Book Study 1000 Gifts Chapter 7

Eucharisteo precedes the miracle.

I have to keep saying that over and over again.  In Chapter 7 of her book, Ann talks about those times when it gets ugly. When we have the choice to follow Jesus or Satan. It was the story of toast and her kids.

Seed: "Do I really smother my own joy because I believe that anger achieves more than love? That Satan's way is more powerful, more practical, more fulfilling in my daily life than Jesus' way? Why else get angry?  Isn't it because I think complaining, exasperation, resentment will pound me up into the full life I really want?  When I choose- and it is a choice- to crush joy with bitterness, am I not purposefully choosing to take the way of the Prince of Darkness?  ... I look for the ugly beautiful, count it as grace, transfigure the mess into joy with thanks and eucharisteo leaves the paper, finds way to the eyes, the lips."

Water:  Practice! It's a discipline and a choice to be bitter & angry... or to be intentional about giving thanks in the midst of the ugly.  Too many times it has worked to get someone close to me to change by my getting mad. It's up to me to choose wisely.

Growth: I really believe all of my relationships will grow deeper when I make it a practice to look for Jesus in the beautiful and in the ugly.

Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle.

instead of venting... I'll be thankful

306).  I'm MOST grateful for a counselor who taught me anger is really a form of hurt

This list really helps.  God can change my mood. Anger could have come out sideways if I didn't stop, breathe & pray for understanding.  He quickly helped me figure it out.  Let's see if I can pull up a verse from last year. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." I can't remember for the life of me the address.  Wait, the more I think about it, it's Proverbs 3:5.  I don't get why, so I won't even try. I'm not supposed to understand.

Happy Friday!

and the list continues

293).  literally watching withering plants come back to life after watering
294).  ice cold clean well water
295).  girl-time
296).  sore abs the day after a work out
297).  kids with pacifiers in their mouths
298).  baby fingernails
299).  old photos
300).  deep conversations
301).  girl scout cookies by the sleeve
302).  peppermint tea
303).  red faces after a good workout
304).  thoughtful gifts
305).  little boy haircuts

being thankful helps

285).  bright blue Winter skies
286).  healthy food in the fridge
287).  loneliness (yes, it's a gift!)
288).  memories of Dad in a hardware store
289).  whole fully cooked chicken
290).  checking things off a list
291).  husbands yelling at a t.v. during a MSU basketball game
292).  the snow shoe tracks I made to get to Linda's for "kitty duty"

278).  "signing" I love you out the window when a husband leaves for work
279).  warm clothes straight out of the dryer to fold
280).  sweet letters full of compliments from my patients
281).  a fresh batch of white snow
282).  relaxing breakfast with my husband
283).  nice hot showers
284).  inspiring books

Book Study 1000 Gifts Chapter 5

As I listened to the video of Chapter 5 I was brought to tears.  I highly recommend you watch it. Angie, Ann and Jess were talking about those times when we wrestle with finding God's Grace when the hard things happen in our lives.  Where was God when _______ happened?

Seed: "Who would ever know the greater graces of comfort and perseverance, mercy and forgiveness, patience and courage, if no shadows fell over a life?" It's easy to thank God for the little gifts, like when we were in a car accident but nobody was seriously hurt, but it wasn't easy (at the time) to thank God when my ex-husband betrayed me and married the other woman two months later.  I couldn't even eat. I know His Presence was with me through it all.  It's strange though that years later, after  He healed my broken heart I tend to minimize my situation.  I think it's because so many people are going through more difficult stuff.  I am not in a season where there is "hard Eucharisteo" but I remember it well.  I believe I had to go through it or I wouldn't know He could be trusted.  I can honestly say I believe my divorce was one of my biggest gifts.  

Water: I need to get in the habit of being grateful for the small difficult things so that when the big things in life happen... and I believe they will, I will be prepared to trust God and glorify Him.   

Fruit: I know I have a lot more compassion since I made it through my divorce.   I want to encourage others who are in the midst of a difficult marriage to look to God and to get on their knees and pray for their marriages. God can do the impossible.  I know it firsthand. I could have easily been twice divorced but God saved our marriage and it is stronger than it's been in 10 years! God is SO good! 

Thank you, God for the hard Eucharisteo in my life. Please continue to... "Bring the Rain."

xoxo

269).  no matter where we live we all see the same big bright moon
270).  extremely quiet mornings
271).  crisp music filling the house
272).  friendly strangers giving directions
273).  a room full of aromatic candles
274).  melting snow
275).  eyes closed soaking up the sun's rays on a cold day
276).  holding hands
277).  soft hearts