A Word to live by....are we going to choose it?

  Evening Ladies!

   My apologies for getting this out 2 days late!  I don't know where the week is going -- it is flying by! I hope this finds each of you doing well and having a great week thus far.

  I read Chapter 2 this evening - it was quite good. She has such an interesting way of writing, very unique. But I love also, how it makes sense and how honest and upfront she is. It's refreshing!

  Her story of her diagnosis is very touching. I also very much dislike the 'C' word ( I don't know who does though) , as it brings back memories of Grandpa Bergen and more recent my best friends Mom situation, who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer back in early December. It hits home for sure. I just can't honestly imagine what it's like to be the one with it. Her plea of "I want to live. Fully live." was enlightening for me.

  Her feeling like she was always failing, constantly was very motivating and it really caught my attention. I always have seen myself as not extremely anxious or the fear of the future type person, but lately I can totally relate.When she said" Would I ever be enough,find enough,do enough?", it hit home for me. I know I have been dealing with inadequacies lately of wondering, do I have what it takes to succeed, to fully live with all that I am? "To live either fully alive. . . or in empty nothingness?"  So true. Which will each of us choose?

   "How to live the fullest life here that delivers into the full life ever after?" Her story of getting her letter from her widowed father-in-law was good to read.  Which presents the questions: "How does one live ready, and always?" Indeed.  I know this is something that has been on my heart a lot lately, and I can't say I've reached a conclusion yet though. I do believe it is something worth pondering, praying over, thinking on and asking God to show each of us what that looks like for us, as sisters in Christ.  Here is another way she put the question. . . " How do we live fully so that we are fully ready to die? And then to dove tail that thought. . . " Why do I spend so much of my living hours struggling to see it? "  So true indeed. Let's each take the time to ask God what it is that He is wanting to teach us through this book and the thoughts in it. 

  And this brings us to the word to live by. Did you all catch it?  It sure resonated with me, and really spoke into my heart. What's the WORD you may ask?  I'd love to encourage you to read pages 32-33 a few times. But yes, the word is:  Eucharisteo.  No idea how to pronounce it, but the meaning behind it = WOW!  Grace, thanksgiving, joy. All of them combined make up this word. A Greek word. . . that might make meaning of everything?" she asks. . .  What do you think?  I know for myself those have been hard characteristics for me as of late, grace for myself and sometimes others, joy in everyday life especially in the lower moments and thanksgiving/gratefulness of all that God has already gave me and trusting Him for what is yet to come.  She also mentioned it as the symbol of Christianity.  Also as a lifestyle - a way of living daily.  Are we each ready to take it on and own it as our own?  I say let's do it!  Until next week. . .

  With you along the journey, Miranda

*A Dare to Live Fully! Are you?*

  Good evening lovely's!

    Whew, I am barely getting this in on Monday, but here it is. I just read the 1st chapter - it was quite interesting. Ann has a very unique way of writing to say the least. But I do appreciate her raw honesty and the sharing of her heart. It's pretty evident in the pages of her book.  The starting out of her sister's death was very touching and I felt I was almost right there with her as she watched her sister's body lowered into the grave.  I can't imagine that kind of loss personally. I do know when I lost both Grandpa's it was very challenging - especially of Grandpa Bergen's - maybe mostly because it is more recent. But even the thing with that , we knew he was mostly likely going to go to heaven...meaning we had a bit of time to 'prepare' I guess. Still does not make it easier really, but I remember times when I was busily working and just a wave of sadness and emotion would come over me. It's like I was mourning him leaving before he actually went to heaven.  Death is very touchy....very real....very very raw.

  And in that story I feel she set up a great analogy of where she was coming and her background.  Something that struck me of her words was, "Where hides this joy of the Lord, this God who fills the earth with good things, and how do I fully live when life is full of hurt? How do I wake up to joy and peace and beauty and all that is the fullest life when I must stay numb to losses and crushed dreams and all that empties me out?"  Most definitely questions to ponder. I've thought much similar things myself.  I believe it comes down to believing Him. Am I going to trust Him, at His Words, like truly TRUST Him, with all that I am? I say that I do, but at the end of the day, I sometimes wonder. God has working on my heart on this very subject since Friday night at a Kelly Minter Conference, and there must be a reason God keeps bringing me in contact with this very thing. "Like all beliefs, you simply live them."

 Another thing that struck me, is that gratitude does not come naturally. We are naturally fallen people, in a fallen world. And thanks to Adam and Eve,  we have sin and much of it. "Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity: the sin of ingratitude. Everywhere we look, we see a world of lack, a universe of loss, a cosmos of scarcity and injustice."

  And where she wrote about communion was fascinating to me, especially the line, 'that table that restores relationship.' Interesting eh'?  Look up several translations of 1 Corinthians 2:7(page 17)  if you get a chance. I'm going to do the same.  Also her comment of 'His secret purpose--our return to our full glory.' What do you think she means by that? What is grace to you?

  So will finish up with this, and it's something I've been thinking a lot of.  How do I replace resistance for action, loneliness for everlasting peace, sadness for cup-spilling-over joy?  It's my prayer for this week. What is yours?

   Journeying with you on God's faithful path, Miranda =)

One Thousand Gifts Together as Sistah's in CHRIST :)

  Greetings ladies! 


   I've been meaning to start a blog for weeks regarding the well known book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp - so here finally is!  My thoughts for this blog are to read a chapter a week on our own, since a lot of us are through out the country and then discuss what we learned and enjoyed about that chapter on the blog by commenting on the post that I plan to do weekly. I will write a post every Monday starting Monday the 20th discussing my thoughts on it and then inviting each of you to join in on the conversation and to share your thoughts,questions,comments,ect as well.  


  So the plan is to read a chapter a week and discussing it on here weekly, starting:
   February 20th   ~  Chapter 1
   February 27th   ~  Chapter 2
   March       5th   ~  Chapter 3
   March     12th   ~  Chapter 4
   March     19th   ~  Chapter 5
   March     26th   ~  Chapter 6
   April       2nd    ~  Chapter 7
   April        9th    ~  Chapter 8
   April       16th   ~  Chapter 9
   April       23rd   ~ Chapter 10
   April       30th   ~ Chapter 11


   I hope each of you will join me on this journey of reading this book and learning and growing together as sisters in Christ's. And also, being open to new ways of GROWING in thankfulness and gratefulness of ALL the things that God has already done for us and will continue to do! And I KNOW He'll use this for great things and to teach us to be More Like Him Everyday!


    Love to you all ~ Miranda =)