My Soul is Blessed

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcZ6b2FSsk&feature=related

     This is little girl is a blessing. The way she sings "O Holy Night" will bring you to tears.


     207)  Singers who move my soul to tears
     208)  Understanding what being in love with Jesus means
     209)  Unconditional love
     210)  Luke 2:11
     211)  Souls that magnify the Lord
     212)  Emptying to fill
     213)  A new year of hope


     Happy New Year! May it be blessed with all your dreams coming true, Deborah 

The Gifts

     Go here and be truly blessed: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/3-gifts-you-really-need-to-open-right-now-love-comes-down-video/ 


     My favorite version of the Christmas story is in Luke 1 - 2:20, although I love all the Gospel accounts of His birth.
    
     I finished Ann's book, One Thousand Gifts last week. I have been walking in a joyous daze ever since. I can't seem to stop wondering how it would be on that road to Emmaus walking with Jesus, thinking He is a stranger to those parts and explaining the events of the past three days of His life to Him, inviting Him to stay with you because it late and then....He reveals Himself to you at supper...when He breaks the bread...gives thanks...and hands it to you. (Luke 24:13-31)  How would you feel if it happened to you today? That is what I keep pondering and my heart swells with joy and love for Him, because of all He has done for me and you.


     195)  The Breaking of Bread
     196)  Branches and leaves, frozen in time by crystal frost
     197)  Winter sun barely warming the day
     198)  This week leading to Christmas
     199)  My dogs, who remind me of God's unconditional love
     200)  Bibles on Kindle
     201)  More quilt tops finished
     202)  Another quilt started
     203)  Pastors who shepherd, so beautifully, the flock she has been given
     204)  Soup kitchens
     205)  The Carolers, who braved the crisp night to sing joyously at my door
     206)  Christmas music


     This joyous heart wishes you a very blessed week, Deborah

    

The Joy of Granddaughters

     There is something so special about spending time with a granddaughter.

     181)  The special bond we have created
     182)  The walks together
     183)  The talks and giggles
     184)  Discovering we both like something
     185)  Teaching her to sew
     186)  Seeing her shed the stress in this quiet country place
     187)  Listening
     188)  Sharing
     189)  Understanding
     190)  Movie time
     191)  Playful teasing and laughter
     192)  Her beauty
     193)  The joy she brings to my life
     194)  The smile that lights up her face and my heart

     God gives me Multitudes through her.
     Blessings, Deborah

    

   
    

So Grateful

     I saw the doctor today to discuss the results of my MRI. It shows I am having mini strokes from time to time due to other health issues. I am so grateful it is not a tumor or cancer that is the cause. Praise God in all His Glory!!  I am blessed.

     174)  I do not have a tumor
     175)  I do not have cancer
     176) Medicine that can help me
     177)  Being called and answering
     178)  Helping to show His love in a place not always seen
     179)  Waking up to snow in my yard
     180)  His Everlasting Mercies

     Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow!!  Deborah

When God Calls

     Discernment - noun - the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.

     Have you ever felt that God is calling on you to do something?  That tiny little voice in your heart that whispers, "This is what I want you to do for Me."  My usual response is, "Really?"  "Me?" It always gives me pause and I never rush in to obey. Why is that?  So while I was doing laundry, baking bread, baking banana nut muffins, washing the dishes, thinking about what to fix for dinner, I was talking to Him about this new call, this idea He just threw out at me out of nowhere.  How can I do this?  I'm fairly new in this town.  Hardly anyone knows me.  Of course my list of excuses is endless. Really?  I ask a hundred times over the morning and into lunch...really?  Really.  It's becoming less scary as I think of ideas to make it happen and be successful.  Whenever I have answered His call in the past I have found I am not alone in my task. He always walks the journey with me, every step of the way.  It is growing on me, this new call.  It could be fun.  I'll pray about this and decide in the morning. 
     I just remembered one of my favorite sayings, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."  I'm sorry I don't know who to give credit for the saying. 

     167)  Discerning the call
     168)  Granddaughter coming Saturday for two weeks!!
     169)  Muffins for breakfast
     170)  New quilt patterns to try
     171)  Anticipated walks on a crisp Autumn day
     172)  Artist dates
     173)  Giggling jammie parties

     Blessings, Deborah

    

In this Moment

     In this moment I have much to be grateful for. It is the beginning of the season of thankfulness. Where do I start? I am flooded with gifts. Flooded with His love. Awed by His generosity for me.  So undeserving, yet blessed just the same.
    The Gifts of...

     155)  A grandchild saying, " YaiYai, come see!"
     156)  My quiet little town praising the day in Autumn colors
     157)  New leaves on the ground after raking them all yesterday
     158)  Strangers waving as they pass by in cars
     159)  Feeling better today
     160)  A neighbor blessing others with Free items leftover from a garage sale
     161)  Being less fearful to try new things...
     162)  Or go new places, alone
     163)  Ice cold creeks trickling by
     164)  A slow Monday morning
     165)  Knowing I am never alone
     166)  Sharing His gifts

     Wishing you a multitude,  Deborah

    

To Be Thankful

      To be thankful is a blessing. So many gifts everywhere I look.

     148)  Church teens hosting a haunted house and games for everyone
     149)   Raking Autumn leaves 
     150)  Baking a cake for the cake walk
     151)  Fabric sales 
     152)  Acorns with the caps still attached
     153)  Carved pumpkins
     154)  Answered prayers

     Wishing you a week full of blessings,  Deborah

The Wednesday Walk

     I am really enjoying studying the Book of Esther with my new Bible study group.  She was so brave, even though she knew she could be put to death for her actions. She fasted and prayed for her people and God protected her. Even though God is not mentioned in this book, His fingerprints are all over the story.  He is always there for those who believe 24/7.  That is such a comfort to me.
     Our challenge this week is to fast and make time to pray for someone.  My choice is to fast from the Internet tomorrow and use that time with God. I have wanted to make prayer cards, a specific journal to keep track of verses, and cut out a charity quilt, but lately I have let the computer become a major time suck. My SIL and I have discussed the good vs. the bad of computerland so many times.  The First Commandment says, "I am the Lord your God. You will have no other gods, but Me."

     141)  Fasting
     142)  My sight
     143)  Devotional books that keep me focused
     144)  Flylady
     145)  Laughter
     146)  Warmth from the sun on my face
     147)  The guests who come to the soup kitchens

     See you Friday!
     Blessings, Deborah

Monday #2946

     If I calculated correctly, I have lived 2,946 Mondays. Wow. That is a multitude of Mondays to be thankful for. I think that is a good place to start.

     129)  For 2,946 Mondays
     130)  Horses and mules in the back field
     131)  Successful garage sales
     132)  Sunday worship with my new church family
     133)  Singing favorite worship songs
     134)  Winterizing the veggie garden
     135)  Wood stacked for winter fires
     136)  Leaves mulched 
     137)  A pot of soup beans with bacon simmering on the stove
     138)  Fresh baked bread
     139)  Dane, a computer guru to my rescue
     140)  Children in church

     Like the old song says, "Count your blessings instead of sheep!"
     Enjoy your Monday, Deborah 

Faith in the Midst of Fears

     My brain MRI is tomorrow. I'm not afraid of the MRI or what the test might reveal.  I was, until I remembered I will not be alone in the machine and however the test turns out I will still be okay. Good or bad news. Positive or negative results. I will be okay, because God is in charge of my life.  As Ann reminds us in her book, One Thousand Gifts, All is Grace.
     Fear takes on a whole new meaning when you believe that about grace. At least, it has for me.  Thank you, Lord for All of Your gifts of grace. 

     122)  Machines that see inside us
     123)  Doctors who are specialists
     124)  All my doctors
     125)  His words He left to guide and comfort
     126)  Family and friends who care
     127)  His Grace
     128)  Being His and able to praise Him freely

     Wishing you blessings, Deborah

    

Visits with a Ladybug and a Cow

     I wish I could remember to always have my camera with me. How many times have I uttered those words? Late yesterday afternoon I rescued a  Ladybug from the dog's outside water dish, not knowing if she was still alive or not and praying she was. Yes! She was, although quite soggy, she began to immediately fluff her apple-red-polka-dot wings.  I carried her out to the remains of our vegetable garden, thinking she might like to rest and finish her drying on one of the various leaves still out there. No. I gave her many different leaves to choose from, but  she seemed to want to stay on my hand, going up and down my arm, little black feet tickling, pausing to fluff every now and then while I thanked God for this miracle gift that was bringing me so much joy. The right under wing must have taken on the most water, because it was quite some time before it came loose from the red top wing. We spent at least 20 minutes walking around my tiny vegetable garden visiting, pausing every now and again to try a leaf. Still no go. I was loving every minute of this gift from God spent with one of His tiny creatures who was in need of help and company.  I never knew they had under wings. Did you? I had never been this blessed with so much of a Ladybug's time! I felt so honored and awed and thankful. 
     As we were visiting, God, Ladybug and I, one of the cows came close and began munching the tomatoes I had thrown over the fence. I introduced Ladybug and Lady Cow to each other and noticed that Lady Cow was quite large with child. I smiled. There are six calves out in the field. all male, and wished her a happy birth. She also stayed for the entire time I was out there and even came a little closer to the fence at one point. I love country life! 
     Ladybug eventually crawled off on part of the fence and Lady Cow meandered away to join the rest of the herd. I walked back to the house to begin dinner, smiling and content to receive two such gifts in one late, Sunday Autumn afternoon.

     113)  Polka-dot Ladybugs
     114)  Cows, full with child
     115)  Country life shared with God's critters
     116)  Bar-b-Q hamburgers
     117)  Wood ordered for winter warmth
     118)  Phone conversations with far away oldest daughter
     119)  Cliff, a collector of our recyclable bottles to supplement his retirement income and says God Bless you when he picks them up
     120)  My SILs safe return from her retreat
     121)  Homemade, spicy tomato juice

     Genesis 1:26  Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

     Wishing you blessings on your Monday,  Deborah

    

Fellowship Friday

     I joined a women's Bible study through my church. That sounds so good to say "my church."  We are studying the book of Esther. I didn't realize this book has no mention of God. It is plain that He is there, in the background and guiding as always, but no one talks about Him.  Sounds more like a book about today than Biblical times. I'm anxious to read the entire book this week and catch up with the others and discover how this drama plays out. 
     There were seven women, including myself and I now have six new sisters in Christ and they are my thankful list today.

     106)  Marylee (Minister)
     107)  Darlene  (hostess)
     108)  Gail
     109)  Karen
     110)  Dorothy
     111)  Dee
     112)  The Book of Esther

     Blessings of new Christian friends.  Life can't get much better than that.
     Wishing you a weekend overflowing with His blessings, Deborah

Wednesday & Thankful Thursday

     I'm not sure what happened yesterday, but I'm so thankful today is different.  I woke up yesterday feeling out of sorts, depressed with basically no joy. Huh? How can that be when for the past few days I'd been spewing joy out every pore?  I read some scripture and a few pages of Ann's book and I seemed to be better. I walked around in a much better mood, then it happened again. I slid back down in the pit. ICK.  Like I said, I'm so thankful that today is a new day and filled with joy again. I know we have to expect those kind of days, being human, but I would just as soon skip them all together. I'm working on it.

     I'm going to combine "Walking with Him on Wednesdays" "Word Filled Wednesday" and "Thankful Thursdays," since yesterday was, well yesterday.

     Ann challenged us Wednesday to share this week and the next two, how we "Practice our Faith."  She asked us to answer three questions. I'm going to do one a week. 

     1)  What does it look like to believe? 

           For me it is to have faith, never give up hope, remember Who is really in charge every second of every day, follow Jesus' teachings and thank Him daily for the gifts he gives us.  

 THANKFUL THURSDAY                                                                                         

      99)  A camera to capture the moment                                

    100)  Returning favors for friends

    101)  Hearing the sounds of children playing happily                 
    102)  Helping hands reaching out in need
    103)  A black feather with a red stripe in my lawn
    104)  Heart shaped rocks
    105)  Feeling blessed on a not-so-good day

     Blessings, Deborah

    

        

          

    

      

More Gifts? Yes...

     And the list joyfully goes on and on and on.....

     92)  A church here for me
     93)  Warm Autumn breezes
     94)  Two loyal dogs at my feet
     95)  Baby calves chasing each other, tails flying 
     96)  Hint of Lime tortilla chips
     97)  Quilt friends who smile at my arrival
     98)  A husband who smiles when I return home

     Today, I joined the local Methodist church. I am beyond happy to have a place of worship again.  Thank you, Lord for showing me the way.
     Blessings, Deborah

    

Gobsmacked

     Ann Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts," came in the mail on Friday and I began reading. Somewhere between chapter 2 and 3, I was  gobsmacked right in the forehead. Seriously, it was like God smacked me upside the head saying, "Ah, now you get it." Talk about a major Epiphany!! Thank you for your guidance through Ann to my brain. ANN!! I got it, too. Give thanks in everything, everyday, ALL day long! I learned it in Sunday School, taught it in Sunday School and heard it a million times, but didn't really get it. Now I do. God likes it when we do. Thanking God daily for all His gifts balances out the bad in this world. I understand now! I'm not saying it the right way to inspire you. All I can say is read her book, start your list. I'm not getting paid to say this to you. She puts it so beautifully through her story, I just know you'll be gobsmacked, too.
     Now, my Monday gift list. 

      72)  Cats curled asleep on my bed
      73)  Choir voices singing with praises on a CD
      74)  Feathery clouds on an Autumn day
      75)  Thunderheads
      76)  A tiny moth on my bathroom mirror
      77)  Quilts to finish
      78)  Tomatoes to can
      79)  Warm Pear Crisp with oatmeal walnut topping
      80)  The glow of candle lit rooms
      81)  Bushy tailed Grey Squirrels
      82)  Knowing I have a best friend right next door
      83)  Puddles in the driveway
      84)  Birdbaths filled with rain water
      85)  Daffodil and Tulip bulbs to plant
      86)  Realizing I need a Church community
      87)  The scent of grass as I mow
      88)  Wind whipped Autumn leaves
      89)  Butter Popped Corn Rice Cakes with creamy Peanut Butter
      90)  Today's 4 1/2 hour power outage helping me see the "light" thru study
      91)  Chocolate anything

      Wishing you a very blessed day,  Deborah

First Friday

     It is the first Friday in October, the 7th day. Today I thought I would come up with seven gifts that begin with the letter F.  A good day to have some God fun. One of my favorite pictures of Jesus is the one with his head thrown back in laughter.  I'm sure that I alone give Him plenty to laugh about.
I am thankful for...
    
     65)  Fields of wildflowers
     66)  Migrating birds in flying V's
     67)  Fruits of the Spirit
     68)  Faithful Friends
     69)  Foods, so many different kinds
     70)  Feet to follow Him
     71)  Fellowship

                              

    
      Matthew 4:19  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

     Blessings, Deborah

          (fish graphic by Debbie Mumm)   

Thankful Thursday

     Today is Thankful Thursday Blog Hop and I joined them!  I am so amazed and thankful at how many of God's people have blogs on the internet and are sharing their love for Him. Since I began this journey at the "A Holy Experience" blog, I will continue my counting of the 1000+ gifts He has given me.

     58)  New internet friends
     59)  My Quilt Guild friends
     60)  Forgiveness
     61)  Undeserving Grace
     62)  Love
     63)  The ability to share
     64)  Acceptance

     Your sister in Christ, Deborah

HOPE

     Hope. A small word with such ginormous emotion. Hope is one of the ultimate gifts. To live without it is to give up. Scripture is full of hope and I need my daily dose in this world gone crazy that tries to steal it in some way each day.  I keep my eye on Him and there lies the path to hope.  The only way.
     I live for the human stories that renew my faith. The ones that speak of trials overcome, or someone born again in faith, or simply never gave up their hope. 
     Hope.  Such a small word. I feel it with each new day. I feel it in a conversation with a friend. I feel it when I look in my grandchildren's eyes.  I feel it when I pray. I FEEL IT when I read His word.
     Hope.  Please, Lord. Let me never live without it.

     Hebrews 10: 23  Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.

     51)  Hope
     52)  Scripture
     53)  Each new day
     54)  Faith
     55)  Paths of truth
     56)  Kind words
     57)  you
 
     May you never live without hope, Deborah

Gifts Forty four - Fifty

     I had time to (44) work on a quilt today. I always feel better when I can work on something creative each day. It helps me balance out the bad in the world. Does creating help you that way, too? (45) God creates everyday. Do you think that God likes us to create, to use our time to make things that bring joy to others? I was asked that question in a book I studied about finding your creativity called (46) "The Artist's Way" by (47) Julia Cameron. The sub-title is A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.  There is no doubt in my mind or hers, that God helped her write this book and the series that follows. I agree with Julia's thinking that God likes us to create. Artist to artist. Thinking about that makes me feel good.
     I am also thankful for those who create the (48) fabric I use to make my quilts, for the rainbow of colors and types of (49) thread that bind them together and my (50) sewing machines. I am so blessed by His gift of creativity. What would I do without that ability? I really can't imagine.

     Blessings, Deborah
    
    

Thirty seven - Forty three

     It is (37) raining. I imagine the the earth's face turned upward and smiling, like mine.  I love the rain. When it rains, I don't have to water the gardens or the grass, not that I really mind. But the rain is pure, not chlorinated and such. (38)Pure water. From the purest source. From the (39) One True God.
     An end came to a tragic story that began two months ago. Unfortunately, the story ended tragically, also.  A young man in my hometown killed two men, about a month apart and it ended in his death yesterday. I knew one of the men he killed, the second one named Jere Melo. He was a good man, one of the best and he didn't deserve to die, nor did the other man.  But I feel no joy in Aaron's death, the young man who killed them. Aaron was plagued with a mental illness. Terrible demons shared his life.  I am sad for everyone involved and over the weekend all I could think about was Aaron's family and the nightmare they have lived with for years, especially the past two months. I've prayed a lot for everyone, all of the families this tragedy touched and all of those in my hometown.  I hope Aaron can find peace in death he could not find in life.
     My sister-in-law leaves for home tomorrow. We have enjoyed a (40) wonderful visit.  She (41) feels refreshed and ready to conquer the city life once again.  We even managed to share a little (42) craft time this morning making cards. I will miss her.
     Life brings good times and bad times.  I don't know how I would get through either without God (43) to lean on  and share it with. 
     Psalm 9: 1-2  I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works.  I will rejoice and boast about You; I will sing about Your name, Most High.
     May you feel His peace and love today, Deborah

    

Day 5 - Thirty - Thirty six

     My sister-in-law picked me up for a (30) drive around the valley, seeing her old haunts, catching up on what's new. She kept remarking about how big the trees had gotten in certain areas and telling me who used to live in what house, what was missing and what was new. We went up (and I mean up) a road where she wanted to check out a house she had been interested in before it sold. This is a (31) view coming back down the hill. That's a long way down, but it sure is pretty.

      A little while later, we were on the other side of that valley.  There are quite a few (32) ranch and (33) farm houses to see, along with (34) cattle, (35) horses and (36) sheep. My kind of valley. So, there we were, driving along the east side and suddenly she yells, "APPLES!" She stops the car in the middle of the road, puts it in reverse and starts backing up. We are the only car on the road at the time. "Couldn't do that where I live," she says. DUH!  She lives in a big city. Anyway, she backs up to the apple tree, parks the car along the side of the road and gets out and picks apples. I need to look for a bumper sticker for her car that says, "This car stops at Apple Trees." The same thing happened on our walk to town yesterday. I think she has built in apple radar! She keeps one out of the bag and asks if I'd like one. Sure, I say. She thanks God for the apples in a beautiful Jewish prayer and we take our first bite. Juicy, but a little tart. Better for pies or applesauce. We each eat about half (really, it's all we can take) and then toss the rest in the field for the critters.

     The best part of the whole afternoon was spending it with her. She is a special lady and I am so thankful and blessed to have her in my life.

     Wishing you a peaceful sleep, Deborah

    

Day 4 - Twenty-three - Twenty-nine

     My feet hit the carpet running, it seemed as I took on one chore after another this morning. The (23) washer and (24) dishwasher were going and the (25) bread machine was beginning it's cycle all before 8:30a.m.  (26) Dogs and (27) cats were fed, (28) the bed was made and hubby was (29) safely home after a full nights work and an hour's commute. The day had barely started for me and I was already fully blessed with 7 good and perfect gifts. What more could the rest of my day possibly bring?  It will be overflowing with gifts if this keeps on!
      Praise God from whom all blessings flow,  Deborah

Day 3 - Fifteen thru Twenty-two

     (15) "Your sister is coming today!" I shout to my husband as I dance around the livingroom like a child on Christmas morning.  I haven't seen her in months and even though we talk on (16) the phone almost daily, it is still not the same as in person. She called to say she was just over the hill and would be here in less than a half an hour.  My husband sees me staring out the window, looking down the road and asks if I plan to stay there until she gets here? I turn to him smiling, unaware that I was even doing it and say, "Maybe." Then finally she is here and all chaos explodes as dog cousins sniff dog cousins, jumping around barking as
(17) we hug and make our way inside. Once order is restored and we catch our breath, she shares a few (18) apples she stopped along the way to pick. The branch is still attached to one apple and I add it to my window with my garden (19) tomato and capture the moment. 

     The apple tree grows right along the highway, no human tends it and the apples are perfect. No worm holes, no blemishes, no diseases.  She cuts one open and slices it, handing us each a piece. It is good. 
     (20) Autumn is in the air again. Crisp mornings, warm days and cool nights. We are expecting a week of rain beginning Friday. The ground is so parched and needs it badly.  My soul does, too.  I will (21) harvest the last of the garden before it rains. There is not much left, but a few tomatoes and some herbs. The garden wasn't as productive this year as in years past. Some years are just like that. So am I actually. (22) Ecclesiastes 3, comes to mind. A time for everything.
     Wishing you blessings, Deborah

Day 2 - Eight thru Fourteen

     Even though it hasn't rained in two days, I could still smell  (8) the scent of rain on the morning breeze as I left. I needed to take (9) our car in for an oil change and tire rotation and it was a beautiful drive through (10) the valley and over (11) the mountain.  I used my time while waiting for my car to ponder today's thankful list. My head spins with ideas and is overflowing with so much gratefulness that I wonder...how does one choose only seven things when you begin this journey?  I look around (12) our house we own, I look out the kitchen window at (13) our yard with the vegetable garden, views and the pets, I look around the quiet neighborhood and think about (14) our neighbors who bless our lives in so many ways. I guess it is good to get the obvious ones written down so I can begin to see the not so obvious and small blessings He gives me. Please, Lord help me be more aware of the little things.  The small things that may go unnoticed in my busyness to get through my other lists today.
     May your life be rich with His blessings, Deborah

The Beginning...

     I was given the gift of a blog to read by a friend over this past weekend and it touched my soul so deeply that I decided to join the ranks of these wonderful believers and add my list of gifts to the Master's list. This blog will evolve and grow as I do. Today is the first day, so please allow me time to fine tune and make it my own. I feel so blessed to be a part of this. Thank you especially to Ann Koskamp at http://www.aholyexperience.com/.
    
Monday's 7 Good and Perfect Gifts 

1. knowing God
2. knowing Jesus
3. knowing the Holy Spirit
4. my husband
5. our 6 children
6. our 8 grandchilren
7. family and friends

     Each day I will share the 7 most good and perfect gifts I am thankful for that day.
     What a reason to get up and know "This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24.
     May you know His peace, Deborah