Friday 23 January 2015

Giving Thanks...

It was over two years ago that I had read the book One Thousand Gifts.  "A dare to live fully right where you are. How, Voskamp wondered, do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties?  What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long, and sometimes dark?  What is God providing here and now?"

And so I have continued to pen to paper the things I am thankful for.  


I was reminded again this morning how the LORD wants our sacrifices and offerings of thanksgiving.  I was reading through Psalm 50 for my morning devotions, it speaks volumes of who God is and what He asks of us.

"The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets...every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.  If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.  Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.  It ends with this verse: He who sacrifices thank offerings honours me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."


There have been so many times when I've wondered at the little things written in my book, feeling foolish at times for what I've written when I consider it in light of all the brokenness, sin and pain in the world.

50. Fireflies

What purpose is there in being thankful for fireflies in the big picture of life when the world is so dark and broken...yet there is purpose even if only to bring delight and wonder on a summers night, in the midst of the darkness in the world they are still something beautiful and amazing...a gift from my Creator God.


I see the devastation in the world as I watch the news and so it would seem, sure it's easy to be thankful when life is good, but what about when life is hard, when those you love are ripped away from you, when you're given a tough diagnoses from the doctor, when you lose your job, etc.  

What about then, are the so called little things still cause for thanks.

God's word says: "He who sacrifices thank offerings honours me."  We honour Him when we thank Him.  He gives no guideline as to what is to bring more or less thanks, there is no measuring stick on thanks, whether that be fireflies or the healing of a loved one, thanks is thanks.  And we are commanded to thank Him.

God shows His love to me through this world He has created.  When I delight in what He has created, take notice of it and thank and praise Him for it, He is delighted...He is honoured.  The evil that goes on in the world around me cannot be allowed to take from that thankfulness or make those "little things" seem foolish.

Something happens in our hearts when we stop and take notice of whats around us and thank our Father God.  The challenge in this busy and fast paced world though is the stopping and not being swept up with the busyness of life.

Things to be thankful for...

413. A new day
414. Fresh fruit
415. A warm fire
416. Seeing mom and dad playing a game of 5 dice through their patio door as I come up the hill from doing chores


417. My health and strength
418. Doing chores in the snow - refreshing
419. Knitting


420. Conversation with friends
421. Everything encased in ice





422. Encouraging words from my husband
423. Kitchen cleaned up by my husband
424. A chat with the neighbour in the woods
425. Fresh buttered bread dipped in chilli
426. Finished knitting my sweater
427. The water is still working down the hill for watering the horses
428. Working on the old camaro with my husband


429. Sunshine on a bitter cold day




430. Thankful for honesty - sets people free
431. Enjoying the different flavours of tea I got from Will and Amy for Christmas
432. Big, gently falling snowflakes
433. Being a mom
434. Covering of snow this morning


435. A chat with Jocelyne on the phone
436. The comfort of home to our kids when life is tough
437. Morning quiet and the stillness doing chores




438. Warmth of the morning sun
439. Amadeous enjoying a good rub on his face
440. Quiet day
441. Another beautiful still winter's morning
442. Charissa hanging out here - watching a show together
443. Gently falling snow


444. Lunch with a couple from church
445. My husband's love and commitment
446. Call from Jocelyne
447. Crunch of the snow while walking on a cold winter morning
448. Black Jack soaking up the sun by the front door
449. Prayer
450. The uniqueness and detail of snowflakes




Golden snowflakes



451. Sunshine across my desk
452. Kayla, our weekly visitor - a caring heart
453. Warmth of the wood stove
454. A new day
455. God's mercy
456. Life
457. "He who sacrifices thank offerings honours me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23
458. Smile from Charissa
459. Beautiful morning sky, clouds drifting through the blue sky, sliver of the moon
460. Sunshine and shadows dancing across my window
461. God's forgiveness
462. A world with so much colour
463. Cold, crisp winter morning


464. Hot cup of tea
465. Whipped cream
466. Smiles and "hi's" from some little kids at church
467. Loving words from my husband
468. Warm sunshine on a cold day
469. Matthew's smile
470. Variety of foods
471. Knitting
472. Bird songs on a cold winter morning
473. Soft pink in the morning sky
474. My hearing
475. Charissa doing chores for me
476. Chat with Jocelyne this morning
477. Afternoon sun

2 comments:

  1. I'm thankful for your lovely images and insightful words!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing, always a joy to read! Bought Anne's book today.

    ReplyDelete