One Thousand Gifts and the Rooster

The Midnight Rooster is a quaint, eclectic coffee shop in downtown Hartsville...quite a gem in my opinion.  The Midnight Rooster came into existence some time when I was in high school.  I went there a few times when I actually lived nearby, but now every time Bradley and I go home we make a stop here (especially Bradley).  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I definitely love sitting in a good coffee shop or book store.  Also, we have absolutely no cell phone service at my house in Patrick, so Bradley likes to pull away and get caught up with the outside world.    

On our last visit to the Rooster, we were busy contacting supporters and making updates, but of course I found time to stick my nose in a good book:)  I've recently started reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  SOOOO GOOD!  Voskamp is honing in on the idea of 'eucharisteo' which means 'thanksgiving' in the original greek language.  She dives into the simple thought that naturally we have critical spirits and always want more.  We make lists of places to see in our lifetime, bucket lists, etc.  Voskamp begins a bit of a 'love dare' adventure by creating a list of One Thousand Gifts...not of gifts that she wants, but a list of thanks for the gifts in her life.  

"...I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances...I have learned the secret of being filled..."~Phil 4:11-12

She unlocks Paul's secret to being content in chapter 3 of her book.  He learned to live fully!  This is where she starts her journey of learning 'eucharisteo'--how to be thankful.  I'm barely half way through the book, but the list is proving to be a practical and joyful way to overturn our discontentment with the ordinary and see it as divine.  

I've started trying to do a list of 10 things every day that I am thankful for...I missed a few days in between when I challenged myself to do this.  Since I'm making it public, hopefully I will hold myself more accountable!  It really does change your demeanor to go throughout the day being consciously aware of what's going on around you and to stop and realize the importance of all the small things we all too often take for granted. 

I am thankful for things as small as the muted sounds in the background or summer days when I don't have to blow dry my hair:) to the smells of home and the wonderful grace that has been bestowed on me.  I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of this book and learning more about living a life of thankfulness.

Sit alone and watch the waves break...

This song's kind of old now, but I think of it every summer and catch myself singing it all the time.  I discovered it my freshman year of college (my cousin Johnny recommended it) and I guess since I've lived 15 minutes from 3 different beaches for the past 6 years, it's very fitting!  I've always considered myself more of a mountain person and I do love to visit the mountains, especially since I live at the beach.  Even so, there's something undeniable relaxing and extraordinary about watching and listening to the ocean.

  

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?" ~Isaiah 40:12

Especially in my single days, I loved to sneak away by myself and lay on the beach.  I would always journal/read and be amazed by how great of a picture creation is to our wonderful Father.  The Lord held the oceans in His hand!  He knows the depth of every ocean; He knows when the tide is high or low and corresponds this perfectly with the moon.

I wrote this in my journal the summer of 2007, "As I look out at the vastness of the ocean, I'm unaware of how anyone could question the existence of God.  Lord, you created the ocean in your hand, then poured it down on Earth.  You synchronized the tides to come back and forth at your command...."

I'm very thankful to be close to something so beautiful!

"The heavens declare the glory of God...." ~Psalm 19:1