Sunday, June 2, 2013

10,000+ reasons...


Youngest granddaughter is eighteen months old.
If she is cranky or upset, just turn on Matt Redman's 10,000 Reasons, and she calms right down.
She likes to sing along and lift her hands and praise the Lord.

Let's face it, every day there are plenty of reasons to be cranky or upset.
Everything from serious issues like financial pressures, family or friends battling cancer or relationship challenges, to non-critical things like running out of coffee or traffic jams can get us upset and out of sorts.
But, when I choose to quit counting the 10,000 reasons I have to be cranky, upset, anxious, worried, or discouraged and start counting the 10,000+ reasons I have to praise and thank God,
life suddenly looks a whole lot better.
I realize that "His name is great and His heart is kind" is not just a lyric in Matt's song,
but is truth.
I realize that no matter the difficulties that come my way, 
God's grip on me is sure, firm, comforting and reassuring.
I can trust Him, because He is altogether trustworthy.
It makes me want to sing along and lift my hands and praise the Lord.


****************
In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.
In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,
just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.
And so I continue to count my thanks
piling up gratitude day by day
in my little black journal.
(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#3176-#3402

5-27-13-
-a big Memorial day breakfast with the three oldest grands made by Papa 
-a fun outing to Fort Vancouver with the grands


-Memorial Day family dinner 

5-28-13-
-hair appointment day


-a sunny evening


-the God Who provides

5-29-13-
-a friend power washing around the house for us
-forgetting to buy something I needed on my grocery list, 
then finding a new unopened jar of it in my pantry
-much needed prayer from a friend
-my grandson calling me to request if we can make homemade pizza together

5-30-13-
-our friends from Missouri here
-oldest granddaughter, who turns 10 this month, sounding so grown up on the phone
-how God provides just what we need, when we need it

5-31-13-
-making crepes for breakfast with our friends
-veterans honoring my friend's daddy at his funeral



-seeing old friends

6-1-13-
-the first day of June!
-muffins and frittata
-the Hubs taking four year old granddaughter to only grandson's baseball game,
so I had youngest granddaughter to myself for a couple of hours


-homemade pizza, (grandson's request fulfilled)
-the first fire in the fire pit this summer



6-2-13-
-friends and family and church family worshipping together
-the Hubs first message in our summer series on relationship
-a dear couple praying for me
-T so excited to see us at church this morning, and us so happy to see her, too
-Sunday night s'mores and ice cream with our family and friends from Missouri




gratefully yours,




22 comments:

  1. Love this song - it touches my heart every time I sing it! Your thoughts and photos touched me again today.
    ~Adrienne~

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  2. I am always encouraged and inspired by your thoughtful posts, Elizabeth! Even though I may not always leave a comment, I appreciate you and the challenges for living I receive from your posts.
    Mary Alice

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    1. Mary Alice, you are such an encouragement to me! I thank God for you!

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  3. Elizabeth, I really like this post. I often think that I should list the things I'm grateful for. It makes such a difference, doesn't it?

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    1. Stacey, do it! It's life changing! Have you read Ann Voskamp's 1000 gifts book? It's what started it all for me.

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  4. I always love reading of God's goodness and faithfulness to your family. Hope the week ahead is full of His glorious surprises.

    Love you!

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    1. Oh friend, thank you for your prayers! It's been a hard few weeks, but I feel your prayers!

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  5. Thank you for sharing your beautiful gifts!! XXOO

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  6. Great song!! Haven't been to Fort Vancouver in a long time. Maybe we'll make a summer day trip and go!
    Wonderful list of gifts!!

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  7. Love God's sure grip. Lovely post. Glad I found you HERE;}

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    1. I'm glad you found me, too! And I'm so, so glad that God won't let go of me!

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  8. What a great reminder to focus on our blessings!
    Susan

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  9. I love this song too! Downloaded it on my iPod. Your pictures are precious!

    xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Julie! It's one of my favorites, too. Can't sing it without feeling encouraged and strengthened.

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  10. Last Sunday, there was such a dry spirit in our worship until we did this song. There was a shift into true worship when we began to "bless the Lord" and praise Him.
    P.S. Love your hair! ;-)

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    1. That happened at our church on Sunday as well!!!

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  11. Just following JEsus along with you ...

    Delighted to meet you today. I hope you don't mind if I splash around a bit to get to know you. This looks like a refreshing place to dip onto goodness.

    Splashin'
    Sarah

    http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/2013/06/on-daddys-toes.html

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