Looking up

So with this whole "Thankfulness List" one thing I've noticed myself doing is looking up a lot more.  The Psalmist writes that "the heavens declare the glory of God"  and it's amazing how true that is.  In looking up I've seen sunsets that the most talented human artist couldn't portray with all the paint in the world. Even a photographer couldn't capture the changing colors as the sun sinks below the horizon and a videographer could not replicate the grandeur of an entire sky.  I've seen the sunrise pour light into a sleeping world wakening the deep green of trees and causing the still water to glisten.  I've seen that perfect blue of a clear afternoon with the softest white clouds.  I've seen stars beyond number that remind of God's promise to Abraham.  I've seen the peaceful sky split by lightening showing the power of the Almighty God that ordains the path of that incredible bolt. 

There's so much that can be seen looking up.  So much that can cause a heart ot wonder. When I consider that underneath that sky I am but a speck and yet the Lord who paints the sky came and lived looking up at it Himself.  He came and died as the sun He created and set it that sky was covered in darkeness.  He came in humility to pay the price for my sinful rebellion.  The thought that the God who made a sky that declares His glory so clearly chose to love me even though I fail to declare His glory so often fills my heart with thankfulness and wonder. 

Multi-tasking Fail :)

Ha ha so I've been sitting here for a bit thinking about what to write as an intro to this edition of "The List"  and I've discovered writer's block :)  It probably wasn't a great idea to Blog while watching Psych, or while listening to Pandora, or while going through old pictures for a video project.  So rather than turn of the radio and focus (I can't pause a good song)  Here's today's portion of the list without introduction :)
566.  Sound of volleyball hits
567.  Nakita visits
568.  Joy running free
569.  Little girl balancing on a curb
570.  White blossoms
571.  Clutched baby hands
572.  Rusty tool boxes
573.  Garbage bags with handles
574.  The explaination of love in 1 Corinthians 13
575.  Worn pewter
576.  Bent paper clips
577.  Basil flavored olive oil
578.  Imitation crab
579.  Thick blades of grass with separated puddles of glistening dew
580.  Water condensing on a cold glass
581.  Frayed edges of fabric
582.  Orange mini flower pots
583.  Being reminded to be thankful
584.  Zesty Onion ring dip
585.  Winding roads
586.  Old maps
587.  Bright Red garage doors
588.  Funnel Cake
589.  White edged leaves
590.  Solomon's accents
591.  Talented Acrobats
592.  Siberian tigers
593.  Organic Nighty night tea with lime and honey
594.  Philly Cheesesteak
595.  Electric outlets
596.  Yellow plums
597.  Asiago pretzel toasted in a Panini press
598.  Raspberry mocha with whipped cream
599.  Copper colored tile floors
600.  Lake Erie filling the horizon
601.  Clydesdale horses with braided manes
602.  Cardboard cup sleeve
603.  Reflexes

Glimpses of Eternity

Today is laundry day :)  Usually Mondays are laundry day, but Monday was crazy busy and thus Thursday is now invaded with laundry.  I must say I'm not the best at keeping up with chores laundry included I just seem to be an expert at coming up with a wide variety of other things to stand gaurd between me and those mundane chores that manage eventually to pile up to the point that they can no longer be ignored.  Even though I don't exactly enjoy doing laundry there is that moment when I open the dryer door and the scent of lavendar fabric softener fills my breath and I reach in a drawn out the soft, clean pile of warm clothing that is just blissful.  .  . when noticed.  It's amazing how many moments there are in the middle of the most usual activities that when seen as planned gifts from a loving Lord are glimpses of eternity.

534.  Heart shaped leaf
535.  Iron supplements
536.  Janitors
537.  Colored pencils
538.  Harmonicas
539.  Curry Powder
540.  Pillows
541.  Golden skies
542.  Unexpected encouraging words
543.  Pink edges on ominous gray clouds
544.  V8 Juice
545.  Invitations
546.  Carved wood
547.  Purple glass
548.  Distant stars
549.  Globular clusters
550.  Being able to picture funny things described by others
551.  Mosaic designs
552.  Whispering wind
553.  Remembering to look up
554.  Stranger who gave me a coupon for bleach\
555.  BJ's Samples
556.  Kosher salt
557.  Handwritten letters
558.  Warm laundry
559.  Comfy sandals
560.  Mommy pretending to garden  during stealth operations
561.  Fresh squeezed lime juice  
562.  Having the same ringtone as someone nearby
563.  Shared recipes
564.  Friends who are like family
565.  Compassion

Confessions of an Information Junkie

Those of you who know me probably know that I am an information junkie. I like to know stuff and living at this point in history means that if there's something I decide I want to know I can just Google it. And of course I am constantly Googling things like where certain words come from, what major battles were turning points in wars fought long ago, why napping at work is beneficial, and an abundance of other things. Spending a week at camp last month without my phone on I didn't miss Facebook or texting or any of that social networking stuff, I missed having answers at my finger tips.
The thing is in this life There are things that happen with out a clear reason why. And it's so tempting to think that we need answers, to believe that we have to know why in order to accept the trial. However the Lord doesn't always tell us the why behind what He does. He calls us instead to trust that He knows what He is doing.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." We won't always know why, we often won't know why because the secret things belong to the Lord, but we can trust Him in those things because He is OUR God. The Lord does not always let us see the reasons why hard times come, but He promises to love His people and we can trust the reasons why to Him. Our part is to continue to walk obediently in the things He has revealed to us. Sometimes even the information junkie has to lay aside the need for answers and rest in the arms of the Almighty God who is the only thing we really need.

506. Freckles
507. Mud covered monster truck
508. Viking blue bridges
509. Astro Van
510. Becker blue bottles
511. Finger nails
512. Firm grasp
513. Whales
514. Being fearfully and wonderfully made
515. Knitting together
516. People of God
517. Cluttered tables
518. Overflowing bookcases
519. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
520. Orange tomatoes
521. Light reflecting of the guitar
522. Tuned strings
523. Thumb tacks
524. Beads
525. Slivered Moon
526. Xylophone
527. Magazine clippings
528. Juicy sweet watermelon
529. Fancy cheese
530. Guitar guys
531. God's protection
532. The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
533. "I will be your God and you will be My people"

Half-way

So if the goal is 1,000 gifts then with today's entry I am more than half way there.  It really hasn't taken very long for this list to grow and it's already helped me focus so much more on the Lord who pours out blessings in abudence.  I saw a shirt at Kingdom Bound this weekend with a picture of the lucky charms cereal guy on it that said "I'm not lucky or charmed I'm blessed"  How true that is, the good things in my life have a source they're not the result of random chance, magic spells or karma they're result of a loving Father looking at me and saying "This is the good I'm going to do because I love you"  Sometimes those good things are easily identifiable and sometimes the things that are best for me hurt, but all of it comes from a God who loves me and is drawing me more and more to Himself.

419.  Wikipedia
420.  Coffee lids
421.  Storm Clouds clearing
422.  Finding the way
423.  Scenic detours
424.  Antique cars
425.  Celtic Music
426.  Bagpipes
427.  Cellos
428.  Sliced Tomato
429.  Smell of bacon
430.  Knowing God hears
431.  French Celtic music
432.  Light times
433.  Eyes to see Your praises
434.  Dew covered grass
435.  Sunlight streaming through thick woods
436.  Being able to read
437.  Rhythm of a beating heart
438.  Accountability
439.  Meeting goals
440.  Swedish fish
441.  8 o'clock team arriving
442.  Backyard Fire pits
443.  Kiddie pools
444.  Pasta salad with radiator noodles
445.  Cumin
446.  Adjectives
447.  Crunchy celery
448.  Slap bracelets
449.  White thread
450.  Green springy decorations
451.  Jean capris
452.  Cargo pockets
453.  Buttons
454.  Baby blue shirts
455.  "The only thing that's good in me is Jesus"
456.  Church picnic
457.  Lilies overwhelming the traffic circle
458.  Koinania
459.  Stone quarries
460.  Babbling brooke
461.  Tents
462.  Up close thunder and lightening
463.  Mist
464.  Sculpted fountains
465.  Free flip flops
466.  Everything bagels
467.  Free Monk bread
468.  Walkie Talkie guy
469.  Carousel horses
470.  Cobblestones
471.  Gardeners
472.  Clean showers
473.  Drinking rain water
474.  Sign language interepreters
475.  Running into old friends
476.  Seeing VBS kids who are all grown up and are still serving the Lord
477.  Oreo ice cream
478.  Ice cold water
479.  Sun Showers
480.  Tote bags
481.  Flood lights
482.  Bands warming up
483.  Making melody
484.  Conga drums
485.  In-line skater ministry
486.  Berets
487.  Penguin stickers
488.  Raised hands
489.  "Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere"
490.  Wristbands
491.  Sea lions
492.  Various gifts
493.  "This is where the healing begins"
494.  "It's not about what I've done, but what's been done for me"
495.  "You must be really bad because Jesus had to die for you, but you must be really loved because Jesus cared enough to die for you"
496.  "You are who You are no matter where I am"
497.  Safe travels
498.  Being born where the truth is
499.  Blisters that show full days
500.  My own bed
501.  "I'm not lucky or charmed I'm blessed"
502.  Artichokes
503.  Velcro
504.  Well played violins
505.  Afternoon coffee

Busy, busy shockingly busy

Well last night was pretty busy with Youth group, good conversation and all that great stuff.  Work today was busy today too so the addition to the list is a bit shorter than normal, but its not because I wasn't thankful it's because I didn't have time to stop and write :)  The great thing about thankfulness is we don't have to break from life to be thankful,  God created our brain in such a way that we can think about more than one thing at a time!!!!  We are fully able to thank God for blessings as they roll in without missing anything.  Verses that talk about praying without ceasing, rejoicing always and giving thanks at all times can be so overwhelming because the cares of this world take up so much space in my mind, but when I trust God to take care of all that it frees my thoughts to think on Him more and more. 

405.  Clay Pots
406.  Bookcases
407.  Cedar Chips
408.  Memorable scars
409.  Catching mistakes early
410.  Team Timothy Updates
411.  Youth group kickball and basketball
412.  Thankful people
413.  Lingering scent of perfume
414.  Psalm a day Blog
415.  Pudding snacks
416.  Roasted vegetables
417.  Hand made afghans
418.  Open tables

Rejoice in the Lord always and AGAIN I say Rejoice!!!

So as this list gets longer there are more and more times I catch myself starting to add something and then going "Wait that's on the list already!"  It seems that the things we can praise the Lord for often aren't things that happen just once, but things that happen over, and over and over again.  Sometime it can be easy to lose the wonder at those reoccurring blessings.  Yet isn't the beautiful sunrise this morning just as much reason to praise the Lord as the life time of sunrises before it?  Can't the crunchy leaves on the ground today bring as much delight as they did yesterday?  Should not the crash of thunder bring the same awe of it's Maker as every crash of thunder before it?  I think of the Psalmist writing "Restore unto me the joy of my salvation" and can't help but think that I so often have little joy not because the blessings of God have lessened, but because I get used to them.  May I never get used to the grace He pours out in abundance, but constantly be in wonder of the Almighty God of the Universe's love for a wretch like me!!!

341.  Night vision
342.  Old man's hat
343.  Sunlight streaming through windows
344.  Lengthening shadows
345.  Crunching leaves
346.  Telephone poles
347.  Flying seeds
348.  Buttercups
349.  Glint of setting sun off electric towers
350.  Pine Cones
351.  Pine needles scattered across the ground
352.  Scent of pine sap
353.  The Pines in Idaho :)
354.  New discoveries
355.  Picnic shelter by the creek
356.  Red berries
357.  Low hanging branches
358.  Cast iron lamp post
359.  Chronicles of Narnia
360.  Creek side path
361.  Well placed wooden benches
362.  Call of the peepers
363.  Dead trees
364.  Rippling rings in still water
365.  Tall grass brushing against my skin
366.  Abrupt bends in trees
367.  Grass growing through cracked pavement
368.  Wooden steps leading to water
369.  White pillars
370.  Stone walls
371.  Darting white moth
372.  Hearing unknown languages
373.  Click of metal hitting pavement
374.  Illumination of a street lamp
375.  Scuffing across asphalt
376.  The resurrection
377.  Tired muscles
378.  God's steadfast love
379.  Mixed nuts
380.  Baby trees
381.  Good memory (for the most part)
382.  Toilet paper
383.  Curling ribbons
384.  Flyer making software
385.  Orange cat on orange bedspread
386.  Tight harmony
387.  May Your mercy run rampant let it ravage my soul
388.  Shampoo
389.  Conditioner
390.  ".    .    . God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him.   .    ."
391.  Answered prayer
392.  Faithful leaders
393.  Brave soldiers
394.  God's Word is sweeter than honey
395.  Grandpa's Cheesebarn honey
396.  "When I look at Your heavens the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?"
397.  Encouraging friends
398.  Crystal clear blue skies
399.  Broken water balloons
400.  Riches of grace lavished upon us
401.  Gecko climbing the wall
402.  Buttery popcorn
403.  Alaskan pencil
404.  Scooters