I thought I would share with you today the beginnings of my list of "One Thousand Gifts"....I also have a new page on my blog where I will add to my list and keep it all in one place...
November 22, 2011
1. love and a smile from 17 year-old Kyle
2. entertaining talks on the way to school with Kira
3. a job I love
4. co-workers I love even more
5. knowing Nathan is coming home tomorrow!
6. friends who love and encourage me
7. an opportunity that scares me...and excites me, too
8. open doors, closing doors, doors yet to come
9. furry family members that love unconditionally
10. talking to Dad on the phone today
November 23, 2011
11. the ache in my heart that tells me that my heart still feels
12. hard eucharisteo - missing special people
13. the noise of several kids and several instruments in the house
14. the sound of rain outside
15. the groceries newly placed in the cupboards
16. the anticipation of spending time with family tomorrow
17.
texts from an out-of-town friend who is in town for the weekend, and a
chance to get together with her in a couple of days! :)
November 24, 2011
18. a beautiful Thanksgiving morning
19. remembering to run out at 6:15 this morning to put the garbage cans out before the trucks came!
20. a cup of coffee in the morning and quiet time to reflect on my blessings
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
(Gr)Attitude Adjustment
Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I love seeing everyone's lists of things they are thankful for this year. We have so many blessings in our lives, so many things that are good and positive! Myself included! I read Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts not too long ago...and in fact, have just started reading it again. She dares us to live our lives in thankfulness, opening our hearts and minds, our very lives, to God's grace....and being thankful for every moment - good and bad - for His grace, His gifts.
I realized the other night that I spend far too much time feeling sorry for myself. I AM a happy person. I LOVE to smile, laugh, have fun. I love to see the good in things. I love to be with people. I like hugs and high-fives. I like quiet moments alone to reflect, to pray, to breathe. I like sunshine, and rain, and warm days that go on forever. I like holding my cat, playing with my dog, watching my fish slide through the water, and talking to my bird. I love my children and all the laughter and chaos they bring. BUT, I let the stress of this life crowd those things out far too often. I let the upsets, the grudges, the fears, the strains overrule the good. And I forget that those things that seem bad...are lessons in the making and don't always turn out to be such a bad thing.
I lost my journal that I started writing my list of One Thousand Gifts in....so last night I started a new one. And an attitude adjustment....or shall I say, a GRATITUDE ADJUSTMENT. I want to live my life to the fullest. I want to see the good...and the bad...as opportunities to learn, love and grow. I want to grow old and look back at my life and see true joy shining in the memories...and NOT grudges, anger, resentment, bitterness, regret.
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13
Happiness isn't created by other people doing for you, giving to you, being there for you...true happiness comes from within YOU...true JOY comes from knowing Jesus and letting Him cover you with grace and love. And when we make the effort to be thankful in all things...we will experience a much different life than if we dwell on the things that make us sad or angry. If we express our gratitude, our joy will grow because His grace will overflow...
I realized the other night that I spend far too much time feeling sorry for myself. I AM a happy person. I LOVE to smile, laugh, have fun. I love to see the good in things. I love to be with people. I like hugs and high-fives. I like quiet moments alone to reflect, to pray, to breathe. I like sunshine, and rain, and warm days that go on forever. I like holding my cat, playing with my dog, watching my fish slide through the water, and talking to my bird. I love my children and all the laughter and chaos they bring. BUT, I let the stress of this life crowd those things out far too often. I let the upsets, the grudges, the fears, the strains overrule the good. And I forget that those things that seem bad...are lessons in the making and don't always turn out to be such a bad thing.
I lost my journal that I started writing my list of One Thousand Gifts in....so last night I started a new one. And an attitude adjustment....or shall I say, a GRATITUDE ADJUSTMENT. I want to live my life to the fullest. I want to see the good...and the bad...as opportunities to learn, love and grow. I want to grow old and look back at my life and see true joy shining in the memories...and NOT grudges, anger, resentment, bitterness, regret.
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13
Happiness isn't created by other people doing for you, giving to you, being there for you...true happiness comes from within YOU...true JOY comes from knowing Jesus and letting Him cover you with grace and love. And when we make the effort to be thankful in all things...we will experience a much different life than if we dwell on the things that make us sad or angry. If we express our gratitude, our joy will grow because His grace will overflow...
Sunday, November 20, 2011
rejoicing comes in the morning
Psalm 30:5
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
This morning, Lord God, once again I choose joy. I release the pain, the frustration, the anger and I embrace Your joy. Your peace, Your comfort, Your wise counsel. I pray that today I will shine Your light, to Your glory, God. Help me to stand straight and strong, to forge forth on the path You have set before me. To put all disappointments, sadness, bitterness and fear behind me. To reach out my hand and place it firmly in Yours, Father. To stand against the lies of the enemy that he whispers into my ear...help me not to listen. Help me to remember that in YOU, oh God, I am beloved, I am whole, I am strong. Help me, hold me, lead me. Give me wisdom to know the truth, humility to put others first, strength to do the things I must even when I don't want to. Thank you, God, for always being with me. Thank you for providing all I need. Thank you for all the blessings You give.
Amen
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
This morning, Lord God, once again I choose joy. I release the pain, the frustration, the anger and I embrace Your joy. Your peace, Your comfort, Your wise counsel. I pray that today I will shine Your light, to Your glory, God. Help me to stand straight and strong, to forge forth on the path You have set before me. To put all disappointments, sadness, bitterness and fear behind me. To reach out my hand and place it firmly in Yours, Father. To stand against the lies of the enemy that he whispers into my ear...help me not to listen. Help me to remember that in YOU, oh God, I am beloved, I am whole, I am strong. Help me, hold me, lead me. Give me wisdom to know the truth, humility to put others first, strength to do the things I must even when I don't want to. Thank you, God, for always being with me. Thank you for providing all I need. Thank you for all the blessings You give.
Amen
Saturday, November 19, 2011
This Fragile Breath...
Wishing for the voice of God to shake the mountains today...to speak clearly to my heart so that I could know....frustrated beyond belief today...needing the voice of God to soothe my mind, soften my heart, and help me see Him at work in this mess I call my life. And trying, with each fragile breath to praise Him, trust Him through it all....
Friday, November 18, 2011
Worship Fully
At my church this year, we are focusing on the theme of "Rethinking Christmas" during advent. We will be looking at these areas: Worship fully, Give more, Spend less, Love all.
On the radio this morning was a song with this line...."Yahweh, Yahweh, we love to shout Your name, O Lord!" When we shout out His name, when we worship Him...what a feeling! What a joy! What a blessing to us, to Him. The words of Isaiah 6 are on my mind this morning, too...."I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted." How could you not fall at his feet and worship Him at that throne?
Matthew 5:8 says "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." The heart, the center of one's being...which according to the notes in my study Bible is "the wellspring of life" - from which springs emotions, thoughts, motivations, courage and action.
How pure is my heart? How worshipful are my thoughts, emotions, actions? Are my motivations clearly based on what God would approve? Psalm 4:7 says "You have filled my heart with greater joy." Do I live my life to reflect that God-given joy? Can others see it shining from me?
Worship fully....celebrating the King with every breath....every thought....my whole heart...
On the radio this morning was a song with this line...."Yahweh, Yahweh, we love to shout Your name, O Lord!" When we shout out His name, when we worship Him...what a feeling! What a joy! What a blessing to us, to Him. The words of Isaiah 6 are on my mind this morning, too...."I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted." How could you not fall at his feet and worship Him at that throne?
Matthew 5:8 says "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." The heart, the center of one's being...which according to the notes in my study Bible is "the wellspring of life" - from which springs emotions, thoughts, motivations, courage and action.
How pure is my heart? How worshipful are my thoughts, emotions, actions? Are my motivations clearly based on what God would approve? Psalm 4:7 says "You have filled my heart with greater joy." Do I live my life to reflect that God-given joy? Can others see it shining from me?
Worship fully....celebrating the King with every breath....every thought....my whole heart...
Thursday, November 17, 2011
All I Need
I think I have mentioned this before...ever noticed how things seem to run on a theme sometimes? Comments, posts in different places, relevant Bible verses, things people say at certain times, events that happen? Well, lately God seems to be reminding me that there is really only one thing I NEED. Just one.
And that One can fill all the empty, lonely, hurting places with peace and joy and love. One.
My son attended his Journey with Christ weekend a few days ago. Family was invited to attend the closing service of the weekend. The 11 teenage boys were given an opportunity to share what the weekend meant to them - what one thing they learned about God and what they would take away from the weekend. One young man stood up to speak. He said that the biggest thing he had learned was that "All I need is Jesus. That's really it."
That's really it. Jesus. Jesus who loved, loves, will always love so much that he gave His life. And not just gave it, but was tortured, shamed, beaten, separated from His Father by our sin, and hung to die....for me. For you.
Is there a space in you that cries out for something? Is there a loneliness in you that needs a hand to hold? Is there a fear in you that needs a protector? Is there sadness in you that needs joy...overwhelming, overflowing joy??
Other people cannot do this for you. "Stuff" cannot do this for you. The next, bigger, better, more expensive.....cannot do it for you. That drink, that food, that drug....no, no, no. Things of this world cannot do it for you. For me.
Just Jesus. He can take away the hurt, the sadness, the emptiness. And as we cry out to him He promises "And surely I will be with you always..." Matthew 28:20
Jesus is all I need. How about you?
And that One can fill all the empty, lonely, hurting places with peace and joy and love. One.
My son attended his Journey with Christ weekend a few days ago. Family was invited to attend the closing service of the weekend. The 11 teenage boys were given an opportunity to share what the weekend meant to them - what one thing they learned about God and what they would take away from the weekend. One young man stood up to speak. He said that the biggest thing he had learned was that "All I need is Jesus. That's really it."
That's really it. Jesus. Jesus who loved, loves, will always love so much that he gave His life. And not just gave it, but was tortured, shamed, beaten, separated from His Father by our sin, and hung to die....for me. For you.
Is there a space in you that cries out for something? Is there a loneliness in you that needs a hand to hold? Is there a fear in you that needs a protector? Is there sadness in you that needs joy...overwhelming, overflowing joy??
Other people cannot do this for you. "Stuff" cannot do this for you. The next, bigger, better, more expensive.....cannot do it for you. That drink, that food, that drug....no, no, no. Things of this world cannot do it for you. For me.
Just Jesus. He can take away the hurt, the sadness, the emptiness. And as we cry out to him He promises "And surely I will be with you always..." Matthew 28:20
Jesus is all I need. How about you?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
You are welcome here...
I received a letter a few days ago from my heart-son, Godless, in Tanzania. He is a child I sponsor through Compassion. He is just recently turned 10 years old, and so very, very thin. My hope is to have a picture of him someday with a smile on his face. Both that I have of him? He's so serious, sad. I want to see him smile.
At the end of his last letter, his translator says "He says he loves you so much and says you are welcome so much to Tanzania." When I read that, my heart flew across the world...to his little village, to be with him. If only I could, little one. If only I could come there, and see you face to face, and hold you close, and let you know how much I love you...a child I only know through letters and drawings and a couple of pictures. A child who holds a part of my heart, there, in Tanzania.
And there is little Grelty, in Indonesia. Who asks in her letter, "May I call you Mother Kelly?" Of course, child. Your very own mother loves you so much, but you are a child of my heart, and while I know I can never top the love of your own mother....I do love you so much. She is a precious beautiful little girl who has grown so much since the first picture I had of her. The second picture from earlier this year when she turned 8 - oh she is beautiful. Her cheeks have filled out some and she looks healthier. I love to see that! I would love to hold her hand and sing songs with her, and hear her laughter.
And Vishal...my little correspondence boy in India. His translator tells me his is weak in the last letter. And my heart breaks and cries for him. I pray that he gains strength and health. That he has enough to eat. That the food they bought for his family with the last gift from his financial sponsor will bring him the nutrition he so badly needs. I love him, too, you see. This little boy who is growing up in hunger and poverty. I want to hold him, too, and tell him that he will be ok. That God loves him so much, as do I.
I pray for these three....just as I pray for my own three precious children. I pray they will ALL grow strong, healthy, wise. I pray that God will enlighten their paths, and keep them close to His heart for all their days. I pray that they will find joy, peace, love. I pray that I will be able to let them know always that I love them so very, very much.
************
Please look at my side bar and click on the post from "A Holy Experience" and read her post called "When Compassion becomes a gold rush...." Trust me, you will be blessed.
At the end of his last letter, his translator says "He says he loves you so much and says you are welcome so much to Tanzania." When I read that, my heart flew across the world...to his little village, to be with him. If only I could, little one. If only I could come there, and see you face to face, and hold you close, and let you know how much I love you...a child I only know through letters and drawings and a couple of pictures. A child who holds a part of my heart, there, in Tanzania.
And there is little Grelty, in Indonesia. Who asks in her letter, "May I call you Mother Kelly?" Of course, child. Your very own mother loves you so much, but you are a child of my heart, and while I know I can never top the love of your own mother....I do love you so much. She is a precious beautiful little girl who has grown so much since the first picture I had of her. The second picture from earlier this year when she turned 8 - oh she is beautiful. Her cheeks have filled out some and she looks healthier. I love to see that! I would love to hold her hand and sing songs with her, and hear her laughter.
And Vishal...my little correspondence boy in India. His translator tells me his is weak in the last letter. And my heart breaks and cries for him. I pray that he gains strength and health. That he has enough to eat. That the food they bought for his family with the last gift from his financial sponsor will bring him the nutrition he so badly needs. I love him, too, you see. This little boy who is growing up in hunger and poverty. I want to hold him, too, and tell him that he will be ok. That God loves him so much, as do I.
I pray for these three....just as I pray for my own three precious children. I pray they will ALL grow strong, healthy, wise. I pray that God will enlighten their paths, and keep them close to His heart for all their days. I pray that they will find joy, peace, love. I pray that I will be able to let them know always that I love them so very, very much.
************
Please look at my side bar and click on the post from "A Holy Experience" and read her post called "When Compassion becomes a gold rush...." Trust me, you will be blessed.
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