Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Weekly Gratitude Journal



I will be turning sixty-five next month. And yet, I am still growing, learning and changing in my walk with God. God is a Person. He wants us to know Him deeply and intimately. He wants us to walk in relationship with Him. There is never a point in life where I want to stop growing, learning and changing. There is never a point where the beautiful vastness of who God is can be fully comprehended by my finite mind.

Sometimes, in my daily life, I get restless with the same old routines, the same old scenery. I have a brother who just took off in an RV with no agenda but to see the wonder and beauty of our country. That sounds delightful to me. Sometimes I hanker for adventure and to see more of God's beautiful creation. But right now, God has not told my husband and I that it's time to retire and to leave our post, to leave this ministry He has called us to. Yes, we will still have vacations and chances to get away, but without even leaving home I can be an explorer. There is unlimited width, and length and height and depth to God's love, to His character, to His heart, His Word, His ways and His will for me to explore. There is adventure to be found and beauty to be seen in Who He is and in this laid down life of service and sacrifice for Him. And right here, in the middle of my same old routines and same old scenery, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. There is always a reason to overflow with gratitude to Him Who is worthy of all of my thanksgiving and praise.

***************************
Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.
 I continue to count my thanks, 
piling up gratitude day by day in my journal.
(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#15,841-#15,888

6-20-2022-
-taking our granddaughters out for a fancy breakfast at La Provence



-them having a lot of fun playing with my great-nephew
-knowing that God is good and trustworthy and perfect in all of His ways

6-21-2022-
-a good night's sleep and waking up feeling great after thinking I might be getting sick
-the first day of summer!
-summer-y weather forecasted for this whole week

6-22-2022-
-favor at an appointment I had
-free tire repair service
-my granddaughter fell down steps while holding a glass bottle but, thank God,
 only needing two stitches in her hand instead of a much more serious injury

6-23-2022-
-this beautiful summer day
-my brother coming by my house for a visit before leaving on his big adventure
-sweet videos of my Florida grandkids in their VBS program

6-24-2022-
-Roe v. Wade overturned!
-my son-in-law - today is his birthday
-cooking breakfast outside

6-25-2022-
-listening to audio books while I run errands and do chores
-my guy power washing out patio
-God's provision and blessing

6-26-2022-
-God is building His church
-God at work in us
-lunch with friends

6-27-2022-
-God's faithful provision
-burgers on the grill
-our home being a gathering place for women to eat, talk about God and our growth in Him and to laugh, cry and pray together

6-28-2022-
-another son-in-law celebrating his birthday today
-youngest granddaughter did not break her foot after a scary accident
-encouraging reports about our growth groups

6-29-2022-
-facetime with our far away grandkids
-working outside in the yard
-a friend hauling an old grill and fire pit to the metal recycling for us

6-30-2022-
-summer mornings/evenings out on the patio
-a thank you note from our neighbors for the work I did on our shared flowerbed
-a sale on meat
-encouragement

7-1-2022-
-Friday date day with my guy
-lunch on the river



-periwinkle blue hydrangeas from our yard


7-2-2022-
-spending time with a friend
-listening to a great teaching
-a long chat with my South Carolina daughter

7-3-2022-
-our church
-a delicious bbq/potluck together
-a fun and delicious homemade ice cream contest



7-4-2022-
-our country
-working together with my husband on our garden shed
-a fun fourth of July BBQ with friends

still following,