greater things are yet to come...

My Thank You list as of now:

#211-#269:

#215 my friend has a little bean growing in her tummy :)
#218 being back in my birth-country, South Africa, for the first time in 14 years.
#224 cousins
#227 Your constant love, never failing, Jesus
#232 Your long awaited coming, ever drawing near...
#236 Your protection and unfailing love.
#238 the beauty of this cold place- mountains, blue skies, frosted trees, wind carved snow banks
#239 much needed telephone conversations with faraway friends
#243 midday naps
#245 bobcat under the trampoline
#247 the conviction of Your Spirit
#251 buy one, get one, quarter chicken dinners shared at Swiss Chalet
#252 the clouds on fire with the setting of the sun
#255 habits forming by Your grace
#257 twinkle lights hidden in twine balls, imperfectly draped around my window
#262 a friend's safety in a devastated flood-zone
#263 the faithful ones through the centuries, and what we learn
#265 my church takes prayer seriously, and I can be a part of that.
#268 morning coffee in a stainless steel travel mug
#269 your word being stored up in my mind, You helping me, Spirit.


"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, in Christ" Ephesians 1:3.

Add to the beauty

#193-one more answer, huge relief
#196- a mental picture, your hand transforming my heart, to help me get over myself, my judgments, your grace working on this hardness, so I can love.
#199- a warm house in -33C weather
#200- my brother
#201- morning leisure with new friends: inhaling the mountain air, perusing flower shops, drinking tasty coffee, real conversation and laughter.
#202- S.P. helping in Haiti
#203- friends who love me for me
#208-butterfly necklace reminder
#209-releasing of gifting
#210-Waking to the Truth -Audio Bible playing on my alarm clock (Hebrews 6-12).

"This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.” -Hebrews 8:10-12

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!"- Hebrews 9:14.

winter is here.

This week I am most thankful for God's mercy. His love for us, so that we can love.
I am again aware of how broken I am, and in need of Grace.

"Lord I do not want to be like those who refuse to pay attention to You. Please hep me not to turn my back in stubbornness and stop up my ears just because Your will is hard at times. Help me not to make my heart as hard as flint and refuse to listen to the words that You, Lord Almighty, have sent by Your Spirit. (Zech. 7:11-12)...

Not by might nor by power, but by your Spirit, Lord Almighty (Zech 4:6), I will be able to forgive...

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that You, Lord, are able to guard what I have entrusted to You. (2 Tim. 1:12) I entrust this situation to You, Lord.

O, God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men (Titus 3:2).
(Prayers from Praying God's Word-Beth Moore)


I have been given the gift of a will.. I am able to choose..
Thanking.. despite all... joy in midst of circumstances

^"6Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!"

Psalm 32:6-11

Thank You's #169-192:

#169- Snow! Snow! Snow!
#170-A warm car that runs well on icy roads
#171-A call from Guatemala
#176 -God you knew the community I needed to walk through these changes..Thank you.
#178 -Sara Groves- Add to the Beauty album
#180-Christmas Banquets and Poems
#181-Flat Tire rescue in -28C weather, Lord for parents who care and help.
#182-Lessons about selfishness, harshness, lack of gentleness.
#186-Gift of money from a kind generous older gentleman "Merry Christmas" cheque made out to a student with little money.
#187-Apologies through tears, following upheaval.
#189-Ginger pudding.


"Patient waiting does not come naturally to most of us, but a great deal is said about it in the Bible. It is an important discipline for anyone who wants to learn to trust..."-Elisabeth Elliot.

Birthday week Blessings

I turned 27 last week.
Another year of my life has passed.

I want to continue cataloging the blessings (#144-#168):

#146 - Contact lenses that fit my large eye-balls
#147 - Patience
#151 - Slowly learning to love myself because You love me
#154 - another beautiful afternoon for a walk with mountain-views and rays of sun through dark clouds
#156 - A prayer ministry started - Thank you Lord!
#160 - Reality
#162- Games and laughter
#164- 27 Birthday candles
#165 - Christmas Markets with pastries, apple cinnamon smells, twinkle lights, twigs and sprigs, yuletide tunes from live musicians.
#168 - A diner breakfast and conversation with a dear friend.

God's grace to all of you.

A thousand thank you's

In the last year I have sensed God nudging me to make more room for Him in my life.

One way I am doing this recently is to work some spiritual disciplines into the way I live everyday. I have been praying and God has blessed me with a semester at school that is filled with classes that focus on digging deep into the soil of my soul and planting for growth. I am down on my knees in the dirt, sorting out my wounds, plucking the weeds and yielding as the Gracious Gardener prunes and nurtures.
One way He is teaching me, is the way of Thanks.

I was introduced to this encouraging community of blogs that feature those who are journeying to give thanks. Check out this blog titled a Holy Experience. This is where I decided to join in on "Multitude Mondays"

I am writing down my thank-you's to the LORD. Every Monday, along with others in this blog community, I will post my thank-you's. I will post my top 10 from the week and their numbers.
I am aiming to reach 1000, and will then write about how I have experienced God through the discipline of gratitude.


"Gratitude is a loving and thankful response toward God for his presence with us and within this world." -Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

The day I decided to keep a record of thanks, I found a $2 notebook for '1 subject' that has a peculiar little owl on the front. Owls have been a 'favourite creature' of mine for a while, secretly. I have not often seen owls, but have heard them, especially during my childhood.
About a month ago, before Thanksgiving, I drove home at twilight and a big bird swooped down across the road in front of my car. It landed at the shoulder of the road. I had just enough time to see that it was an owl. It made my heart skip a beat as I glimpsed it. I instantly praised God for this rare sighting.

I thought that my cheap 1 subject notebook with the little owl would suffice. My one subject: Thanks.

So today being the first day I blog this, I will include a sample of twenty thanks of the last month's gratitude (#1-#143)


#3-Hot water.
#15-Warm enough to sit outside.
#22-Quickening of new growth, rebirth.
#29- A slightly lighter heart.
#42-conversation and laughter with new friends at school.
#44- snow.
#53-that You are always with me, even if I struggle to believe.
#55- horses.
#69-a shrinking cold sore.
#82- beautiful new places with morning air and mountain views.
#86- being able to realize when I make a fool of myself.
#107- an older gentleman with teary blazing eyes, encouraging me in my faith.
#116- dog kisses
#117- a dear friend sharing her painful reality.
#118- 6 yrs ago B.R came to know You, Jesus...that special moment and beautiful space when you brought her into the Kingdom.
#129- a memory- to store Your Word in my mind, written on my heart.
#132- wisdom shared by faithful, humble, Word-loving professor.
#134- awareness of my weaknesses and still wounded areas of my inner self.
#139-Love that never fails. Perfect.
#143-sister letting me borrow her new warm wool 'owl' sweater.


God is love.