At my kitchen table with coffee, my Bible, and our family's Gratitude Journal, I have been counting gifts. This is a journey of seeing God's lavished love and counting the ways he shows his beauty.
-Bible, coffee, shadows slanting across a quiet yard
-tiny yellow post-it note verses of God's truth and peace; rain droplets beaded up on plastic yellow seat in January; sunrise glories
-rain turning to snow before my eyes
-droplets suspended like diamonds from bike handles
-French phrases beside me as daughter soaks it in and learns
-monkey screeches below me as three year old distracts sixteen year old from his school
-my Bible beside me -- God's word ready to teach, instruct, inspire
"Why spend ... your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live..."
"..As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briars the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed" (verses 2, 3, 10-13).
Outside my window, the rain and snow continue to fall, soaking into the olive green lawn, soaking into me.
What about you? What have you been reading and thinking about this week? What is soaking into you today?
(Photos from Microsoft clipart)
8 comments:
I have been reading _Becoming a Woman of Grace_ by Cynthia Heald. Yesterday, it seemed that God really opened up the passage in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13 about gifts and the body of Christ. It is such a beautiful picture and has helped me be content in my own "placement."
It is kind of a culmination of God impressing on me deeply about how HE loves people enough to make EVERYONE in His image, even though that image is cracked in some way and various degrees because of sin and therefore are to be loved for who they are, regardless of how well they follow Christ or if they even believe in Him at all.
Hi Tandemingtroll,
Thank you for giving me a glimpse into what you have been learning and studying lately. It is so exciting to me to see how God is whispering to all of us!
I have seen some of C. Heald's books years ago and I think I have one or two of them too. They are packed up right now though due to the house being on the market.
Blessings. I am thankful for God's image that I see in you. :)
Jennifer
www.jenniferdougan.com
Loved the last item on your list - "my Bible beside me". The perfect traveling companion through life. Don't know where I'd be without it!
I agree, Cheryl. Thanks for stopping by.
Jennifer
www.jenniferdougan.com
I have been learning about the art of blessing others. I thought the only way to bless other was financially or through works but God has been showing me that it is not about the money. I can speak blessings on anyone, most importantly the one who I have a problem with.I just have to believe He actually bless them when I speak it. How cool is that?
Glenda Parker
http://glendaparkerfictionwriter.blogspot.com
Glenda,
It is liberating and powerful in my own heart too when I pray blessings over others, especially as you said, if there has been a problem. Nice twist on being a blessing. Thank you.
Jennifer
www.jenniferdougan.com
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