1,000 Gifts in 2012

This year I am taking the challenge to foster a heart of gratitude by naming 1,000 gifts in 2012. Read more about the challenge here. I want to make new habits this year.

A habit of not complaining, but the habit of giving thanks; the habit of not worrying, but a habit worshipping. The habit of repeatedly giving God praise that our lives might become a prayer. Small is always the leverage of large. It’s one moment after the other, the small moments that turn a life. It’s the small actions that can change a life.

It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life.

I know I can't do this alone. I need the Father's grace-- I need it every minute of every day. Help me Father!

I may not be able to share all 1,000 gifts with all of you, but I thought I would try to share as time allows. Let us encourage one another to consider the many gifts the Lord bestows on us each day.

12. A roof over my head, worn-out slippers, coffee.

13. A suckling baby, "mommy, mommy", praise music.

14. Jonah's birth, the way he saved my marriage before it started, how he cared for the Linc.

15. My wedding ring, my timing, a delicious meal.

16. Judah's squeal when a friend opened the door, Jonah smiling and laughing at the sight of MarMar, Nathan chasing Judah and Logan around the kitchen.

17. Judah washing his face with a tissue he dipped in the toilet, open conversations with friends, my husbands embrace.

18. He will never leave me, His grace IS POWER, He gently leads those with young.

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17

Washed by the Water

On November 27th, just one day after La'Markus' 17th birthday, he chose to be baptized. Hallelujah! The Lord alone draws the lost. We know that La'Markus is in His hands. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all that we want to teach and give to him, but we are reminded that God didn't start to care for him when he came into our home. The word says that God knew him when he was in his mothers womb (Jeremiah 1:5). Despite all that he has been through, our God has always and will always be there for him (Hebrews 13:5). We continue to pray that La'Markus will draw nearer to the Him. Please continue to pray with us.

"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

Hebrews 10:19-25