My life right now is full of good things. Cultivating a life of gratitude is one of the many ways the Shepherd can use to gently lead me in paths of grace when times get rough, as I know they will at some future point. Nobody's existence is perfect or easy. I thank the Lord for the times of peace, though, when He renews my strength with blessings.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
But those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles;
They shall run and not grow weary;
They shall walk and not faint.
~ Isaiah 40:28-31
26. Our first printer/copier machine
27. Frozen York Peppermint Patties
28. Basil growing in my herb pots
29. Husband studying the book of Joshua at the men's group
30. Guitar ensemble's final concert of the season at the retirement community
31. Clear notes from the mandolin
32. Baby birds singing to be fed in their nests
33. Air conditioning in the car
34. Happy dreams about the baby
35. Not having to set a wake-up alarm
36. Pancakes with boysenberry syrup
37. Last week of teaching before maternity leave begins
38. Conversation with my love during breakfast
39. The blessing of memorized Scripture
40. Friendly dog at Starbucks
I read that review the other day, too. I haven't quite finished the book yet, so I don't have an opinion on the one chapter in particular he was uneasy about in an intimate sort of way, but after reading the comments, other reviews, and especially Ann's blog http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/05/how-to-really-survive-a-heart-attack/ I'm still blessed by it. I don't think she is a mystic or pantheist or leading people astray. My opinion of the book so far is that it is a poetic plea to gratefulness and training eyes to see God's goodness in everything. I haven't seen an aberration of God's Biblical character or truth. I do respect and usually agree with Challies' opinion on many things, but he is merely a man with exactly that - an opinion. I do hope that it doesn't deter other women from reading the book and forming their own. I have gained much from a plethora of authors with different theologies and backgrounds: Lewis, Chesterton, Nouwen, Wright... I wouldn't agree with all (or even a lot) of their beliefs, but surely my understanding and relationship with our Creator has been deepened by their insights. As long as we measure everything by His inspired, inerrant and infallible Word, we have freedom.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful you are cultivating the soil of gratefulness before our little one comes along. Children have a way of tilling our gardens ;)
I think your mom just called dibs on your kid by referring to it as 'ours'. Now THAT was a smooth dibs.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! Ryan, you are right - funny you picked that up ;) I actually got that from Em. The last time we were in St. Louis, Alyssa had said something about "my" baby and Em indignantly piped up, "It's not just yours, it's part of our family, too!" So we've been calling the little bug "ours".
DeleteI'm okay with the baby being "ours" : ) I like the phrase "cultivating the soil of gratefulness", mom!
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