Praise & Thanks

"Fear thinks God is finite and fear believes there is not going to be enough and hasn't counting one thousand gifts, endlessly counting gifts, exposed the lie at the heart of all fear? In Me, blessings never end because My love for you never ends. If my goodness toward you end, I will cease to exist, child. As long as there is a God in heaven, there is grace on earth and I am the spilling God of the uncontainable, forever-overflowing-love-grace." ~ Ann Voskamp's word from the Lord during her journey to 1,000 gifts I heard, saw, and read so much buzz about this book before I read it. Being a little apprehensive about outright buying it, a friend checked it out at the library for me. It was due back before I finished, and I had to buy it. Honestly, to read this book over and over will most definitely worth it. I'm a highlighter and underliner, and this book has more marks within the pages than any book I own aside from the Bible. This concept of remembering and giving thanks morphed into a challenge to count my blessings. Not in a nonchalant fashion accompanied with a head nod and long blink, but rather a literal challenge - pen to the paper - numbered list of graces throughout my month, week, day, moment by moment acknowledgement of the grandeur even in the mundane, routine, and seemingly insignificant. "Why is remember and giving thanks the core of Christ-faith? Because remembering with thanks is what causes us to trust - to really believe." ~ Ann Voskamp, 1,000 Gifts
So, I did. I've been listing. And here, Praise & Thanks, I plan to share my graces, blessings, my gifts. I'd love for you to join me. There is a freedom and joy that fill when reflecting on my numbered gifts. In those times when doubt, darkness, and defeat invade my thoughts - the graces remind me of the victory behind and before me. "God reveals Himself in rearview mirrors." This perpetual shift in perspective changes everything. Upward not inward.
Join in. Share your list. Have you read 1,000 Gifts? Let's chat!

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