The Counting Continues

It is the last day of February so I line up the gifts, blessings from the Lord’s hand, and reflect long on the truth that the more I count the more I see God daily.  I remember that God wants to be found and in the seeking He always reveals Himself. 

February’s Joy Dare
Counting gifts from #1442 - 1529

1.  a gift found at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m….
Precious husband home from work – an off day, Fun son out of school to celebrate his birthday, Ladies Bible Study

2.  3 things overheard today, all gifts…
A – “Thought I would ride out to see you”, Life group leader backing up in Galatians to hear from Precious husband, “I love you” from Tony’s lips to my ear

3.  3 gifts found in writing…
rewriting my thankful list – reflecting on those blessings, journal – working emotions out on paper, “when you see with your soul everything becomes a reflection of the glory of God.” ¹

4.  3 gifts found when bent down…
a dime – reminder God sees me, adoration – knees to floor - heart to heaven, flowers among the weeds

5.  one gift stitched, one hammered, one woven…
stitching on cover of Bible, post & rails for stall, new coaster from Princess daughter’s weaving loom

6.  3 gifts found outside…
children building “huts” – shelters in the woods, Jesse following Sensitive son in corral, full moon

7.  3 gifts red…
red paint on canvas, chicken combs and wattles, fire hydrant in front of house

8.  a gift broken, a gift fixed, a gift thrifted…
dryer, plugs & wires in Gold-hearted mom’s car, Tony able to fix them both

9.  3 gifts that were surprises –unexpected grace…
working through relationships – forgiveness, new way to heat this house – propane heater, no more wood stove

10.  3 times you heard laughter today…
Sensitive son over cat chasing dog’s tail, Precious husband and three boys wrestling and laughing at Helpful son’s 18th birthday, Little One’s squealing delight over Lady

11.  3 gifts found in working…
clean clothes, Gold-hearted mom’s house clean to show a buyer, good night’s rest

12.  3 hard eucharisteos…thanks in the hard things…
Letting go – letting children grow, trusting (finding) God when problems continually arise, missing loved ones – rejoicing they are in heaven

13.  3 gifts found behind a door today…
coffee & cream behind refrigerator door, frost on bank outside back door, “The beloved says from the other side of the door, “Open the door and come in, so we can experience just how one we might become.” ²

14.  3 ways you feel the love of God today…
Sensitive son and Princess daughter helping with Little One, napping with Little One, Little One’s laughter

15.  a gift in losing something, finding something, making something…
Lucas losing a tooth & cavity, God’s presence in hard times, making memories with Little One

16.  3 gifts in shadows…
shadow of clouds on pasture, Hebrews 8:5 teaching on copy & shadow, my shadow on ground (makes me feel tall)

17. 3 gifts found giving/serving…
building relationships, offering rest to another, character building – becoming like Christ

18.  3 gifts on paper…
Scripture, poetry – “Joy” by Hannah Hurnard, sweet note from Sensitive son

19.  3 gifts that were ‘Plan B’s’…
Wow – deeply personal thoughts that I must leave written in my journal for now

20.  a gift at breakfast, lunch, dinner…
heart-shaped cinnamon biscuits, leftover broccoli soup – yum!, not having to cook

21.  3 gifts white…
loops for Princess daughter’s weaving loom, Precious husband’s work truck, electrodes on chiropractor’s TENS unit

22.  3 gifts that changed today…
text function gone from phone – ugh!, Fun son’s teeth – new filings, 
healthier eating plan

23.  a gift of tin, of glass, of wood
tin snips to cut wire repairing coop, Ball mason jars (I like the way they look and so many functions), back porch flooring in back on house

24.  3 gifts before 11:00 a.m….
new Kashi Go-Lean cereal, special time with Precious husband, quiet morning after a restless night’s sleep

25.  a gift nearly worn out, a gift new, a gift make-do…
hiking shoes, Lamentations 3:21-23– God’s compassions new every morning, temporary living quarters in farmhouse

26.   3 gifts seen as reflections…
VCR tapes of children – all little, blessed heritage because of previous generations, Fun son looking like Precious husband when husband was his age

27.  3 ugly-beautiful gifts (see beauty in ugly)…
one step forward – two steps back with children – yet rejoice when they hear God for themselves, smashed thumb with hammer but repaired coop, tornado ripped through cousin’s neighborhood – thankfully she was unhurt and her home suffered minimal damages

28.  3 gifts from the past – that help you trust the future…
Precious husband’s forgiveness when I messed up our finances, God’s presence even when He seems silent or MIA,  God’s faithfulness in past generations

29.  a gift dull, a gift shimmering, a gift cleaned…
gray sky today,  waxing crescent moon, kitchen

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¹ Mark Batterson,Primal

² James Finley, Christian Meditation