The Joy Dare

#1 A Gift in My Hand... The one that started it all: One Thousand Gifts

Have you heard of The Joy Dare?  Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts, is challenging her readers to count 1,000 gifts in 2012. Snap a photo or record three gifts a day. Little gifts, big gifts, they're all the same -- graces given to us from the hand of a gracious God.

On Ann's blog, A Holy Experience, you'll find January's Joy Dare download. Some ideas to give you a little inspiration in your search for blessings. You probably won't have to look far. Don't be discouraged if you're joining the game a little late -- I'm starting today, too! After all, it's never too late to start being thankful. Three gifts a day multiplied by 366 days (this year's a Leap Year, remember?) equals 1,098, so if we're faithful every day, we should easily be able to log 1,000 gifts... or more!

#2 A Gift I Walked By... What a great reminder of The Joy Dare!

#3 A Gift I Sat With... Woman's best friend, my faithful buddy, Coda

So are you ready? Take The Joy Dare with me! In the words of Ann Voskamp herself:

This kneeling wherever we are, and murmuring it aloud, just this one word to Him, this is the word that can change everything – us and the whole world: “Thank-you.”

Everyone Has a Story...

Our lives intersect with hundreds of strangers every week. Sometimes we give a quick, uneasy smile, a quiet hello, a hasty nod, or merely glance away. But in these “chance” meetings, there is opportunity. To make connections, to speak a kind word, to show light, to listen to another human being’s story.

Today, I met a delightful 87-year-old woman, who was sitting alone at a local café in my town. I was armed with my laptop and a head full of writing and planning ideas, ready to make the most of a few stolen hours by myself.

But God had other plans.

I sat quietly for a while, gearing up for my big writing extravaganza by first opening some e-mails and browsing the web. But when I started to get up to refill my drink, she made eye contact.

“Are you in college?” she asked, noticing my laptop.

Resisting the urge to hug her (since college days are just a very dim memory for me), I explained that I’m a writer and come to the café for a little writing time every so often.  

That exchange turned into an hour and a half long conversation with Betty, an interesting elderly widow with twinkling blue eyes and a lively personality. And plenty of stories.

We talked about her memories as a young girl in our town, roller skating with her friends to the State Theatre. They would smear candy on the corners of their mouths and skip up to the ticket counter acting like 12 year olds, so they could get in for 10 cents instead of 25. As a young married woman, she saw her husband off to Japan for his post-World War II duties. She showed me pictures of her great-grandchildren. Reminisced about her late husband of 60 years. And we discovered that we have several mutual friends.

She kept apologizing for keeping me from my work. I kept assuring her that I enjoyed listening to her stories.

With a look of pain in her eyes, she confessed that her daughter doesn’t like to listen to her memories.

“If I didn’t have my memories, I would jump off a bridge. But I don’t like the water,” she said with a chuckle.

A “chance” meeting with a complete stranger ended up enriching my day. And pricking my conscience for almost passing up the opportunity.

Today I was reminded that people are more important than computers. Personal connections far outweigh internet connections. Real face-to-face contact is more valuable than Facebook.

Everyone has a story. If only someone will listen…

One Little Word...

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Like most of you, I've made my share of New Year's resolutions over the years -- some out of guilt, some out of necessity, some out of sheer stupidity.  They all had one thing in common... they were broken within a month or two, if not a day or two.

Keeping this dilemma in mind, I started a new tradition last year by choosing one word that I wanted to live out in the New Year. One word to remind me of how I needed to change. One word to prick my conscience. One word to inspire me. This year, our entire family from the youngest (age 11) to the oldest (uh-hum, that would be me) decided to choose a word and a scripture verse to accompany it.

As we sat around our kitchen table on New Year's Eve, we each presented our word and verse to the family and put it into a box that will remain visible during the year. Each week, we're going to try to look up another scripture to illustrate our word and maybe even memorize it. My wise husband gave one rule to the family about "the words": We cannot use another person's word as ammunition against him or her. For example, if someone's word is "patient" and they're having an impatient moment, another family member cannot chide the poor impatient soul with "I thought your word for this year was patience!" We all agreed this was a good rule.

My word for this year? Captivated. To be attracted or enthralled by a person or thing's beauty or excellence. At first glance, it may seem like a strange word. But let me explain... Our pastor has been preaching through the book of Colossians for a few months now, and I've been particularly impacted by chapter 3. The first few verses kept speaking to me about being captivated by Christ:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Meditating on these verses and chapter 3 as a whole got me thinking about how different my life would be if I were truly captivated by Christ and all that He is. If I am captivated by Christ, I will be captivated by heavenly things, not by things here on earth. My priorities will completely change. My needs will become last on the list. I will consider others better than myself. I will love as I ought to love, have a compassionate heart, be kind, show humility and meekness, and be patient (Col. 3:12).

Being captivated by Christ truly changes everything.

One little word. So much meaning.

Lord, I want to be captivated by You and all that You are. You are the most beautiful, excellent, enthralling, captivating person who ever lived -- and died -- for me. Help me to be held and changed by your beauty in 2012.

No Strings Attached

Two year olds are well known for their outbursts and tantrums, but they're also among the most loving little creatures on the face of the planet (besides puppies and kittens, of course). Recently, my husband and I experienced a hilarious and heartwarming scenario involving one of these precious "terrible twos."

During a Christmas concert at a local university, a cherub-faced two-year-old girl decided that the stranger sitting in the row in front of her needed some love. In a spontaneous moment of unspeakable joy, she leaned up, grabbed the man around the neck with both of her chubby arms, and pressed her face against his. For at least 20 seconds. Maybe that doesn't sound like a long time, but count slowly to 20 and imagine yourself as the recipient of this hug. It will either bring a smile or a grimace to your face. Either way, this 20 second bear hug was one of the sweetest expressions of pure, innocent love I've seen in a very long time.

That hug got me thinking. What if I treated strangers in the same way? I'd probably be locked up for a very long time. But metaphorically speaking... what if I treated those I meet every day with the same enthusiastic, no-strings-attached love? What if every Christian did the same? Needless to say, the world would be a very different place. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Father, help me to love others this Christmas season, not with strings attached, but with the same love You show to Your children. Thank you for the most indescribable gift of all time -- Your amazing love, wrapped in swaddling clothes, sent to a world in desperate need of You.

Overflowing!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

It was one of those days. The dog threw up his entire meal on the floor. The laundry pile seemed like it had multiplied tenfold overnight. My middle daughter had a terrible cold and cough, and I was feeling like I might be next in line. In the midst of all the chaos, these words from Colossians came to mind: “overflowing with thankfulness.”

The only thing I was overflowing with was a bunch of complaints and groans.
 
When everything is going my way, it’s easy to be thankful. When the dog is behaving (not barfing!), the laundry is folded and put away, and the kids are healthy and happy, counting my blessings comes naturally. But the true test of my heart is what happens when things fall apart. Do I criticize my spouse, complain about getting a raw deal, and moan and groan that things aren’t fair?  

I want to live in a constant state of thanksgiving. Not just during November, but all year round. In every circumstance. Even when I’m cleaning up after the dog. But how?

The key, says Colossians 2:6-7, is living my life in Christ, rooted and built up in Him. If I’m living my life in my own strength, thankfulness will be in short supply. But when my foundation and strength is found in Christ, I can be filled to the brim and overflowing with thankfulness!

Father, I am blessed beyond measure because of You. Help me to live in a constant state of thanksgiving, not just during this season, but in every season of life. You are the Giver of all good things, and I long to overflow with thankfulness!

Back in Time



I have a confession to make. Sometimes I dream of traveling back in time to an era where life was simpler, material possessions were few, and faith and family were cherished by society. Can you imagine? No internet, no phones, no television... Just a few good books, a roaring fire, and the company of close friends and family.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy my laptop, iPhone, coffee maker, and microwave just as much as the next girl. But sometimes, I just wonder what life must have been like.

This weekend my kids and I, along with some close friends, got a small taste of that simple life at the amazing Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. As we walked through the beautiful covered bridges, we traveled back in time for a minute or two, taking in the same sights, sounds, and smells that travelers did in the 1800s.

West Union Bridge, built in 1876 over Sugar Creek

Along the way to West Union Bridge, we stumbled upon a pioneer cemetery. Some of the stones dated back to Civil War and even pre-Civil War times. The writing was not even readable on many, worn by time and weather. Most likely, some of the men buried here helped build the earliest of the sturdy bridges in this county, proud of their craftsmanship and labor of love. Did they know their bridges would stand the test of time 100 to 150 years later?

Reading the inscriptions on the stones, I imagined what life must have been like for these Indiana pioneers. Some of them were young mothers, some soldiers, others children. They walked or rode in wagons over the bridges in the county, laughing, dreaming, and living the simple life. A poignant reminder to savor each moment, to enjoy the immense blessings of life while it is still ours to live, and to remember that each day is given to us by the One who knows us by name and holds the past, present, and future in His hands.

Perfect Fall Breakfast Treat

We are usually a no-frills breakfast family -- cereal, toast, bagels, and the occasional slice of cold pizza are the norm around our house. Since I've become a Pinterest fan, however, visions of muffins, coffee cakes, and French toast have been dancing in my head. So I decided to break out of the boring breakfast mold and try something new.

Score! This recipe was a hit. My guinea pigs kids gobbled it up like they hadn't eaten in days! Next time I will make a double batch, for sure.

As my daughter pointed out, this would make a great Thanksgiving Day breakfast. But I don't think I'll be able to wait until Thanksgiving to try it again!

Here's the recipe from Kevin at Closet Cooking (the great photo above is his, too):

Pumpkin Pie French Toast
(Makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup pumpkin puree/canned pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons brown sugar
8 slices of bread

Directions:
1. Mix the eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and brown sugar in low flat bowl for easy dipping.
2. Dip the bread into the egg mixture on both sides and grill in a pan until lightly golden brown, about 2-3 minute per side.
3. Serve with maple syrup. Enjoy!