April Gratitude Nudges

From Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience

Mid-Week Question~January 16

Were you able to get through last week on your own strength?

 

A Free Download:  A Year of Gratitude from Ann Voskamp

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More Questions

Monday Words for the Soul~November 19

Blessings…Count ‘Em and send praise right back to their Giver!

 7 Gifts in this little mini booklet by Ann Voskamp

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Additional Words for the Soul

Picture Source

Preparing for Blessings

A simple request from Jerilynn came last winter to speak on Blessings. Such an timely topic at Thanksgiving. The simplicity of the one word title extends to the simplicity of the practice.

Blessings.

…to receive, experience, and, especially, to bestow to others.

Bestowing Blessings.

In preparing to speak, I’m preparing my supply list.

What would you include?

~A picture that says so much:

~A link to We Love Gratitude, a web journalling site begun by Crystal Belle

~A free App from Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts at this link or search “One Thousand Gifts” on your iPhone’s Entertainment tab

~A quote to consider: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ~Cynthia Ozick

~An important point for me to remember: Counting Blessings counters our fear manifesting as the “fear of not having enough” and the “fear of not being enough.”

~A verse to read, re-read, and memorize through tears:

What would you include?

Midweek Question~October 24~Legacy Past or Future?

How do you leave a legacy different than the one you’ve been left?
How can grace get a hold of you when the past won’t let go of you?

Both questions from Ann Voskamp in this post

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Previous Questions

Joy and Pain

Please click here to read a helpful post on life in obstacles called “The Sweet Aroma of Crushing” by Lynn Mosher on Jean Wise’s blog.

Wealth or Poverty

Herbert Simon, Nobel Prize winning economist commented

“A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”

Do you agree?

I think a variation of this is true in my spiritual life.

A wealth of distractions creates of poverty of attention on my relationship with God. I may not overtly say “No” to God but I definitely say, “Not Now”

Especially during storms.

And even during times of immense blessing.

Or extreme busyness.

I think I know best about this life that He gave to me.
Ahhh…
Because of Grace, He promises peace in the storms of distractions. He gives calm and steadiness in flurry.

He is Jehovah Shalom

Are we rich today or in poverty?

Have we “said ‘yes’ to God’s grace of a Messiah?” Have our lives “said ‘no’ to God’s gift of this moment” as Ann Voskamp describes in this post?

Ann Voskamp cautions, “we are always saying yes to someone”

Ann’s reminder is for me today: Peace is a Person, not a place

And we are rich in His grace!

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD;  in you I take refuge  ~Psalm 141:8

a Grace Scavenger Hunt

Go on a Grace Scavenger Hunt…What can you find? What can you leave?

Last week, I considered moving a blog and a dog.

I found grace in the calls of a friend who stayed with me during all of the panel interviews. Whose reassurances reminded me that listening to my inner voice cautions was the correct path “to heed”

Last week, I saw the Grace of a river that flows North, against the usual flow.
Toured a house for lease because of divorce… Another for lease because of a move for an autistic child.

Amid the unusual currents and broken dreams, I needed to remember:

There is a little secret something so amazing, so miraculous and so wonderful…
The secret is that there is nothing that others can do to really hurt us from the outside when we do not allow our own thoughts to hurt us on the inside. Once we take care of what is going on inside of our minds and our hearts and our souls, anything that tries to come at us from the outside simply can have no influence on our life. Brave Girls’ Club

Amid the unusual currents and broken dreams, I wanted to leave a note: You are Loved

Picture from http://www.aholyexperience.com

The graffiti can be grace.
What seems a defacement may be a glimpse of His face. ~Ann Voskamp

I left a note in the motel room I left; another in the Budget rental, and the airplane seat pocket in front of me.
There are pictures to commememorate this on the fancy phone. When I learn how to download I will post.

There are many lessons to download this week.

Chief of them: Because of Grace it is ok to look for more than “a job”

Grace is the “dialect of God is the day just as it comes — the divine language of love written on all the walls.

Grace always shocks.

Grace always stuns.

Grace is always what we need.

It’s what everyone groping around lost in the dark has to know: turn towards Grace and you turn on all the lights. ~Ann Voskamp

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Go on a Grace Scavenger Hunt…What can you find? What can you leave?

Saturday Digest~February 18

This week found me in the middle of questions…things to be decided once and for all…

~And there seemed to be questions in blogs too… “In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?”  The answer is in this post and video….Kindly read more From Paul, The Gratitude Guru

~Why Do I Suffer? I Suffer because…Sometimes the obvious question is the one worth asking. This post by Cheri Huber contained a new, favorite quote for me:

Now I am curious about what it feels like to live in Technicolor instead of monochrome – to be the picture instead of the negative.

~The Upside of Moving: “When God moves us out of our comfort zones, it is a gift. We are being given a gift. These hard places give us the gift of intimately knowing God — in ways that would never be possible in our comfort zones.” Ann Voskamp is this post of thoughtfulness

~This is the best medicine for me to take right now…Remember, sweet friend, that so much of the best wisdom we will ever earn will come from learning things the hard way. Please don’t beat yourself up over things that didn’t go the way you had hoped, over steps that were wrong, over roads that were dark. from Brave Girls Club, Read entire sentiment by gently clicking here

Video of the Week:

Please remember, His Grace is reaching for us…

Listen to the Sound  Building 429

Saturday Digest~February 11

~Kind of getting to the age where this is an attractive post: Super Health Benefits from Ginger Baths

A special thought of love right before Valentine’s Day:
Love lets go of it’s ultimatums — to ultimately hold a person Ready to let go of pain of the tearing apart of what was. Ready to take the ripped scraps, stitch them together, to make a sail from what’s dead and catch the wind ahead. Ready to take wind blowing in beyond my control, and just make water of it. I’ve been thirsty too long and I am desperate to drink. Sometimes letting go is how to find out He holds. Ann Voskamp, When the Wind Blows and Love Tries to Hold On

~How are you doing on your focus word for the year? Can you find the word “Affirm” in this word cloud by Bonnie Grey @ Faith Barrista?

~Still loving the images and languid pace of Winter’s description by David Arms:
Just like no two types of trees grow the same leaves, no two types of trees grow their branches in the same formation. And when the trees are bear, the intricacy of these patterns is beautifully displayed against the grey skies of winter. ~David Arms

~It really is time because “There is no time left for hesitating, protecting our hearts, or living in fear of doing the “wrong” thing, not pleasing others, rocking the boat. That way of living simply is not working. It’s an old paradigm whose days are numbered.” ~Alia in the Inner Bliss Blog post you will appreciate… Breathe and Read this post. Breathe and Read

~Ok, I have put on my big girl smile and adjusted to the announcement that April is the end of Picnik. Thanks to Ann Voskamp for providing these alternatives to Picnik

Most of us are looking for happiness in all the wrong places…Here’s Rachel’s road-map for increasing your levels of happiness…a blog pep talk shared by my friend Garrett at We Love Gratitude

 Video of the Week
You Belong by Mela Kamin

The Day After Thanksgiving

I hope Thanksgiving gave you big bear-hugs and  pleasant memories.

And if there are a few bitter memories, my wish is that you will toss them out along with the turkey carcass.

And I wonder, this Day After,  What if  we embrace gratefulness beyond tokens of thanksgiving, dutiful gratitude journals, and a few hastily written thank you notes?

What if we Remain Thankful?

What if gratitude became as natural as speaking?

Gratitude is a language you speak with your hands, the way you form the vowels and spaces of your life and we could all learn it together. ~Ann Voskamp

How to I begin to speak the language of gratitude?

For me, perhaps it is by allowing myself to Remain. By easing up pace just a bit so I can mindfully notice the miracles, and loiter, and dwell in them. And then sharing those miracles in community.

The key to a thankful heart is focusing more on what God HAS DONE for you rather than on what you need. ~Rick Warren.

I want to Remain Thankful and continue the process of Thanksgiving so the language of gratitude becomes my default setting.

Write items you are grateful for on tags or leaves, then add to tree.

Every Moment A Cathedral

Every Moment A Cathedral from becauseofgrace on Vimeo.

Related Post: Focus Word, Praise
Carrie Underwood/Vince Gil, How Great Thou Art

Focus Word~Praise

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1-2

Praise is about loyalty of the heart. Praise is focus. On God.
Not. On. Me.

 “Skill Set” is a phrase flung around a lot. Skill sets are the collection of talent that a person has learned, received, and polished to the point of integration. Skill sets appear on resumes, job descriptions, committee vision statements and personal journals. There is a caution in touting skill sets as cemented talents, available as solutions to every problem without consulting The One who anointed us with them.

I am working to push Praise~~~Praising God~~~to the top of my skill set. This change may not be visible on my LinkedIn resume, but on my heart.

King Jehoshaphat is a great example.

Joyce Meyer, in her book The Battle Belongs to the Lord, describes the example of King Jehoshaphat in leading his people. In getting ready for battle, instead of moaning about the task ahead, concentrating on his fears, or asking God for his battle plan,

King Jehoshaphat put praise first:
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.
~2 Chronicles 20:6 (continue reading through verse 11)

“Our part is to focus on Him and His mighty power, worshipping Him and praising Him for the manifestation of His solution and listening for a word or direction from Him” Joyce Meyer, The Battle Belongs to the Lord.

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
~ Hebrews 13:15

Make every moment a cathedral giving glory…Ann Voskamp

How is this continual praise cathedral-building done?

1. Christy sets several timers on her iPhone during  the day to prompt her to praise
2. Bill has praise verses on cards he carries in his suit pocket
3. Charlene keeps praise music quietly in the background of her home and office.
4. CB has a folder called “Praise” in her Outlook so that when she is on a phone hold, she can scroll through it
5. JR has an iPhone Bible app, with praise verses highlighted
6. Garrett tweaks blog posts of gratitude and praise to reference

Would you add to the list?

What are some specific ways that you are offering continual praise to God?
and/or
What are your Go-To verses of Praise?

“How Great Thou Art” Video, Carrie Underwood/Vince Gil
Ann Voskamp Quote Source

Saturday Digest~August 27

This Saturday Digest calls on reflection, time to ponder, time to brew in your mind like a glass of sun tea in the waning hours of a late summer day.

Something to read slowly and then think about and re-read:

“Catastrophizing is how we make our own soul-cages. That fear’s always the flee ahead. That he really could take one long, deep breath and just relax. Abide. Because it’s never about your capabilities. When you’re in covenant with Christ, it’s His responsibility to cover your cracks, to be all your competency and completeness. Inabilities, in Christ, are made all-sufficient, just-right abilities. Abandon worries — and wholly abide. Ann Voskamp http://www.aholyexperience.com/

and

The Lord wanted me to NOT live by my emotions, feelings and circumstances, but by His power, His strength, walking in faith and trusting Him in all things. ~Charlene Steinkamp, Rejoice Marriage Ministries

Great Thoughts I saw on Our Prayer.org:

~Unless we rely on God’s power within us, we will yield to the pressures around us.

~Teach us, Lord, to trust Your hidden hand, leading in ways we may not understand.

 My Favorite Pinterest Pin: this butterfly with little hearts:  http://pinterest.com/pin/113535243/

Sip tea and Praise God!

Saturday Digest~ July 9

Amanda has done it again! Gentle reminders of kindness from her stockpile of awesomeness~

 

Astronomy Picture of the Day
In honor of the last shuttle flight. Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating
universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

Learning to Like Yourself by Joyce Meyer Did you know that you and I have to learn to deal with our do separately from our who? The fact is, I don’t do everything right all the time, but that doesn’t affect who I am. I know I’m loved and that I’m still a good person. I’ve made mistakes in my life—and I’m sure I’ll make mistakes in the future—but I still like myself

The True Way to Be Humble, by Ann Voskamp

And, a great family project~~~the Summer Photo Checklist

:)

Saturday Digest~June 25

Please settle in with a cool beverage and read this beautiful post on Love and Acceptance called “A Hard Look at Love”  from Dyamond, a beautiful writer and seeker in the Be Gentle, Be Love class

For those who can see, the world’s beauty outweighs its burdens, its grace greater than its grime. When gratitude journals became my permanent life furniture, white spaces opened wide, empty pages like cups to heaven, waiting to be filled with the color of His graces… my universe shifted. by Ann Voskamp. Please continue reading by gently clicking here

Coaching yourself toward positive changes, please click here to read this post by Belle Pirri

Distributive Positivity! Free Download of Positive printables~Click Here

Is there an i in Escape?

Another personal icon in my life fell this week in a crushing torrent of rage. A surprise to my ego since this icon, This Voice,  did damage so close to the bone of my identity. So close to the identity I thought defined me, since I had inherited parts of it.  So surprising the suddenness of the quake of it.

And all I wanted to do was escape. Run. Leave.

And keep going. Keep walking. Away.

I retreated as far as the job listings in a familiar place. And there was one. There always is. And a friend there too. And an invitation.

To escape. But escape is a gilded temptation. Because when I escape, I take myself. And my problems. And my fears.

“Only leave when the crisis has passed and things are calm,” the mentor once said.

I remember those wise words now. And that is the wonder of it.So, what? So, what now?

From my memory, something familiar develops, fuzzy at first before Polaroid-clarity.  

Return to the basics. “Watch the ball,” the good coach would say. “See it meet the strings of your racket. See it until your focus slows it down. Breathe through your shot. Good. Do it again. And again. 100 forehands. 100 backhands. 100 overheads. 100 volleys-each side. 100 serves. 100 lobs.
Always end with the lobs, because they take the most patience.”

And fast forward to today~~Return to the Basics: Stay Present. Breathe Deeply. Return to Water: drink it, submerge in it, splash in it, soak in it, let the tears remain from it. Return to what God says about me. Remember my identity in Him.

He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. Isaiah 40:11



Ann Voskamp

Return to Gratitude and the wonder and truth that you and I are here because of grace .
And the escape comes in what The Father is making new.

This song is a gift for the escapee in me: Click to listen: Solid Ground by Shelly Moore Band

:)

To read Ann Voskamp’s entire post, with her quote included, please gently click here.

What I Learned This Week~~~Because of Grace

☺ The servant-hearted never serve alone. Serve God –spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives — and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for: Joy in Him…To read more, gently click here

☺ There is such relief in knowing that the most important time is happening right now.  I can really let go of my worries about the future, ruminations about the past, and truly experience the freedom of living in the present moment.  To read more, gently click here 

☺ We are designed for community… To read more, gently click here 

☺ It is not our job to be overwhelmed…To read more, gently click here

☺ Put your personal fingerprint on the service of your life and have fun creating memories for another. To view this movie, gently click here

Wednesday What If

What if gratitude was as natural as breathing, because we knew in our bones that the air we breathe is grace?

Ann Voskamp, A Holy Experience

Moving Out of Comfort Zones

“When God moves us out of our comfort zone —- into places that are way bigger than us, places that are difficult, hard, painful —- that even hurt — this is a gift. We are being given a gift. These hard places give us the gift of intimately knowing God in ways that would never be possible in our comfort zones.”
Ann Voskamp in A Holy Experience, to read the entire post, gently click here