Counting My Gifts for September 8th

From my devotions this morning:

 "But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."  Psalm 13:5-6

Continued from yesterday (Click here for yesterday's "gifts")...following Ann Voskamp's  (www.AnnVoskamp.com ) "Count 1000 gifts in 2012.

Sept. 8: Counting My 1000 gifts for 2012 ... Today's gifts are supposed to be: "A Gift Made, Masked, Marvelled"  I'm struggling with the masked part.  May have to pass on that and come back to it later.  I could come up with 3 gifts for the "marvelled" portion:






1.  The sounds of 2 of my adult sons' laughter as they work and play together.  I always marvel that they are here, together, and enjoying each other's company. It's a definite answer to prayer.

2.  Ah: Masked and Marvelled:  The check I received in the mail yesterday...was in fact a heaven-sent gift.  It was my portion of my late father's income tax return for 2011...totally unexpected...the source was unknown until my sister reported that she had received one just like it...lots of mixed emotions on this "heavenly" gift. My Daddy and Mama are still giving to me, even after they have left this earth for their home in heaven. Words cannot express how this makes me feel. 

Also...I am reading Ann Voskamp's book that I received as a gift yesterday...and I am marvelling at the depth of emotional impact this book has held for me already...and it has given me a new understanding for the true purpose of this "One Thousand Gifts" project....you must read the book...it will change your perspective on everything around you...

3.   A Gift Made:   (Banana Nut Bread for our Church Bake Sale)



AND: This is a gift still in progress...my #1 son is working on projects around our house now that he has more time...and he has shared his vision for this project with me, and I must say I am marvelling at his thoughts and ideas that are still "masked" from our view, but will be beautiful once it is made.  Here is a picture of the renovation/restoration process as it was begun this morning.  It may be awhile before it is complete...so bear with us and wait for the the big "reveal":



Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings today...

I am marvelling at Your mercies, both seen and unseen, (masked?)

known, and unknown,

past, present and future.

"I will sing to the Lord,

Because He has dealt

bountifully with me."

(Psalm 13:6)



Click on here for Jeff and Shari Easter singing "Thank You Lord, For Your Blessings on Me"