A Blog of Benediction

2009-02-13T06:14:00.001-08:00

I'll be continuing my Thousand Gifts posts at my personal blog Meditations and Confessions of a Homemaker. See you there! :)

twelve: giveaways and the givers

2008-12-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

Gift 12. I won two beautiful gifts from two beautiful givers through blogging of all things today! Thank you Jesus! May the givers be more blessed than the receiver!

Gift Eleven: Front Yard Oppurtunities

2008-12-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Ten. A Day of Thanks

2008-11-27T04:56:00.000-08:00

Ten. I'm so glad for a day dedicated to giving thanks! I need to pause and really, purposefully give thanks everyday, but having a dedicated day to such a cause is really refreshing.

"On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence." -William
Bryan

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name!!! Psalm 103:1

Gift Nine

2008-11-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

Nine. The written Word.

Oh Lord, this morning and daily I'm so thankful I have ready access to Your written Word! I savor every glimplse and taste I get of You! For I love You who I've never seen with my eyes and if I didn't have Your letter... my lovesick heart might loose hope!!!

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them."
- Psalm 19:11

Gift Eight

2008-11-19T04:10:00.000-08:00

8. The oppurtunities we have daily to come face to face with our mortality, and thereby come face to face with the High Priest who shared in our humanity so that by his death he might destroy the fear of death!

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so
that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is,
the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their
fear of death. - Hebrews 2:14-15

Gift seven

2008-11-12T23:43:00.000-08:00

7. Middle of the night bowls of cereal! I went to bed early last night- 7:45pm!! I was soooo pooped from an aerobics class I had taken, and my kids were pooped from the lack of a nap, so we hit the hay early. But then at about midnight (as I type this it's 12:45am) I woke up hungry. I went to my fridge, pulled out the milk, opened the pantry, grabbed the Kix (yes, I like Kix :), and made myself a bowl.

In many places in the world, waking up at night to pour yourself a bowl of cereal is not an option. It's the ease with which I can go get something to eat at any time which lulls me into forgetting to give thanks to the One who has provided me all things!

So, thank You, my Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will provide) for the food and storage you provide. Whether my fridge and cupboards are full or empty, it is You who provide!

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. - 1 Timothy 6:17

Gift Six

2008-11-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

6. The Word of God. My feelings are an upset sea this morning and last night. I'm overwhelmed and if I let my feelings rule I'll run away (I don't know where... but that's feelings for you). I'm hanging on to God's word this morning. I'm believing His word is true and that He is faithful and that He is my hope despite my female, sinful, hormonal, emotional self.

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. -Proverbs 30:5

Gift five

2008-10-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

"Although no violence is in my hands, and my prayer is pure. O earth, do not cover my blood, and let my cry have no resting place! Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high. My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God." Job 16:17-20

5. The book of Job and honest talk with God. Seems an unlikely book to bless God over, but as I read it this morning I find myself refreshed by the honesty of Job before God and others. As I'm reading I'm thinking of my own kids.

Last night, as I was tucking them in, my 3 year old prayed, "God. You made milk. God. If you add the itemems (that's items) to it you can make coffee." My baby was talking to God what was on his mind... how he sees coffee is made. He was telling God how to make coffee. Now, if I was religious, haughty and cynical like Job's "friends" I probably would have said something in response to his prayer like, "Son, you don't need to teach God how to make coffee." But I didn't (although the old wretch in me tends to be just that kind of a person... a Job's "friend"), instead I smiled and prayed that God would guard and keep that tender, childlike faith in my sons all their lives. I pray they'll never learn to "say" prayers but rather always cast all their cares on Him because He cares for them... even if their care is how coffee is made.

Gifts Three and Four

2008-10-10T19:42:00.001-07:00

3. My husband. The Lord's anointed in my life. "I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation." (1 Samuel 26:23b-24) I love him dearly, with the love of Christ, and increasingly my heart abounds with thanks to God for all He teaches me about HIMSELF through my precious husband!

4. My precious sons. The priceless souls I'm making disciples of. "But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives." Galatians 4:19 NLT

Gifts One and Two

2008-10-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

I love people who "spur one another on to love and good deeds," and I pray I am one myself.

Recently I read a post by Jennifer at Gathering Grace about the journal of gratitude she was starting online to continue her "1000 Gifts" posts. When I went to check out her grateful blog I found that her inspiration was Ann. So I headed over to Ann's place A Holy Experience. It had been one of those days when I was talking to my soul, you know, like David, looking down at my chest with my tired, about to bust forth into tears eyes, questioning, "Why are you so downcast oh my soul? Why so disquieted within me? Put your hope in God woman!!!" (okay, that's not an exact translation ;). And just reading the expression of thankfulness in Ann's blog to the Lord and her acknowledgement of Him in everything from clothespins to a child's words was like a dose of much needed medicine. It sent that downcastness flying away.

As I prayed after reading I said something to the effect of, "Lord, this is what you want me to do. This is the action of faith I need to take daily to walk by Your Spirit and not by my flesh and feelings. I need to speak and write out the seeing of You and YOUR benefits in everything in my life!

So this evening I begin my blog of benediction. Benediction is one of those old words we don't use very often, but it's rich with meaning. According to the etymology dictionary it means "to speak well of, bless". I want to speak well of God and bless Him whether on mountain highs or shadow-of-death-valley lows.

Tonight I begin with gift number 1 and 2:

1. The testimony of God's presence, restoration and power during suffering shared with me by a young woman I just met a few weeks ago. Truly:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with
the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if
we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective
for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted,
it is for your consolation and salvation. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6

2. People who spur me on to love and good deeds. Thanks Ann and Jennifer.