I've been travelling: back to Charleston, SC where we once lived when my girls were young. They're all grown now and one is a mother herself. I don't know about you, but looking back 20 years can sometimes be disconcerting. I find it hard not to dwell on my past failures. Also, I was to meet the daughter of a dear friend who has since passed away from Cancer. I knew that could turn me into a melancholy reflective.
Before we left, I was reading Psalm 118, and verse 27 seemed to jump right out at me. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
An unusual verse.
But, my trip felt like a festival of sorts. A trip in the company of three grown daughters seldom happens anymore. So what could my sacrifice be? I prayed that I would have genuine thankfulness, with no regrets: that my heart would overflow with a thankful heart for God's goodness and faithfulness in my life.
We arrived at our condo to the sign of "Begin each day with a Heart of Gratitude" hanging on my bedroom wall. I figured I was on the right track. God's track for me.
I had also packed along Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts. A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. No coincidence there, I'm sure. Ann writes about how the practice of giving thanks is the way we stay present in His presence. I knew this was what I needed, even as we talked of the past.
There is an 'intent to commit to' in verse 27 in the mention of binding the festival sacrifice with cords, for there are times when the sacrifice is difficult. It isn't easy to be thankful in all things, but as Ann writes, God reveals himself in the rear view mirrors of our lives. In the hard times we don't understand what God is doing as we walk through struggles, and he seems absent, but in hindsight we clearly see is faithfulness.
I received so much from my Heavenly dad, during our travels together and a closure of sorts on several levels And, instead of unpacking shame, I choose to walk the path of sincere gratitude and in so doing I travelled in the Father's joyfilled presence and His grace has been more than sufficient for the journey.
https://www.amazon.ca/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490847630&sr=8-1&keywords=one+thousand+gifts
Before we left, I was reading Psalm 118, and verse 27 seemed to jump right out at me. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
An unusual verse.
But, my trip felt like a festival of sorts. A trip in the company of three grown daughters seldom happens anymore. So what could my sacrifice be? I prayed that I would have genuine thankfulness, with no regrets: that my heart would overflow with a thankful heart for God's goodness and faithfulness in my life.
We arrived at our condo to the sign of "Begin each day with a Heart of Gratitude" hanging on my bedroom wall. I figured I was on the right track. God's track for me.
I had also packed along Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts. A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. No coincidence there, I'm sure. Ann writes about how the practice of giving thanks is the way we stay present in His presence. I knew this was what I needed, even as we talked of the past.
There is an 'intent to commit to' in verse 27 in the mention of binding the festival sacrifice with cords, for there are times when the sacrifice is difficult. It isn't easy to be thankful in all things, but as Ann writes, God reveals himself in the rear view mirrors of our lives. In the hard times we don't understand what God is doing as we walk through struggles, and he seems absent, but in hindsight we clearly see is faithfulness.
I received so much from my Heavenly dad, during our travels together and a closure of sorts on several levels And, instead of unpacking shame, I choose to walk the path of sincere gratitude and in so doing I travelled in the Father's joyfilled presence and His grace has been more than sufficient for the journey.
https://www.amazon.ca/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490847630&sr=8-1&keywords=one+thousand+gifts
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