1000 Gifts: 11 to ...

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1000 Gifts: It Begins with 1

A dozen times I have nearly begun and then backed away.

It's not Monday, after all. And what of the laundry that sits damp waiting to be tossed dry? Or the little one sitting all too comfortably at the foot of the TV? Yes, so many forces seem to hinder--time, pride, fear, and not least of all that confusing HTML stuff.

But as worries wage and fears press hard, I know that I must; as Ann speaks of her own daily Holy Experience, there is no other cure for fear than to practice gratitude in the present moment.

So I will begin simple, small, letting go of the desire for normal, or perhaps perfection, to arrive before I begin.

Instead I will choose to see the perfect in the normal.

1. First-ever freshly picked dandelions--pretties--held in the chubby hands of a toddler.

2. The gift of being available. What else to do when no bus arrives?

3. Moments, few as they are, to think and defog before all wake.

4. Freckles that multiply with long spring days.

5. A simple yes that brings surprising gratitude, even at the cost of only 64 cents.

6. A determined spirit that far surpasses the fears of his mother.

7. A rare day on the calendar, still mostly white.

8. The wheels that faithfully take us here and there, despite the too-soon rumbles and rattles.

9. Delighted squeals calling, "My Daddy!" each day as hinges creak open and the Daddy love that brings such delight.

10. Learning. Letting go. A little more each day.

The power of being with Jesus

Even the weakest saint can experience the power of the deity of the Son of God, when he is willing to "let go." But any effort to "hang on" to the least bit of our own power will only diminish the life of Jesus in us. We have to keep letting go, and slowly, but surely, the great full life of God will invade us, penetrating every part. Then Jesus will have complete and effective dominion in us, and people will take notice that we have been with Him.

* * * * *

If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.

Two excerpts from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest

Every Day

I like Easter. But let's remember that Christ's resurrection is not truer at Easter than at any other time of the year.                           AW Tozer

Motivation Monday

A while back I promised myself (I say myself because no one else reads this journal/blog), to post some of my favorite inspirational blogs. Well, today, I'm following through, at least in part, by posting about Kat's giveaway at Inspired to Action. Her posts are simple and direct, pointing to what's truly important and how to take one step at a time to get there. That's just what I need. Anyway...

Kat's giving away a gift pack including music and a t-shirt from the guys singing the song playing in the background right now. I honestly don't even own any of their CDs, but since Song of Hope is one of my favorites, and one that I just recently posted about, wouldn't it be a cool God-thing if I would win? Even if I don't, I just love how God makes connections like that to confirm His work in our lives.

Another nice thing about the conditions attached to this giveaway is that it helps keep me focused and working toward goals that will make my life more what I long for it to be as a mother and homemaker seeking to bless my family a little more each day.

A little cool music playing in the background while I work would just top it all off...