Thursday, September 1, 2011

Practicing Eucharisteo

"I had never really learned the language of “thanks in all things”! Though pastors preached it, I still came home and griped on. I had never practiced. Practiced until it became second nature...Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation...Do not disdain the small. The whole of life - even the hard - is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole...There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things. It is this: to give thanks in this one small thing. The moments will add up. I, too, had read it often, the oft-quoted verse: “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). And I, too, would nod and say straight-faced, “I’m thankful for everything.” But in this counting gifts, to one thousand, more, I discover that slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life...Life-changing gratitude foes not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time."


- Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts


August 16, 2011

201. A toothless smile on a grinning boy's face

202. Little girl lashes so long and silky

203. The shy delight of children enthralled when I enter their world of make believe

204. Dainty white flower petals hanging over a garden wall

205. Laughter around the table during ladies' Bible study

206. Childlike eagerness to memorize and recite God's Word

207. A hundred mushroom dinners being cooked in the backyard by children inspired by "Ratatouille"

208. The smell of toast in the toaster

209. Green smoothies

210. God's love


August 19, 2011

211. The rich, silky nuttiness of homemade almond butter

212. Spring days

213. Piano playing

214. Beloved hymns

215. Being surrounded by books in a church library

216. Chocolate granola

217. The children's excitement over Scripture memory

218. Sparkly gold coins

219. Evening sunlight creating golden halos around little girls' braided hair

220. Playing catch with Edgar at the park

221. Pink clouds

222. Evening talks with Tía Anita


August 25, 2011

223. Birthday candle light flickering in Angel's eyes, reflections of joy and childlike wonder

224. The realization that God is answering prayer and giving me genuine love for these kids and passion for this ministry

225. Continued eagerness to learn Scripture

226. Walking the rest of the way to our destination when the taxi driver didn't understand where I wanted to go - it was good exercise and possibly Divine protection against an unknown mishap...?

227. Ana Maria's body melting into mine as she relaxed into sleep on the bus ride home

228. The ever awe-inspiring, changing tones of afternoon sunlight and clouds over the mountains

229. Wrinkle-nose smiles

230. Phone call to Mema and Papa during family birthday dinner


August 30, 2011

231. New music from the Galkin Evangelistic Team filling my room with joyous strains. A free gift!

232. A bag of American crunch and yumminess

233. The smell of banana bread baking in the oven

234. Brown paper packages tied up with strings...the arrival of all the packages I was expecting!

235. Interior design beauty in the home of another missionary lady - reflecting God's beauty

236. Yellow pineapple and monkey bread

237. Candles flickering...so homey

238. A Sunday school lesson given

239. Transformation at the hands of God


August 31, 2011

240. Baby's breath warm against my skin

241. Warm afternoon nap with sleeping baby snuggled in the crook of my arm

242. Arches of green ivy vines dappled with golden sunlight

243. Teenage girl delighting to hold a newborn babe, awe clearly written across her face

244. Kindness

245. Evergreen needles reaching for the sunshine

246. Wind in the leaves, rustling gently

247. Clippers snipping, pruning, cutting away to beautify

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