3 Gifts Painted

432. Before the husband and I married, we painted the upstairs bedrooms. This was a gift because it was the first project we did together. It gave me an opportunity to work beside him and vice versa. A great opportunity for us to get "better acquainted" before we married.

433.  A few months ago, I took some media art classes. I'm not convinced I've got a talent for it. But I do know that I enjoy it. It's fun and relaxing. 

434.  I love color. The husband perked up my deck by refreshing our lawn furniture. This is a great gift for me and for our deck!!

3 Gifts About Your Parents

429.  Always being there for me.

430.  Raising me in a Christian home.

431.  Being so supportive of me over these last few years.

3 Gifts in Weakness

426. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Even in my weakest moments I know I can call on Christ.

427. In 2009 I ran a 5K in the Oklahoma Memorial Run. Feeling the weakest at the end of the race, it was also the greatest feeling of accomplishment.

428. I love music. I like the old hymns, I like the era of the Gaither's and I enjoy the praise hymns. 

This hymn states, "I am weak, but thou art mighty." -So true, I am weak but God is mighty.

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer Hymn

Guide me, O thou great redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer;
Be thou still my strength and shield;
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.

A Gift at 8:00, 12:00 and 2:00

423. 8:00:  On Mondays, the first thing I do is strip the bed and wash the sheets. I'm thankful that I have a comfortable bed! I'm also very thankful I have a washer and dryer. 

And this reminds me of a story....

Elizabeth Elliot is one of my favorite people. I love to read her books, I used to listen to her on the radio and when I hear news of her, I'm always eager to hear/see what is said. Anyway, as a child when singing the hymn "Bringing in the Sheaves" - do you remember that one?

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,

Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;

By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,

Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;

When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Anyway, Elizabeth Elliot said on her radio program that she always sang this when she brought clothes in off the clothesline and that she was really quite old before she realized the words weren't "Bringing in the Sheets."  I love this story. So I've included in this joy dare the wonderful gift of a beautiful mentor like Elizabeth Elliot.

424. 12:00; Lunch with my husband. I love my time with him.

425. 2:00; Today as I've been finishing up the laundry, the gift I have at 2:00 is watching westerns with Randy!

A Gift Outside, Inside, Upside-down

420. Outside:  I love color. So my dear husband gave me some more color outside and I L.O.V.E. it!!

421. Inside: Cool Air. I am really thankful for air conditioning!



422. Upside Down:  Ava turning cartwheels.

A Gift of Rhythm, Rhyme, Reason

417. Rhythm:  Just this week, I was reminded of an old song - old from the '80's. My daughter, Holly, reminded me of it. Rich Mullins, "The Cup Song."  A gift in rhythm. 

418. Rhyme:   Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

         

         There is a time for everything,

          and a season for every activity under heaven:

          a time to be born and a time to die,

          a time to plant and a time to uproot,

          a time to kill and a time to heal,

          a time to tear down and a time to build,

          a time to weep and a time to laugh,

          a time to mourn and a time to dance,

          a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

          a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

          a time to search and a time to give up,

          a time to keep and a time to throw away,

          a time to tear and a time to mend,

          a time to be silent and a time to speak,

          a time to love and a time to hate,

          a time for war and a time for peace.

This rhyme of Solomon's is a gift as we realize "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9

419. Reason: reason is the capacity for consciously making sense of things.

Sometimes - it's hard to make sense of things. Especially looking at our lives horizontally. But then, when we look at our lives vertically, through God - we still may not make sense of if - but we can reason that what is happening is okay because God is in control. 

Coming to this reasoning is a gift from God.

  

3 Gifts That Made Me Smile

414. Grandkid stories!!! I love to hear and to tell the funny things my grands say!! 

415. Last week was filled with smiles and old friends. First a reunion with a friend I hadn't seen since 1990. Then a beautiful wedding of a friends daughter in Oklahoma and seeing many old friends! 

: )

416. My husband always makes me smile!