June 24, 2013: Good Words

a gift in water, words, white:

• rain for our parched lawn
• good news 
• warm yeast rolls for dinner

June 23, 2013: Poured Out for You

3 gifts found around a table:

• family time
• Christian fellowship
• an outpouring of God's grace. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:20

June 22, 2013: Times in His Hands

3 gifts difficult:

• their zero balance
• her bitter spirit
• his dreams, seemingly impossible

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.” 

 My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me. 

 Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 31:14-16

 

 

June 21, 2013: Summer Sunlight

3 gifts found in light:

• the majesty of the King in the colors of tonight's setting sun
• tomato plants growing, gifts from a gardener friend
• long summer days

June 20, 2013: Beholding Eyes and Ears

a gift bent, beautiful, loved:

• God's ear toward me.  I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:2
• her, always, though the mirror whispers lies
• my husband, more now over 30 years ago when romance was all and our relationship young

June 19, 2013: In First Place

3 gifts I became today in serving:

• honored. "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."  John 12:26
• first. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  Mark 9:35
• equipped.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

June 18, 2013: Lavish Love

3 gifts from my Heavenly Father:

• lavish love. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
•  comfort. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
• grace + peace. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:2

June 17, 2013: A Father's Love

3 gifts in my dad:

• his unconditional love
• his wisdom
• his example of how to be a godly husband and father

June 16, 2013: Moving Joy

3 gifts moving:

• a blue jay flitting from tree to fence
• my family to the table for a celebration of fathers
• the attic fan to take the warm air out of the house before bed

June 15, 2013: Lessons from a Wedding

3 gifts in his word:

•  a picture of what true love is.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• instructions for marriage. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
• an invitation to love.  if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.. 1 John 4:12

June 14, 2013: Unexpected Gifts

a gift unexpected, unwanted, unlikely:

• a fun day spent with a friend
• a change in plans
• Him choosing me. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.       1 Thessalonians 1:4
  

June 13, 2013: The Smell of Joy

3 gifts smelled:

• the lingering scent of a new conditioner for my hair
• the graduation cake, awaiting the celebration afterward
• the fresh air after last night's rain

June 12, 2013: Full to Overflowing

3 gifts full:

• my stomach, after a delicious meal of burgers on the grill and roasted veggies
• my heart, so happy and proud that he graduates tomorrow
• my cup, with blessings abundant 

June 11, 2013: Painting Joy

3 gifts painted:

• sandal-ready toes
• the summer sky in shades of blue and white
• the red breast of the robin that sings evening praises outside my window

June 10, 2013: Joy in the Psalms

a gift at 8, at 12, at 2:

• Psalm 62 in my morning devotions, especially verse 11: One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”
• the joy of encouraging a sister in prayer
• an unexpected visit at work from my parents

June 9, 2013: Writing Smiles

3 gifts that made you really smile:

• an encouraging note from a sweet friend
• a funny article written by my sister-in-law
• an afternoon spent with friends old and new from church

June 8, 2013: When Empty is Full

3 gifts empty:

• pots of herbs, now planted
• our shopping bags, the real find being time spent together
• the tomb, He is risen indeed!

June 7, 2013: Reading Love

3 gifts in what you are reading:

• my husband's love expressed in an anniversary card
• a good report from the doctor
• delicious dishes on the menu at the restaurant where we celebrated 28 years

June 6, 2013: Joy in Full Bloom

 
3 gifts ugly-beautiful:

• rain clouds threatening
• pots of half-wilted geraniums purchased on clearance
• the treadmill awaiting my groggy self

June 5, 2013: On the Wings of Hope

a gift of peace, of hope, of love:

• a quiet dinner with my husband
• her name on the President's List
• a trunk full of groceries

June 4, 2013: What I Have

3 gifts found in Christ:

• access. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, ...let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:14, 16
• completion. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,  and in Him you have been made complete. Colossians 2:9-10a
• protection. We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18
  

June 3, 2013: Glimpses of Yesterday

3 gifts from today's conversations:

• a deeper understanding of  life in Uganda
• the opportunity to bless by listening
• memories of 1985, of our marriage and honeymoon

June 2, 2013: Oldies, but Goodies

3 gifts funny:

• long ago pictures--especially those 80's hairstyles
• old movies
• the Sunday comics

June 1, 2013: Oh So Orange

3 gifts orange:

• a shoe box containing the new shoes she was delighted to find
• the setting sun
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups :)

May 31, 2013: The Gift of Time

3 gifts I gave today:

• time, to a dear friend (assuredly not a hardship)
• prayer, to a brother in pain
• a listening ear, to one who needed to talk