A new song...

Sometimes, God just reaches right down into that slough of despair, 

and just when you think you're going under for the last time, 

He plucks your feet right out of the muck and mire.

He sets you on the Solid Rock and He puts a new song in your mouth. 

(see Psalm 40)

It's been a bit muck-ish and mire-y lately, a bit challenging to keep my head above it all.

Then, this weekend came along, and God blew in and through us.

He used us to touch our community.

He helped us to encourage someone who is just beginning their new life in Christ.

He let us be a part of the wedding vow renewal of a couple whose marriage was in shambles last year at this time.

In the helping and reaching out to others,  He reached down and helped us.

He reached down and helped me.

Blessed be His glorious name.

*************

In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.

In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,

just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.

And so I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#3480-#3503

6-24-13-

-our son-in-law, today is his birthday

-taking the two oldest grands grocery shopping with me and having lunch at Costco

 and getting the giggles together, (well, actually belly laughs)

-making my son-in-laws birthday dinner, (my daughter was out of town), and sharing it with the family

-an evening run

6-25-13-

-painting with the grandkids

-a handwritten note in the mail from this sweet friend

-a shoulder to cry on

6-26-13-

-the grandkids getting dropped off at 6 am, and them climbing into my bed without a peep,
and going back to sleep

(waffles for breakfast was fun, too)

-backyard blossoms

-seeing the sunset out our bedroom window

6-27-13-

-a visit with my out of town friend

-my new apron made by her

-church leaders praying over the people and them praying over us at prayer tonight

6-28-13-

-the first blooms on my David Austin Glamis Castle rose

-our home

-the Hubs and I getting gyros to go and eating them down by the river

-going on a scavenger hunt with the Homebuilder's group from our church

6-29-13

-Truelife Church's BBQ block party...all of the great volunteers and help from church reaching out to people in our neighborhood

-devotions in the evening since the morning was busy

-crashing in the only room in the house with air conditioning, our bedroom, after a long hot day

6-30-13-

-Anita playing the violin during worship

-gifts and cards of encouragement from our church to help someone to start their new life in Christ

(she is forsaking a life of prostitution to follow Him)

-a vow renewal

-God's provision and blessing

-a surprise sewn from a friend at church

gratefully yours,