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| North shore Sea of Galilee |
Below are a few thoughts from my journal in regards to "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp
Page 154:
"He gave us Jesus. Jesus! Gave him up for us all. If we have only one memory, isn't this one enough? Why is this the memory I most often take for granted?...If God didn't withhold from us His very own Son, will he withhold anything we need?"
How TRUE! Why do I so often forget and react to things as if I deserve better or different? Why do I so often WANT something with the expectation that I have a right to it? Hasn't the Father given me more in the single act of saving grace than I deserve or have any claim to? If this were it and I was condemned to live out my fleshly life devoid of blessing...shouldn't this single grace to my eternal soul be enough blessing to keep me humbly, eternally, joyfully grateful?
But true to His nature...He gives sooooooo much more. He can't help himself. And true to my nature...I am busily focused on my frustrations or trials. I can't be bothered to think of such amazing things that are around me everyday...like Liam's discovery that his wet fingers resemble raisins, or Elijah's belly laughter at his brother's rough play?
Page 156:
"Trauma's storm can mask the Christ and feelings can lie." Enough said.
Page 174:
Quote from FB Meyer: "Well, theories and theology stillbirth unless they can take on some skin, breathe in the polluted air of this world, and make it happen."
This is the crux of it for me. I am almost finished with the book - all the while feeling excited at the prospects of living in gratitude and making a list of a thousand plus things! I can go away from this book energized and within a short time get bogged down in the routine and busyness of life. I can neglect the list making...I'll remember to write that down later and then forget. It will turn into a theory and theology that ends in stillbirth in my own life.
But I want to fight for this. I want to fight my selfish tendencies and navel gazing that I might grasp what joy is in living the everyday. I know it may not be in every moment and everyday, but I want to fight for an eternal perspective and cultivate a heart of gratitude. I am unpracticed, so terribly unpracticed in this. It isn't as simple as a formula...write it down and you'll have magic joy from above! It is something we have to fight for. A discipline I have to cultivate in my everyday.
Page 176
"Joy transcends all other emotions."
I have experienced overwhelming joy amidst a heart in complete shreds. A time in my life when I couldn't get out of bed in the morning and had to ask Jesus for help in the simplest things...and he helped me not only get out of bed, but go to school, go to work and run home to His Word every afternoon with an animal hunger.
I get frustrated because so many believers seem to distinguish the joy and grief as two distinct happenings when they truly can coexist! GRIEF does not have to be ALL GRIEF! It can coexist with MUCH JOY!
Page 194
"when the laundry is done for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs, it's true, I think I'm due some appreciation, so comes a storm of trouble and lightening strikes joy. But when Christ is at the center, when dishes, laundry, work is my song of thanks to him, joy rains. Passionately serving Christ alone makes us the loving servant to all."
A needed reminder to me - especially since I've become a wife and mother. My acts of service are first to the Lord. "And whatsoever ye do , do it heartily , as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Colossians 3:23 I've always thoughts of this verse in terms of employment or service to others, but as I so often do, I neglect to really bring it to my center and refer to it in my role as mom and wife.
Often I find myself selfishly wallowing in thoughts that I deserve some recognition for this or that or appreciation for my lack of sleep, sore muscles, suppers cooked, laundry folded, some help from Andrew in regards to these things as well. But that is where the "storm of trouble" happens. I find myself often rebuked by the Spirit in this regard. I need to write this verse down and post it where I will read it everyday.
If you find yourself interested in reading this book - I would be negligent if I didn't acknowledge she quotes a few theologically questionable people. Some contemplative spirituality ideas are also there, but her words and theology seem to be pretty solid. That said I am soaking up the encouragement and adoring the poetry of her prose.
I think I'll leave it there for now, thanks for reading if you made it this far ;)
"He gave us Jesus. Jesus! Gave him up for us all. If we have only one memory, isn't this one enough? Why is this the memory I most often take for granted?...If God didn't withhold from us His very own Son, will he withhold anything we need?"
How TRUE! Why do I so often forget and react to things as if I deserve better or different? Why do I so often WANT something with the expectation that I have a right to it? Hasn't the Father given me more in the single act of saving grace than I deserve or have any claim to? If this were it and I was condemned to live out my fleshly life devoid of blessing...shouldn't this single grace to my eternal soul be enough blessing to keep me humbly, eternally, joyfully grateful?
But true to His nature...He gives sooooooo much more. He can't help himself. And true to my nature...I am busily focused on my frustrations or trials. I can't be bothered to think of such amazing things that are around me everyday...like Liam's discovery that his wet fingers resemble raisins, or Elijah's belly laughter at his brother's rough play?
Page 156:
"Trauma's storm can mask the Christ and feelings can lie." Enough said.
Page 174:
Quote from FB Meyer: "Well, theories and theology stillbirth unless they can take on some skin, breathe in the polluted air of this world, and make it happen."
This is the crux of it for me. I am almost finished with the book - all the while feeling excited at the prospects of living in gratitude and making a list of a thousand plus things! I can go away from this book energized and within a short time get bogged down in the routine and busyness of life. I can neglect the list making...I'll remember to write that down later and then forget. It will turn into a theory and theology that ends in stillbirth in my own life.
But I want to fight for this. I want to fight my selfish tendencies and navel gazing that I might grasp what joy is in living the everyday. I know it may not be in every moment and everyday, but I want to fight for an eternal perspective and cultivate a heart of gratitude. I am unpracticed, so terribly unpracticed in this. It isn't as simple as a formula...write it down and you'll have magic joy from above! It is something we have to fight for. A discipline I have to cultivate in my everyday.
Page 176
"Joy transcends all other emotions."
I have experienced overwhelming joy amidst a heart in complete shreds. A time in my life when I couldn't get out of bed in the morning and had to ask Jesus for help in the simplest things...and he helped me not only get out of bed, but go to school, go to work and run home to His Word every afternoon with an animal hunger.
I get frustrated because so many believers seem to distinguish the joy and grief as two distinct happenings when they truly can coexist! GRIEF does not have to be ALL GRIEF! It can coexist with MUCH JOY!
Page 194
"when the laundry is done for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs, it's true, I think I'm due some appreciation, so comes a storm of trouble and lightening strikes joy. But when Christ is at the center, when dishes, laundry, work is my song of thanks to him, joy rains. Passionately serving Christ alone makes us the loving servant to all."
A needed reminder to me - especially since I've become a wife and mother. My acts of service are first to the Lord. "And whatsoever ye do , do it heartily , as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Colossians 3:23 I've always thoughts of this verse in terms of employment or service to others, but as I so often do, I neglect to really bring it to my center and refer to it in my role as mom and wife.
Often I find myself selfishly wallowing in thoughts that I deserve some recognition for this or that or appreciation for my lack of sleep, sore muscles, suppers cooked, laundry folded, some help from Andrew in regards to these things as well. But that is where the "storm of trouble" happens. I find myself often rebuked by the Spirit in this regard. I need to write this verse down and post it where I will read it everyday.
If you find yourself interested in reading this book - I would be negligent if I didn't acknowledge she quotes a few theologically questionable people. Some contemplative spirituality ideas are also there, but her words and theology seem to be pretty solid. That said I am soaking up the encouragement and adoring the poetry of her prose.
I think I'll leave it there for now, thanks for reading if you made it this far ;)
3 comments:
Methinks I need to read that book. :) Thanks for sharing your musings.
One Thousand Gifts and A Holy Experience blog are both wonderfilled, spontaneous, inspiring spaces that fill a few minutes (at least) in each of my days. Ann Voskamp is herself a gift, using her gift, for the benefit of all. What a testimony her life and words are to the work that only God can do in a life. Enjoyed your thoughts and applications, too.
thanks for your musings, jaime. they in themselves were an encouragement to me.
"-)
mmh
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