More Gratitude

I was so fortunate to WIN a signed one thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp...what a  complete surprise!  That's the second time I've won a book from a blog and I'm not the winning type.  No million dollars from a McDonald's scratch off, no million dollar dream home from HGTV, nothin!!  But this book is so dear to my heart and I know the Lord knows that, so what a precious gift to receive while battling shingles, nonetheless.  I have it on my Kindle, but it's just not the same.  It's the kind of book that will be so marked up, so highlighted, so tear stained, so looooooooooooooooved, that an e-reader just can't cut the mustard.  Her poetic style of writing must be read slowly and digested in little bits.

As I attempt to record 1,000 things to be grateful for in this year, my mind is stretched to think beyond the obvious.  Grateful is good and I like the idea of developing that mindset.  But to take it a step further, and just like prayer, not necessarily get caught up in our circumstances, but be able to thank for the SEEING of God in our circumstances.

That way we wouldn't only be thanking for the good (in our limited vision) things, but also for the hard.

It's a broader view.  It's seeing with His eyes, which through the power of the Holy Spirit, is possible.

Having the Spirit of an overcomer, this should have been obvious to me, and I really think that in my heart it was, but my mind still wanted to just record the sunny day or the great meal or the new job.

How to record the peace and comfort pulled through the pain of my latest illness, the opportunity for stillness because I couldn't rush my physically ill body, the joy of a praise song that took my mind from the meaningless and moved it to meditation?

Lets sit with that.

It takes more time to see past the obvious.  Time with Him.

And would we be so inclined to take that time if everything was easy?  If everything sat on the surface and took no introspection?

Oh, how proud we would be, wouldn't we?

I hope you chew on that.  And I hope you check out Ann's book.  And her blog.



"Let the peace of Christ rule in your  hearts, since as members of one body you were  called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  Colossians 3:15-17


By His grace alone,
Deb