Why?

"Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other.  Act on what you hear!  Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like."    James 1:22 (The Message) 

                                      (Note: Picture from http://onethousandgifts.com)


I recently read a book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and as I was reading I knew it had the potential to change my life.  But first, I had to act on what I had read instead of simply letting it flow in one ear and out the other, which I have a tendency to do. So, here's the "why" as in "why I decided to start this blog"...

It would have been easy to read the book, feel God's nudging, and then move on while the book found itself snugly nestled between other books on the bookshelf.  However, I didn't want to do that this time.  

For me, I knew I needed to begin this journey of counting gifts through a blog setting so I would be committed to purposefully recognizing God's presence, handiwork, and the multitude of gifts he freely gives each day.  Ann Voskamp explains, "The practice of giving thanks....eucharisteo....this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes.  We don't have to change what we see.  Only the way we see."

  
My desire is to joyfully accept our Savior's plan whether things are exceedingly wonderful or life takes a drastic detour.  I have much to learn and grow in this process.  I am anxious to begin drawing closer to the heart of God through my new One Thousand+ Gifts life.

One more quote from Ann, "We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks.  Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving?  Thanksgiving is evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives.  Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace.  Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience; thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole, fullest life."

Thank you for joining me in this journey.  I encourage you to read One Thousand Gifts and I hope it will have a lasting impact on your life as well.  I would love to hear how you are documenting your gifts!

Please stay tuned for details regarding exactly what the One Thousand+ Gift life will look like for me!

In the meantime, I encourage you to spend some quiet moments digging through following websites...
A Holy Experience
One Thousand Gifts