One Thousand Gifts *181 - 189*

The Greatest Little Treasures

190. For 20 year old "Love a Lot" Care Bear that can still make a little girl feel snugly at bedtime.

191. God Bless Uncle Chris... who will let his niece style his hair ... in the most awesome styles!

192. For the best afternoon ever ... making "Velvet" the bear at the Build a Bear factory.

193. For the love of a beautiful couple ... engaged to be married next year.
~God bless you, Rachael & Juan~

194. For this delicious salad... all was provided by our generous neighbor who loves to garden.

195. The next generation of Ralph the bunny.

196. For the first of the apples ... those that fell on the ground ... from our orchard of five trees ~
I love those trees. Thank you God! *You can see they're not sprayed :)

197. Our first apple crisp of the season...from the apples that fell from our trees.

198. For the lingering lesson learned by visiting the Build a Bear Factory.

199. A simple gratitude for the bluebird dishes that made every Saturday morning this season a sweet way to start the day!

Giving thanks together here at Holy Experience.

~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing

One Thousand Gifts ~ Gift of Love for All

~ For All Time ~

This song from yesterday's worship music stayed with me throughout the day; I humbly bow in gratitude for the example of love and sacrifice...

Thank you, Jesus, for what you did...
All for Love by Lenny LeBlanc
Oh You gave it all for Love
You gave it all for Love
Traded the stars above ... You gave it all for love

...All for Love ... You gave it all for Love...
With every drop of Blood ... You gave it all for Love

What would make You turn away from glory
Laying down Your life to save the world...

... Giving up Your Throne...Giving up Your Throne ...

... For a crown of thorns ...

King of all, You became a Servant
Leaving everything to rescue me
. . . Never looking back . . .

Never looking back ... You embraced the cross

You gave it all for love...You gave it all for love
Traded the stars above...You gave it all for love
You gave it all for love...With every drop of blood
You gave it all for love...With every drop of blood
. . . You gave it all for Love . . .

Thank you, Jesus,
for All you did for the love of humanity. Open our eyes ~ bring us to a conscious awareness of the sacrifice you made. You released to the Father . . . what would be a dream of life, health, worldly success, fame and power.
I am deeply and most humbly grateful for your complete and perfect surrender of all...

...You released the world to the Father ...
...and released the divine to the world...

* * *
My heart opens to new moments of gratefulness as I continue . . .

143. For Muffin's health... our ol' girl's hanging in there!
Mostly blind (about 95% ... completely deaf --- I talk deeply next to her ears so she feels my voice) Her sense of smell and enjoyment of eating keeps her smiling!
144. Sue's oatmeal cookie recipe...morphed into even 'healthier' cookies

145. Mixers that make arms flabbier but happier ~

146. My little birdies...always bringing joy into hearts

147. Sweetest ... bread dough ... comfort food ... comfort aromas

Counting my blessings has opened my eyes to a new awareness of God's presence in the everyday...every day~
I count Ann Voskamp as one of my blessings...
Visit her at Holy Experience .

~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing

Walking with His Letters of Love and Grace

Wednesday's Gift of Scripture
#134

Romans 5

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2through whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

God teaches us through nature...

I see so much in nature that is teaching me...
I want to be like Mary, at my Lord's feet following Him into his stories...

...telling the Martha in me to set my priorities ...
...and choose 'the better part.'

I often think of the day this robin (that nested in one of our trees) endured 3 thunder storms
as she protected her precious eggs.
You can see the nest in the bottom right corner.

...Life is stronger than Death...
another lesson, another love letter from God.
Humbly Grateful
~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing

I always knew, that God blesses us... but how aware of the steady flow of these blessings was I? As I count them ~ my awareness rises and they 'count' more than I ever could guess.
Thank you, Ann Voskamp at Holy Experience, for raising the sails!
My ship has left the harbor!
Ps. Ann, ever since your post on "Power Source," (one of the first of yours we read as newcomers to blogland) Chris and I have kept your farm in our prayers...Keeping you in prayer now with the aphids.

One Thousand Gifts *126 - 133*

At Sunday Service our pastor continued his series

"Inside Out" part 9 - Deciding What is Most Important"
This scripture (Matt 6:21) was discussed:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

...When thinking of my dearest treasures...

126. My walk in God's presence...
127. Jesus leading me on.

128. Many others are walking along side of me...family ~ friends ~ this body of Christ.

129. My husband, Chris, so close, we are one as we walk.

130. Children, now adults, they are friends and fellow travelers.

131. My sister ~ closer every step of this walk together. I am so grateful she is in my life.


132. My father, almost 85, at his kitchen window with day's first prayer, and on his knees at bedside before sleep. He walked with me for my first steps ~ and continues along side me in this journey.


133. Brothers and families ... walking together.

We, with God in us, are treasure to one another.
trésor ~ tesoro ~ treasure

~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing

A prayer today for sisters

Wednesday's Gift: Walking with Him to the Well "How I Eat This Book"

"Give us this day Our Daily Bread"Sometimes when we reach for something to eat, what our body really needs is water.
---I'll pick up snack---
...a mini-devotional here, a psalm or proverb there, turn the calendar page to a new inspirational...

When my children were younger,
my most cherished devotional time came early in the morning .
Somehow, with little sleep, but body younger, I rose early to pray, read...ponder...
watch sunrises with God.
My eyes tear as I write this, I miss those days deeply.
* * *
I teach middle school.
Children stretching and growing in every way possible.
About seven years ago, I went from a part time to a full time teaching day.
...leaving the house at 7:00 am ... not back until 4 or 5:00... leaves little personal time.

Over time, I have decided to use my planning period (luckily first in the day) to prepare my lessons ~ heart and soul first ~ then subject area.
A table pulled close to my desk...Set with cozy comforts of home...

Coffee cup, a simple wooden angel, photos of loved ones... perpetual calendar with scripture... a copy of "Our Daily Bread" a pocket size New Testament.
(I bring these home for the summer :o)
I take what I can from this gift of scheduled time.
I wish for no interruptions, but sometimes they come...

I need this heart & soul-prep time at school.
It is a sip from the well. A little snack.

I thirst for more...Hunger for more.
...a long drink from the well for this parched soul...
who misses awakening with Him at dawn.

Perhaps He is now calling me at sunset.

~To Dine with An Old Friend~

~Filled with coffee stains, notes and prayers to read~
~Special cards & very old letters of the special people in my life~
some passed on
a sister ~ close then / best friend now~Old songs from a church that closed, but I still "sing" them~

Gift from God ... gifted to me by my husband over 30 yrs. ago.

~All is Gift ...... All is Blessing
Ann Voskamp ~ What a Blessing!