Counting...

I am starting again
I am attempting again to discipline myself to count 1,000 gifts that the Lord has given me because the act of giving thanks will change my heart. Thanksgiving is an act of acceptance of God's all-powerfulness, His sovereignty, and my complete dependence on Him. Thanksgiving is the opposite of complaining and I do all too much of that.
So I am going to begin again to count... and because the Lord is a great Giver of gifts I hope that I will never stop counting even after I reach 1,000. 


1. Fried eggs with runny yokes
2. Warm showers that wash away the dirt and stress and remind me of the washing of the water of the Word!
3. Happy meal toys with disproportionate parts that make me laugh
4. extra time to sleep this morning
5.Nothing going "right" remind me that my Sovereign Lord is in control of my days.
6.Friends who freely give
7. good pens, because writing a list of thanks is like writing a love letter to the Lord for all that He has done, and (if you have read Anne of Windy Poplars) you know that having just the right pen is important. 
8. the camaraderie of suffering
9. Being woken up early enough to have my quiet time and begin my day without being rushed
10. hot corn bags to soothe away pain.

What to do?

 Reading recently about the plight of the people of Haiti and feeling the twisting, aching of my heart for this hungry world.
Listening to a sermon this past week by David Platt and feeling the weight of the magnitude of our mission "Go ye into all the world..." and stirred by the burning in my heart ignited by a glimpse of His glory.

 This week by force and by choice I am taking it slow--I have made no plans. I have been enjoying the simple and the mundane. I have watered flowers. I have walked the dog. I have done the dishes. I have fed the fish. I have folded laundry.

 And while I have enjoyed those things, and I have thanked the Lord for the simple peaceful moments that He brings, I have felt trapped. While thousands die for lack of physical food and thousands pass into eternity without the Bread of Life, I am caught in the mundane. I wash the dishes. I take out the trash. I check the mail. And my churning heart cries out "What does it matter!?"

"Lord, what do You want me to do?" my heart cries. And the answer comes: "He has shown thee, O man, what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8).

Because the truth is even foreign missionaries wash dishes and do laundry, and I think that may be it is not so much about what I do so much as who I am. The Lord is concerned that my heart be one that is full of mercy, that brings forth acts of justice and words of love. And perhaps most of all that my heart is bowed before Him and I walk daily with my Lord.

Wherever I am called, whether that be here or there, the Lord wants a heart that is devoted to Him and when my heart is in the right place then the "doing" will follow. It is not as much a question of what I do(--if I know that I am where the Lord has called me to be), but how I do the things that He lays before me.

Grace to me!

Okay, so tonight I was telling someone how much I struggle to accept and comprehend the grace of God in my life because I foolishly believe that I need to be perfect. Then I come home to this email in my inbox---My Heavenly Father has an amazing sense of humor :) "For it is by grace you have been saved! Thru faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast!" Eph 2:8-9

Rocks of Remembrance

Years ago I heard a dear sister in the Lord talk about Rocks of Remembrance---- you know the story of when the children of Israel are crossing over the Jordan River on dry ground as the priests stand in the gap for them. (Just as our High Priest stands in the gap for us!) The people are instructed to pick up 12 stones as they cross over; one for every tribe in Israel. They pile the stones together as a memorial of what the Lord has done! They are told that the stones are there so that "all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:24) 
(Side note: I love that oft repeated phrase in the Word of God "so that all the peoples of the earth may know!!!" This shows the beautiful heart of our God who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance).
In our lives it is important that we collect these Rocks of Remembrance because like the Israelites we are forgetful and we need to be reminded daily of all that the Lord has done for us! What Rock will you remember today?

Every one of these photos was taken on the same rock on the same weekend year after year! These pictures remind me of the Lord's faithfulness in friendship and fellowship with His people. I am so glad I am a part of the family of God.

Loved and appreciated

During lunch one day last week my friend's husband bowed and gave thanks for our meal and prayed that on that day specifically I would feel loved and appreciated. As I sat there holding hands around their kitchen table I nearly choked on the quick rush of tears that came to my eyes. I knew that even as the prayer was prayed that the Lord had been and was and would answer that sweet prayer. 

It was a day that could have been filled with self-pity, and loneliness but the Lord filled it with love,and hope and joy in His presence and through His people. I am forever grateful. 

He repeated to my heart that day the promise "I will never leave you." With each act of kindness, with each encouraging word, with each simple gift, my heart swelled with the love sent to me from God above. That the Creator God cares to make my birthday special is a wonder far beyond my understanding! Thank you Lord. I love You.

Count Your Blessings

" so teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

I was reminded this Wednesday night as we celebrated the birthday of our nation that no matter the number of our days here on this earth we need to learn this...to use to the time that we have been given to bring glory to the Lord Jesus!

Numbering our days,
seeking Him alone
Looking to Him in prayer
bowing low before the throne

Numbering our blessings
relying on His grace
trusting in His promise
gazing on His face

Numbering our days
Giving to Him all praise
Living sacrifice I am made
to the Lord alone my thanks I raise



I have much to be thankful for this week

time spent with family
beautiful fireworks in York! with friends gathered round
Hearing the Lord Jesus proclaimed in a public event!
answered prayers
long talks with my dear friend Sarah
Amazing sermon that was spoken just for me!
getting to spend time with my wee friend Jimmy
spending time with mom and sister
photos of my family far and near
surprise return of my brother 4 days early!
early morning walks
evening tramps in the fields
fresh picked rasberries!
Knowing that God still speaks!