Thankful Thursday

Over the last several months I have felt God nudging me to start writing another day of the week. While praying about adding another day I made numerous excuses. I'm too busy and what would I write about were just a couple of those excuses. While recovering from surgery I have had the chance to read a few books that have been sitting at my bedside begging to be picked up. One of those books is One Thousand Gifts - A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. While reading it one day I felt God tell me, "This is it. Thanksgiving. Write about the changes that I am going to do in your heart through Thanksgiving."  

I would love for you to join me on this journey. Each week I will be linking up with Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience. She hosts Multitudes on Mondays where she counts her One Thousand Gifts and beyond. Since I post Marriage Mondays I will write Thanksgiving Thursdays and link up with her the following Monday. But, you will always find a link at the bottom of my Thursday posts to her site.

Eucharisteo - Thanksgiving

Charis - Grace

Chara - Joy

Grace... Thanksgiving... Joy... Eucharisteo...

God in His Amazing Grace loves me in the here and now. He loves me despite of who I am. He loves me when I am in my flesh, frustrated at my children, laundry piling up, dishes in the sink, pushing Him aside one more time because I don't have time for Him, when I am anxious and stressed. And He loves me when I come crawling back to Him wounded and weary from trying to do it all on my own.

Daily, even moment to moment I may struggle with living in the Calm Presence of God vs the crazy, chaotic world. But when I focus on the blessings God has given me in every moment I am reminded of His GREAT LOVE & GRACE and that brings me joy.

This will be my journal of Thanksgiving - Eucharisteo as I find the joy of God's blessings.

#1 - #20

• the way you love me and bring me to you...
• quiet moments in the chaos of life...
• singing birds that remind me of the spring of new life...
• the joy of a young boy as he gives a young girl a fresh picked flower...
• the rowdy love of a brother & sister...
• friends who go above and beyond to help...
• the faint scent of a candle burning...
• the blessing of quick healing...
• the capable hands of competent surgeons...
• waking up...
• pretty ballerina in a hot pink tutu...
• good morning whispers & good morning kisses...
• early morning snuggles...
• the joy on my ballerina's face when she received her first bouquet of daisies & pink roses...
• grilling out with great friends...
• singing Jesus Loves Me at bedtime with my son...
• toothless grins...
• the loud thumping of a protective Mother's heart, followed by a deep sigh when her little girl's pulled from the water & is ok...
• a husband who steps in when my body says "I quit"...
• a day to rest

I'm linked today with Multitudes on Mondays one thousand gifts @ a holy experience

I'd love to hear what you are thankful for!

In His Calm,

Mary