Thankful

I was talking with some friends the other night about that "blah" feeling.  I've been just going through the motions.  Nothing really brings joy.  We're on the other side of a crazy season in our lives and trying to figure things out is sometimes overwhelming.  Just BLAH...that's the only way I know to describe the feeling.  Nobody can do anything just right.  I've always considered myself a pretty joyful and happy person, but I just wasn't feeling it.  Maybe it was the fact that it was snowing at the end of April.  Who knows, I just was not pleased...with anything, even though I am amazingly aware that I have SO much to be thankful for, so much to be happy about, I just wasn't there.  I was missing the moments.

Sitting around my kitchen table, with two of my newest and greatest friends, we discussed this feeling.  Both of them are reading the book, "One Thousand Gifts", by Ann Voskamp.  One in the middle of it, the other reading it for the second time.  As they were describing this book to me, I knew that I had to have it.  The way they described it, the way that their words came out as they tried to tell me the impact that it has already made on them...I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

So I bought it.  I am in awe.  This book is beyond words.  Ann Voskamp puts words together and thoughts together like no one I have ever read before.  I read, and I see myself.  I see how I've missed the moments to see God.  To really and truly see God in the everyday moments (even the ugly moments) is what we all long for.

As I sit here to write my thoughts they escape me.  How, 141 pages into a book, can I feel completely opened up, laid wide open, and seeing who I really am, yet, totally unable to describe that feeling, or even describe the book. 

I will try.  Our days are full of moments.  Some great, some awful, but God is in everything.  We have to choose to see joy, we have to choose to see the gift in the moment.  We have to choose to give thanks, to offer thanksgiving in ALL things.  Ann Voskamp takes a dare from a friend to make a list of 1000 gifts.  To notice the small things, to see, really SEE the moments, and in seeing these moments, she sees God. 

This quote really stood out to me.  "But in this counting gifts to one thousand, more, I discover that slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life."  I want to be thankful.  In the Word, Ann points out, thankfulness always proceeds the miracle.  You can see it as you read the gospels.  It's so evident.  Yet, we're not content.  We always want more, and yet we just let all of these moments pass us by, moments that have been given to us by God.


I feel completely scattered as I write this.  My mind is reelling as I read this book.  The depth is not even possible for me to describe.  I just know that I want to live this life.  To live this thankful, joy filled life.  To see God in all things.  To see his gifts, to me. 

Like Jesus

John 5:13-16 Message Translation --
     "Let me tell you why you are here.  You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.  If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?  You've lost you're usefulness and will end up in the garbage."
     "Here's another way to put it:  You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.  God is not a secret to be kept.  We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you?  I'm putting you on a light stand.  Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine!  Keep open house, be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

     So what are we called to be?  We are called to be salt and light.  In a world without either salt or light, you have dreary darkness and boring bland-ness.  We spend so much time worrying about what we're supposed to do with our lives, when it's really pretty simple.  We're supposed to be like Jesus.  We're supposed to shine.  Jesus changed the whole world, and continues to, only being in "ministry" for three years.  Now it's our job to continue. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 talks about a great cloud of witnesses.  In the Message it says, "Do you see what this means--all the pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?  It means we'd better get on with it.  Strip down, start running, and never quit!  No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - "  Just an fyi, "strip down" does not mean get naked!!  It means to get rid of all the junk that's holding you back.  Get rid of the sin and insecurities that are holding you down.  Get rid of the hurts and the anger and get out there and make your mark for Jesus.  Continue on where all these veterans have left off.  They were bold, they were brave, and they had AMAZING faith in God.  Our God, who can do ALL things.

Repeat of John 5:16
"Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine!  Keep open house, be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Show people Jesus.  Love people like Jesus loved people.  Open up yourself to others.  Be generous.  We can't do these things if we keep to ourselves.  Our world needs your saltiness!!  Our world needs your light.  SHINE!!

This is a post from a blog that I follow that really made me think about what am I really called to be.  It will challenge your thinking in a HUGE way.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2011/03/crap/