Saturday, June 30, 2012

JUNE JOY DARE

JUNE is here!  OH JOY!  Ninety more gifts to share . . .  #457 -  #546

457-459:: Gifts orange - morning sun today; apricots for breakfast; wild poppies swaying in the breeze.

460-462:: Gifts funny - conversation with neighbors at our garage sale event; things for sale that make me giggle; response to hubby as we walked and talked on our city visit.

463-465:: Today's conversation - We chatted with a retired pastor at coffee hour; discussed the endless circle of Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; learned about a visitor's Christ-walk as she shared her journey.

466-468:: Gifts found in Christ - Salvation, eternal life, promise of His advocate, the Holy Spirit, to live in us eternally if we call upon the name of the Lord.
469-471:: Gift of Peace - inner tranquility from contemplative prayer; Hope - Jesus, our only Hope, the I AM;  Love - unconditional from God, always and forever.

472-474:: Gifts 'ugly-beautiful' - Dead flowers repurposed, mud after our first deep soaking rain in ages, raindrops clinging to porch screens.
475-477:: Gifts read - reread One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp; One of 25 Books every Christian should read, selected by Renovare ministries; 1 & 2 Timothy.

478-480:: Gifts empty - water jug, bags of dirt that went into my potted plants, my brain when I sit quietly and empty it  in silence.
481-483:: Gifts that made me smile - conversation with a friend at a conference, walking around a university town, laughing with my husband.

484-486:: A gift at 8am: Visiting a small church;  Noon: Lunch at a tiny restaurant in the mountains;  2pm: Discoveries in small towns as we drive home.
487-489:: Gifts painted: Our anniversary card; design on a flower pot; a fresh coat on my outdoor yellow chairs.

490-492:: Gifts full: our lives as we minister to others; my tummy after a healthy breakfast of yogurt, oatmeal, nuts and banana; my brain when I choose to be creative.
493-495:: Gifts smelled: farm soil as it rains (we are getting use to it); cinnamon as I fill the shaker; a scented geranium I am repotting.

496-498:: Gift unexpected: time to linger with my writing; unwanted: a husband who is too sick to get out of bed; unlikely: a windless day.
499-501:: Gifts in God's Word: Matthew 11:28 . . . "Come onto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.' Prov. 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your Heart"...  and :8 "I will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones."

502-504:: Gifts moving: This list of eucharisteos - thanksgivings- as I am half way to one thousand!  Birds flitting about in the garden; Time that continues to spin forward.
505-507:: Gifts in Dad: Stamina, wisdom, longevity (he's 97 and going strong!)

508-510:: Gifts from my Abba in heaven: Everlasting love, the promise that He will never leave me nor forsake me, eternal trust.
511-513:: Gifts I attained today in serving: servant's heart, humility, great JOY in giving myself to others.

514-516:: Gifts Bent: the sun's rays as they float through beveled glass;
Beautiful: my garden as the blooms exceed all expectation;
Loved: lazy summer days filled with warmth and sweet flower smells.

517-519:: Gifts found in light: ability to read at night, better vision in the dark, sparkles that flicker from beveled glass.
520-522:: Gifts difficult: My walk with God in Christ; seeing JOY in dark days;  sharing God's Word in ways that others remember.

523-525:: Gifts found around a table: family members, crazy conversation, energy!
526-528:: Gifts in Water: hydration on a hot day; Words: encouragement to remain focused on Christ Jesus; White: St. Francis in the garden.

529-531:: Gifts in someone older than me: Wisdom from a long life lived; faith through experience; poise in adversity.
532-534:: Gifts in fabric: The apron I'm wearing; porch curtain flowing in the breeze; fun pillows.

535-537:: Gifts framed in a frame: My sister's botanical arts, our wedding photos; special quotes.
538-540:: Gifts eaten: Nectarines, Apples, home made hummus.


541-543:: Gifts Small: my wedding ring;  Big: my hubby;
Just right: God's grace.

 544-546:: Gifts I gave today: A smile, a servant's heart, time to help another.

Friday, June 1, 2012

MAY JOY DARE

Three Gifts/Thanksgivings each day continues through the month of May!
              # 364 - #456

364-366: Gifts Tasted: yogurt, Hummus, early 'hothouse' tomatoes.
367-369: Gifts Flat: My journal, books, my laptop computer.


370-372: Gifts found in difficult people: Opportunity to listen, reflection on my own life, yearning to be more godly in thought, word and deed.
373-375: Gifts before 9AM: Contemplative prayer, exercise, breakfast.


376-378: A gift in a sign: ENTER; A Smile: a child's trust; A Snack: Almonds
379-381: Gifts found in Christ: Eternal life, unconditional love, Grace
382-384: Gifts about home: Haven of rest, Cozy, A view of endless beauty

385-387: Gifts inside a closet: Cotton for summer, Wool for winter, A variety of colors to choose from each day.
388-390: Gifts found in the dark: Greater sense of touch, sensitive to subtle smells, soft sounds become loud.

391-393: Gifts Outside: My garden,  Inside: Cozy habitat,   Upside-down: My crazy circumstances as I continue to seek God's direction.
394-396: Gifts about my parents: Love of music, Creativity, Curious mind

397-399: Gifts held in my hand today: Food served at a women's luncheon, Aged bodies as I hugged those who attended, dirty dishes as we cleaned up.
400-402: Gifts found in my mother: A love of life, Ability to create beautiful spaces, gracious hospitality.

403-405: Gifts Picked up: my spirit; Put away: Clean laundry;
   Put back: Piles of books after a research project
406-408: Gifts about ME: JOY of study, JOY of gardening, JOY of discovery

409-411:  Gifts found in God's Word: Hope, Assurance, Direction
412-414:  Gifts in a Box: Girl Scout cooks that are still being sold!
Bag: Groceries   Book: Insights to share with others.

415-417:  Gifts unexpected: Five different kinds of lavender to plant, A new mini-rake to use in tight spots, a wonder of plants not seen before.
418-420:  Gifts from my childhood: memories of creative play with siblings and friends, bold sense of discovery, determination to overcome challenges.

421-423:  Gifts Sweet: The Spirit in worship;    Sour: Wine for Holy Eucharist;    Salty: God's call to be the 'salt of the earth' as we spread the Gospel.
424-426:  Gifts found in little people: Perseverance, Courage, Can-do spirit.

427-429:  Gifts that made me laugh: My husband's story, an encouraging email, conversation in our women's formation group.
430-432: Gifts found in community: A listening ear, gracious hospitality, words of encouragement.

433-435: Gifts on a Plate: Fresh Fruit;   in a Pot: Oatmeal;
    in a Package: Postage stamps
436-438: Hard thanksgivings -  Meetings that accomplish little; Encouraging another in the midst of great suffering; knowing we must replace our heater and AC because the wrong system was installed three years ago.

439-441: Gifts Worn: few clothes on this hot day;  White: Porch Curtains   Whispered: God's word's of assurance in my heart.

442-444: Gifts found in church: Many in RED!, Celebration of Life, Empowerment of Holy Spirit in community as we celebrate PENTECOST.

445-447: Gifts in today's day of Remembrance: Wearing Red, White and blue; Crosses on military graves; Memories of those who died fighting for our FREEDOM.

448-450: Gifts at 8 AM: digging in the garden    NOON : lunch at a restaurant with hubby     8PM: Clear skies after a harsh hail and rain storm.

451-453:  Gifts Blue: Church doors that always welcome; my favorite porch chair; clear skies.
454-456:  Thanks I gave today: Freedom to fly the FLAG every day of the week, flowers bursting like fireworks, cool breezes with a cloudless sky.