Recently I’ve been hearing God whispers throughout my days.
For example, three different friends talking about “gratefulness” and the need to become more intentional about that character quality in our lives.
So last night as I was in a van-full of a fabulous Grace Bible Basketball team mates. I was feeling a bit outnumbered and decided to check out some things on my computer to pass the time and let them have “guy talk” without feeling the need to involve me in the conversation.
It was then that God directed in a very unusual way to a website called
wow it was amazing. Upon further reading I stumbled on a book written by Ann Voskamp,
I downloaded it to my kindle and began reading.
“From all of our beginnings, we keep reliving the Garden story. Satan, he wanted more. More power, more glory. Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate. And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden. Satan’s sin becomes the first sin of all humanity: the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave. Isn’t that the catalyst of all my sins? Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other.”
True words, that God had been whispering and now I am so grateful for His timing, provision and direction in finding this timely word for my life. I need more gratitude resonating in my heart.
As a way to challenge herself and each of us, the author issued a dare. To find 1000 gifts in a year, she simply suggests finding three things each day that you are grateful for and by the time the year rolls around you will have over 1000 gifts. When you are looking for ways to express gratitude, I suspect you will have less time to complain about what you don’t have,
January 2012- 1000 gifts.
January 2012- 1000 gifts.
it’s a different focus.
A God worshiping focus.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
I found this passage around Thanksgiving and it spoke to me then and clearly was the beginning of turning my heart to gratitude. It appears that in order to truly worship, we must start with gratitude. It seems like that might be a no-brainer, maybe only I am the only one that needs to state the obvious.
“We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace.
I want to be that girl, the one who is grateful
the one who is most satisfied with what God gives me, my daily bread, not looking ahead for any more than that
the one who is scouring my life for His beautiful gifts of grace that I may be missing.
Lord, open my eyes that I may see your simple graces in my life…and let me be a woman of Gratefulness overflowing with your Grace!
i just stumbled upon this book and decided to take a further look because I remembered your blog about it and I was able to read the first few pages- it looks so challenging and so good! I don't have the book, but I'm definitely gonna implement the 3 things I'm grateful for everyday, what an amazing way to experience more of God! As always, thanks for sharing.
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