Showing posts with label 1000 Gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1000 Gifts. Show all posts

Monday, November 14, 2011

1,000 Gifts: A Simple List

I'm on a two day cleanse and fast... this time for healthy reasons and not spiritual. However, it's been over 24 hours since I've eaten, and my brain is just not functioning very well, so tonight's list is simple. Sometimes the simple things are what matter most anyway...

Tonight, I am thanking my Savior for:

61. My comfortable bed that I look forward to laying in every night.

62. The way I feel when my two year old makes a conscious decision to mind me

63. When I am having a down day, and the moment that I am able to find that place where I know that God loves me despite the "yucky" parts

64. Christmas crafts!

65. Chick-flicks

66. The connection that I have with my husband that I know no one else will ever experience. It is unique to us, and our love story.

67. Freedom

68. My older sister, her wisdom and the fact that she always answers her phone and responds to texts.

69. When worship music gives me goose bumps

70. THIS <----Click on it

Monday, November 7, 2011

1,000 gifts: Jesus Really Does Care

41. Each friend that God has placed in my life. New and old, near and far, ones that are just like me who get me and understand my heart, and ones that are quite different but challenge me to grow and balance me out.

42. Sneaking alone time with my husband. 

43. When a baby sitter is easy to find.

44. The anticipation of knowing I'm on the verge of a personal breakthrough. 

45. When Malakai finds something new to be excited about.

46. A freshly organized closet

47. The incredible ladies with me in this picture from March of 2011
My mom, older sister-Courtney Danielle, myself (Karis Rochelle), the youngest sister-Kaitlyn Bethel', and number 3-Christiana Noelle

48. Finding a routine in the middle of a chaotic season

49. ARC (Association of Related Churches) who's leaders have supported us, believed in us, are ALWAYS there for us, and invited us to be a part of this amazing world of planting life-giving churches. 

50. Music and the way that it moves my heart in such a deep way

51. Unanswered prayers
52. Answered prayers

53. Successful Trips to thrift stores and rummage sales

54. Being able to look someone who is brokenhearted in their tear stained eyes and say with all confidence and assurance that I've been there and if Jesus is in the boat it's not going to sink, the storm will pass, and Jesus really does care. (words passed down through generations of my family. Spoken to me countless times my my grandfather who has now passed away, my grandmother who is my hero and her son, my dad, who's life has proven all three principles first hand) 

55. Seeing one of my best friends rock the baby that we prayed for years for her to conceive. I can't imagine that seeing them interact will ever get old. 

56. Feeling pretty on messy hair and no make-up days

57. The what if's from my past that I choose not to dwell on, but when I think about them make me smile, and sigh and thank God for making all things work together for my good.

58. That extra hour of sleep that we got this past weekend

59. Getting to tell people how me and my husband met

60. The constant, relentless and always perfect for the moment inspiration that I receive when I dive into God's Word. 
Psalm 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
   his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
   let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
   and let us exalt his name together!
 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
   and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
   and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
   and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
   around those who fear him, and delivers them.
 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
   for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
   but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
 11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
   and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
   and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
   seek peace and pursue it.
 15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
   to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
   and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
  and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the LORD delivers him out of them all. 
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken. 
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
   and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
   none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.




Monday, October 31, 2011

October 31: 1,000 Gifts

This was an interesting week for me. It had ups and downs, complete with tears of brokenness and tears of joy. I am walking away from the past week feeling quite emotionally exhausted as I begin this new week, but at the same time, I feel a calming peace moving in and resting my heart and calming my mind. We made so many incredible memories this past weekend with trick or treating, a fall festival and Halloween Parade. We have had some amazing encounters with encouragement and some disappointing confrontations with discouragement. All in all we are leaving yet another week behind us that has been packed full of God's beautiful grace, and we are so thankful for this journey that He has allowed us to partake in.

Gifts 23- 40:

23. Fall colors

24. Peaceful afternoons

25. Days where not having an agenda is perfectly okay

26. Sleeping in

27. Pumpkins

28. Emotional weeks that although tough to navigate through, cleanse the heart

29. The anticipation of the approaching holidays

30. Being friends, despite all of the odds.

31. Random encouraging texts

32. Seeing growth in myself

33. Seeing Kai's face light up the entire day of the Fall festival, from the kiddie parade, to the train we got to go on, inflatables, and the big Halloween Parade. He was more adorable than you could possibly imagine! It was almost too much to handle. I cried at least twice just because of how happy he was.

34. A front page article being written about City Hope Church

35. Unity in local churches. (In particular: a local Pastor wanting to come to a launch meeting and pray for our new church plant!)

36. God in me being greater than the rough spots in me.

37. Finding new local restaurants that have a great menu.

38. Skype!

39. The kind of friends, that you know without a doubt will be there when (not if) you call.

40. This truth: "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart."

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Day Late: 1,000 Gifts

I'm a little late in jumping on the band wagon. I've wanted to read Ann Voskamp's book "A Thousand Gifts" for a while now, but have just not had the time or energy to devote to any book other than Bible based devotions. I am excited to finally start this book and also excited to join in with many other bloggers in the commitment to give thanks always and in everything by starting my own list of One Thousand Gifts. Daily events, happenings, revelations and encounters that all make me thankful, bring me joy and settle my ever-restless heart will be highlighted and celebrated through the magnificent lens and covering of God's never ending goodness.

I am a day late. Typically this will be a Monday routine.

1. This incredibly inspiring practice of begining a list of One Thousand Gifts

2. An encouraging phone call from a special mentor

3. How well behaved my 2 year old was in Walmart today

4. The journey God has me on and what I feel and know to be true in my heart

5. The beautiful fall weather the doesn't make me sweat, or make me wear a sweater.

6. God's faithful financial provision during this season of our life.

7. Renewed energy (spiritual and physical)

8. This recipe

9. Overcoming a personal struggle that I've dealt with for years

10. A toddler that loves to cuddle.

11. Finding an easy to make, and inexpensive Halloween Costume for little Kai

12. Having time to develop friendships in my life

13. My silver sparkly Tom's

14. Living somewhere where the trees turn colors for fall

15. The hole in the wall Greek Restaurant we discovered today - Authentic gyros.

16. A living room that stays clean for the entire day.

17. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 

18. When Kai wants to watch something other than "Little Einsteins" or "Rocket" as he calls it

19. Restored health to our little family. Stomach bug, sniffles and ear infection free.

20. The "block this user" option on Facebook. (for the haters)

21. Church with Grandma this past Sunday. 

22. Finding myself content with simplicity after a life of being addicted to excess