I must confess. I am….
A want to be athlete.
Unappointed hostess.
Embracing outdoors woman.
But, at the very heart of who I am….I am a bookworm.
For when I enter a wall of books….
My mind dances at the idea of how many people….
Accumulation of thoughts…
And multitudes of knowledge represents each wall lined with titles.
And each package of truth…..key of revelation….seems to expand in my hands, as the black and white represents…..decades of wisdom, lives full of color….
Specks from the very light of God.
And then, I find it. “A Thousand Gifts.” Shared by a friend.
And my notions of engaging in any given read, gets thrown out the window.
I dive in full force – this beautiful emblem of grace.
And it carries me, like the wind, down caverns well known….
Memories.
Depth of soul.
Poetry….tucked within my own soul.
And like the tin man. It is the oil that lubricates my being. Awakens the heart of the child within me.
And I can’t put it down.
So today, I join Ann over at http://www.aholyexperience.com/.
And despite the list a mile long of, “must do’s”.
Or chores calling unceasingly.
Or gatherings of people coming tomorrow and this weekend.
I choose to look up.
And just “be” in this moment of grace.
Reminded….we are not “human doings”….but “human beings”.
And I shift my eyes to Him. Counting my blessings at A Holy Experience.
I thank Him today for:
- Bottled water just released. Satisfied thirst, not just physically….but spiritually.
- Saving grace….that found me when I didn’t want to be found. Chased me. Searched me out.
- His arms that reached down….just in the nick of time.
- Silence. Stillness. Quiet all around…to see Him…in our home above our field and pond.
- Children….for I know, It says, the angels with them see the very face of God.
- Truth. Unrelenting. Unforgiving. Always convicting truth. That doesn’t soften with my desire to hear it…or waver regardless of my desire to bend it. But sure. Powerful. Unshakable truth.
- Church. The simplicity. Sincerity. And love that abounds amongst confessed, broken people.
- The man in the pew….who came to church after praying for him relentlessly. The one gone astray. How God saw Him. Loves Him. And calls the “one”, wandering away.
- This day. A new day. A fresh day. A day that anticipates opening….
And as I continue my list.
Pursue my chores.
Continue to open this questioning door.
Grace abounds.
Discovering….
All there is to be thankful for.
19 Comments
(I’m not sure if my first comment went through. If so please delete one of them.)
I enjoy reading also, although I don’t have as much time to read as I would like.
1000 Gifts is a book that has caused me to stop, look around, and count my blessings.
Joan
Joining you from Multitudes on Mondays. I try to visit a few who post near mine. I enjoyed your sweet list and beautiful words. Thanks for sharing and blessing my day.
Love it! Yes, always time to recognize the gift of now. Keep counting!
I stopped over from Ann’s…she has filled me to overflowing…I felt like I came home. I shared on my blog today as well about Her impact in my life….funny how Ann’s writings can take a confessing bookworm….and an athlete,outdoors want to be artsy person…. and with her deep truths…penetrate deep into our hearts. All of “want to bes” …are really very much alike in our different ways.
Blessings~
I have loved A Thousand Gifts so much. It has been the very balm of Gilead to my thirsty soul. I have given away many copies – it is being used by God in mighty and unimaginable ways. What a joy this book has been to my soul. I love your list, by the way – “Truth. Unrelenting. Unforgiving. Always convicting truth. That doesn’t soften with my desire to hear it… or waiver regardless of my desire to bend it. But sure. Powerful. Unshakable truth.” Beautiful. Thanks for the post – it strengthened me today.
Just hang out at His feet for a little while! Bless you. Here from Soli Deo Gloria.
I have the book, but haven’t delved into it yet. But, I did get to see Ann Voskamp speak and God has been teaching me so much about gratitude lately. I love the words that float across this page tonight in your space.
Joan – Yes, am learning…it’s all about the stopping and seeing…
Deborah – So glad to have you come by. Thanks for the visit.
Theresa – Thanks. Will so keep counting. 🙂
Ells – So true. How much more alike than we imagined…All woven together by His hand of grace. Thanks for the comment. Just got to visit you blog & respond.
Travelmom – Lol Me too! A Thousand Gifts has been my gift to almost everyone I know since I read it. Can’t share it enough! Yes, a treasure to thirsty souls…like us.
Brandee – No better place to be…
Jen – What a great gift in and of itself to hear Ann in person. Looking forward to hearing what you think when you get a chance to dig into this masterpiece of His grace.
Thanks everyone for all your feedback.
Clenched by Grace ~ jen
Love to you…from one bookworm to another!!
It’s nice to meet another bookworm:)
I also read 1000 gifts and have told everyone about it.
Your post is written so beautifully. Glad I came by from Jen’s place.
I gave Ann’s book to my daughters for Easter this past year. Last week they called . . . “We have read the first chapter . . . it already changed our lives.”
So grateful for beautiful writers that love God and beautiful bookworm daughters, that love to learn.
Beautiful post.
Fondly,
Glenda
Smiling at all of us with the same “gift idea.” I bought 10 of them and gave 9 out!
Bobbi – Glad I am not alone, my friend.
Kristen – So glad to have you visit from Jen’s place. Always love meeting another bookworm too. 🙂
Glenda – What a great testimony from Ann’s book! How powerful when your daughters get through the whole thing. A life changing read, indeed.
Love the feedback,
~ jen
Connie – That’s great! Lol And I thought my gift idea was unique! 😉 Blessings to you. ~ jen
wow. so glad to have found this place! what a beautiful and stirring post. thank you for this much needed reminder!
xo
Suzanna – Appreciate you taking the time to read. ~ jen
yes …ann voskamp…gripping, deeping, awakening that place with words that tore open my eyes to see gratitude…I want that book. I have only read her blog for a couple months…truth revealed, grace beckoning..amazing. Great post you have here.
Love this line: Truth. Unrelenting. Unforgiving. Always convicting truth. That doesn’t soften with my desire to hear it…or waver regardless of my desire to bend it.
AMEN!
Starla – I am always blown away by Ann’s blog. Gifted writing for sure. ~ jen