Today's Five

Participating in the Joy Dare helped me get me back in the habit of daily gratitude in everything- good, bad, beautiful, ugly, silly, serious. I love that.

Since I found myself getting a little too caught up in trying to find things that fit the categories, I've decided to go back to just listing the things for which I'm thankful- no categories, no rules, just straight from the heart.  Noticing the ordinary works better for me...so here goes.

1. Walking in the brisk weather each morning and being out early enough to see the sunrise.

2. Grant's grown up, but real perspective in the midst of a disappointment. So very thankful for that kid and his heart. I need to be telling him that everyday in some way. Being 13 can be hard.

3. A friend who will call me to tell me my favorite ice cream is back on the shelf at the grocery store and buy me some.

4. Sea salt caramel hot chocolate.

5. Gabe's incessant questions. Really. Someday I'm going to wish he was still small enough to sit beside me and ask me things like "Do killer whales have arm pits?"  "Is Luke Skywalker is real?"  "Could a whale shark fit in our house?" "Do people really have pet platypuses?" "Can we get one?" and stuff like that. (Yes, these are actual Gabe questions...if you know him, you are not surprised. )

Five Minute Friday

It's five minute Friday again...

Today's prompt...grasp

When I read the word this is the image that popped in my mind.

photo credit

It's been years since I've seen this movie, don't watch much Tom Cruise these days, but I vividly remember this scene. The straining muscles, the facial expression, the effort it took to just hold on.

Grasping takes real effort, concentration, focus. It's human nature to hold on.
People
Places
Memories
Money
Things
Status
Approval.

Life is filled with grasping. Holding on.

Scripture talks about holding on, too, just not to any of those things. Instead it reminds us to grasp tightly to the One who holds all things in His much more capable hands.

Today, Father, help me grasp tightly only to You.

September 25

Three gifts finished...

One closet cleaned.

Ran my longest run today. My stats were not super impressive, but I fought hard for each lap.

For a few minutes, all the laundry was clean.

September 24

Three gifts funny...

The things that Gabe says...everyday. He keeps us all smiling.

Little inside family jokes. It's fun to catch the teenager's eye and know we are thinking the same thing.

Emails like this...

A letter

I've had this Compassion assignment since September 10- "Write a letter to God about child sponsorship." Not earth shattering, right? Well, I've started the letter a few times and then I've scrapped it. Prayer is so personal. Confession- I get awkward when I pray aloud.  My focus moves away from Who I'm talking to and instead to the people around me. I over think my words. I start to think about what the people hearing me pray may think. I say "um" a lot.  This letter was no different, except for the "ums". 

But then I started thinking, "What if this awkward prayer makes one person consider sponsorship?" "What if one little one comes to really know Jesus?" So, I'm putting it out there, the best I can.

Dear God,

Yesterday I stood behind a Compassion table at a women's event. On that table were scores of packets. Each one held the picture of child.  Beautiful faces of every color. As I looked at those faces from around the globe, I was reminded again of the value of each life you've created. When we look at those faces the temptation is there to see only poverty and need.
Forgive us.
Forgive me.
Poverty maybe a part of their story, but it is not all there is in their story. You see children who are precious, fearfully and wonderfully made for a purpose. Your purpose.

I've prayed to have my heart broken by the things that break Yours. You've done that. I'm grateful on most day, overwhelmed on the ones that I take on more than Your grace has allowed, and moved to act in whatever ways You lead.

Sponsorship is one of those ways. My heart will be eternally grateful for the part You let us play in Nyanzige's life. There is nothing that we could buy with that 38 dollars a month that we need more than we need to be obedient to Your call to love that precious girl.

You are good.
You are God.
You see poverty. Hurt. Abuse. Pain. The absolute desperate need we have for You.
You will make it right. Sometimes through us.
Thank you.

------

If you want to know more about child sponsorship, please take a look at these precious ones.

September 21

Three gifts in information...

Hearing what is going on in the life of my dear Florida friend through a good, long phone conversation.

Watching Grant really learn how to develop his robotics/marketing/video skills.

Because of Gabe's interest in killer whales, I have a wealth of information to share. In case you have ever wondered, killer whales have belly buttons.

September 20

Three gifts in salvation...

Freedom to really live the life I was made to live.

A new identity.

Peace that passes all understanding.