April 16th
3 Hard Eucharisteos
I had not yet purchased or read Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, which is the basis for the gifts we find each day!
I have heard the word "eucharist" at church when talking about communion; so that form of this word was not foreign to me. But, I have never heard it in this form -
Eucharisteo...
A verb meaning "to be grateful, to feel thankful. A gratitude that leads to joy and grace."
and...
A Greek word rooted in thanksgiving. As we acccept God's gifts (Grace), and give Thanks for those gifts, we experience Joy!
GRACE + THANKSGIVING = JOY!
Found on Pinterest
Shared by Amy
Deborah Horst has a Pinterest account where she has posted her 2013 and 2015 Gifts; she says of Eucharisteo: "Grace towards others who may not think and believe exactly like we do! Thanksgiving in the midst of busy days that don't always look like days of thanksgiving...finding it in the midst...choosing too! Joy unspeakable and full glory...because I have the joy of the Lord!"
Thank you, Deborah, for helping me find the words!
1. The Gift of Grace - Though I do not deserve even one day - even one hour - of this life He has given me...
He laid down His life...
For mine! For yours!
That is GRACE!
2. The Gift of Thanksgiving - Every day of my life - every hour of my life -
I am thankful for what He has done for me...
Yet, do I fill my days with praise and thanksgiving for what He has done?
One life, given for one life...
For many lives!
Thanking Him every day - every hour - of that life is such a small thing compared to what He has done for me...for us.
3. The Gift of Joy - At the Cross, He gave...
He continues to give.
His love and grace warm my heart; brings a smile to my mouth; a song on my lips...
Praising Him for all He has done...
For me! For us!
April 17th
3 Gifts Woven
1. The Gift of Warmth - Before she was unable to hold the crochet hooks, or the knitting needles, my mother (Granny to my children and grandchildren) created many beautiful doilies and afghans. Some of the afghans are still in the family, like this one that provides warmth whenever the grandkids stay overnight with us:
Photo by BJLondon
2. The Gift of Togetherness - Chief Seattle says it very well, that we are woven together:
"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.
All things are bound together...All things connect...
WE CONNECT!
3. The Gift of Creation - God created...and God planned. He knew me before; He knows me now!
He knew who my parents would be, and all about me before He even "Wove me in my mother's womb".
How awesome that He is in control of ALL creation...
Even me!
April 18th
3 Gifts Inherited
1. The Gift of Family Past - Memories of those gone before us, packed away in boxes and boxes of "stuff"; in furniture or dishes; jewelry or clothing; books, papers, pictures...
"Stuff" passed down from one generation to another; "stuff" that is left as our inheritance -
Our memories of Grand Parents, Parents, others...
Our memories of Family Past.
2. The Gift of Family Present - Memories for tomorow, the future, are made now with family and friends.
And, as an avid scrapbooker, I must admist -
This will be true:
3. The Gift of Family Future - "Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine." (Psalm 16:5)
And, Lord, you are my past, my present and my future.
You share my memories of Family Past;
You guide my memories of Family Present;
And You hold my memories of Family Future.
April 19th
3 Gifts Square
1. The Gift of Hands - A beautiful stained-glass window at the front of the church...
Jesus' out-stretched hands, welcoming all to "come to Him";
Though not quite a square...
Take a closer look at Jesus' hands...
They almost fill a "square" portion of the whole window!
Come! Jesus welcomes you; come!
2. The Gift of a Walk - A hymnal, when opened flat, resembles a square -
At least, in my eyes it did! And, since I am the writer...
Our opening hymn in church today was "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"; the chorus of that hymn, inside the pages of the hymnal, is:
"Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee;
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be."
Yes, the gift of a walk with our Lord! Let it be!
Come! Take a walk with Jesus!
3. The Gift of Communion - The Communion Table, a rectangle rather than a square, resembles two squares put together.
A symbol that we, though broken, are "put together" by Jesus Christ, who invites us to "come to the table" where together we join Him for the Holy Eucharist.
Come! Join Jesus at the Table!
April 20th
A Gift Stacked, Stashed, Stilled
A Gift Stacked, Stashed, Stilled
Whether "stacked" on my shelves; "stashed" in storage in boxes; or "stilled" in my hands as I read them...
I enjoy the many books that I have around this small apartment.
Some authors I always pick up to read; others I pull from the shelf at the used book store or a thrift store to "try", discovering new and interesting authors.
April 21st
3 Gifts Found in Christ
1. The Gift of Comfort - My first thought for this gift was from the 23rd Psalm, the last part of verse 4: "...your rod and your staff - the Comfort me" (NRSV).
Then there is Psalm 94:19: "When doubts filled my mind, your Comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer."
And finally, Matthew 9:22: "Daughter, be of good Comfort, your faith has made you whole."
We receive Comfort in Jesus Christ!
2. The Gift of Hope - There are many passages on the word Hope; verses like Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you..." concluding with "...plans to give you Hope and a future."
Check out all of these Hope-ful verses:
Found on Pinterest
Shared by southernhospitalityblog.com
3. The Gift of Everlasting Life - What better verse to share the gift of Everlasting Life than John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life."
And, in Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; point out anything in me that offends you; and lead me along the path of Everlasting Life."
So, these are just three of the many gifts we receive in Jesus Christ...
Comfort
Hope
Everlasting
Thank you, God, for these and all gifts given to us through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Close - (noun) end; (verb) to end; to shut.
Close - (adjective) very near to.
1. The Gift of Closed Doors - Losing a job; finding a seasonal job; then finding a temporary job soon after seasonal job ended...
Hospital stay just after temporary job ended;
No job...
No insurance...
"What do we do now?!"
WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR...
And the path was set for us...
Leave the house that was making me sick - mildew, mold, roof leaks; and no financial way to "fix" the conditions of the house.
But, then the unheard of...
Approved for disability - the first time I applied!
So, with the hospital stay...
God had our attention!
With the prayers lifted up...
He changed my husband's heart!
April 22nd
Three Gifts Close
Close - (noun) end; (verb) to end; to shut.
Close - (adjective) very near to.
1. The Gift of Closed Doors - Losing a job; finding a seasonal job; then finding a temporary job soon after seasonal job ended...
Hospital stay just after temporary job ended;
No job...
No insurance...
"What do we do now?!"
WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR...
Leave the house that was making me sick - mildew, mold, roof leaks; and no financial way to "fix" the conditions of the house.
But, then the unheard of...
Approved for disability - the first time I applied!
Found on Pinterest
Shared by instapray.com
So, with the hospital stay...
God had our attention!
With the prayers lifted up...
He changed my husband's heart!
2. The Gift of Closeness - Many nights I cried out to God after that door - those doors - closed! Many times I reached out, wondering "What now?!"
And, many times God sent blessing after blessing after blessing...
Assuring us that He was close beside us.
3. The Gift of Vision - As I closed my eyes and looked back on all that had happened during those days after losing my job...
I realized there was a reason all of this was happening!
And I realized there was so much that we had in our lives that was good; so much to be grateful for...
And I knew that everything was going to be OK for us! God gave me the opportunity to close my eyes and "see" what the plan was for my life...
YES! I knew I was going in the right direction and the "vision" was totally in sight - retired at an age young enough to be able to enjoy family and friends and hobbies! YES! Thank you God!
And, many times God sent blessing after blessing after blessing...
Assuring us that He was close beside us.
3. The Gift of Vision - As I closed my eyes and looked back on all that had happened during those days after losing my job...
I realized there was a reason all of this was happening!
And I realized there was so much that we had in our lives that was good; so much to be grateful for...
Found on Pinterest
Shared by oprah.com
And I knew that everything was going to be OK for us! God gave me the opportunity to close my eyes and "see" what the plan was for my life...
YES! I knew I was going in the right direction and the "vision" was totally in sight - retired at an age young enough to be able to enjoy family and friends and hobbies! YES! Thank you God!
This is a beautiful list, Barbara.
ReplyDeleteReading this makes me feel thankful, too.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you Romi! I fear the post is very LONG - and I had to re-write it because I messed up when editing! But, here it is...I just realized I didn't finish with one of the images; but I'll add it later!!
DeleteAppreciate your reading and commenting!
Oh Barbara, love these posts of yours, and they make me even more eager to savour her book! Love the verb 'Eucaristeo' and love all of your responses....so thoughtful and considered. Great images, too (you always find the best images!)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I really spend a lot of time looking for images!! would like to learn to use my own photos with quotes and then put my "stamp" on them; but that would take time also!!
DeleteProbably should do shorter responses to the prompts; but, I guess the words are just there...and I want to share them!
I loved the word Eucaristeo, too. She goes into it in her book...I am reading it, but not slowly this time. I want to read through it through first, then read it again slowly so that I can savor the words, and jot things down to remember.
Will be headed back to the used book store next week. Spent today with a friend doing a "stamp class", had lunch, then went to a craft store...then I had to stop by the bulk grocery store...busy day and I am finally getting to computer at 5 pm!!
Take care and thanks for reading and commenting!