Category: thanksgiving

This week as I continue counting up one thousand gifts  from God, I want to share these encouraging words from Lysa TerKeurst’s recent Proverbs 31 Devotional:

Daniel prayed, Thank You God. ‘Three times a day, he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.’ (Daniel 6:10b, NIV)

Since Daniel’s response is so opposite of the way most of us would react, it makes me stop and ponder. Our initial responses are usually a by-product of the rituals we’ve established in our life. Daniel had made it his habit to be thankful.

Therefore, who God is and what God provides was front and center in Daniel’s heart — even in the midst of heartbreak.”

Oh, to be like Daniel. To make it my habit to be thankful.

522. how passionately they sprinkle pepper and salt on their hard-boiled eggs

523. how he helps her whittle the soap with her brand new Swiss Army knife

524. the crowd of forty elementary homeschoolers practicing the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”

525. the playful little girl’s mom who smiles at she chases a beach ball down the sporting goods aisle at Target

526. the wind rushing wild through the tree leaves

527. the sparkle in his eyes and smile as he jokes about eating his mama’s sandwich

528. the sweet and tender little snuggles of a one-month-old

529. how she squeezes my neck tight and tells me she loves me “to Pluto and back a thousand-hundred times”

530. the end-of-school, track-and-field day with wonderful friends, watermelon and a wild water slide

531. the golden brown edges of the marshmallow while it toasts

532. an evening huddled around the backyard fire pit

533. an impromptu lunch with friends

534. the photos that arrive in the mail just in time

535. flowers on the sidewalk

536. glorious clouds that look, she says, like Jesus is coming back

537. more rays of sunshine bursting through the clouds

538. a lovely evening with godly friends who encourage us and uplift our spirits

539. how confidently she serves up a plateful of cinnamon toast

540. her first piano book, all finished now

541. dwarf lilacs scenting the patio

542. little legs that carry her happy through a game of hopscotch

543. moments of happiness and contentment on the swings, enjoying the weather

544. the “girls only” fort they constructed in the woods

545. her delicious chocolate cobbler served up with ice cream on a warm evening

546. God’s faithfulness and loving kindness

547. encouragement from Colossians 3:1-3

548. his words that teach us how to stand up under temptation

(Photos to be added later today.)

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Psalm 30:11-12 (NIV)

Giving thanks to God, I’m counting up one thousand gifts  from above. May we give Him thanks forever!

462. how they all three thrill at seeing the first humming-bird at the new feeder

463. the black-capped chickadee, the deep red cardinal and the electric blue indigo bunting at the finch feeder

464. raindrops on lilacs

465. the captivating yet familiar scent of fresh lilac blossoms

466. tulips sprinkled with raindrops

467. tiny bare toes that dance happily across the stage

468. how her face beams as she does the caterpillar/butterfly dance on the big stage

469. her “Tigger tail”

470. how thoughtfully she moves to Dvorak’s music

471. how they giggle about their “not serious” ballet

472. instructors with a contagious passion for the art of dance and students who excel under their direction

473. orange popsicles to savor

474. time to explore the endless possibilities of wooden pattern blocks

475. hairpins and the kind neighbor’s 5 minute lesson on hair buns

476. frilly costumes that make them feel so beautiful

477. medicine for allergies

478. the sweet Granny who introduces them to Rosemaling and the immeasurably wonderful art instructor who inspires us all

479. Sunday evening fellowship with some familiar and some unfamiliar faces

480. protection from the devastating storm nearby

481. a quiet, slow morning with a flexible schedule

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

In an effort to overflow with thankfulness, I’m counting up one thousand gifts for which I am ever-so thankful to God. And this week I’m getting ever-so close to half way there! Thanks for joining me in this adventure in gratitude.

425. yellow warblers dashing through the tree tops

426. low, rumbling thunder in the early morning that sends the littlest, pajama-clad daughter dashing beneath the covers

427.  warm, cozy teddy bears to snuggle tight

428. a pair of robins, bobbin’ along together in the backyard

429. raindrops falling gently on young leaves

430. the color green blanketing the landscape

431. bright yellow polka-dotting the carpet of green

432. goldfinches at the feeder constantly — eating 10 meals a day

433. tulips blooming at last

434. fistfuls of dandelion bouquets

435. a hot, humid playdate at the park with sweet friends

436. 1 Peter 4:8 in her beautiful cursive penmanship — such godly wisdom presented to us on our anniversary

437. bicycles, cul-de-sacs and circles of friends

438. red roses — 15 of them — one for each year we’re celebrating

439. a short and quiet walk, hand-in-hand, after dinner

440. how she leaps and skips and grins ear-to-ear

44. four eggs perfectly cracked by young hands — and no trace of the eggshell

442. her homemade buttermilk biscuits with red raspberry jam

443. raindrops pearling on the hostas

444. a sunny yellow umbrella that lets them splash playfully among the puddles

445. a last-minute robin tea party with the neighbor kids

446. the cooing of the mourning doves

447. how his skillful hands work the long piece of douglas fir

448. smiles of old friends visiting church

449. how beautifully she sings “His Eye is on the Sparrow”

450. lessons learned in Joshua and promises faithfully kept by the One who is Faithful and True

451. encouraging reports from Nicaraguan missionaries

452. the bluebird that makes a rare visit

453. swings sailing high, powered by strong little legs

454. the ice cubes and sweet sisterly prayers that comfort her busted fat lip

455. the perky little ears and bouncy leaps of joy as distant ragtime music floats nearer on the breeze

456. happy hops when the ice cream truck finally comes into view

457. Tweety Bird ice cream on a stick, with bubble gum eyes, and a rainbow snow cone

458. her familiar, friendly words printed neatly on a postcard from Philly

459. the summery smell of fresh-cut grass

460. summer drawing ever-closer

461. coconut fudge

 “…let there be thankfulness to God.”  Ephesians 5:4 (NLT)

 

 Thank you, dear readers, for joining me as I count up one thousand gifts for which I am most thankful to God. 

388. joyful skipping in the spring weather as the shadows lengthen

389. how my daddy teaches them to march onward

390. 15 years of having and holding the best man I know

391. the busy, familiar hum of my mama’s old teal-blue Singer and four other hands working the fabric

392. wavy golden locks soaking up the sunlight

393. her scrunched-up nose smile

394. rays of golden sunshine tickling the fresh green grass

395. a goose rippling through the still waters

396. muskrats circling near the pond’s surface

397. thoughtful grandparents who love and listen and encourage

398. trees to embrace

399. deer peeking out of the woods

400. heartfelt good-bye hugs

401. bittersweet good-byes and tear-stained cheeks because we love them and we will miss them

402. seven tiny tadpoles adopted and brought home in borrowed jars with lids

403. the verdant weeping willow

404. hunting for duckweed in the pond — to feed our new tadpole friends

405. rubber boots that encourage me to venture farther and deeper and closer

406. the refreshing scent of May’s come-and-go raindrops

407. the cheery whistle of the red-winged blackbird perched a-top a metal post

408. a beaver rippling through the stillness as I travel the lonely path winding by the pond, through the woods, into the meadow

409. the glee chorus of frogs singing loudly as ducks glide smoothly into a watery landing

410. her sweet, warm, so-fresh-from-God feel as my arms cradle Dorothy Joy, just 12 hours old 

411. how quietly she folds her laundry on my bed

412. the not-for-prom, Mother’s-Day corsage that their sweet little voices mistakenly call a “crochet”

413. a pile of Mother’s Day surprises, four chocolate-smudged cheeks, and two rosy little girls in white lace to hold tight and call my own

414. swans gathering again in the silvery waters of evening

415. a picturesque trail nearby, nestled between the trees and the lake

416. strong little legs to pedal far

417. the dandelion picker

418. buds transforming into leaves

419. the bunny’s big, bouncy feet

420. ripples in the lake water

421. the whiteness of birch bark

422. seeds hidden deep in muddy fields of black

423. the less-traveled, winding dirt roads

424. the sun setting and reflecting gloriously, in stunning hues of pink, purple and gold