i remind myself of all that You've done

it is a busy fall morning around these parts - not much time to even type out these short words as the littlest one reaches for the computer keys.

when it is hardest - those are the times that i most need to give thanks for all He has done and still is doing.  this is what i purpose my heart to do today.

it reminds me of my cousin's song:

when my heart is overwhelmed and i cannot hear Your voice
i'll hold onto what is true though i cannot see
if the storms of life they come and the road ahead gets steep
i will lift these hands in faith
i will believe

i remind myself of all that You’ve done
and the life I have because Your Son
Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
i am Yours, i am forever Yours
mountain high or valley low
i sing out remind my soul
that i am Yours, i am forever Yours

when my heart is filled with hope
and every promise comes my way
when i feel Your hands of grace rest upon me

staying desperate for You God
staying humbled at Your feet
i will lift these hands and praise
i will believe

i remind myself of all that You’ve done
and the life i have because Your Son

Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
i am Yours, i am forever Yours
mountain high or valley low
i sing out remind my soul
that i am Yours, i am forever Yours

i am Yours
i am Yours
all my days
Jesus, i am Yours 
brian johnson

how about you give it a quick listen?  i am sure it will encourage you just like it encourages me.



also, go to the prayer room archives and listen to the misty edwards devotional from sunday, october 14th at 6pm - from about 30 minutes to 45 minutes into the set is the most amazing spontaneous song that spoke straight to my heart this morning.  if it speaks to you as well, come back and let me know! 

still counting gifts to 1000...

810 - 824:

810. 10 lbs of pomegranate for $3... and processed!

811. the washer and dryer my papa and nana bought for us when we first bought this home 9 years ago - i doubt there has ever been a gift so used!

812. re-purposing the yarn from a favorite cranberry colored sweater that had begun to unravel... oh what to make?!

813. being able to call my mom to pray with me on the phone when it has just been one of "those" days.

814. ran 1.5 miles straight with no pain!

815. beautiful skies every morning!

816. leaves changing colors - it surprises me every year how much this simple thing delights me.

817. "skipping" out on something saturday afternoon to have some much needed space alone (well, with just the baby) - made cookies for an event that night, read my bible, listened to the prayer room, painted my nails, drank some tea, and chatted with my sister.

818. an amazing stretching exercise video my sister-in-law loaned me.

819. hearing giggles (and yes, sometimes screams intermingled) from the other room.

820. His grace is sufficient for me.

821. His mercies are new EVERY morning - and how i need new mercy!

822. spending time with my daddy.

823. that my sister really is my best friend.

824. He is my Rock.

i am linked up at a holy experience.



if you haven't liked this facebook page, you can in the upper right of this post.  you can also follow this blog or subscribe in a reader.  i would love to keep in better touch with you! 

please leave a link to your list of gifts in the comments and i will come visit your blog as well!  i love to give thanks together.


charis

to finish the race strong

seeing as though my 3rd son had his jog-a-thon today, today's 5 minute writing prompt was perfect! 

word for the day:  race

start.

someone once said to run the race as though to win the prize.

being a runner, this resounds with me deeply. 

as excited as i may be about the idea of running, many times i don't feel like running when i start out.  it takes a good half mile or so to get into a rhythm of feet hitting hard the ground below.  i have a goal in mind, and whether i feel like it or not, i am determined to achieve that goal.

i am determined to finish the race strong.

there is a crown waiting for me.  much like the gold medal hanging around his neck.  if i can keep in view the well done at the end, the crown of glory that never fades away, the warm welcome into His kingdom where there will never again be sorrow or this sometimes debilitating pain of this age... keep my eye on the prize set before me.

He endure for the prize set before Him - He walked the lonely road to calvary where He gave it all. 

i endure for the prize set before me - i can see Him waiting at the finish line, cheering me on, and holding the prize that He has set aside

just. for. me.

and so i push through.  i press on.  i take those next few steps, the leaps, the bounds into the sometimes unknown so that i can finish this race knowing that i gave it my all and ran with everything within me. 

those who have gone before me stand on the sidelines cheering me on.

stop.

if you want to join in, the instructions are below.



5 minute friday rules:
1. write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. link back here and invite others to join in.
3. please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them.

if you write a 5 minute friday, let me know -  i would love to visit your blog and read what comes spilling out when writing against the clock!  


charis

I AM the Lord your Provider

but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. matthew 6:33

still counting gifts to 1000...

799 - 809:

799. gas in the van, and that God isn't intimidated by the rising gas prices like i am.

800. enough grace for today - do not worry about tomorrow...

801. the smell of coffee beans.

802. sun rays bursting through the fluffy clouds this morning.

803. crisp air.

804. pretty nail polish.

805. listening to misty edwards in the prayer room (via my computer) this morning.

806. looking back at old baby pictures and remembering how cute they all were and how chubby!

807. roasted fennel for the 1st time.

808. winter squash in the pantry.

809. the mundane activities that fill my day, and often wear me out, do not go unnoticed nor unvalued by God.

i am linked up at a holy experience.



if you haven't liked this facebook page, you can in the upper right of this post.  you can also follow this blog or subscribe in a reader.  i would love to keep in better touch with you! 

please leave a link to your list of gifts in the comments and i will come visit your blog as well!  i love to give thanks together.


charis

you're welcome

word for the day:  welcome

start.

"thank you."

"you're welcome."

i say it so automatically, almost like i am listening to a recording of my own voice.  how often do i stop to think about what it means?

you. are. welcome.

you are invited into my life.  you are free to come close.  i am open to your being near.

we so often place welcome mats on the doorways to our homes, but when things are messy, life is messy, we shut our hearts and shut our doors.

we may leave the appearance of the invitation to community - communion with others - but withdraw in shame and fear into seclusion.

slow it down.  allow yourself to hear, and really believe, the words that you are saying.

"thank you."

you. are. welcome.

you might make me mighty uncomfortable and i don't really want you to see all my mess and really know all of who i am because it may be more than you can handle at times, but

you. are. welcome.

stop.

if you want to join in, the instructions are below.



5 minute friday rules:
1. write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. link back here and invite others to join in.
3. please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them.

if you write a 5 minute friday, let me know.  i would love to visit your blog and read your heart.


charis

is He enough?

so much has gone not the way i would have liked in the past 24 hours.

in the midst of my distraction by more important things, i have managed to set one kitchen towel on fire - not noticing it until there were real flames. i burnt a pot of chickpeas.  my favorite stone pan broke in two. (and we haven't left talking about the kitchen yet!)  my house, the one thing that is seemingly in my control, is completely a disaster and out of control.

isn't that they way it is for us as broken humans - when so much is out of our control, we grasp to hold tightly to the few things we thing we think we control. 

isn't that all a control spirit really is... a person who is afraid?  when feeling small and staring into the big unknown, so often we become "control freaks" over the things that don't even really matter.

i get so upset by the dirt on the floor, but really is the dirt all that important since we are but made of dust?

i have to finally ask myself the question: is it going to be about the wasted food, small kitchen fire, and crumbs on the floor or at the end of the day is He enough?

am i going to insist on the appearance of having it together and having all the answers or am i going to fall back in trust into His arms and believe He is there to catch me?

is He alone really enough?

i have a testimony about Jesus,
He carries me through my worst storms -
i only call on Jesus,
i'm leaning on His everlasting arms.
                                     jon thurlow

charis