Ann Voskamp's Blog, page 319

weekends are for joy (updated)

M ay all your wanderings this weekend, kindest friends ….

find joy –

that happiness

that nests not in happenings

but trusts in the everywhere encircling grace of God.

 

 

: All is grace

because of Christ alone,

::

::

Recipient of the Joy Dare Giveaway : Oh my. All you beautiful people? Rang with His joy in that comment box. Thank you for all your words and all your joy. I'm with all of you — grabbing hands and looking onto Christ and giving Him all glory! YES! Thank you for joining in community, taking the Joy Dare and really — how many people will brush up against your joy in Him this year and be changed?!

{P.S.: Some were wondering where/how to chronicle their #1000gifts in 2012? Any way that works best for you: in a private journal, with the free app, on your blog and join us in linking up every Monday, on the free Year of Graces calendar, or on facebook or twitter (#1000gifts). I'll be sharing thanks to God each day, Lord willing, on my personal facebook page and on the One Thousand Gifts facebook page — the community there is profoundly encouraging. You are more than welcome to join us! And yes, we will post a new Joy Dare Calendar here on the blog, the first of every month, Lord willing…

And yes — we'll be updating the blog with more information about the draw for the Nikond90 camera for those who complete the dare and count 1000 gifts in 2012! Open our eyes, Lord, Open our eyes! The Whole Earth is fully of Your Glory! }

So! Random.org chose comment #2991 as the recipient of the giveaway package: Jennifer B. (Now. Just to find which lovely person that is! We'll update!) But oh, I'd love nothing more than send you all a necklace and journal and book! So we drew three more names to receive a signed book: #2779 (Kelly in Hawaii), #2412 (Debi), #1564 (Teresa) (we'll update with names! …

Truly – we count each of you a gift from God's hand — who are making your lives a gift back to Him and to His world. More love than thin letters can hold, friends….

And the Nest Necklace? : A free tutorial to make it right here!

Beauty for the Weekend : Take a deep long breath… relax.. and quietly take a long, meandering walk of beauty… Just sit here for a long moment. The whole earth is full of His glory.

Kitchen Love for the Weekend : Three Ingredients. No Bake. Oreo Truffles? Does it get any better? Whip them up, pour the milk, get out the candles, and watch them smile!

Do Love for the Weekend : Do you have one or two of these packed away in the car?

Free Printable for the Weekend : These lovely free cards (or these?)— is there someone, anyone, in your life that needs a thank-you card? For a gift they gave, a meal they hosted, a word they shared. The kids and I are writing out some thank you cards here this weekend!

Organization for the Weekend : Hit print Your very own Declutter and Organize Calendar … Perfect! I'm adding this to my binder of print outs of the Daily Draft — my plan for the day.

Sermon for the Weekend : My dearest friend, Katie of Kisses from Katie and David Platt sit and talk living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Really worth watching.

Worship for the weekend : Just play this again and again — The music of Christa Wells unto Jesus moves me deep. "Glory to God, Glory to God. In Fullness of Wisdom — He writes my story into His Song. My life for the glory of God.

And oh, you will make sure that, even if it feels like a rainy day,  you'll make a moment like this this weekend

Joy in Him, friends! Happy Grace Days!

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Links for 2012-01-07 [del.icio.us]How to Fight Bitterness
@ John Piper at Desiring GodCan Christians Recover a Biblical understanding of Song of Solomon?
@ First Things... Peter Leithart, Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Moscow, Idaho, and Senior Fellow of Theology at New St. Andrews College writes, "The Song helps us relearn what nearly every civilization before ours already knew: [Physical intimacy] is allegory, and as allegory it is... theology..." An uncomfortable read, but a deeply Biblical attempt to recover our understandings and "the confusions of our age."Archaeologists Find Rare 'Pure to God' Temple Seal
"This is the first time we [found] something that belongs to God, belongs to something that came from the temple," said Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist....

weekends are for joy

M ay all your wanderings this weekend, kindest friends ….

find joy –

that happiness

that nests not in happenings

but trusts in the everywhere encircling grace of God.

 

 

: All is grace

because of Christ alone,

::

::

Recipient of the Joy Dare Giveaway : Oh my. All you beautiful people? Rang with His joy in that comment box. Thank you for all your words and all your joy. I'm with all of you — grabbing hands and looking onto Christ and giving Him all glory! YES! Thank you for joining in community, taking the Joy Dare and really — how many people will brush up against your joy in Him this year and be changed?!

{P.S.: Some were wondering where/how to chronicle their #1000gifts in 2012? Any way that works best for you: in a private journal, with the free app, on your blog and join us in linking up every Monday, on the free Year of Graces calendar, or on facebook or twitter (#1000gifts). I'll be sharing thanks to God each day, Lord willing, on my personal facebook page and on the One Thousand Gifts facebook page — the community there is profoundly encouraging. You are more than welcome to join us! And yes, we will post a new Joy Dare Calendar here on the blog, the first of every month, Lord willing…

And yes — we'll be updating the blog with more information about the draw for the Nikond90 camera for those who complete the dare and count 1000 gifts in 2012! Open our eyes, Lord, Open our eyes! The Whole Earth is fully of Your Glory! }

So! Random.org chose comment #2991 as the recipient of the giveaway package (Now. Just to find which lovely person that is! We'll update!) But oh, I'd love nothing more than send you all a necklace and journal and book! So we drew three more names to receive a signed book: #2779, #2412, #1564 (we'll update with names! …

Truly – we count each of you a gift from God's hand — who are making your lives a gift back to Him and to His world. More love than thin letters can hold, friends….

And the Nest Necklace? : A free tutorial to make it right here!

Beauty for the Weekend : Take a deep long breath… relax.. and quietly take a long, meandering walk of beauty… Just sit here for a long moment. The whole earth is full of His glory.

Kitchen Love for the Weekend : Three Ingredients. No Bake. Oreo Truffles? Does it get any better? Whip them up, pour the milk, get out the candles, and watch them smile!

Do Love for the Weekend : Do you have one or two of these packed away in the car?

Free Printable for the Weekend : These lovely free cards (or these?)— is there someone, anyone, in your life that needs a thank-you card? For a gift they gave, a meal they hosted, a word they shared. The kids and I are writing out some thank you cards here this weekend!

Organization for the Weekend : Hit print Your very own Declutter and Organize Calendar … Perfect! I'm adding this to my binder of print outs of the Daily Draft — my plan for the day.

Sermon for the Weekend : My dearest friend, Katie of Kisses from Katie and David Platt sit and talk living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Really worth watching.

Worship for the weekend : Just play this again and again — The music of Christa Wells unto Jesus moves me deep. "Glory to God, Glory to God. In Fullness of Wisdom — He writes my story into His Song. My life for the glory of God.

And oh, you will make sure that, even if it feels like a rainy day,  you'll make a moment like this this weekend

Joy in Him, friends! Happy Grace Days!

::

::

::

::GIFTS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: 1. Click here for the Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. This is private gift only for those, like you who have subscribed and given us the wild grace of friendship — Thank you!
2. Click here for The Trail to the Tree: An Easter Devotional, our personal gift just to subscribers who have chosen to walk with us, such friends.
May you and yours know it again today, the wooing love of Christ….

Links for 2012-01-07 [del.icio.us]Give me Jesus --- on an AirTran Airways Flight?
@ youtube.... The next time you're waiting on a plane? Or in a line? in an office? What if the whole waiting world broke into song -- just like this. Beautiful.Best of 2011 Family
@ The High Calling: "These family stories will inspire and encourage you...."These Boots Are Made For...
@Getting Down With Jesus... "Because what's the point of anything in this life if I'm not going to let it change me?" Worthy, beautiful read.

Links for 2012-01-06 [del.icio.us]

Give me Jesus --- on an AirTran Airways Flight?

@ youtube.... The next time you're waiting on a plane? Or in a line? in an office? What if the whole waiting world broke into song -- just like this. Beautiful.

When What You Really Need is an Epiphany

The snow lights with day.

Everything alight, straight across the fields.

Today's epiphany and I think I'm having one of my own.

Epiphany, always January 6th, the day when we reflect on the three wise men kneeling before the Christ-Lord, Lord of heaven and earth, Christ revealing His divinity under the star in the sky. The snow keeps shimmering.

Malakai pulls his hat lower on his way in from chores and the barn. I watch him from the window.

Epiphany, it means "the manifestation of God."

Where did the God-Child reveal Himself but in the barn and this is the grace: Our God manifests Himself in our mangers and muck, our mundane and mess.

Ours is the God manifesting Himself in the unlikely and unbearable, in the surprise and the second-chance. The God Who bears the burdens and brings the hope.

And when what we really needs is an Epiphany in all the dark — doesn't the epiphany begins simply by seeing the light of God everywhere?

Maybe what the New Year needs more than resolutions is a fresh revelation of God?

To turn with fresh eyes to His Word and this world, and this Joy Dare daring me to look for His fingerprints in the unexpected everywhere — There could be fresh epiphanies of His grace everyday.

The snow glints with this light.

Malakai, he stands right in it.

Picks it up, his mitted hands full, white light in his hands.

And the snowman, he just keeps smiling —

This straight out manifestation of joy –

All this light reflecting thanks….

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"With my own eyes I've seen your salvation;

it's now out in the open for everyone to see:

A God-revealing light …

and of glory for your people…" ~ Luke 2:31-32 MSG

::

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::

And can I just whisper? The Joy Dare with each of you? Each of your voices giving praise to Him? An epiphany of His grace at the beginning of the New Year. The perfect way to begin a year — that's not about perfection but giving Him praise. Giving thanks for you and with you to Him — Let's do this thing with joy!

GIFTS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: 1. Click here for the Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. This is private gift only for those, like you who have subscribed and given us the wild grace of friendship — Thank you!
2. Click here for The Trail to the Tree: An Easter Devotional, our personal gift just to subscribers who have chosen to walk with us, such friends.
May you and yours know it again today, the wooing love of Christ….

Links for 2012-01-06 [del.icio.us]Give me Jesus --- on an AirTran Airways Flight?
@ youtube.... The next time you're waiting on a plane? Or in a line? in an office? What if the whole waiting world broke into song -- just like this. Beautiful.Best of 2011 Family
@ The High Calling: "These family stories will inspire and encourage you...."These Boots Are Made For...
@Getting Down With Jesus... "Because what's the point of anything in this life if I'm not going to let it change me?" Worthy, beautiful read.

The 1 Habit Your New Year Can't Do Without: {Giveaway}

'Anail is driven out by another nail;

habit is overcome by habit." ~ Erasmus

It's only the 4th day of the New Year, when this woman cups my face in her hands and draws me right close to just say it.

"It's changed my life."

I've been trying to shake it for days, as I set the table, read with the kids, watch the snow come down — shake these fear's long forgotten that have been stalking me hard.

And she's been trying to get it together for years. She's had a few husbands. More than a few heart shatterings.

It's like she's shaking the hope of change right into me.

"The bottom line is…" She takes my shoulder and I can see how her wrinkled face lights up. "It's brought me closer to God."

That's what I want. Always closer to Him, the way He alone can ignite you, put all the broken pieces together, shake the enemy off. Isn't that the habit the new year always needs?

I drive home from town and think she's not the only one who's found real, deep change and a younger woman had just told me the day before:

I'm 24 and have suffered with a chronic illness since I was 14. The past 10 years have been a roller coaster of physical and emotional pain as well as a struggle with questions, anger, and lack of faith in God. Through the years, there have been times I have been so mad at God and other times I've clung to Him for dear life.

About 5 months ago, I hit a really low point, struggling with a deep depression, hopelessness, and the urge to use prescription pain meds more than I knew was good for me.

That's when… everything changed. I read your story and started my own gratitude list and my life hasn't been the same since…

I thought the change might not last, like many other things that have inspired me for a few days or weeks.

Well, it's been 5 months and I continue to record my blessings every day…. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged, I go… open my gratitude journal."

Whether a grandmother or not a mother, that's what changed them: Love. Keeping a list of His love. His Love is the only thing that changes any of us and living loved — wouldn't this change everything?

The fears I'd been feeling, the overwhelmed and uncertain — Is every failure to experience joy because I made an excuse to not give thanks?

The radio host, she'd invited me early on the 3rd of January to join her and co-host in daring their listeners to Count 1000 Gifts in 2012 and I had said it, that I should do it with them too.

Taking up the dare all over again — the dare to slow down and wake up and receive all God gives for what it is — a gift. Take the the Joy Dare. Isn't that what Aristotle said– "We are what we repeatedly do."

Then Christianity isn't an act — but our faith is expressed only in our habits.

A habit of not complaining, but the habit of giving thanks; the habit of not worrying, but a habit worshipping. The habit of repeatedly giving God praise that our lives might become a prayer. Small is always the leverage of large. It's one moment after the other, the small moments that turn a life. It's the small actions that can change a life.

It's habits that can imprison you and it's habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life.

Maybe a life needs change over and over again — that constant turning to God? Not so much resolutions but revolutions.

And in this keeping habit of keeping a gratitude list?

1. Have a relative absence of stress and depression. (Woods et al., 2008)

2. Make progress towards important personal goals (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

3. Report higher levels of determination and energy (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

4. Feel closer in their relationships and desire to build stronger relationships (Algoe and Haidt, 2009)

5. Increase your happiness by 25% — (Who wouldn't want a quarter more happiness!) (McCullough et al., 2002)

Who doesn't want all that?

So I write it down –

This crazy Joy Dare to do it all over again because I need it, to make this the habit before all the other habits — the joy habit — and count a full 1000 gifts in 2012. He deserves all my thanks and it's impossible to give thanks and simultaneously feel fear. Woman with the soul amnesia — she keeps remembering and needing to remember again.

Just three gifts a day.

The whole earth is full of His glory.

And maybe I could make it crazier — by hunting, seeking, looking for specific gifts from His hand?

A Joy Dare to give all glory to Him? And share the joy?

{Download to print here}

"A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit."

That is what Erasmus said.

When I read this, I am  surprised because I had never known and I am sad for all that would have changed if only I had.

I look down at the pen, this pen I keep wielding, one writing her way all the way to one thousand. This pen: this is nothing less than the driving of nails.

Nails driving out my habits of discontent and driving in my habit of thanks – eucharisteo. I'm hammering in nails to pound out nails, ugly nails that Satan has pierced through the world, my heart.

It starts to unfold, light in the dark, a door opening up, how all these years it's been utterly pointless to try to wrench out the spikes of discontent. Because that habit of discontentment can only be driven out by hammering in one iron sharper.

The sleek pin of gratitude." …. ~ {One Thousand Gifts}

So on the fifth day of a new year, I hunt with a fresh hunger, live koinonia, do eucharisteo, seek God, give thanks — again… We never cease working on the the habit of good food, good exercise, good time management. Why ever lessen the habit of our grateful thanks to a good God?

And I can sense it in the dark places that we never stop fighting: Focusing on intentional thanks — forces those fears to slink in the face of His Grace.

It's like you can hear it in the woods.

Hear it across the fields and in the hand of every heart desperately seeking change — –

all these hammers ringing in a New Year and all this joy.

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To Celebrate Joy Dare 2012: Giveaways

I only do a little something like this once a year, but wouldn't sharing a bit of joy be a good way to start a New Year? So let's crank open the rusty comment box and cheer each other on!

And if you take the Joy Dare and count your own 1000 gifts in 2012 –

Might we enter your name at the end of 2012, when all the gifts are counted and much praise given to our God — enter you for a draw of the same model of camera that's sitting here on our counter?A Nikon D90 {& 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G Zoom Lens included.} {To enter, thanks for all 1000 gifts must be counted in 2012. If you are already counting? Well, you're ahead in practice, seeing, giving thanks in all things! Just keep going and count another 1000 from where you are right now! More details to follow. Open our eyes, Lord — the whole earth is full of your glory!}

So a draw for the Nikon D90 when you live the dare!

And a little giveaway today to launch the JOY dare of 2012?

{You can head here to download & print the calendar of January's Joy Dare. It's on our fridge ~smile~

Want to share your gifts with the free app? We're with you! Looking forward to your snapshots!}

To enter today to win:

a signed copy of One Thousand Gifts,

a turquoise nest pendant with necklace,

a bird-in-flight beaded bookmark

and your own journal

just wave in the comments box (yes, the comment box!)  – or leave a comment sharing today's dare: January 5th: a grace found in something you're reading, something you're making and something you've seen today…

Reading via email or in a reader: click here to find the encouraging gathering in the comment boxy and leave your entry to the giveaway...

For another entry (or two):

Share that you're doing The Joy Dare {Count 1000 Gifts in 2012} on facebook or on Twitter: I dare you: Count #1000gifts in 2012. Who doesn't take a dare to Joy? {the free camera would be bonus} http://bit.ly/w6Uq0y #1KgiftsDare … and then leave another comment for each share?

Entries for the giveaway package will remain open until Saturday 8 am EST. {Details to follow about camera giveaway}

Might we thank you for walking with us this past year?  Thank you for looking to Christ in all things. The moments have added up — and regardless of the road,  it's been all grace.

A thousand, countless thank yous.

Taking the dare to FULLY live with you!

GIFTS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: 1. Click here for the Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. This is private gift only for those, like you who have subscribed and given us the wild grace of friendship — Thank you!
2. Click here for The Trail to the Tree: An Easter Devotional, our personal gift just to subscribers who have chosen to walk with us, such friends.
May you and yours know it again today, the wooing love of Christ….

Links for 2012-01-05 [del.icio.us]Best of 2011 Family
@ The High Calling: "These family stories will inspire and encourage you...."These Boots Are Made For...
@Getting Down With Jesus... "Because what's the point of anything in this life if I'm not going to let it change me?" Worthy, beautiful read.A social media prayer for the new year
@ thegypsymama ... "Enlarge my heart, O Lord..."

Links for 2012-01-04 [del.icio.us]

A social media prayer for the new year

@ thegypsymama ... "Enlarge my heart, O Lord..."
These Boots Are Made For...

@Getting Down With Jesus... "Because what's the point of anything in this life if I'm not going to let it change me?" Worthy, beautiful read.
Best of 2011 Family

@ The High Calling: "These family stories will inspire and encourage you...."

Still Quiet

So the internet keeps blinking out and falling quiet on the farm here in deep winter. Instead of trying to upload — maybe the Lord beckons to just a day of quiet? Lay the loads all down with Him…. Tomorrow, Lord willing, the annual cranking open of the rusty comments box for a little giveaway, and a free PDF to help with the most important habit of the new year… (and tomorrow, the weekly Walk With Him Wednesday link-up?)

A very small way to express our deep gratitude for walking with us this past year?

Enjoy the quiet, beautiful friends…

All's Grace,

AnnGIFTS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: 1. Click here for the Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. This is private gift only for those, like you who have subscribed and given us the wild grace of friendship — Thank you!
2. Click here for The Trail to the Tree: An Easter Devotional, our personal gift just to subscribers who have chosen to walk with us, such friends.
May you and yours know it again today, the wooing love of Christ….

Links for 2012-01-04 [del.icio.us]What I'm watching while cooking in the kitchen these days...
Passion 2012 Live Stream... Beth Moore -- session available until Jan. 4th...2012 Christianity Today Books of the Year Awards...
@ Christianity Today... Grateful that "One Thousand Gifts" finds itself by His grace, an award winner, and adding several of these titles to my 2102 readingWhat do Women Your Weight Really look like?
@ My Body Gallery... This site is an accurate reflection of what real women look like. All women. Type in your height & weight -- and view other women and how differently God made us all...

Links for 2012-01-03 [del.icio.us]

What I'm watching while cooking in the kitchen these days...

Passion 2012 Live Stream... Beth Moore -- session available until Jan. 4th...

A Creed for the New Year

It's like someone shook the world up.

That's what the Farmer says that on day two of the new year, us looking out the window, us in this snow globe.

At noon, I  swing a pot of steaming vegetables off the stove and the boiling water sloshes out over my hand. I run cold water over the burn and smile weakly at the Farmer.

After lunch, I read Shakespeare to the children with this bag of frozen beans on my hand. The phone rings. From the yellowed pages of an old copy of "Best Loved Poems" we read lines that rhyme. Levi scours shelves for an errant copy of Beowulf. The Farmer works through a stack of mail and bills and paperwork.

We click through the last 24 hours in pictures, find the location of each photograph on the globe. Levi looks for the book under the couch.

The snow keeps falling, heavy and white and everywhere in a world turned a bit upside down.

After science and weather systems, there are mitts and hats and sleds and hills behind the barn. The dog bounds ahead of the boys.

Levi let's me ride down his sled. Shalom giggles and I throw my head back, flakes falling on cheeks. Is this the best way to ring in the New Year — with this laughter in the woods?

On the way back to the house, to the teapot and the bread, I recite it up through the fields in the deepening dark, the Jesus Creed — Jesus own Shema words, words Jesus spoke every single morning and night of His earthly life:

 

"The Lord our God, the Lord is One.

Love the Lord your God with all your Heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

The second is this:

Love your neighbor as yourself

There is no commandment greater than these."

{Mk. 12:29-31}

What I've been reading aloud to the kids, this Jesus Creed challenge we've taken up — to recite Jesus' creed when we wake and when we sleep every day for a month — for year — isn't this Jesus' Creed, isn't it the essence of koinonia: Communion with God. Community with God's people.

What else is there?

Relationship is the essence of all reality. What else is eternal but love — to God and His people, relationship with God and God's people? What can be shaken when we're holding onto this?

I recite it again, Jesus' Creed — a Creed for the New Year — recite it again going up-hill through the drifts, everything shaken and settled right down.

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::

::

::

::GIFTS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: 1. Click here for the Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. This is private gift only for those, like you who have subscribed and given us the wild grace of friendship — Thank you!
2. Click here for The Trail to the Tree: An Easter Devotional, our personal gift just to subscribers who have chosen to walk with us, such friends.
May you and yours know it again today, the wooing love of Christ….

Links for 2012-01-03 [del.icio.us]2012 Christianity Today Books of the Year Awards...
@ Christianity Today... Grateful that "One Thousand Gifts" finds itself by His grace, an award winner, and adding several of these titles to my 2102 readingWhat do Women Your Weight Really look like?
@ My Body Gallery... This site is an accurate reflection of what real women look like. All women. Type in your height & weight -- and view other women and how differently God made us all...Free Audio Books for Children
...@ Books Should be Free... we listen to Librivox here, but we're listening now to these too. Lovely way to spend winter evenings...

Links for 2012-01-02 [del.icio.us]

Free Audio Books for Children

...@ Books Should be Free... we listen to Librivox here, but we're listening now to these too. Lovely way to spend winter evenings...
What do Women Your Weight Really look like?

@ My Body Gallery... This site is an accurate reflection of what real women look like. All women. Type in your height & weight -- and view other women and how differently God made us all...
2012 Christianity Today Books of the Year Awards...

@ Christianity Today... Grateful that "One Thousand Gifts" finds itself by His grace, an award winner, and adding several of these titles to my 2102 reading