. He was preparing us. If He hadn't provided the raise, we wouldn't have money to cover the rising expense(s)! There may or may not be much leftover (for now), but He's providing for our basic needs, and that is BLESSING! I just have to keep myself hidden in Him, arm & guard my heart with His word, and always - always - return thanks and praise to Him!

Just a few link-ups to some of the words around me this morning:

Be Still/The Restless Heart (LifeChurch.tv/Pastor Craig Groeschel, Soul Detox, Message 1)
"Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning..." Psalm 130: 5-6

Our Great Big Ole' Sky by Cindy Beall :  Have you forgotten how big our God is?

Day 2 Soul Detox Reading Plan/Devo by YouVersion:  To battle against your toxic thoughts, you must identify and reject them. As 2 Corinthians 10 tells us, the battle against our toxic thoughts is like none other. It is not a physical battle, but rather it is a spiritual battle that requires God's help in fighting.
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." v. 5

"We'd worry less if we gave thanks more." Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts/A Holy Experience

I played this over and over again this morning. AWESOME song to get ya going:

Good Morning by Mandisa

"Good morning, You give me strength, You give me just what I need, and I can feel the hope that's rising up in me...it's a good morning!"

And another favorite of Mandisa's that lifted me this morning, Stronger:

"Cause if He started this work in your life, He will be faithful to complete it, if only you believe it...Believe me, it'll make you stronger, stronger, stronger..."

Be blessed and encouraged today!

OUR GOD IS BIGGER!

The Practice of Rest

(If you haven't noticed, I find a lot of inspiration from Ann Voskamp over at A Holy Experience, and author of One Thousand Gifts . I often borrow pieces of her gifting and scatter them across my blog as offerings of encouragement & inspiration to others, since they're such good words! This entry is an excerpt from one of her archived posts here.)

Three Ways to Rest Today:  

1. Look Up
Step outside for a moment. (And really, it’s wonderfully true: you do have a moment.) Just look up at the sky. Stare at the blue. Breathe deep. Breathe deep again. Think about heaven. Watch the clouds. Gaze for a long, wondrous moment at the sky and think about all that is eternal and step outside of time and remember how He’s made you for eternity. Exhale.

2.  Look in
Look in. See the hurry and the angst and the worry and the tired bones. Look in — and let go. Just let go. Because do you hear Him whispering to you today: “Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” (Mark 6:31).


Look in and see inside His will for you: “Now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side.” (1Kings 5:4)


3. Look Down
Bow your head in prayer for a moment. A long moment. Whisper thanks to Jesus for His abiding presence. Feel Him take the burden off your shoulders. Feel His arms underneath carrying you. Feel Him.


Rest in Him.

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Be blessed! ;-D

THE JOY DARE

This is a piece of a post from Ann Voskamp over at A Holy Experience from just after the New Year. I'm taking this Joy Dare, to capture one thousand gifts in gratitude this year. I had started it once before about a year or so ago, but got rather lapse with it. So, I'm starting fresh, a new commitment! I'm a little behind in getting started, but starting nonetheless!

"...the dare to slow down and wake up and receive all God gives for what it is — a gift. Take the the Joy Dare. Isn’t that what Aristotle said– “We are what we repeatedly do.”


Then Christianity isn’t an act — but our faith is expressed only in our habits.

A habit of not complaining, but the habit of giving thanks; the habit of not worrying, but a habit worshipping. The habit of repeatedly giving God praise that our lives might become a prayer. Small is always the leverage of large. It’s one moment after the other, the small moments that turn a life. It’s the small actions that can change a life.

It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life.

Maybe a life needs change over and over again — that constant turning to God? Not so much resolutions but revolutions."

"Small is always the leverage of the large."  I love that. I need some new habits. Freeing habits! Won't you join me? Take a peek over here for the details. You'll be just in time to join in for February!

I dare you! {wink, wink}

My gifts today:
1. Pieces of God's Word made new
2. Wayne Watson's "For Such a Time as This" recently rediscovered
3. An old photo of myself w/Heath when he was little...the true joy expressed in my face
4. A few quiet, peaceful moments to myself
5. Cramps...yes...reminding me I'm a woman by God's design
6. God's *timely* financial provision!

The Tired, Hard Thanks

Feeling *very* exhausted, but surprisingly fulfilled tonight. After a day that started out and continued to feel out-of-whack, off-track throughout...here at the end of it, through my worn nerves, tight, achey back and shoulders, I still find myself grateful.

Grateful for a hubby who comes to my 'rescue' in the middle of his own 'day' to resuscitate a dead car battery...that God is teaching me to be flexible and not be so dependent on my time table with constant 'plan changes'...Grateful that I'm fortunate enough to be able to buy groceries at 3 different choices of places...that I can spend quality time with my Grandmother even when she's challenging (while also helping out my parents)...that I have an awesome LifeGroup that loves me (us) in our lateness, because I wanted to bless them w/some yummy homemade snacks...that our kids love us so much they don't want to go to bed and be without us.  Etcetera.

I'm reminded of a passage I've recently read from the book, Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow, speaking of how we should respond to our circumstances:

There are difficult circumstances in the life of every person...We each have a choice. When the hard times come, we can put up our fists and fight with anger and resentment, or we can give the situation to God and trust He will cause good to come out of even a bad situation. 

...By thanking God for the unreliable and difficult circumstances, we are saying, "God, You are the blessed controller of all things.  You are sovereign and in control. I don't understand all that is happening, but I thank You and trust You to teach me what You want me to learn, and to work it all together for good."  God commands us to thank Him and is pleased when we do.  "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  1 Thess. 5:18

...Giving thanks is different from being thankful...When I give thanks to God for a trial or difficult circumstance, it is not a feeling of thankfulness but a decision of my will to choose to trust God and thank him in spite of my feelings.

...When Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was in jail...He had been terribly beaten, was in jail for an undetermined amount of time, and yet as he wrote to the Philippians, the theme of joy was evident. Paul lived not in his circumstances or under his circumstances, but above them!

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  Phil. 4: 11-13 (NIV)

Just a few thoughts from a tired sojourner in a land I don't belong. But I'm sure glad He put me here...'cause I sure wouldn't wanna miss it. Worn nerves and all. ;-)

Multitude Monday

A few words on my heart from Ann Voskamp usher in my One Thousand Gifts list today:
"To learn how to be thankful...to be grateful and happy, whether hands full or empty. That is a secret worth spending a life on learning."

"Perspective can always adopt gratitude - and gratitude always parents joy."  (Eucharisteo!)

141.  A drive through the wide-open countryside
142.  AWESOME women's event at our church
143.  An incredible word of Abiding Hope from our amazing Senior Pastor's wife, Amy Groeschel
144.  Silly, goofy kids who make me laugh!
145.  Date night with the hubby!
147.  Kids' tickle pleas and belly laughs
148.  Watching/listening to my kids connect with & love their grandparents
149.  Watching Hollie love on her Daddy
150.  Lazy Saturdays watching cartoons in our pj's with the kiddos
151.  Finishing a great marriage class
152.  Making holiday weekend travel plans!

"We're ready for McDonald's!" :-D

 

With a grateful heart...

Kristi

He Promises

I was going though and cleaning up some draft posts I had started and never finished and I stumbled upon this one.  It's an excerpt from "The God of Promise" post, by Edie over at Life in Grace.  She and her family had recently experienced a house fire, which resulted in these thoughts that I found so moving and just wanted to share:

"I know that God knows our groanings and He calms our fears with promises from His word, which can never be destroyed. He loves us with an inexorable love and He will burn away all impurities until we shine like gold.

He is the God of the burning bush. He is the fourth man in the fire. And He will lead us safely home.

Christ has come in the flesh to bear our sins, our burdens, our guilt. To restore what has been lost. To bring life where there’s death. To raise from the ashes beauty untold.

We are clinging to His promises.

We are humbled by His grace."

And then this from Edie's "About Me" post:
"...We are trusting God to restore the years.....the years the locusts have eaten—the mess we’ve made with the gifts he’s given us—the disgraceful way we’ve trampled on his goodness time and time again. He makes all things new. For the sake of Christ, alone.

I leave you with these words that are framed and sitting on my kitchen counter:

I am so glad that you have come.

I will pour out everything inside me so that you may leave

this table satisfied and fortified.

Blessings on your eyes.

Blessings on your children.

Blessings on the ground beneath you.

My heart is a ladle of sweet water, brimming over."

The Red Tent, Anita Diamanti



Blessings!

Multitude Monday

Cherish Life’s Simple Pleasures  

The above is a sign I have hanging in my living room.  All too often I forget this.  Even when its' reminder is right in front of my face everyday, right there above the television I too often lose myself in. I let myself get so caught up in the 'dailies' of life...in the 'busies' that I allow to steal  my attention and let those simple pleasures slip away. And it's when too many slip away that life's mundane heaviness sets in like a weight on my back, and I find myself asking in achy regret...where did it all go? 

Cherishing those simple pleasures is a choice.  A deliberate, intentional choice. ( Remember -these are my theme(s) for this year?)  No more letting life just pass me by, letting moments with my kids escape me, missing out on opportunities to let God to work in my life  -and therefore missing opportunities to minister to, bless,and encourage others!  I feel like I'm a broken record here, but I'm going to keep saying it until I GET IT!  Habits take time to form, especially when you're having to replace the old/bad ones first.  Although, I want it to be more than a habit.  I want to draw so close to God that it becomes a part of me, that thanks for His bountiful blessings flow freely from my heart and soul and encompass all that I do and say.  That's a pretty tall order, but one that I look forward to seeking out.

So let's begin again, with some highlights of the last couple of week's Gratitude List:

83.  SOOOO thankful for GOD's GRACE!

87.  My hard-workin man!

88.  Love impending inclement weather...so exciting!  (Even when it 'flakes out' on us!)

89.  SNOW DAYS...a break in the routine!

90.  My boy wanting me to play Wii with him

91.  Short work/school weeks

92.  Thankful for church online when we have sick kiddos!

93.  Thankful for my cousin the nurse, who gave us all free flu shots a couple of months ago so we're not experiencing the worst of the sickies goin around!

95.  Noticing the clear blue sky just before dusk (when I was out driving) after it had been cloudy all day

96.  For Ann Voskamp, whom God led me to, to inspire me to take this 1000 Gift journey, her book that I'm about to dive into, her blog, her words that encourage, uplift, and take us closer to Him. 

HAVE A SUPER-FANTASTIC WEEK!

(Click on the picture link below if you'd like to find out more about One Thousand Gifts)

Theme for 2011

Being the new year and all, I've been thinking about my goals for this year.  The thing is, there are so many things I need to work on, that it's hard to make any kind of a list without it being overwhelmingly long.  They are things that each affect another, so it's difficult to even know where to start.  So, I've been trying to come up with a one or two-word "theme" that would tie it all together to focus on.  And this is what I came up with:  DELIBERATE & INTENTIONAL!

DELIBERATE:  carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentional

INTENTIONAL: to be firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed;  having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something; determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal; earnest

That pretty much sums it up.  I want - I need - to be more deliberate and intentional with my life.  Specifically, my time - and in turn my actions, and my faith.   As the definitions describe, I need to make a plan, and then firmly affix my mind and attention on it with earnest determination!   That's it!

Wait.....that's it? That's IT? So simple, yet so entangled in poor habits and lack of planning and purpose.  Yes, it will take time.  But I am resolved to make it happen!  I owe it to God and the plan & ministry He has for my life, and to my family, and myself!  


“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. 19 Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."  Isaiah 43: 18-19, MSG


"Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.14 I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.15 So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet!"  Philippians 3: 13-15, MSG
 

HERE'S TO A GREAT YEAR AHEAD!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR, since I haven't done that yet!  I've been away from the blog for awhile, but I'm working on some posts that I'll have up soon.  Maybe even today! How 'bout that?  And with them seems to be coming a theme of "grace", so stay tuned! See ya soon!  ;-)

A random thought about aging...

Bette Davis said, "Getting older isn't for sissies".  You know, that's really true.  It sounds funny at first, because it happens to ALL of us, regardless of how we feel about it or try to fight it.  But if you think about it, it's spot on.

Aging is something we're all so afraid of, I think especially in America.  Many countries in the world hold their elders in high esteem, but we tend to obsess over and worship youth and vitality over age and wisdom. So as a society, when 'age' comes knocking, we go running and screaming in the opposite direction, frantically searching for the latest innovations and novelties that will keep us looking and feeling 'young'.  That's not very brave, is it? What we look like should not be who we are, and what we're valued for.  That's shallow and really kinda silly.  How much more courageous would it be to embrace growing older, and allow the wisdom and knowledge from our life experiences -  not to mention the love of our God living inside of us - to reflect our inner beauty and shape our countenance?  Not only in ourselves, but to accept and seek it out from others? 

How awesome would that be!?  Perhaps if we became a more inner-beauty & worth-focused society than an outward one, we could build upon one another's stregths and better appreciate and the 'now' instead of constantly fearing the future or escaping the past.  Be brave, embrace it!  It's such a simple concept, but a hard 'do', because of the state of our society.  But it's worth a try, right?!   Turning 40 this year makes me consider this a lot more heavily, as my perspective is changing as I get older.  You can't turn back the clock and you can't stop time from marching forward.  I want to be courageous and embrace my age rather than be constantly trying to wimpily run away from it! 

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.  Just some rambling thoughts I had after watching a snippet of a talk show this morning!

(PS- I'm not really talking about wanting to look good 'for your age' or taking care of yourself.  That's different! At least if you're not obsessive about it...)  

THANKFUL

I had a thought a little while ago and thought I'd just come in and jot it down.  I got to thinking of all that I'm thankful for, and the list was so long.  Then I realized that there really isn't much that I'm NOT thankful for!  Even the bad/hard stuff - though it isn't fun to experience - shapes us, teaches us and brings us wisdom and perspective.  Besides, appreciation of the good stuff is only made richer by being familiar with the bad stuff too, right?  May God find me grateful not only on this day, but always and in all things! 

GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME - AND ALL THE TIME - GOD IS GOOD!

BE BLESSED!

A Season of Gratitude

Well, with Thanksgiving being tomorrow, 'the holidays' are officially here! And there's talk everywhere about how to 'de-stress' your holidays, and the big question:  "What stresses you out the most during the holidays?"  You know what?  The thing that stresses me the most is everybody stressin' out!  For the season nicknamed, "the most wonderful time of the year" - when we're supposed to be thankful and loving and peace-seeking -  people sure can "Scrooge-out"!  Why do we do it?!  It seems so unnecessary!  Here's why:

I heard some good advice about de-stressing this season from Martha Beck, an author, O Magazine contributor, and LifeCoach.  I'm paraphrasing a bit, but these were her basic points:

• Check your motivation.  Motivation is typically fueled by one of two things:  Love and Fear.  Doing things you love to do, or for someone/people you love and care about, vs. fear that if you don't do/make/get something, someone/people will be upset, disappointed, or you will fail, etc.  
• Let 'good' be good enough.  You don't have to be perfect!  We tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard than others do, and often 'good' is more than plenty and perfectly acceptable for most! 
• Find the humor in the holiday(s).  Don't take things (and yourself) too seriously.  Learn to let those 'mishaps' color your holiday & make it memorable rather than ruin it.

Love that!  Great 'checks' for our motivation and easing the stress of perfection.  Also, keeping an attitude of gratitude and a giving spirit will help you keep perspective and be more mindful of your actions.  It's hard to be grateful when your eyes are on yourself!  Joel Osteen says, "Constant gratitude shows humility because when we are thankful, we magnify God instead of magnifying our problems. It gives us proper perspective and opens the door for God’s grace, favor and supernatural empowerment."

 “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34, AMP

So, maybe instead of asking, "What stresses you out during the holidays?", we should be asking, "What are you grateful for?"  Here's to our holidays being fueled by love and gratitude rather than fear of perfection and perception!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!   ;-)

Multitude Monday, Vol. 6

I'm still new to this journey of One Thousand Gifts.  Still finding my way, still learning how to truly and earnestly appreciate all of the beautiful gifts the Lord has given and placed around me.  I yearn to get out of myself and take in my surroundings, the things and people that bring me joy, to savor the simple things and then turn them all upward in praise.  Ann Voskamp says,

"It’s only in the expressing of gratitude for the life we already have that we discover the life we’ve always wanted—a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved — and by God."

Father, please open the eyes of my heart that I may see your glorious works around me with my physical eyes and ears and touch. Help me to slow down, pay attention, and take it all in.  And then return it all back to you and be a witness to others of your unfailing love, mercy and grace.   Amen.

72.  Thankful for time spent with visiting family that I don't get to see much.
73.  Fall colors finally showing up!  Beautimous!
74.  New peeps visiting our LifeGroup!
76.  Thankful for a church that honors and appreciates it's volunteers so graciously.
80.  Thanks to my awesome hubby for steppin' up and doin' chores, fixing dinner, dealing with the kids, etc. when I wasn't feeling well.  Even when he didn't feel that great himself.  I am beyond blessed!


If you'd like to join me with your own 1000 Gifts journey and join the Gratitude Community, click here or on the button below.  Have a blessed week!

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. 

Multitude Monday

Happy Monday!  Here are some highlights of my 'gifts' from last week, on my Thousand Gifts journey:

13. The journal my sweet hubby surprised me with to document my 1000 gifts.
20. Our friends being able to bring home the first of their premature twins, Eli, from the hospital.
23. Finding grace for myself, little by little...knowing that 'tomorrow is another day', another opportunity to    try again.
25. Becoming more aware of and longing for the quiet.
27. My Pastor's vision and call to action. 
30. Special time relaxing, hangin' out with my family watching a movie together.
32. Hugs from my Hollie.  :-)
34. My 6yr-old son telling me he loves my corn casserole.  ;-)
35. Watching my kids make up silly, non-sensical games & then cracking up at themselves.  Priceless!
37. Our first beautiful Fall day!

Thanks for joining me on my journey.  If you would like to join The Gratitude Community with your own journey of One Thousand Gifts, you can link up here at A Holy Experience. 

Multitude Monday

Today, I'm starting a new 'experiment', if you will...a gratitude list.  But not just any gratitude list - this one is a little different.  I've done 'Thankful Thursday' lists here before, and have been thinking of starting a more 'daily' gratitude journal recently.  Then as I was exploring (in)Courage today, I happened upon the blog of one of the authors, Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience and discovered the Thousand Gifts List.  I think it was a divine appointment, as I fell in love with and am intrigued by this idea.  Here is a sampling of what the Thousand Gifts List is in Ann's words:

"I am daily jotting down items on my Thousand Gifts List, working, one-by-one, up to a thousand gifts. Not of gifts I want. But of gifts I have.


As the moments slip down the hour glass of time, I am scratching down the gifts---just as they happen, as they arrive, as they are unwrapped---that He has given that make my life grace, the daily graces that He gives in an infinite number of ways, that stir me.


I am seeing things I have never seen before, atuned and aware of this constant, endless stream of gifts from His hand. I am one waking from slumber....from the stupor of indifference and ignorance. I have sight, fresh and keen---the world is new and full of His gifts.


Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me."

WOW. Join me if you will, on this journey of enlightenment and gratitude.  I haven't figured out yet how many items I want to aim to list each day, or if I even do.  I may just keep my journal handy and jot them down as they come to me and see how that goes.  And I'm sure it will be varied - some of it may be 'deep', some of it will be 'small', silly stuff. (see below) But I will post each week for Multitude Mondays some or perhaps all of my weekly discoveries.  I'll think on it and let you know my plan next week.  Here are my first gifts:

1.  My beautiful, perfect children.  Not because they're perfect - but they're perfect gifts from God to me as their mother.   
2.  The way my 2yr-old daughter lowers her brow when talking intensely about something. 
3.  Sonic ice.
4.  The beautiful music at A Holy Experience's  website.
5.  The amazing (in)Courage online community...it never ceases to bless me in ways only God would have a hand in!

I am so excited to see what God has in store as I open myself up to discover His blessings and handiwork that are all around me, and perhaps to even explore a little more of myself.

To start your own Thousand Gifts List click here and join the Gratitude Community!  Thanks, to Ann at A Holy Experience for this gift of grace!