Genesis 28:16
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."
Are you aware of HIS Presence throughout your day?
Do you KNOW HE IS IN that place whereever you are?
Or are you like Jacob - and you awaken ... whether from sleep or from the daily grind - and suddenly become aware that HE is here?
I am currently reading the book "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. I highly recommend this book - she also has a blog which you will find at www.aholyexperience.com
It is due to her inspiration that I began to faithfully attempt to Live Life Fully! Right Now! On my 60th birthday - almost 3 years ago now - a friend gave me a beautiful journal that I began to journal my thanks in. Over the years I had done this as part of my daily journaling ... but never numerically and never a journal specifically just for thanks! What an experience this has been! Some of these I have recorded on this blog as part of "One Thousand Gifts".
This whole experience has enabled me to say - with Jacob - "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it."
Just today ... within the hour ...
# 637. RAIN - coming straight down from heaven - like a thick curtain.
# 638. the SOUND of rain - as it hits the road outside my window.
And as I read Ann's book these words of hers jump off the page and touch my heart ...
"The weight of God's glory, not illusory or ephemeral, but daily and everywhere, punctures earth's lid and heaven falls through the holes."
Oh dear ones - may heaven fall thru the holes for you today! May you see and experience HIS glory all around you!
Blessings sweet ones!
Ruthie
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Showing posts with label Sunday Reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunday Reflections. Show all posts
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday Morning Reflections -
In the midst of my circumstances I have a heart filled with gratitude today for many things....
a good nights sleep even though hubby was at work all night; friends whom I love and who love me; my sweet (naughty) puppy; our family; the singing birds; cool air after awesome heat yesterday; our old (180 years) house with it's creaky boards; crooked doorways, and slanted floors; sitting in the quietness - and KNOWing that my Gracious Heavenly Father is right here with me!
Can it get any better than this?
Not for me it can't.
Sometimes I dream of having the energy I had as a 40 year old; of being pain free every day; of a brand new, totally finished house; of a not-so-naughty puppy; ...
but those things mean nothing because I have Jesus!
Hallelujah!
HE has been teaching me over the years to develop a heart of gratitude.... what a difference this has made in my life - the way I perceive and view things. How thankful I am that He has changed my heart!
Author Tommy Newberry says "Gratitude is a conviction, a practice, and a discipline. it is an essential nutrient, a kind of spiritual amino acid for human growth, creativity, and joy." He also states that it is "a feeling, a capacity, and a choice."
feeling - sense of joy an dappreciation
capacity - a learned skill of discovery
choice - a conscious, deliberate action to focus on the blessings of life.
Whoa! A CHOICE??????? you might ask.... YES! A CHOICE!!!!!!! You can choose to be grateful - this means you take your focus off of the past or present negative and you focus on the present blessings of your life. What a difference this has made in me and in my life!
This is one of my Life Verses! and it tells me that to think on such thinks is MY Choice! I love it!!!!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8
I'll leave you with another quote... from Thomas Meston
"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything he has given us and he has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of his love. Every moment of existence is a grace for it brings with it immense graces from him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God for the grateful person knows that God is good not by hearsay but by experience and that is what makes all the difference.
As I write and read these words I am thinking of how I can show my gratitude today - I pray you are too.
Here are a few suggestions for you:
- before you go to sleep at night list 5 things you are thankful for - better yet, start a gratitude journal and write them down!
- send a note to a co-worker thanking them for a job well done.
- leave little thank-you notes around the house for family
- write a note of encouragement to someone who would never expect it from you
- at mealtime with family - discuss things each one is grateful for.
And the list goes on!
Praying for HIS rich blessings to fall on you today; and in the midst of LIFE may you find HIS peace and grace, and develop a heart of thankfulness and gratitude.
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie
a good nights sleep even though hubby was at work all night; friends whom I love and who love me; my sweet (naughty) puppy; our family; the singing birds; cool air after awesome heat yesterday; our old (180 years) house with it's creaky boards; crooked doorways, and slanted floors; sitting in the quietness - and KNOWing that my Gracious Heavenly Father is right here with me!
Can it get any better than this?
Not for me it can't.
Sometimes I dream of having the energy I had as a 40 year old; of being pain free every day; of a brand new, totally finished house; of a not-so-naughty puppy; ...
but those things mean nothing because I have Jesus!
Hallelujah!
HE has been teaching me over the years to develop a heart of gratitude.... what a difference this has made in my life - the way I perceive and view things. How thankful I am that He has changed my heart!
Author Tommy Newberry says "Gratitude is a conviction, a practice, and a discipline. it is an essential nutrient, a kind of spiritual amino acid for human growth, creativity, and joy." He also states that it is "a feeling, a capacity, and a choice."
feeling - sense of joy an dappreciation
capacity - a learned skill of discovery
choice - a conscious, deliberate action to focus on the blessings of life.
Whoa! A CHOICE??????? you might ask.... YES! A CHOICE!!!!!!! You can choose to be grateful - this means you take your focus off of the past or present negative and you focus on the present blessings of your life. What a difference this has made in me and in my life!
This is one of my Life Verses! and it tells me that to think on such thinks is MY Choice! I love it!!!!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8
I'll leave you with another quote... from Thomas Meston
"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything he has given us and he has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of his love. Every moment of existence is a grace for it brings with it immense graces from him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God for the grateful person knows that God is good not by hearsay but by experience and that is what makes all the difference.
As I write and read these words I am thinking of how I can show my gratitude today - I pray you are too.
Here are a few suggestions for you:
- before you go to sleep at night list 5 things you are thankful for - better yet, start a gratitude journal and write them down!
- send a note to a co-worker thanking them for a job well done.
- leave little thank-you notes around the house for family
- write a note of encouragement to someone who would never expect it from you
- at mealtime with family - discuss things each one is grateful for.
And the list goes on!
Praying for HIS rich blessings to fall on you today; and in the midst of LIFE may you find HIS peace and grace, and develop a heart of thankfulness and gratitude.
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie
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