Gifts from Around the World

It dawned on me somewhere between the jollof rice and the jerk chicken; the sweet potato casserole and the collard greens:

This annual international dinner planned by the church staff and numerous volunteers displays the gift among us - the church family from 22 nations, speaking many languages and dialects.

Flags of various countries adorned every wall in the room. 

Delectable native dishes stayed warm over sternos.

The people radiated comfort and joy.

Today, I am grateful for gifts from around the world within my church family, such as:

#561 - a multi-national church family

#562 - a group of youth who shares their mites to support two Compassion children each month

#563 - explaining the advent Jesse Tree journey to 12 and 13 year old students

#564 - praying with friends from half a dozen African nations

#565 - an Indian friend with whom to share child-rearing wisdom

#566 - acknowledging my need to continue to grow, to stretch

#567 - learning to sing songs of praise in a new (to me) language

#568 - wearing Lilian's gift and being transformed

#569 - being fearfully and wonderfully made

#570 - affirming God's image in us

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  Rev. 5: 9 ESV

I am grateful to join a community of thanksgivers at Ann's Gratitude Community.

Grateful Brokenness

After a week of reading the posts of Compassion bloggers in Guatemala

and reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

my.heart.breaks.

I found myself singing Hillsong's Hosanna in the Highest throughout the day.  The lyrics that played over and over again on my lips and in my heart are:

Heal my heart and make it clean open up my eyes to the things unseen; show me how to love like you have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours; everything I am for your kingdom's cause; as I walk from earth into eternity. Hosanna in the highest.

Gratitude bubbles up from my heart for:

#411-420

heart cleansing words

forgiveness

eyes opened to the world

Good News

willingness to live out loud

grace for living

seed for sowing

opportunity to write words of encouragement

more than enough

people to love with Love

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.   Micah 6:8 (The Message)

Counting up 1,000 gifts with the Gratitude Community.

Simplicity and Ordinariness

Spending time at the beach (or near a body of water) provides an atmosphere in which I hear and see more clearly.  A recent visit to the ocean launched me into thoughts of simplicity - living life with clarity and purpose.

I had an opportunity to reflect on a visit with dearfriends.  While sharing time with them, I was given gifts of encouraging words that spoke specifically to my heart ponderings.  I was far from the beach physically, but the effect of that time of sharing was like a week on the shores of my favorite part of the ocean.  The simplicity of living an authentic life - knowing who I am, what my gifts are, and the guiding principle for living out the who and what of my life resurged within me.  I am grateful...

Room for One More

Recently, I attended a baby shower for my dear friend Vicki's son and  daughter-in-law who are expecting their first child.  What a joyful time we experienced as gifts were unwrapped and the air carried expectation for the very soon transition from young married couple to couple plus baby!



One of the highlights of the day occured when Vicki's mother, Louise, shared the story of how she and her husband added over 8 foster children to their family of two parents and four biological daughters.


The story went something like this: Louise's mother wanted to open her home to foster children, but it just did not come to pass.  Louise and her brother grew up together until her brother died at age 12 years.


After seeing the movie, Room for One More , Louise began the process of opening her family's home to children with special needs.  The children came, one after  another, even a set of twins!  In fact, one of the children (now an adult) stopped by to see the family at the shower!


After the baby shower ended, I had the pleasure of seeing the house in which this remarkably generous family lived.  As I walked from the kitchen to the living room and from bedroom to bedroom, and outside where the large garden once laden with corn and fruit trees lay quiet, my mind and my heart opened up to the sacredness of what transpired in that home...


No matter how severe the loss or how recent the trauma, the power of being chosen to join a family - to belong - brought light and life to so many children.

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows...God sets the lonely in  families."   Psalm 68:5-6

As I continue counting to 1000 gifts along with the Gratitude Community, I am so grateful that there is room for one more, always....  Today, I am grateful for:

#262  my mother and father who gave me life and lessons

#263  grandparents I did not meet, but who helped shape my life

#264  my siblings whose wisdom was often conveyed by observation

#265  my siblings for memories and shared experiences

#266  the many aunts, uncles, and cousins who added to family life

#267  my husband, my dearest friend - loving you and living with you is an honor and pleasure

#268  my daughter - the winsome and wise one who continues to delight with words of life

#269  my son - so wise, so determined - joy boy grown into man with purpose and destiny

#270  my family through marriage - a tangible example of what it means to be accepted in the Beloved

#271  my Father, Jesus, my Redeemer, Holy Spirit, my Comforter who made room for me

Love Calling

Being a mother is a gift I cherish.  The memories are still fresh as I recalled the moments when I first saw my children.  Now they are adults, still bringing joyful surprises on Mother's Day.  I squealed with delight when my young adults (who live far away) coordinated a call so that I could speak with them at the same time, despite the challenge of different time zones!  How delightful to experience the privilege of parenting.

I join the  gratitude community today as I continue counting 1000 gifts.  Today, I am grateful for:

#242  the love of my Lord, who taught/teaches me how to love

#243  my beloved husband whose love, wisdom, and commitment multiplied over the years

#244  my children, each one a gift from the Lord

#245  my mother, the one left motherless at such a young age, yet cared for and nurtured by God's hands extended

#246  my mother-in-love, living to give

#247  my true love's laughter, complete with twinkling eyes

#248  a weekend of connecting with Jesus and with 44 lively youth at concerts

#249  facilitating conversations of mother journeys at a middle school  mother/daughter gathering

#250  dear friends who provided the container of support for one another over the years

#251  family - Lord, you grafted me into your family and you gave me family; I am yours!

Clinging souls upheld

Hospitalizations of loved ones unleash prayers for mercy and health.  The faithfulness of praying family and friends adds strength and grace during busy days and long nights.  What a blessing to experience such support and comfort. 

In addition to praying friends and family, the Lord holds and sustains the one who cries out; the one who clings to Him. 

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"But you are a shield around me, O  Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.  To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill."   Psalm 3:3-4 

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"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8

While clinging to the Lord and receiving the gift of support from family and friends, my heart is grateful for:

#232  restorative power of blood

#233  oxygen for body and soul

#234  check in phone calls

#235  overstuffed chair time for reading, writing, praying...

#236  trust lessons that emerge from unlearning the tendency to lean on my understanding (still unlearning)

#237  His unfailing love resting upon us

#238  child-like ability to carry on in the midst of pain

 #239  singing - really singing - in the shadow of his wings

#240  visits to help family and friend

#241  Strong and Loving Lord

Interested in joining this Gratitude Community? 

  

My Anchor Holds

A friend told me that her boat, anchored to the pier, was tossed to and fro in the strong winds.  Although the winds blew strong and hard against it, the boat never lost its anchor.  I identify with that boat as winds blow strong and hard in my life, the lives of family, friends, work colleagues, and more.  In the midst of the storms, I made the decision to live my life trading anxiety for Peace, self-reliance for Help, fear for Love, and turmoil for Comfort.  Once that  decision was made, I let down my anchor.  On days like today, I have to remember that I am anchored.  Gracious words, loving words, comforting presence came from various sources to remind me...so I am grateful for:

#212  generous offer to borrow my friend's camera so that I could remember beautiful scenes in the mountains at the school nurse conference

#213  rich time of sharing with youth

#214  freedom to cry while informing fellow journey-ers about my current storm

#215  understanding more than ever that joy can exist within even when trouble stirs without

#216  decision to go after rest

#217  dinner with Mama

#218  greetings from cousin in town for a visit

#219  curiosity in the eyes of a precious six month old baby girl sitting on my lap

#220  conversations with young adult children

#221  hope that grows!

Thank You Notes

As I continue on the road to listing 1000 gifts, I am overflowing this day.  My thank you notes burst from a grateful heart as I thank God for:

#152  ears to hear requested guidance

#153  the voice of gratitude sharing good news of diminished pain

#154  the winsome voice declaring today's arrival of prayed for documents

#155  hearing my name at the airport; turning to see my true love come to surprise me

#156  dear friend's prayer while on the road to serve up love

#157  love gift of presence for cousin in a hospital bed

#158  encouraging words received and given

#159  singing out loud and loudly in the car to Him who sits on the Throne

#160  sunshine on my skin

#161  sister talk about growing wise

A Wealth of Wisdom

Over the past week, I reflected on the wealth of wisdom I have received over the years.  Many generous hearts and minds have poured into me personally and through books.  Today, I am grateful for wisdom from:

#121 Mama and Mom (my mother-in-love), wisdom given in word and deed;

#122 Daddy and Dad (my father-in-love), both now in heaven;

#123 my precious sisters, including the one now in heaven, and wonderful brothers;

#124 gracious sisters and kind brothers from marriage;

#125 men and women of faith who poured into my life from childhood through the present;

#126 my best friend, lover, husband whose wisdom deepens daily;

#127 my daughter and son who provided wise words as children and now as adults;

#128 shepherds who taught and modeled how to walk in wisdom;

#129 authors I never met, but who taught me much;

#130 Anne Ortlund, whose writing and encouragement have greatly shaped my life over 20 years;

#131 the ever present, loving, powerful, wise God who teaches me daily...

No Worries

My daughter often says, "no worries."

Those two words are a reminder for me to trust the Lord - always.

Over the past several days, I have embraced this truth:

The One who watches over me always does just that - watches over me!

With that in mind, today I am grateful for...

99.      the healing hand of God

100.  protection from harm (the car damaged, not humans!)

101.  growing awareness - eyes wide open

102.  a ride to work from a friend

103.  gracious husband preparing the car for me to drive

104.  a heart that says - 'please help me'

105.  perspective that grows daily

106.  evening sunshine coming through the windows

107.  mentors who freely share life and wisdom

108.  enduring memories that music gently awakens

109.  a husband's loving whispers and actions

110.  a heart cleansed with words that are spirit and life

111.  a home built on covenant, caring, cherishing, and more...

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Psalm 84:1-2