What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, September 7, 2012

"Counting 1000 Gifts" Continued ~ September 7th, 2012

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:3-4

I know I have quoted these verses before...and I probably will again. They are worth repeating.  Today I am continuing my quest to count three new gifts each day, things for which I am thankful....blessings that are fresh and new and perhaps unexpected.  I am following the writing prompts of Ann Voskamp in her project "Count 1000 Gifts in 2012".  See www.AnnVoskamp.com for more details and how you can become involved.

Today's prompt is to think of "3 Gifts Given".  Perhaps this means that I am supposed to report 3 gifts that I have given.  However, today I have received  3 gifts, and I would rather share that with you.  It's really pretty amazing.

Three Gifts Given:


Today in the mail I received this gift:
"One Thousand Gifts", written by Ann Voskamp.
It is a gift from one of my dear facebook friends...one whom I have never
met personally...but she saw that I was sharing these daily gifts, and she
wanted me to have this book...from the originator of the whole idea of
"Counting 1000 Gifts" in  2012!  I can't wait to start reading it!!!
I did not ask for this gift...it was freely offered and sent....and I am in awe and mystified at the
thoughtfulness and generosity of this precious friend!  I will tell you that she comes from a family of givers, at least
I can tell you her sister has the same kind heart...for she blessed me with a wonderful gift a couple of years ago...again, totally unexpected and without expectation of receiving anything from me.  (Click on this link for more about that story)   I pray that God will give me the opportunity to meet these two sisters one day in person and be able to give them big hugs. I am always amazed when a total stranger (except for our friendship on Facebook) reaches out and blesses another just because... 




My 2nd gift "given" today was another total surprise!  This time from the Federal Government! Now THAT'S a GIFT!  When the Feds send you something totally unexpected...(and I still don't know where it came from or why I received it)...that's a miracle!  When I went to my mailbox today I was blessed with these two gifts:



The book previously mentioned, and a CHECK from the Dept. of Treasury!  Totally unexpected!  WOW!!  I still don't know why I received it...but I'm thankful no matter why!!!
God knew I needed it...and He saw to it that I received it.  Yes, In God We DO Trust!!!



Now, for my Gift's Given #3:



I didn't receive these today, but very recently.  My sweet #1 son is a gifted carpenter.  Now that the weather is cooling down some (and his day job has cut back his hours a little) he has started working in his workshop again.  He has heard me complaining that the doves have taken over my birdfeeder...sometimes there are 6 or 8 doves on there at once, hogging all the birdseed and keeping the smaller birds from being able to land on the feeder to get their share.  It's not that I don't want the doves to eat, I just want them to get back on the ground where they belong!  Doves are supposed to be ground-feeders.  SO, my son is experimenting with a couple of smaller designs of bird feeders, with the idea that hopefully the doves cannot land on them so easily and the other birds will have a chance.  I didn't get a picture of them with the birds on them, but so far the doves are still somehow managing to land and eat...only not quite as many at a time.  UPDATE 9-8-12: GO TO THE BOTTOM TO SEE AN UPDATED PICTURE


So, these are my Three Gifts "Given" for today.  They were given to me totally unexpectedly...and have blessed me in ways I cannot begin to express fully. 

All I can say is:

Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in Him!"
Psalm 34:8

Hey! What's for dinner? 

10 comments:

  1. wow, that is so cool about the Ann Voskamp gift! I admire her so much! Enjoy!

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    1. I just finished reading the first chapter, and am reeling from the impact it has had on my emotions already. I didn't know it was such a powerful book! I should have guessed it would be... I am humbled and amazed to receive this gift from my friend. God is full of surprises, isn't He?

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  2. How sweet! And you are such a blessing! I was just thinking about You and Susie and the gifts you both are to me!

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    1. Isn't God good? I LOVE my blogging friends...you have been so good for me in so many ways! Now I am starting to literally county my blessings...and you are on the list! (Susie too, of course!!! She was my first real blogging friend). I feel so blessed!!!

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  3. That book was in Costco quite a while ago and I passed it by--for some reason---I probably was trying to save money --and hadn't heard anything about it at that time---I've wished several times since that I had bought it!----mmm--maybe I'll take the check I got today too and go find that book again!----Yes--I received one of those checks too!!!! God knows why--I sure don't---but I'm thankful for it!!!

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    1. We just figured it out!!! The check was a gift from our Daddy...part of his last tax return. Makes me want to cry, but sweet tears of joy...a little gift from "heaven" sent to remind us of Daddy and Mama today.

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  4. He is indeed good and His love never fails! I have to keep telling myself and plugging into it when I'm down. How wonderful to have all those lovely gifts. I'm sure that you, too, give without anyone expecting

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    1. I fear that I don't GIVE as often as I should...but that is something I am asking the Lord to help me do..."bless back" those who have blessed me, and then also to "pass it on" to others. I'm still learning to do this. The selfish side of me wants to hang on to "things" and not pass them on...but I've learned that there is so much more joy in giving and seeing others blessed by that act...it makes me want to do it more often.

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  5. a friend of mine gave me the same book a while ago and a couple of weeks ago I started listing 1000 gifts, but things in my life have kept me away from blogging so I hope to start back tomorrow. It will be fun to do it at the same time as you! oxoxox love you!!!

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    1. Well, Debbie, even if you can't blog, keep listing the "gifts". That's the whole idea. I love that you are doing this with me! We must compare notes!
      Love to you my little flower girl!
      Aunt Pam

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