This week begins our journey with One Thousand Gifts. I find it amazing just how much it has already changed the way I look at the world when I awake and start my day. My eyes are open in a different light, and I continually imagine my "hands wide open". Open to receive what he freely gives, open to receive in thanksgiving.
First Session: Attitude of Gratitude
Our first meeting was remarkable. I can't imagine how they will continue to get even better, but somehow I anticipate just that.......more Joy, more Grace, More Eucharisteo, more thanksgiving.
We were all ask to write down five gifts that we felt we were blessed with that day. Below is a list of gifts, each is a gift that was shared from one of our members:
Gifts
Grandchildren they are such a joy
My Mother, she's my best friend
My Church Family I don't know what I would do without them
The gift of life itself
The ability to get up every morning
The safety given to my children
The song of birds singing to me when I wake in the morning, giving me strength to go
For my new roommate that makes me feel young
For sobriety
My new Prius and the gas it saves me!
For the willingness my daughter has to give to the Lord's house
A house full of friends
In session one we are ask to begin our Gratitude Journal. We are ask to write down at least 10 gifts a day that God so freely has given to each of us. It doesn't have to be poetic or have deep meaning. It can be simple stated, simply meant for nothing more than gratitude.....a hot steaming cup of coffee. A simple gift but a delicious one!
Please ask yourself to reflect and write down moments from the the topics below. This part of the journal is for you and you alone, only meant to share if you feel compelled.
Wounded Moments that closed our hands to Grace
Moments of his abounding Grace
Eucharisteo Moments of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving that preceded the Miracle
When your eyes were on God and truly open in thanks
Verses Given for our reading:
Matthew 26 26-29
John 11 38-44
2 Chronicles 20 12-22
Philippians 4 11-12
Things to Think Upon and Pray for in the days to follow:
Thank God for the good gifts he has given
Invite God to teach you how to have eucharisteo (thanksgiving) in the hard times of life
Confess where you have forgotten to be thankful for God's unmerited gifts
Ask Jesus to so fill you with His joy and grace that others see it and are drawn near to Him
Pray for your family members and friends to discover the truth that grace thanksgiving and joy can be theirs through an intimate relationship with Jesus.
Prayer without ceasing is only possible in a life of continual thanks
Look for opportunities to share some of the gifts on your list with other in the coming week. And ask them what gifts God has placed in their lives
The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world
Create personal timelines for up to three moments of loss, pain, and struggle in your life. Note how each situation impacted your past and has influenced your present.
When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep cervices, life grows
Eucharisteo:
By God's hand and kindness we all people who have revealed lives of eucharisteo, grace, thanksgiving, and joy.
Reflect on your journey of faith by listing a few people past or present who have been models and mentors when it comes to living like Jesus
Next pause to thank God for the examples these people have shown you and reflect on how you can internalize their example and let it continue to shape your faith and life.
Finally, during the next week, send an email or handwritten thank-you note to one or two of these people. Let them know some of the ways you have seen their example of walking in grace, thanksgiving and joy. Thank them for walking closely with God and being an example of eucharisteo.
Before we meet for our next session, please take some time and ask yourself these questions, please be prepared to share any of your journey that you would like.
How you are doing when it comes to experiencing the grace in your life.
How you are doing when it comes to expressing thankfulness to God and to others
How you might grow in your expressions of thankfulness and joy
What steps you might take to live a life filled with a spirit of eucharisteo.
Life goes by in a blink of and eye, slow down and live in the moment. The meeting has opened by eyes to just that, living in the moment. When we take the time to write down the gift moments it makes you appreciate them more. looking forward to the next meeting! Thank you Margo for allowing the Lord to use you in a such a wonderful way and to my Tennessee DIVA's (aka Angels) for allowing me to take this journey with you <3
ReplyDeleteMargo, thank you for your unconditional love! Love for God, his purpose, people, life, family, and friends! We are people with decisions to choose the love of the Lord and let it work with us and through us and help lead people to see Jesus and his true LOVE and grace and joy ! my gift today is knowing I have some of the best friends and family STRONG in God,and I am more blessed than you guys will ever know to have each and every one of you in my life helping me on my journey ! I'm excited and can not wait till the next meeting!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent idea. I hope this swells and becomes contagious among all. If I might I would like to list what I am thankful for since I missed the meeting. In no particular order..
ReplyDeleteCoincidence. I don't necessarily believe in the word but the action is undoubtedly present in my life.
Grace. I feel IT everyday.
Mercy. I witness the abundance of mercy always.
Forgiveness. I have learned the true meaning and bask in it's power.
Pure Religion. as stated in James 1:27 I strive to reach this.
Knowledge. Without it we are all ignorant.
Delicate reminders of life ie - sweet smell of roses, soft grass beneath bare feet, sun-kissed skin and the sounds of laughter from my children.
Love. It's easy to forget when you feel it but hard to recall while alone.
Darkness. Yes I am thankful for the dark, without it I could never appreciate the light.
The last two I will combine because in my case they are one and the same. Family and true Friends. I thank God with all my heart for loving kindness of nonjudgmental friends. The freedom that comes with friends that you can talk to, in your ugliest pajamas about the dumbest things that you find interesting. It's real therapy. I know the friends I have are God sent. They have held my hand as I have feared reactions from my writings. They have encouraged me and believed in me. They know my heart before I speak and open their arms before I knew I needed to be held.
I can't be grateful enough. It's a beautiful and glorious feeling. It has power and depth that will feed you if hungry. God bless everyone.
Marene this is beautiful. How well said. I could feel the gratefulness in each line.
ReplyDeleteWhat a journey discovering daily the beauty laid before us that we so easily forget. It's true, when you have your eyes open and you slow down.....it's amazing what you can see!!
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ReplyDeleteI have added to my Gift Journal daily. It is true when you slow down you begin to focus on all the blessing you have around you.
ReplyDeleteYour senses become more alive! You see the world around you in a different light.
The sun shines brighter, ☼ the wind in the trees more special, ♫ a cool drink of water taste better, a hot bath after a long day is unreal, True Gifts ♥
This bible study makes you want more! Feeling more, seeking more about just that, living in the Gift of Moments ♥
We are getting closer to our second session!!! Have you been writing in your journal? I am excited to see how everyone's month has gone!!
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