God Interrupts in Rush Hour.

Lyrics: Hillsong United, Lead Me to the Cross

As the car sits on quiet tarmac on a busy highway, the sights of downtown Chicago fill the windows. While we watch the fog block the skyscrapers from sidewalk view and press on through the traffic hoping to press forward into the city one's patience is tested.

I have never been one to enjoy sitting in a traffic jam.

The car inches forward surrounded by other frustrated drivers and I find my renewed sense of thankfulness being tested.

Really....why is there a need for traffic jams? What purpose do they serve except to make everyone frustrated, angry with each other and late for wherever they are trying to get to.

Then when you are stuck in one. You finally have space to think. Space to breathe a while.

As though God is saying....take some time with me child and just be.

Just be in this traffic jam. Stop thinking of all the things you need to do when you get where you are going. Stop looking at the clock, you can't change the traffic and looking won't help you get there any faster.

Just be here. Take a moment and pray. 

Traffic jams actually force us in the busyness of life to slow down. We don't have a choice. We have to sit. And the majority of the time, I really don't like it.
But when I choose to spend that time worshiping in the car with a CD or enjoying the Lord's presence, they become something else entirely.

I am beginning to agree with Ann Voskamp when reading through Chapter three of One Thousand Gifts, there is a change that comes from counting everyday gifts.

(See Chapter One and Chapter Two thoughts)

 All of a sudden things that were mundane become gifts from the Lord. 

It's as though we begin to see clearly.

Its a real change, we are intentional in our search for joy when we choose to see things as gifts. Through eucharisteo we overcome our habitual ingratitude, like the traffic jam attitude, and we see things we already have instead of what we want.

'I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.'

{Philippians 4:11-12}

But as Paul says, contentment is something he learned. It didn't come naturally. We have to be intentional at seeking to learn this attitude. 

To battle the discontentment and fight to see the joy and contentment in life.

As Ann says, there is something to be said about the act of naming a specific thing we are thankful for. For in naming it, its almost as though we fully receive it as a gift. It works its way into our heart slowly through each gift, creating a habit, instead of just being thankful for everything in general which is easy to forget.  

This habit of thankfulness, it really does require persistence and practice even when it seems silly, like being thankful for a traffic jam. When it doesn't even seem to make sense.

This gift of thankfulness, its a battle.

But its a battle worth fighting.

Lyrics: Hillsong United, Lead Me to the Cross

Thankful//for traffic jams.

Thankful//for foggy days.

Thankful//for being stuck in the car with friends on the Chicago highways.

Thankful//for pictures because the car wasn't go as fast as usual.

Thankful//for worship songs.

What are your thoughts?

What do you usually do during a traffic jam?

Much Love,

L

P.S. The song to the Lyrics is below......

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Summary of this series available:

Journal available see To Those Who Are Waiting:

DISCLOSURE: COMPENSATED AFFILIATE LINKS USED

Exploring Thankfulness: 1000 Gifts.

What is important to us in life? Is it all about reaching certain goals or seeing certain dreams come alive. Do we all secretly think that we will really become those elderly white-haired happy couple in the nursing home who are completely joyful about their entire life. With no regrets now looking back. Or does it take learning along the way a little something about joy? 

I don't know that we ever wake up one day after reaching retirement and just suddenly feel joyful about life. 

(Although I am not at that point in life so I could be wrong, but it's just a hunch.)

Maybe joy is more of a learned practice.

A choice.

Isn't everyone trying to find joy in this world? Whether we be looking in a job, a relationship, a family, a health situation, life situation. It's even what we wish each other. I hope you will be happy  together (when wishing a newly married couple happiness) or telling someone you hope they find the happiness they are looking for. 

We all think that if we just had that next thing, we would feel it....the joy. 

If only I was engaged to that godly man, if only we were married instead of still waiting, if only our financial situation were more stable, or if we could have that baby right now, if only our kids were a little older, if only I had a different health situation, if only I were in their situation.....then I would feel the joy. 

Ann Voskamp writes in her book about the Greek word for 'joy' ('chara') and how it is found within the word for 'giving thanks' 

euCHARisteo

I really think she is onto something in her exploration of joy being found in the process of being thankful. How the two are more connected than we might at first think. 

She continues to point out how in the garden of Eden, being ungrateful was the root of what happened when Adam and Eve first sinned. How being grateful is in fact linked to a fuller, more joyful life. More on that first chapter of the book here. 

Hopefully this explains more about where this 31 days of thankfulness has come from. From a conviction from dear Ann's book in finding joy in the everyday. Practicing thankfulness in order to see life joyfully. 

Are any of you feeling more joyful during these first 10 days of thankfulness? I am totally feeling it! 

Much Love,

L

Fall fashion Facts:

Shirt: Target

Vest: Aeropostale

Jeans: Aeropostale

Paris Necklace: Old Navy

Mint Nail Polish: Target

Joyful smile: God

Back to Eden: 1000 Gifts.

{Via}

I feel it appropriate to start back at the beginning on this topic.

To really share how this topic was laid on my heart so heavily.

Actually, it began with reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp many moons ago now.

I realise many of you may have read her book and may even be starting to be frustrated by how much people are talking about it or continuing to talk about it.

I know I personally have mentioned it so many times on this blog here.

Honestly though, her book really opened my eyes in so many ways to something so simple, which changes one's entire heart attitude to life.

What a revelation to discover.

By being thankful for things, we can battle so many 'funks' we may find ourselves in. 

That was my main reason for feeling compelled to start the series in the first place.

These moods are often a result of life situations. Things we may have no control over.

But the Lord in all His goodness, is allowing them for a reason.

To grow us? To build trust in us? To allow us to change our attitude?

While we may have no control over the things in our lives which happen to us, we do have control over how we react to these challenges.

Ann in her book talks about how perfect things were back in the garden of Eden. 

How Adam and Eve were in perfect relationship with God, they were not lacking in anything. 

They saw God perfectly, in all His goodness, the way He truly is.

Notice how Sin's original root is in Satan tempting them to focus on what they don't have.

He shows them discontentment.

As Ann writes:

'we were lured by the deception that there was more to a full life,

there was more to see.'

Now, seeing God as someone we can trust is so much harder than it must have been in that garden, it becomes a choice now instead of a given. It becomes a battle to see things the way they really are, the way we were designed to see them. 

How old this idea of discontentment is right??
I look forward to exploring this topic more.


Much Love,
L

Thankfulness//Day Two.

Well, it's Day Two of focusing on Thankfulness and I woke up to a rainy cold Fall day.

I can honestly tell you that I woke up feeling thankful, regardless of the weather.

I was thankful for the beautiful Fall colors I saw on my car ride this morning.

Thankful//for rain to water these beautiful trees which are looking more beautiful everyday.

Thankful//for dirt roads in the rural area I found myself in and mud which made its way onto my clothes and the car.

Thankful//for small kids that yell 'Pum-mmm' everytime they see Pumpkins.

Thankful//for kids that organise outdoor weddings for Barbie to a big orange bug. 

Thankfulness really is contagious. 

Ann Voskamp put on her Facebook this morning the following quote:

'{Crazy, but studies conclude that keeping a gratitude gift list is *guaranteed* to increase your happiness by 25%!}'

I would highly recommend reading her book and starting your own change when it comes to cultivating an attitude of Thankfulness.

It certainly is a wonderful way of overcoming a 'funk' at least so far. 

Much Love,

L

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The Joy Dare: One Thousand Gifts. Ann Voskamp.

If you know me even a little bit, you will know that 

I Love books.

One of the most powerful books I have read recently is

 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp.

I'm sure I have mentioned it before but I keep sharing, because this book keeps impacting me and the way I see life.

My eyes have been opened to the way the world is a series of gifts from the Lord.

A way to see life in its entirety.

A secret to praying without ceasing.

You may have noticed my new banner at the bottom, the Joy Dare.

I have decided to take part in the February Joy Dare....

I am hoping to continue this habit and count 1000 gifts this year in 2012.

Along with thousands of others.

I would encourage you to check it out and join us!

 Here's to enjoying every moment.

Much Love,

L

P.S. I am totally considered doing a linkup for one of my series on here. What do you guys think? Which would you enjoy? The {On My heart} series? Or 'Two Hearts In Love'?

{On my Heart} Mondays. [Part 2: Joy instead of complaining]

'Lament is a cry of belief in a good God, a God who has His ear to our hearts, a God who transfigures the ugly into beauty. Complaint is the bitter howl of unbelief in any benevolent God in this moment, a distrust in the love-beat of the Father's heart. God's anger kindles hot when the essence of the complaint implies doubt in His love....'

~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

Source: munchkinsandmohawksphotography.com via Kelly on Pinterest

For those of you that have been in recent contact with me, you know that I am in love with this book, One Thousand Gifts. I can't highly recommend it enough. Ann Voskamp has done an amazing job of encouraging & challenging me through her thoughts. 

Of the many things I have been challenged by, the one on my heart currently is: replacing an attitude of complaint with joy and gratitude. I have been remembering that God has my best interests in mind for the things which come into my life. He is a loving God who cares about me more than I can comprehend. If I complain about things occuring in my life am I really doubting that the Lord cares about me. That He doesn't care about my best interests? 

I have been learning to see joy in the mundane of life. To see each small thing as a gift from the Lord. When you start to see life in this way, you realise how many gifts He bestows on us everyday. It truly is a different way of seeing life. A far more beautiful way. A way which acknowledges the Lord and meditates on Him, constant communion with Him throughout the day.

It also helps me have a much better attitude. There is nothing worse than hearing someone complain when they could be choosing to see joy.

The other thought which the quote from Ann Voskamps's book brought to mind was the story in Exodus about the Israelites and the manna. They complained about His provision for them, ever thought that their attitude of complaint led to them not being able to ever get to the Promised Land?

Each time I see things differently, it feels like I am seeing the Promised Land, a new level of God's love. A new understanding of who He is. 

A greater Love.

My first Love.

Much Love,

L