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| Sunset over Long Lake Central Adirondack Mountains July 2013 |
I opened my journal that I keep on my "Adirondack book" shelf in my living room. This bookshelf contains all my hiking books and Adirondack history books. It also contains a small wicker basket where I keep my journal, pen and devotional book to record the 1000 gifts based on Ann Voscamp's book and challenge of finding 1000 gifts from God in a year. Well, I opened that book this morning and realized that in over a year I have only written down about 380 gifts/blessings. I guess I didn't meet the challenge.
But then I pondered..............
Why is it necessary to actually write it down? I mean, I understand the exercise and the practice of doing it. It is great to record those blessings we can find in every day happenings.
But...I do this every Friday while linking up with the other bloggers doing the Friday Fave Fives hosted by Susanne!! I just don't then go to my journal and record them with my own handwriting. But those faves are really blessings and gifts.......so...I guess I have done over a thousand!
But....numbers, in my opinion, are not what's important.
What's important is practicing the spiritual discipline of being in the Presence of God.......
and the discipline of being thankful for all things He brings to us......ALL things.
Sometimes it is just a sunset like the one I captured on my cell phone camera during the first part of our mountain vacation last week. (photo above)
Sometimes it is moments like this:
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| Courtney and Claire walking to town in Long Lake July 2013 |
my precious daughters, ages 20 and 14....how honored I am to be their mom.............my greatest blessings................
and this one..........
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| Dave on the summit of Owls Head Mountain Long Lake, NY July 2013 |
for blessings as simple as these...........
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| Morning coffee on the dock Shamrock Cottages Long Lake, NY July 2013 |
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| Sucker Brook Trail Adirondack Interpretive Center Newcomb, NY Central ADKs 2 August 2013 |
a solitary walk in the woods.........
..........worshiping the Creator.........
thanking Him for all the gifts He brings.............
.........practicing His Presence.................
How are you practicing the presence of God today??
Leave a comment and you will be automatically entered in my "end of summer" giveaway (a special summer treat and a devotional book)....winner will be chosen by random at the end of summer!
3 comments:
Love this Faith! Practicing the presence of God, being aware of Him in our everyday, through little and big things, is definitely a blessing in itself that becomes easier the more we do it. Sometimes we're so busy looking for the big, earth shaking things we miss all those wonderful smaller blessings that God gives us continually.
Amen, Susanne!!
I like this a lot, Faith! It's great to write things down so that you can reflect on them in the future, but I think God is just as pleased when we thank him daily for His goodness and forgiveness.
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