December =1000+ GRACES from GOD

It's December!
November marked postings of 1000 Gifts of THANKS to God for His unending GRACE.
We continue this month and into the new year with more notes of daily gratitude.

#1004-1006 Gifts White:: A smattering of SNOW!, Twinkling lights, a fresh tablecloth for the season.

#1007-1009 Gifts Bright:: Purple vestments as we begin Advent; the flame of the first lit advent candle; sun shining through stained glass windows.

#1010-1012 Gifts Shining:: God's light in my heart as I rebook my canceled flight, end up getting on that same plane and change connections due to the long delay; Sun on airplane wings once above the clouds; Tree lights and sunlight as I wait for a connecting flight.

#1013-1015 Gifts Circling:: Pelicans over the water as I take a fifteen minute break to visit the beach across the street.
Crowning:: the glory of God as He guides me through endless details while I take care of dad.
Crafted:: One miracle after another as I see dad sleeping less and responding more.

#1016-1018 Gifts Silver:: An opportunity to help dad for a few days as he recovers from surgery; Dad's long hair as it is cut and shaped; Florida sun sparkling on water.

#1019-1021 Gifts Sweet:: Dad's smile as he begins to come alive again; Realizing dad will become stronger and may live a few more years; knowing the pacemaker is working well on an almost 98 year old father.

Dad visits with friends six days after surgery to
insert a pacemaker.  See his rosy complexion?

#1022-1024 Gifts from my Savior:: Grace; Emotional strength; Perseverance

#1025-1027 Gifts Hung:: A sign in the airport that reminded me of 'home sweet home,'
Held:: memories of a hard but fulfilling week helping dad recover from surgery;
Heard:: Thank You from dad as I woke him early in the morning before I left for my flight home.

#1028-1030 Gifts Ugly Beautiful:: Gray skies sprinkling rain on the second Sunday of Advent; Laundry piled up while I was gone; The desire for much needed sleep that makes way for worship with encouraging friends.

#1031-1033 Gifts of unframed art:: Holly Berries with greens; A handmade table decoration; A well-shaped Rosemary tree.

#1034-1036 Gifts ice cold:: Frosty mornings; Ice chips in cranberry cider; Our noses after singing outside homes in our neighborhood.

#1037-1039  Gifts Berry Red:: Holly Berry Bushes; Bows on wreaths; My favorite room in our house.

#1040-1042  Gifts Stripped:: Candy canes; my favorite shirt; Christ's wounds for our healing.

#1043-1045  Gifts Stamped:: Envelopes with Christmas notes inside; Butter cookies; Thank you notes to friends.

#1046-1048 Gifts Gold:: From a wise man to the Christ Child; Scented:: potpourri of pine cones and evergreens; Bent Low:: My heart as I grieve over 27 lives lost in a senseless rampage yesterday.

#1049-1051 Gifts Bethlehem-unlikely:: My presence there again; Christ's return at the same spot where He was born; another census for the descendants of King David.

#1052-1054 Gifts Frosted:: Ginger cookies; our back meadow in the early morning; Mugs in the freezer ready for cold cider - even in winter.
#1055-1057 Gifts Miraculous:: God's grace; God's gift of His Son for all mankind; Life itself.

#1058-1060 Gifts Manger-small:: A new born babe; Our small rosemary bush blooming inside; A child's coffin like those used for 20 little ones who were killed in Connecticut last Friday.
#1061-1063 Gifts Angelic Song:: Listening to Joy to the World; Hearing children sing in the Christmas pageant; My own raspy voice to God when I am alone.

#1064-1066 Gifts Lit:: Faces of laughing children; Christmas lights; A candle on this darkest day of the year.
#1067-1069  Gifts with Rejoicing:: As we walk together, singing to the homebound; Wonder: Recalling the 'Story' as we prepare for the fourth sunday of Advent;  Praising: With heavy hearts over children in tiny caskets in Newtown, Conn. we give Praise to God for their reception into His glory.

#1070-1072  Gifts Starry:: The first night in weeks without cloud cover where we will be able to see the stars in the sky; Moravian stars on porches and in windows throughout our county; Preparing the church as we transition from Advent to Christmas and remembering how the Magi followed the Star.


#1073-1075 Gifts Humble:: On this Eve of Christmas, as we view our little manger, we are reminded of Jesus' humble beginnings in a feed trough, the manger; I am humbled by the expansive GRACE of God that He gave His only son for me . . .  truly God's Riches At Christ's Expense; Mary's humility as she received God's Word that she would be the 'tabernacle', the 'ark' of God's covenant with us, Jesus, the Christ.

A friend sent this to me.  So true!
This little manger was fit for the King of Kings!

#1076-1078  Gifts in Luke 2:: "... a Savior, who is Christ the Lord ... will be a sign for you." "... and all who heard wondered at the things which were told to them by the shepherds." "... but Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."

#1079-1080 Gifts in Christ:: Everlasting life with Him; Promise that He will never leave me nor forsake  me; His precious presence 24/7/365 and forever and ever.
#1081-1083 Gifts Found:: God's personal presence in Jesus Christ, Shared:: My story of salvation with God, Saved:: My own life for eternity.

#1084-1086 Gifts Lingering:: Wonder at life that spins about me; Morning devotions that take 'too much time' as I linger a little longer each cold, snowy day; Unanswered questions that can only be answered by God.
#1087-1089 Gifts of Hope:: God in Christ, our forever hope; There is always tomorrow; Dreams can come true even if they change a bit in scope.

#1090-1092 Gifts Remembered:: Family Christmas when I was a child; Graduations; Wedding.
#1093-1095 Gifts Anticipated:: My birthday, today, especially as I age; A new year filled with new discoveries; Expanded ministry.