“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD:

   “He is good; 
   His love to Israel endures forever.”

   And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

-Ezra 3:10-13

Are we taking our places to praise the Lord today? Are our shouts and weeps of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord being heard far away?

My list of One Thousand Gifts continues this week as an intentional way to proclaim that God is good and His love endures forever.

752. playgroup at the park and the chance to fellowship with other moms

753. tender hugs from the sweetest little boys

754. chatting with my fun friend Alice at the beach while the kids frolick in the warm water

755. sand between my toes

756. how she helps me cut fresh hydrangeas for the blue vase

757. making popsicles and watching puppet shows on hot days

758. the baptism article that runs word for word in the newspaper

759. how she thanks me for helping clean her room

760. wise words to remember when dreading Mt. Laundry

761. empty sketchbooks full of promise for art class

762. one-year-olds toddling through the waves

763. giant cardboard boxes decorated to become a playhouse “lodge up north”

764. the washing machine that keeps up with all the sandy wet beach towels

765. smart, passionate people to serve alongside

766. lessons in faithfulness and sacrifice taught by missionaries

767. how we laugh about kids being kids

768. the happy big camper who heads off to the campground with two little happy campers

769. their happy leaps and hugs as I pass out Dilly Bars to little girls with lake-soaked jeans

770. how confident she is riding her big bike around the campsite

771. all smiles around the campfire as they sink teeth into “doughboys”

772. my dear friend Jonda who celebrated her birthday this week

773. nifty new lunch boxes

774. words of wisdom from a 92-year-old widow

775. little girls star gazing, sleepless in the big red tent

776. tired campers napping the afternoon away

777. chips and salsa

778. monarch butterflies dancing through the hydrangeas

779. the freedom to forgive and be forgiven

780. exploring part of the mysterious ghost-town on the island

781. a cook-out picnic with family friends and their boys — one hanging upside down from a bent tree and the other hanging fish on his line

782. three hours just lingering in the lake, talking with a kind friend and watching the kids jump off the boat — all happy and wet

783. soft beds on which to rest swim-tired bodies

You’re invited! Check out other posts in the One Thousand Gifts community by clicking the graphic below.