I'm finding a depth in my blog community that I didn't realize would be there. A transparency and vulnerability that is, quite frankly, refreshing my soul. If I'm being completely honest, and transparent myself, I didn't even realize I needed it.
Life hums along at an alarming rate. If you're not careful, like me, you can get left behind on life's highway. That's what has happened; and I was completely unaware, until now.
For so long, I've lost myself in the mundane (Ann encourages us to be thankful for the mundane) and forgotten to immerse myself in the things of Heaven, on a daily basis. To make God my top priority on a long list of To Do's; and to thank Him for each and everything mundane chore on that To Do list.
Quieting my soul to reflect on God's word and His gifts of grace, hasn't been {as of late} as easy as it used to be. I've muddled along for some time now, thinking I had it all under control. All the while missing opportunities to retreat and be still with my Savior.
To let Him wash over me and replenish what has been depleted.
Today I've read several blog posts {linked up to Ann Voskamp's blog a holy experience} where the bloggers are sharing their multitudes of joys, through the One Thousand Gifts dare. The dare to live life fully, right where you are.
You can read an excerpt from her book by clicking on the Scribd linky. I hope you take a moment and preview the book. I assure you, it will be worth your time.
Multitudes on Monday is a link up with other bloggers who are actively counting their one thousand gifts. Bloggers all over the world, who are becoming aware of God's omnipresence in their lives, instead of muddling through unaware and disconnected.
Being Thankful Is More Than Mere Gratitude. It's an active choice we {I} make every second. To be engaged with God, living in a state of grace in every {good or bad} moment.
Counting One Thousand Gifts is a fresh {pain can be grace} kind of gratitude. It is being faithful, being hopeful, being loved; and accepting God's love through it all. Not rejecting it. Never looking away, though we may not understand. It is seeing His love for His children at all times, in all {good or bad} circumstances, over the entirety of our lives.
God wants me to grow towards Him, to reach out and grasp His hand in my sorrows and my joys, to talk to Him and express my gratitude for His grace in everything. To cling to and hold onto the gifts, by recounting them each new day. Finding new gifts to add to the list along the way.
What He wants us {me} to do, is persevere. Always striving, pressing on and enduring it all for the joy that awaits. When we don't understand why, we endure. When we want to give up, we endure. That is gratitude, true gratitude, in the midst of the storms and calms of life. Accepting it all as a part of the journey.
Now I begin. I begin my One Thousand Gifts journey in my own life. I accept the dare; and I haven't even read the book. Yet I feel so compelled to begin. I can feel God's gentle tug on my heart. No less the Holy Spirit, encouraging me along.
I'm pretty certain, after reading what each page holds for me, I won't be the same. I hope that my heart is open and not closed to all that Ann has shared. Her transparency in the first chapter, hints to the life altering material that lay within the next chapters. Each page moving me {the reader} closer to a heart full of {true} gratitude.
#0001 thru #0010, of MY One Thousand Gifts . . . this is my journey's beginning . . .
#0001. For God inspired, Jesus filled bloggers who share their lives and walks with the Lord so freely and transparently with {a stranger they've never met} me.
#0002. For the sweet Holy Spirit that quickly bursts into my subconscious to correct, redirect and comfort me when I've lost my way.
Life hums along at an alarming rate. If you're not careful, like me, you can get left behind on life's highway. That's what has happened; and I was completely unaware, until now.
For so long, I've lost myself in the mundane (Ann encourages us to be thankful for the mundane) and forgotten to immerse myself in the things of Heaven, on a daily basis. To make God my top priority on a long list of To Do's; and to thank Him for each and everything mundane chore on that To Do list.
Quieting my soul to reflect on God's word and His gifts of grace, hasn't been {as of late} as easy as it used to be. I've muddled along for some time now, thinking I had it all under control. All the while missing opportunities to retreat and be still with my Savior.
To let Him wash over me and replenish what has been depleted.
Today I've read several blog posts {linked up to Ann Voskamp's blog a holy experience} where the bloggers are sharing their multitudes of joys, through the One Thousand Gifts dare. The dare to live life fully, right where you are.
You can read an excerpt from her book by clicking on the Scribd linky. I hope you take a moment and preview the book. I assure you, it will be worth your time.
Multitudes on Monday is a link up with other bloggers who are actively counting their one thousand gifts. Bloggers all over the world, who are becoming aware of God's omnipresence in their lives, instead of muddling through unaware and disconnected.
Being Thankful Is More Than Mere Gratitude. It's an active choice we {I} make every second. To be engaged with God, living in a state of grace in every {good or bad} moment.
Counting One Thousand Gifts is a fresh {pain can be grace} kind of gratitude. It is being faithful, being hopeful, being loved; and accepting God's love through it all. Not rejecting it. Never looking away, though we may not understand. It is seeing His love for His children at all times, in all {good or bad} circumstances, over the entirety of our lives.
God wants me to grow towards Him, to reach out and grasp His hand in my sorrows and my joys, to talk to Him and express my gratitude for His grace in everything. To cling to and hold onto the gifts, by recounting them each new day. Finding new gifts to add to the list along the way.
What He wants us {me} to do, is persevere. Always striving, pressing on and enduring it all for the joy that awaits. When we don't understand why, we endure. When we want to give up, we endure. That is gratitude, true gratitude, in the midst of the storms and calms of life. Accepting it all as a part of the journey.
Now I begin. I begin my One Thousand Gifts journey in my own life. I accept the dare; and I haven't even read the book. Yet I feel so compelled to begin. I can feel God's gentle tug on my heart. No less the Holy Spirit, encouraging me along.
I'm pretty certain, after reading what each page holds for me, I won't be the same. I hope that my heart is open and not closed to all that Ann has shared. Her transparency in the first chapter, hints to the life altering material that lay within the next chapters. Each page moving me {the reader} closer to a heart full of {true} gratitude.
#0001 thru #0010, of MY One Thousand Gifts . . . this is my journey's beginning . . .
#0001. For God inspired, Jesus filled bloggers who share their lives and walks with the Lord so freely and transparently with {a stranger they've never met} me.
#0002. For the sweet Holy Spirit that quickly bursts into my subconscious to correct, redirect and comfort me when I've lost my way.
#0003. For my husband's gentle touch on my shoulders when I'm tense and his scratching my back, to relax me again.
#0004. For the pleasing and refreshing taste of a very special mint iced tea, a recipe shared by a dear friend.
#0005. For my many friendships made up of women who know what to say, how to say and when to say it.
#0006. For the ugly gray snow piles that are slowly melting away, revealing the beauty they lies beneath.
#0007. For the fragrant smell of English Lavender soap, as I wash away the dirt and germs from my hands in the warm, running water. Sort of symbolic, isn't it?
#0008. For the thought of an approaching spring, when God breathes life back into the soil, pushing forth the blossoms and wielding His mighty paint brush, to touch the earth with color.
#0009. For my sweet mother, who listens hours on end about the ups and downs of my day to day life.
#0010. For my children, who never cease to delight my heart and bring a smile where there may have been a tear.
If you would like to join in . . . and, begin your journey towards a 1,000 gifts of Thanks . . . simply write a post then add the community graphic somewhere in your post.
You can get the multitudes on mondays blog button, by visiting a holy experience blog to pick up the code.
After you've posted you multitudes on mondays post, be sure to go to Ann's blog and link your post with the rest of the community. So we can all share in your journey too.
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