The Season of Thanksgiving is drawing to a close. Soon to enter Advent. A Season of Waiting and Preparation. That we spend time before Advent in deep gratitude seems only fitting. A time to prepare our hearts to wait; spent time in gratitude. As I look for the gift in Thanksgiving. I am changed. I am hopeful. It is not easy. Aren't we as a people so easily frustrated. Grocery lines. Gas lines. Slow drivers. Drivers that drive too fast. Mistakes. Returns. All producing frustration and a lack of gratitude. How many of us say, "Oh, I am so excited that the line at the grocery ... View Post
Feeding My Soul Day #21 of Thankfulness
We gather together. Young and Old. To break bread. A Thanksgiving meal. Rows of tables. Rows of food. All brought together. The room hums with conversation. It is good to be together. My farmer, farm boy and Zach share their experience in Haiti. Gratitude to this body and others for their generosity. Enough funds raised to cover the entire trip. To God Be the Glory. We gather upstairs for a Hymn sing. Both the Organ and the piano. Songs chosen by the Congregants. So fun. Memories swirl of times with my Grandfather. Hymn Sings. His harmony. His faith. The sound of ... View Post
Have You Been Recording Your Gratitude? Day #17 of Thankfulness
We've had a lot go wrong lately. It makes one weary and a little on edge. Waiting, so to speak for the next ax to fall. So when the good comes, sometimes it's hard to enjoy. Really. It can be work. Teaching yourself how to accept good. I know there are good things all around. We just need to look. Train ourselves to see the good. Each day reaching for gratitude. Ann Voskamp began this journey of Gratitude. Before I knew the intense grief of the loss of my mom, son, cancer, 2 dear friends and now my dad. I delved into this practice. Ann Voskamp challenged me to the core. “I want ... View Post
A Gathering Day # 13 of Thankfulness
We gathered together over coffee and tea. We shared a meal. Then it got real. One brave, brave woman shared her story. It wasn't always pretty. She opened her heart. Vulnerable. Raw. Strong. Beautiful. She gave all she had. Surrendered, in the mess, to the giver of life. She gave him the broken pieces and he rewrote a beautiful story. A story of faithfulness and grace. Of strength and glory. She shared with us; this beautiful woman. Our stories are important. They weave together the tapestry of who we are. When we share the journey, we release the stronghold that ... View Post
The Early Morning Sky Day #12 of Thankfulness
I step outside to collect greens for centerpieces. It is dark and quiet. There is a chill in the air. I glance up. "Oh!" The early morning sky takes my breath away. Stars upon stars. A glorious sight. I marvel at the sheer number. I turn and turn; I can't seem to grasp the magnitude. Each direction is filled with the luminous, shimmering, light. I wish I knew more of the constellations. Stargazing in the city was quite different than the country. I stand in awe. It's cold. I need to gather greens. I feel small. This great sky looming before me. I feel insignificant beneath ... View Post
There is Strength in the Surrender Day #11 of Thankfulness
It is in the Surrender that we are the most strong. When we lay it all down. That the power is fully engaged. Surrender- to give the control or use of (something) to someone else When we bow, humbly before the Cross. We are strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." . . . It is funny how that is. The tighter we have a hold on something; the further from our reach. The more we let go. . . the freer we become. My father died on Memorial Day. So fitting for a man so Patriotic. He was staunch in his ... View Post
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