One Thousand Gifts - Session 5 - Empty to Fill

I am leading this bible study tonight - One Thousand Gifts Bible Study - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
Seven of us met tonight to share and learn.
I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratitude.

Session 5 - Empty to Fill

Ann relates an experience where she is asked to return to a place where her panic attacks occurred years ago.  Has she grown enough to go to this place open handed to give what she has learned through Eucharisteo?  She agrees to accompany the youth group to the downtown mission for a night of servicing others in need.  There she meets a man who is at the mission.  He has had a tough life but he recites Paul's lament of doing what he does not want to and cannot do what he wants.  A short while later, he asks "Did I get it right?"  He wants to be a blessing.


We are given gifts not to hoard them and keep them to ourselves but to share them, pass them on, and keep the flow of grace moving.

Let us use the opportunities available to us to share with others, to encourage others, and to stretch ourselves to give freely of the gifts we have received.

I gave each participant one of these photos to place on the fridge, bathroom mirror or some place else they will see regularly.

A little thank you and reminder of the bible study

One Thousand Gift - Between Session

There is Between Session work in the One Thousand Gift bible study.

It prompted us to continue our Gift List with a few more gifts. 

• A phone call from my aunt for an outing to see inspirational art.
• A day spent in the country with my camera.
• A flexible exercise program now that it too dark and cold to walk outside in the morning.
• Visits with friends this week and next.
• Completion of the kitchen project for 2017.
• A new fridge full of food.
• A phone call offering me an opportunity to teach a class.

Trust Moment
Grace to cool my hurt and anger when I was layed off 2.5 years ago.

God showed me opportunities which I could not pursue while I was working.

Several friends with deep faith to support and encouragement.

Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

One Thousand Gifts - Session 4 - Trust: Bridge to Joy

I am leading this bible study tonight - One Thousand Gifts Bible Study - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
Seven of us met tonight to share and learn.
I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratitude.

Session 4 - Trust: Bridge to Joy

Ann recounts an incident where she crosses a bridge and has the epiphany that every time she comes to a bridge she trusts the bridge builder to ensure safe passage across. We need to trust God who sent the bridge between Him and us. 

In this session Ann presents the concept of being "practical atheists".

• When we live our lives not trusting the God we believe in.  

• When we choose stress, it is an act of disbelief. 

 "When we can't see His Hand, we can trust His Heart"

One Thousand Gifts - Between Sessions

We are encouraged to continue looking for the gifts.

I am grateful for being able to teach classes.  With bible study and card club I enjoy the process regularly.

I am grateful for connections on line with bloggers and photographers.

I am grateful for a call from my aunt to get together this week.

We are asked to look deep in the mess and dirt of our lives to find a treasure a gift that is hidden there.

I have been dealing with problems with new appliances, deliveries and customer service.  I've had to be deliberate and intentional to follow up on these issues.  I am grateful for the time and attention to detail have have been blessed with.

One Thousand Gifts - Session 3 - All is Grace

I am leading this bible study tonight - One Thousand Gifts Bible Study - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
Seven of us met tonight to share and learn.
I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratitude.

Session 3 - All is Grace


Ann recounts an incident where practicing Eucharisteo made a difference.  Where how she behaved changed the results of a conflict between her sons and her. 

The toast incident was between two of her sons  and involves chucking toast. Her initial reaction is anger.  The one boy is humiliated and the other is indignant.  How can I practice "Giving Thanks" in this ugly situation?

She chooses to give thanks for the sons rather than react in anger.  She speaks aloud what she loves about this son. She calms and so does the son which results in a tender moment between her and one son because she behaved differently in the situation. 

It redeemed the moment and the experience for mother and son.



She talks of the ugly beautiful. Is it possible that all we experience can be grace if we focus deep enough to see God's influence to transform all of it?

One Thousand Gift - Between Sessions

I am grateful for gathering the last of Mom's apple and grape harvest this week. 
Farmers are also gathering in the harvest.
God is good all the time.  
 

In ancient times people would place a stack a stones where important events took place as a reminder of the event.  As the people traveled by the parents and grandparents retold the story to the younger ones in an oral history tradition. 

What can we do in our lives to mark the big and small events to allow us to look back and remember God's gifts?










Scrapbooking - digital, paper, Project Life are ways to record our lives.  We need to make those available to remember and recount the stories. Dig those books out regularly and browse through them.

We can use scrapbooking to create a visual reminder in our quiet space that brings us to be calm and reflective.

A digital photo frame can hold photos from a trip, event, or just the great moments of ordinary life.  It is quick and easy.  Make the frame central to life in your home for a constant reminder of the good gifts from God.

Place some images which would trigger a calming response in you so in times when needed you can cast a glance to the frame and find an image to re-center you.




A journal, a blog, a slide show on the computer are all tools to record our big and little events then provide a way to remind us to slow and tell our stories.

One Thousand Gifts - Session 2 - Grace in the Moment

I am leading this bible study tonight - One Thousand Gifts Bible Study - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
Nine of us met tonight to share and learn.
I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratitude.

Session 2 - Grace in the Moment

Ann this week talks about how to live our one life well.  When we give our undivided attention to the moments of life; time slows and there is enough time.

It has been studied and proven that those who take pen to paper and maintain a gratitude list of gifts enjoy:
1. Absence of Stress
2. Progress in Personal Goals
3. Higher levels of Energy
4. Feel closer in their Relationhips
5. Experience a 25% increase in Happiness

Who does not want that!!

Another subject Ann covers this week is the hard gifts which come our way.  She was eager to take the good, easy, nice gifts but there are hard things that come.  These too come from God. How can you open a hand to the easy and close the hand to the hard. You can not.

She recounts a story of an injury her son sustained and she had to come to terms that we must accept all things that come.  God has a plan.

One Thousand Gift - Between Sessions

There is Between Session work in the One Thousand Gift bible study.

It prompted us to start out our Gift List with 20 gifts, identify 3 moments in our life which changed our lives, and choose a couple Eucharisteo Mentors. It suggested sending a card or email thanking them for their example.

I designed these new Nifty Notes. I chose a couple of nature shots I took recently.  I love how the Bull Thistle one turned out.  I added a bokeh layer and a greeting to the original image. I chose a fall looking plant in warm tones for the second one.  I added a horizontal blurred layer and greeting to this one.

I printed some and will bring them to class for participants to use in communicating with their mentors. I have a couple of cards prepared to send off to ladies which have been a calm and steady influence in my life.

With having recently purchases new kitchen appliances I had occasion this week to deal with deliveries, installations, professionals and not so professionals.  The not so professionals required my grace and to those who did a great job I expressed my sincere gratitude for their exemplary work.  I will be delivering thank you notes later.

Start a gratitude journal and record the blessings you have received.  The result is joy.

One Thousand Gifts - Session 1 - Attitude of Gratitude

I started leading this bible study tonight - One Thousand Gifts Bible Study - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
Nine of us met tonight to share and learn.
I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratitude.


Session 1 - Attitude of Gratitude

Can I write down the gifts I have been blessed with?  Can I do every day till I have counted 1000 then continue? When I start to intentionally look in my life for blessings I find them everywhere.  When I write them down the invisible becomes visible.  Providing me a place I can go back to in difficult times to remember how blessed I am.

One point I picked up this session was giving thanks is the other side of prayer. Sometimes prayer becomes a list of my needs but a gratitude journal becomes the list of blessings I have received.

We started our gratitude journals tonight and one of my blessings - Friends and Family.

One Thousdand Gifts - Session 5 - Empty to Fill

This is week five in this bible study - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images. There was good attendance.

Session 5 - Empty to Fill

Ann this week talks about an experience she had with a man during a youth group event she was chaperoning.  It took place in downtown Toronto at a mission where the group of young people were going to do some outreach.  The man had lived a hard life but wanted to be a blessing.  Sometimes we limit our view based on appearance, circumstance or our own history. Ann comes to understand that when she counted blessings she received that was one half of the miracle.  She could also be the gift to someone else.

We should allow the blessing to flow through us not get stuck with us.  We have been blessed with talents, opportunities, resources, time, energy, and love to share that with others. 














As you see blessings everyday write them down in your journal but also look for the opportunities to bless.


What can I give?

• a spot in traffic
• a smile
• a kind word
• a meal                            
• a hug
• a card
• a call
• a prayer

This was our last lesson for this bible study.  The group was a blessing.  I spent time with 8 incredible ladies.  Thank you for the privilege of leading.  Some of the ladies took me out for fish and chips which was really nice and we had very good time.

I created a small reminder of our time together that they can place in their journals, stick on the fridge or bathroom mirror, or place in a small frame. I hope they will see it often and lessons learned will be brought to mind again.

One Thousdand Gifts - Between Sessions

There is Between Session work in the One Thousand Gift bible study.

We are asked to continue to write down our gift list.  To always have a place to write handy - a file on the phone, the computer, a note book and or a dry erase board.

Ten more dots to write down gifts in our guide.  I will share a few from this week.

1. Dad has been out of the house now that the weather is better.
2. Sunday's music has been with me all week.
3. Spring is here - water is running and geese are flying.

God stretching moment - I was layed off my job 2 years ago.  I spent a few days just beside myself because I was given 30 minutes to empty my office after working there 12 years.  Punch in the gut.  I am doing well and doing what I enjoy.  God is good.

God trusting moment - dropped my car keys when crossing the street running an errand.  Two people were sitting on the stoop of a tatoo business across from where I parked.  When I returned I discovered my keys missing.  I searched a few minutes and found them in the wiper well of my car.  I can't imagine it was not these fellows who put them there because they knew which car the keys belonged to.  I was reassured that God is good. 

One Thousdand Gifts - Session 4 - Trust - The Bridge to Joy

This is week four in this bible study - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images. There was good attendance.

Session 4 -Trust - The Bridge to Joy

This week, Ann mentions several fears that made it difficult for her to trust God in her life.  As she practiced Eucharisteo - giving Thanks she found that Joy came and Trust grew.

Fear keeps our lives small. Fear tells us the lie that God's goodness is finite, it will come to an end, that there will not be enough, our needs will not be met. Trust is hard work.

If we reach for life with open hands does our life become bigger, richer, more joy filled?  God has given the best and knows our needs so what would He withhold?

We build trust through millions of faithful moments where God was there to support, provide and encourage.

This week Ann describes a moment on her drive to somewhere. She had the epiphany when she drove over a bridge and realized that she had trusted the bridge builder to get her across safely.

Thanksgiving builds Trust.

We need to trust God who is our Bridge Builder to get us through and over the troubled waters in our lives.

'When we can't see His hand, we can always see His heart'.

One Thousand Gifts - Between Sessions

There is Between Session work in the One Thousand Gift bible study.

We are asked to continue to write down our gift list.  To always have a place to write handy - a file on the phone, the computer, a note book and or a dry erase board.

Ten more dots to write down gifts in our guide.  I will share a few from this week.

1. A good result from my tests last week.

2. A visit from my sister.
3. A friend called and we made plans.
4. Fellowship with ladies.
5. My sisters grandson is getting better.

Our ugly-beautiful moments are moments when we can excavate the experience deep enough to see Christ.  Many times we cannot, at times all we can do is cope, at times we can be grateful, and then other times we can be transformed by the moment.

One Thousand Gifts - Session 3 - All is Grace

This is week three in this bible study - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images. There was good attendance.






Session Three - All is Grace

This week Ann talks about an experience with 2 of her boys.  One of the boys has been disrespectful to the other and she is angry at the behavior of the boy.   After practicing Eucharisteo for a while she chooses to practice it in the situation.  It feels unfamiliar, but she does it anyway. Give Thanks when you would rather lash out.  In a few minutes, heart rates slow, tempers cool, arms uncross, hearts soften and a tender moment is be shared between mother and son.  A blessing received by each.

We will have valley and mountain top experiences.  Can we see God's grace in all of them?

If we look deep enough in the hard places of our lives we will see God's hand on it. 

One Thousand Gifts - Between Sessions

There is Between Session work in the One Thousand Gift bible study.

We are asked to continue to write down our gift list.  To always have a place to write handy - a file on the phone, the computer, a note book and or a dry erase board.

Ten more dots to write down gifts in our guide.  I will share a few from this week.


1. Tea with a friend
2. Time to make art
3. A clean house
4. A good visit with a sister

I found these journals at a local craft store and made them available to the participants if they did not already have a journal.





Ann says when we move too fast we no longer collect memories.  How can we collect our memories so we can retell and share our stories with others?  Where do we go back to remind ourselves of our stories?  I find that when I am too busy I forget to take pictures then I have little to remember the experience later.

A few suggestions are:

1. Scrapbooking - digital or paper
2. A digital photo frame with regular updates
3. Keep a guest book and bring it out when company comes.

Do you have ideas you want to share?  Leave me a comment.

One Thousdand Gifts - Session 2 - Grace in the Moment

This is week two in this bible study - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images. There was good attendance.

Session 2 - Grace in the Moment
This week Ann talked about accepting the hard things along with the easy things in life with the same open hand.
Thanksgiving for all that come provides grace in the hard moments.

She talks of a friend who could not think of a single advantage of always being in a hurry but many regrets to many broken and missed moments due to haste.

Live in the moment where time slows and God is present and you are paying it your full attention.

Habits can free you!

Those who keep a gratitude journals experience.
1.  Absence of stress
2. Progress toward personal goals
3. Higher levels of determination and energy
4. Feel closer in their relationships
5. Increase their happiness by 25%


I want some of that!  How about you?

One Thousand Gifts - Between Sessions

There is Between Session work in the One Thousand Gift bible study.

It prompted us to start out our Gift List with 20 gifts, identify 3 moments in our life which changed our lives, and choose 5 Eucharisteo Mentors. It suggested sending a card or email Thanking them for their example.

I designed these new Nifty Notes, printed some and will bring them to class for participants to use in communicating with their mentors.

I have a couple of cards prepared to send off to ladies which have been a calm and steady influence in my lif.


The clock I designed this week.  I chose a vintage clock image to which I added a deep tree back image and a horizontal blur image.

The floral still life is one I designed in January.  Check it out here.  

One Thousdand Gifts - Session 1 - Attitude of Gratitude

I started leading this bible study today - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  I have seven ladies registered and I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images.

Session 1 - Attitude of Gratitude
The book was the result of a challenge to Ann from a friend to write down 1000 gifts.  Joy came in the writing down - in the naming the invisible became visible. 

One of the images from the video that resonated with me was the act of making bread. In this session Ann is making bread.  I really enjoyed that imagery as my mother makes bread every week so it is a comforting reminder of love for me.

We are encouraged to live with our hands wide open and not close fisted.

Gifts in my life:

1. Family
2. Friends, Fellowship
3. Time
4. Health
5. A desire to be useful

Check out this 100 day calendar where you can start writing your your blessings.  Take the dare.  Start today!