Jesus Calling, January 7
Thankfulness is a royal road to draw near to me. A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.
Psalm 22:3 (New Living Translation)
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
–something I wrote last year over here.
“The word thanks here means ‘to throw, like stones.’ I love this word picture. Have you ever cast stones into a lake? You pick up a small round pebble. It feels smooth in your hand. You launch it. It splashes and sends out ripples all around. You toss another. And another. It feels good. You find yourself looking for the perfect rock to make the best splash.
What if, thanksgiving were like that? You toss one, by faith. And then another. And another. The next thing you know you are looking for the perfect gratitude “stone” to cast back to God. He is the one who gave you the gifts in the first place. Thanking Him is itself a gift. It feels good. And this gift has a ripple effect not only in your life, but your girl’s life as well.”
“This crazy Joy Dare to do it all over again because I need it, to make this the habit before all the other habits — the joy habit — and count a full 1000 gifts in 2012. He deserves all my thanks and it’s impossible to give thanks and simultaneously feel fear. Woman with the soul amnesia — she keeps remembering and needing to remember again.
Just three gifts a day.
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
Not that I need a reason, but I’ve been missing the counting and and the nudges they just kept coming. All of these (above) came in one day. So 9 days into 2012 I’m joining in on the Joy Dare with thousands others. The last time I counted it took me longer than 1 year. I’m excited to see 1,000 fit nicely into 2012.
Care to join me?
{Ann has a lovely resource with even specific things to look for each day in January. You can download it here.}
1,000 Gifts in 2012:
1. Discovering my writer girl.
2. Being called teacher.
3. Hope is stirring in my heart.
4. Seeing a doe and her baby outside my suburban window.
5. Warm blankets.
6. My favorite soup filling bowls and tummies at my table.
7. “You cover me with the blood you shed”
8. “There has never been or will there ever be a love like that in which, You cover me”
9. “I want to be near You, I want to be where you are, Oh Lord.”
10. My old chair time chair.
11. My new coffee maker.
12. The blue polka dots on her sweet new dress that is bouncing up and down right this minute.
13. Reading Jesus Calling for the 100th time never gets old.
14. Learning to knit so I can teach her.
15. Seeing God do a work He is clearly in – and just holding on for the ride.
16. Receipts from date nights while my parents were here to love on grandchildren.
17. Praying for the Antaimaro people of Madagascar.
18. The healing of a pruned place and the fresh growth of something new.
19. “I love you, too.” from my 2 year old.
20. “Thank you” from another Weary Mom.
21. “Thanks for making dinner mommy.”
22. “If we tell our story, we will be a light for Him..” from Pastor Danny, Sunday’s Word for me.
23. Tired eyes mean I have a sweet toddler to comfort in the middle of the night.
24. Sun going down in a blaze of pink with dinner spread on the table.
25. A reminder to love like Jesus.
26. Letting her read to me.
27. The nightly walk to bed, listening to the sounds of quiet.
Question: I am only 300 or so into my counting from last year. I didn’t start at the beginning. Should I start over and join the JOY dare, or shall I continue on? I don’t know what to do!
hi barbie!! ann encourages those in the middle of counting, to start fresh with 1000 this year for 2012 … love that we’re all in!
i’m in!! i’m in!! can’t wait to see how He reveals Himself to me this year … i’m ready & waiting!
I love the fresh challenge and the “Joy” connection. So glad we can do support each other in it!
I so want to participate, but I just don’t know where to plug it in. The nudging has been on my heart, too. I think this will be a good conversation to have with the Lord as I drive to Moms In Prayer this morning!
You could simply keep a notebook by your bed and record 3 gifts each day. I am blogging my way through it because it holds me accountable to the process. I think you will love the journey Lisa!
I’m in too! I have a little catching up to do…I remember reading about the Joy Dare on A Holy Experience originally but I guess God knew I needed another little nudge to jump in 🙂 Thank you for posting it here also!
So excited Veronica!
Thank you for introducing this to me, Stacey. I have started my list this morning & also cannot wait to see how much more blue the sky will look as my heart is set on thanksgiving.
I keep thinking I should do this! You might have convinced me 🙂
Come on Marci!! Make it part of teaching time!
I loved your list Stacey! I am reading Jesus Calling for the 1ooth time too, it’s just so good!
BTW are you coming to Blissdom…I’m so mad we didn’t get to chat at Relevant.
Blessings,
Cyndi
Cyndi I am not headed to Blissdom 12. I am praying about She Speaks in July! I can’t wait to hear about your time @Blissdom! I know Terilynne will be there and she is a great conference buddy!
Do you have the Jesus Calling App? I tested it for 7 days – really need to buy it so it is always with me!