A Gift in Wind, Water, White

202. A Gift in Wind:  My windmill that came from my yard in Oklahoma. I love this windmill and my Dad has repaired it many times! I first got it during my gardening days and I learned that the vibration of the windmill keeps the moles away. - And it really works! So not only am I thankful for this windmill for sentimental reasons - but it's also practical!

203. A Gift in Water: That I live in a country that provides me with pure water to drink is a gift indeed.

204. A Gift White:  We've needed moisture for so long - the snow was a true blessing.

3 Gifts Read

I've listed my Bible so many times that I'm going to go a different direction today!

199. As a young adult, I spent most of my extra reading time reading about Missionaries. Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, John and Betty Stam, Gladys Alyward, Amy Carmichael - just to name a few. These books were true gifts in my life and they helped shaped my attitude towards spirituality, prayer, missions, simplicity and so much more.

200. From childhood, reading has been the most important past time in my life. I can't name a favorite book - too many to list! I have several favorite authors - but again, too many to list in this #joydare. So I'm going to put my own twist on this gift today and say that the gift of reading has molded my life and I can not imagine not having this ability. God has not only blessed me tremendously with being able to read, He has gifted so many many people to be able to write.

201. My oldest devotional book is "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. I have read it over and over throughout the years. I write in my Bible and one of the things I have written is from May 6th of this devotional.

"A Spiritually minded man will never come to you with the demand - 'Believe this and that'; but with the demand that you square your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals.... Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus... Jesus said, 'Go and make disciples,' not 'go and make converts to your opinions.'"

This is just one small example of the wisdom in "My Utmost For His Highest."

3 Gifts in Christ

As I'm thinking about 3 Gifts in Christ, I am left to pause. Where do I start? I picture in my mind Jesus (as I see Him) - I see Him feeding 5000, I see hear him teaching, I see Him playing with the children, I see Him praying, I see Him carrying that cross, I see Him on that cross and I see Him investing His time, love, His very life in M.E. 

When I think dwell on Jesus, I very seldom think of Him as a baby or child. I automatically go to His ministry years. Maybe that's because I spent so many years in ministry and I thoroughly believe everyone has a gift to be used in ministry and we are called to fulfill this ministry.

196. So my first gift in Christ that I'm choosing to list is the gift of Ministry. He gave us a perfect example of serving God. Of serving the people. Being a servant that loves God first, people second. Doing His ministry is so fulfilling we need no other fulfillment in life. But we fall so short and look for fulfillment from other "things", other "people", other "relationships" - just o.t.h.e.r. 

I'm so very blessed to be able to serve in the example of the Gift of Christ.

197. Christ gives us the gift of mediating for us with God. How much easier it is to go to God through Christ rather than through the Old Testament Laws. How very blessed I am for His gift of sacrifice. For mediation.

198. Throughout the New Testament, throughout the Bible as a whole, we have a perfect example of Christ. Of His attitude. His servant attitude. Philippians 2:5 is my favorite verse. 

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." NIV

I am so thankful for His attitude and the perfect example He has left for me. I fall short every day but His attitude that I strive for is a perfect gift.

#Joydare #1000gifts - My Blessings Addendum

Addendum!

 I do my 3 gifts each day in my notebook. 

Then when I have time to blog, I copy them on here.

: ) 

3 Gifts Carved

193. God will never forget me. I am "carved" - engraved on the palms of His hands. Isaiah 49:16a says  "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Everyone else I love or have loved may forget me - but God never will.

194. Family times around the carving of turkey, roast, ham - any thing that is large enough to feed a group! So many memories are made at a meal.

195. Carving out time in a busy schedule to spend time with God. Sometimes even if a schedule isn't busy I reach bedtime and wonder where my time went and why did I not carve more out of my day for my Creator. Ahh, but when I do carve that time, I am truly blessed.

One time, when I worked at Howard and Linda Faerber's Christian Book Store in Edmond, OK, a customer came in and shared with me that she often spends so much time each day "at Jesus' feet" that she didn't always seem to get much done. When was the last time I (you) spent so much time "at Jesus' feet" that nothing else was accomplished? 

3 Gifts Loud

190. The best sound in the world - Loud or not - is the sound of my Grands! Sometimes they can get LOUD - which seems to be safer than when I hear no sounds!!!

191. We visited a church one time that as we walked into the auditorium (sanctuary - whatever you call it) they handed us ear plugs... And sure enough the music was L.O.U.D. Having the ear plugs was a true gift!!  I didn't notice if they handed them to everyone - or just the "old" people!!

192. When my youngest son competed in the State Track Meet his senior year - and he ran across the finish line to win the Gold Medal in the 200 - the noise of the crowd was wonderful! - and it was a wonderful gift to watch him fulfill a dream.

Jonathan crossing finish line 

Winning gold medal in the 200

May 2005

3 Gifts Found in the Kitchen

187. The Husband! I cook, he cleans! Great system for us. I love love love to cook - most of the time! He doesn't mind clearing up! He also uses the long counter for folding clothes. (I still use the bed to fold clothes!)

See, he even cleans with a smile!

188. Appliances. I will be quick to say, I've never had to go without refrigeration or a stove - (except when we first moved to Jamaica and had to wait on our container of belongings.)  But I haven't always had a dishwasher or microwave. Very nice to have those. Not necessities but thankful to have them nonetheless.

189. So very thankful for a table that will seat many. We enjoy it at our small group meetings and at family gatherings. We've also fed many of Andru's friends at this table! I also like to study at this table because I can spread out all of my study material.