Monday, March 14, 2011

A Second Chance

I am still reading, only this time I am wading through the book, pen in hand. I stop here and there to underline words that speak to my heart...

"Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate. And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden. Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity; the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave.

Isn't that the catalyst of all my sins?

Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other."

I find this coming back to my mind, invading my thoughts, again and again. I am dissatisfied more often than I care to admit, wanting more, wanting "something other." But I also I find myself searching for those gifts God gives, gifts that arrive in everyday packages, and I record them in my notebook...

#45 -Star studded skies
#71 -A familiar face in a sea of strangers
#129 -Tea and honey
#185 -The still of night
#213 -Morning coffee when my eyes won't stay open

It's been almost four weeks of recording gifts. I wonder how long it will be before seeing gifts in prickly packages becomes second nature?

The Holy Experience

10 comments:

  1. I underlined the exact same thing in my copy.

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  2. I haven't marked in mine, but I should because it IS mine...after all it has my name in it. :)

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  3. Seeing gifts in prickly packages, haha you are so funny, you think its time for me to shave do ya. , :)

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  4. Yes, my copy too is studded with highlights.

    I've been counting gifts for about fifteen weeks or so ... and what you mentioned? It's definitely starting to happen. I posted about it this week when my car got broken into, and I realized that it's all just words on a page until I put it into practice when I get a prickly package, as you put it!

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  5. Reading this makes me want to read the book. Now why did you go and do that Martha? :)

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  6. I just finished a book I was reading, and I think I need to buy this one you gals are reading.

    Thanks for the words for today, Martha.

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  7. Wanda, this is a book I won't soon forget. (Check your mailbox in a few days...)

    James, I love your whiskers. Another gift I'll need to record. :0)#

    Hannah, thank you for stopping by and leaving a note. I love meeting new blog friends.

    Christine, I couldn't help it. :)

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  8. I’m here from Ann’s – just took a while to get here :)

    First – You are not alone in this – we are perfect, and forgiven, and saints – at the same time we’re imperfect and sinners and in need of grace, “I am dissatisfied more often than I care to admit, wanting more, wanting "something other." I get it – I do – and me too.

    And because som of my very best thoughts have come in the quiet after midnight – and also because I have a seemingly incurable insomnia and have had it for more than a decade – so I have the opportunities at night far more often than I’d like, still - my favorite from your list this week is: #185 -The still of night

    Thank you for this, and God Bless and Keep you and all of yours.

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  9. Another blog friend, whom I had the privilege of meeting her son in Ethiopia, but not her, is also reading this book. She just did a post on thewallbloggers.blogspot.com.

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  10. Just saw you are mentioned on a comment from one of your friends on my sister's blogsite and wanted to stop by...Isn't One Thousand Gifts amazing?! I'm knee deep in the book right now and also filling each page with stars and underlines! What joy to see each day for what it really is...sprinkled with blessings straight from the Father above!

    Take care and enjoy looking up! :)

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