Blessed Beyond Belief

     I'm feeling lost lately. Like I'm in the desert with sand in my eyes trying to find my way. God never leaves us, we distance ourselves sometimes without knowing. Then suddenly we keep turning around and around and we've lost site of Him. I call out for Him, but his voice is so far away I can barely hear Him calling my name.
I am so thankful, because I know:
     376) He is still there
     377) Knowing I'll be even closer to Him when I do get back
     378) This writing down of thankfulness will get me there even faster
     379)  I love Him deeply
     380) Finding joy in this foggy, wet day is grace
     381) This feeling of desert-ness is grace
     382) This depression is grace
     383) All of my life is grace
     384) ALL is grace

     May you truly be blessed today.  Love, Deborah

More on Monday

     I'm so far behind. I haven't been well this past week and I'm still struggling. I would appreciate your prayers. I have six days to catch up on. Hope you don't mind them all in one post.

     January 25 - one grace borrowed, one grace found, one grace inherited
    
     77/320  A quilting magazine
     78/321  A forgotten necklace in my jewelery box
     79/322  A ring from my mother

     January 26 -  a gift before nine a.m., a gift before noon, a gift after dark

     8o/323  Hubby home safely
     81/324  A light rain shower
     82/325  The stars in the sky

     January 27 - three gifts that might never have been

     83/326  My step children (4)
     84/327  My step grandchildren (8)
     85/328  My faith

     January 28 - three graces found in your friends
 
     86/329  Patience
     87/330  Acceptance
     88/331  Humor

     January 29 - a song heard, a soft word, where you saw light

     89/332  Here I am Lord
     90/333  I love you, whispered by my hubby
     91/334  In scripture

     January 30 - three old things seen new

     92/335  A top, buried in the closet
     93/336  A book, reread
     94/337  Snow covered mountains out my windows

     Blessings, Deborah

      

Many on a Monday

     Hearing God's word builds faith in us.  This goes right along with the subject of faith and fear I talked about last Friday.  Today I would like to share Romans 10:17  So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.  God's word is there for comfort and faith is built by reading His message.

     January 21 - one thing in the sky, one thing from your memory, one thing that's ugly-beautiful
    
     64/307  Snowflakes!!
     65/308  A visiting dream with a friend lost to cancer
     66/309  My fears

     January 22 - one grace wrinkled, one grace smoothed, one grace unfolded

     67/310  Clothes from the dryer
     68/311  Hurt feelings
     69/312  A puzzle solved

     January 23 - three gifts found in Christ

     70/313  Life
     71/314  Grace
     72/315  Friendship

     73/316  Wishing birthday greetings to my wonderful SIL

     Wishing all of you Multitudes on this lovely Monday.
     Blessings, Deborah

New Week

     This is turning out to be another busy week. Quilting, lunch with a Pastor/friend and Bible study. Sounds like lots of blessings and ways to bless to me.
     January 15 - one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared
    
     46/289  Warm jammies
     47/290  Love
     48/291  A book

     January 16 - three ways you witnessed happiness today
  
     49/292  An old friend of hubby's stopping by
     50/293  Getting a quilt back done
     51/294  Checking off lists

     May you have peaceful dreams, Deborah   

Joy Dare

     It is a joy to thank the Lord for all he has given me.  Thank you, sweet Lord!
     January 8 - Light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely

     22/247  A rainbow out my window
     23/248  The mountain in a puddle
     24/249  Tree branches across my quilt hanging on the fence

     January 9 - a gift in your hand, a gift you walked by, a gift you sat with

     25/250  My phone, when someone called to give me sweet news
     26/251  The library in my town
     27/252  Jan, the secretary of our Quilt Guild who helped me through my first meeting as President

     28/253  Knowing I can teach my first class tomorrow, because He will be there with me
     29/254  Feeling and sharing the Joy in unexpected places
     30/255  Living the joy of giving thanks everyday!!

     You are a blessing to me, Deborah

    

A New Year

     A new year. I look forward to new beginnings, new chances, new faces, new friends, new epiphanies. It is time to get down and turn over every rock and see what lies beneath. To look up and count every star. To know He gives it all and thank Him for these gifts and blessings.

2012/214)  A new hot water heater
2012/215)  A 60 degree day in January
2012/216)  Feeling more centered
2012/217)  Seeking the "fear nots"
2012/218)  Reading aloud with my husband
2012/219)  Taking time to listen to Him
2012/22o)    Listening when a daughter needs to talk
2012/221)    Enjoying a three day weekend with my husband
2012/222)  Planning a better way to walk through this year
2012/223)  Singing His praises at the top of my lungs
2012/224)  Anticipating tomorrow's quilt group
2012/225)  Books to read

     Blessings on your day and night, 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

    

   
    

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

    

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 

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

    

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

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

    

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