The Leaf

I have a small collection of little objects -

Tiny bits of grace -

In the side pocket on my bookbag.

You see, I like to take walks.

And, for me, "taking a walk" is code for "spending time with God".

My friend has been a bit skeptical in the past,

Preferring the quiet rooms and closed doors,

And there are times that I need that, too,

And my time with my notebook of requests always happens there,

Every day,

But there's something about being outside,

Free from man-made walls,

Where God sends breezes and sun and rain

And there is nothing between me and His creation -

This is my favorite place to pray.

And sometimes I need the benches,

And sometimes, vision blurred with tears, I'm grateful for the paths,

But, mostly, I need the wonder -

The beauty of nature in all seasons,

The leaves as they grow and fall,

The snow as it piles up, then melts.

I just need to be in it,

Staring at it,

Laughing with joy at the creativity of our Creator,

And there are good days and there are bad days,

But, oh, I need to be there.

I went for a walk last Friday.

The cool weather during most of the summer

Must've tricked the trees into thinking autumn was here early.

Interspersed bits of green and yellow waved gently in the breeze above my head.

As I got ready to follow the path to the left,

I noticed leaves falling from the tree up ahead.

You see, it was last year that I came to the crazy (though true) realization

That, since God is absolutely Sovereign,

He determines exactly where each leaf will fall.

Other than adding significantly to the awe I was experiencing,

This realization had the effect of sending me chasing after the falling leaves.

It felt like catching one would be such a gift.

Well, my hand-eye coordination has never been that good,

And joint problems have inhibited my desire to run,

So it's never been that easy for me to catch the falling leaves

As they drift one direction, then another on the wind,

So often falling just out of reach.

Of course, that makes it all the more precious when,

To my surprise,

I find a leaf resting in my sweatshirt pocket,

A leaf fallen on my lap as I get ready to start the car,

A leaf drifting gently right toward me.

God knows I'm out there in search of His beautiful, everyday gifts,

And sends His Grace right to me.

Friday was no different.

I saw the leaves falling from this tree,

And I remembered,

And I chased,

But no matter how I tried,

I couldn't catch one.

I stopped,

Tired and slightly dizzy from running around like a maniac.

I looked up at the tree and thought that maybe one would come to me again.

Then I thought that was too much like a test

And what if He didn't

And I probably shouldn't

And then I felt that I should just trust.

I stepped under the tree,

Looked at the branch above my head.

I noticed a leaf resting on top of another,

Already detatched,

Stem pointing toward the ground,

Just waiting for the wind to knock it down.

Yet it didn't fall.

I saw insects buzzing around,

Resting on the leaves,

Crawling on them.

I saw the light shining through,

The beautiful color green -

I probably only looked for a minute

Before I had seen so much beauty

That I felt that was enough grace

And maybe this is what I was supposed to trust for

And it was so abundantly more than enough.

I was staring up into the tree thinking these things

When something hit my shoulder.

I turned my head in time to see the bit of yellow stuck to me,

Then watch the wind carry it off again,

Down toward the ground.

I picked it up off the sidewalk,

Held it in my hands in wonder,

Then slipped it into the side pocket of my backpack.

Grace.

Reasons 4515-4589 today,

Trying to see Him,

His abundant Grace -

Such Grace!

Counting:

4515. He is the Maker of heaven (Psalm 146:6)
4516. He is the maker of earth (Psalm 146:6)
4517. He is the maker of the sea (Psalm 146:6)
4518. He is the Maker of everything in heaven (Psalm 146:6)
4519. He is the maker of everything in the earth (Psalm 146:6)
4520. He is the maker of everything in the sea (Psalm 146:6)
4521. He upholds the cause of the oppressed (Psalm 146:7)
4522. He gives food to the hungry (Psalm 146:7)
4523. He sets prisoners free (Psalm 146:7)
4524. He gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8)
4525. He lifts up those who are bowed down (Psalm 146:8)
4526. He loves the righteous (Psalm 146:8)
4527. He watches over the foreigner (Psalm 146:9)
4528. He sustains the fatherless (Psalm 146:9)
4529. He sustains the widow (Psalm 146:9)
4530. He frustrates the ways of the wicked (Psalm 146:9)
4531. He reigns for all generations (Psalm 146:10)
4532. He builds up Jerusalem (Psalm 147:2)
4533. He gathers the exiles of Israel (Psalm 147:2)
4534. He heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3)
4535. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3)
4536. He determines the number of the stars (Psalm 147:4)
4537. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name (Psalm 147:4)
4538. He is mighty in power (Psalm 147:5)
4539. His understanding has no limit (Psalm 147:5)
4540. He sustains the humble (Psalm 147:6)
4541. He casts the wicked to the ground (Psalm 147:6)
4542. He covers the sky with clouds (Psalm 147:8)
4543. He supplies the earth with rain (Psalm 147:8)
4544. He makes grass grow on the hills (Psalm 147:8)
4545. He provides food for the cattle (Psalm 147:9)
4546. He provides food for the young ravens when they call (Psalm 147:9)
4547. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse (Psalm 147:10)
4548. His delight is not in the legs of the warrior (Psalm 147:10)
4549. He delights in those who fear Him (Psalm 147:11)
4550. He delights in those who put their hope in His unfailing love (Psalm 147:11)
4551. He strengthens the bars of His city's gates (Psalm 147:12-13)
4552. He blesses the people within His city (Psalm 147:12-13)
4553. He grants peace to the borders of His city (Psalm 147:12-14)
4554. He satisfies the inhabitants of His city with the finest of wheat (Psalm 147:12-14)
4555. He sends His command to the earth (Psalm 147:15)
4556. His word runs swiftly (Psalm 147:15)
4557. He spreads the snow like wool (Psalm 147:16)
4558. He scatters the frost like ashes (Psalm 147:16)
4559. He hurls down His hail like pebbles (Psalm 147:17)
4560. No one can withstand His icy blast (Psalm 147:17)
4561. He sends His word and melts the ice and snow (Psalm 147:16-18)
4562. He stirs up His breezes, and the waters flow (Psalm 147:18)
4563. He has revealed His Word to Jacob (Psalm 147:19)
4564. He has revealed His laws and decrees to Israel (Psalm 147:19)
4565. He has not revealed His Word to any other nation (Psalm 147:19-20)
4566. He has not revealed His laws and decrees to any other nation (Psalm 147:19-20)
4567. At His command the heavens were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4568. At His command the heights above were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4569. At His command all His angels were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4570. At His command all His heavenly hosts were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4571. At His command the sun and moon were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4572. At His command all the shining stars were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4573. At His command the highest heavens were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4574. At His command the waters above the skies were created (Psalm 148:1-5)
4575. He established the heavens for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4576. He established the heights above for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4577. He established all His angels for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4578. He established all His heavenly hosts for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4579. He established the sun and moon for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4580. He established all the shining stars for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4581. He established the highest heavens for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4582. He established the waters above the skies for ever and ever (Psalm 148:1-6)
4583. He issued a decree that will never pass away (Psalm 148:6)
4584. The stormy winds do His bidding (Psalm 148:8)
4585. His Name alone is exalted (Psalm 148:13)
4586. His splendor is above the earth and the heavens (Psalm 148:13)
4587. He has raised up for His people a horn (Psalm 148:14)
4588. He has raised up for His people the praise of all His faithful servants (Psalm 148:14)
4589. He has raised up for His people the praise of Israel, the people close to His heart (Psalm 148:14)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community:

And linking up at Ann's this week -

It seemed appropriate, considering the post.

Grateful for:

• Grace
• Falling leaves
• The beauty of nature I've had the opportunity to enjoy this weekend
• Time with family
• And so much more . . .

What it's All About

I'll be honest.

I avoided this place this week.

It wasn't because I was busy,

Wasn't because I didn't have the time,

It was because I was lonely.

There, I said it.

Between the ups and downs of the past year,

The endless work

And all the things I just haven't gotten done,

I've neglected this place.

I know I have.

And then I come back

And expect everything to be just the way it was before

And it isn't.

And I want it to be.

The excuse I used to start this blog was to share with my friends about my music

And it was just that -

An excuse.

The real reason I wanted a blog

Was because I'd been reading blogs,

I'd been encouraged by blogs,

I had seen the blogging community

And I wanted to be a part of that.

Well, it hasn't been easy lately

And I haven't been able to read my favorite blogs as much as I like to,

And then I come back and post,

Eager for the conversation and friendship I've found,

And end up counting the numbers of those comments

(Or lack thereof)

Rather than trusting His Grace.

So I didn't blog on Sunday -

Because I didn't feel like it.

You probably know how it is.

You wonder if you said something wrong,

Did something wrong,

If no one likes you anymore.

Then you tell yourself those are silly thoughts

And everything's probably fine

And other people are just as busy as you are, you know,

And you're sure they just forgot . . .

Maybe . . .

But then you're the one feeling forgotten,

And why,

Why, oh why,

Did this prayer ever stop being the one that I always prayed before I posted?

When did I start caring about who was listening,

And why is it so hard to stop?

I wasn't going to blog today.

Or, more accurately, I was and then I wasn't and then I was and then I wasn't and then . . .

Well, I was supposed to be watching the dryer

And plans got put on hold

And I had a few minutes

And I thought maybe I'd catch up?

See how everyone else was doing?

And I read

And I joined in the conversation

And, really, what does it matter if no one responds to my words?

I've been told by a few that one of my spiritual gifts is encouragement.

I don't know if that's true, but I know what my issue has been this whole time.

It's been me.

You see, I was trying to make it all about me.

Why weren't people listening to me,

Why weren't things happening the way I expected,

Why don't I feel like doing this anymore.

What is it that makes me forget

That it's never been about me?

Blogging?

This online world?

This community?

It was always meant to be about someone else -

And,

More importantly,

About SomeOne else.

Reasons 4388-4514 today,

Trying to remember that it's all about Him

Because He is everything:

4388. He is the God of gods (Psalm 136:2)
4389. He is the Lord of lords (Psalm 136:3)
4390. He alone does great wonders (Psalm 136:3)
4391. By His understanding He made the heavens (Psalm 136:5)
4392. He spread out the earth upon the waters (Psalm 136:6)
4393. He made the great lights (Psalm 136:7)
4394. He made the sun to govern the day (Psalm 136:8)
4395. He made the moon and stars to govern the night (Psalm 136:9)
4396. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt and brought Israel out from among them (Psalm 136:10-11)
4397. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt and brought Israel out from among them with a mighty hand and outstretched arm (Psalm 136:10-11)
4398. He divided the Red Sea asunder (Psalm 136:13)
4399. He divided the Red Sea asunder and brought Israel through the midst of it (Psalm 136:13)
4400. He divided the Red Sea asunder and brought Israel through the midst of it but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea (Psalm 136:13)
4401. He led His people through the wilderness (Psalm 136:16)
4402. He struck down great kings (Psalm 136:17)
4403. He killed mighty kings (Psalm 136:18)
4404. He struck down Sihon king of the Amorites (Psalm 136:19)
4405. He struck down Og king of the Bashan (Psalm 136:19)
4406. He gave the land of Sihon king of the Amorites as an inheritance to His servant Israel (Psalm 136:19-22)
4407. He gave the land of Og king of the Bashan as an inheritance to His servant Israel (Psalm 136:20-22)
4408. He remembered His people in their low estate (Psalm 136:23)
4409. He remembered His people in their low estate and freed them from their enemies (Psalm 136:23-24)
4410. He gives food to every creature (Psalm 136:25)
4411. He has so exalted His solemn decree that it surpasses His fame (Psalm 138:2)
4412. He greatly emboldens His people (Psalm 138:3)
4413. His Glory is great (Psalm 138:5)
4414. Though He is exalted, He looks kindly on the lowly (Psalm 138:6)
4415. He is lofty (Psalm 138:6)
4416. Though He is lofty, He sees the lowly from afar (Psalm 138:6)
4417. He preserves the lives of those who walk in the midst of trouble (Psalm 138:7)
4418. He stretches out His hand against the anger of His people's foes (Psalm 138:7)
4419. With His right hand He saves His people (Psalm 138:7)
4420. He has searched His people (Psalm 139:1)
4421. He has searched His people and He knows them (Psalm 139:1)
4422. He knows when His people sit (Psalm 139:2)
4423. He knows when His people rise (Psalm 139:2)
4424. He discerns His people's thoughts from afar (Psalm 139:2)
4425. He discerns His people's going out (Psalm 139:3)
4426. He discerns His people's lying down (Psalm 139:3)
4427. He is familiar with all His people's ways (Psalm 139:3)
4428. Before a word is on His people's tongues, He knows it completely (Psalm 139:4)
4429. He hems His people in behind and before (Psalm 139:5)
4430. He lays His hand upon His people (Psalm 139:5)
4431. His knowledge is too wonderful for man (Psalm 139:6)
4432. His knowledge is too lofty for man to attain (Psalm 139:6)
4433. No one can go somewhere away from His Spirit (Psalm 139:7)
4434. No one can flee from His presence (Psalm 139:7)
4435. He is in the heavens (Psalm 139:8)
4436. He is in the depths (Psalm 139:8)
4437. His hand will guide His people if they rise on the wings of the dawn (Psalm 139:9-10)
4438. His hand will guide His people if they settle on the far side of the sea (Psalm 139:9-10)
4439. His right hand will hold His people fast if they rise on the wings of the dawn (Psalm 139:9-10)
4440. His right hand will hold His people fast if they settle on the far side of the sea (Psalm 139:9-10)
4441. Even the darkness is not dark to Him (Psalm 139:12)
4442. The night shines like the day to Him (Psalm 139:12)
4443. Darkness is as light to Him (Psalm 139:12)
4444. He created people's inmost being (Psalm 139:13)
4445. He knit people together in their mother's wombs (Psalm 139:13)
4446. His works are fearfully made (Psalm 139:14)
4447. His works are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
4448. His works are wonderful (Psalm 139:14)
4449. People's frames are not hidden from Him (Psalm 139:15)
4450. People's frames are not hidden from Him when they are made in the secret place (Psalm 139:15)
4451. People's frames are not hidden from Him when they are woven together in the depths of the earth (Psalm 139:15)
4452. His eyes saw people's unformed bodies (Psalm 139:16)
4453. All the days ordained for all people are written in His book (Psalm 139:16)
4454. All the days ordained for all people were written in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16)
4455. The sum of His thoughts is vast (Psalm 139:17)
4456. The sum of His thoughts would outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139:17-18)
4457. When His people awake, they are still with Him (Psalm 139:18)
4458. He is His people's Strong Deliverer (Psalm 140:7)
4459. He shields His people's heads in the day of battle (Psalm 140:7)
4460. He secures justice for the poor (Psalm 140:12)
4461. He upholds the cause of the needy (Psalm 140:12)
4462. The righteous will praise His Name (Psalm 140:13)
4463. The upright will live in His Presence (Psalm 140:13)
4464. He watches over His people's ways (Psalm 142:3)
4465. He watches over His people's ways when their spirits grow faint within them (Psalm 142:3)
4466. He is His people's portion in the land of the living (Psalm 142:5)
4467. No one living is righteous before Him (Psalm 143:2)
4468. He trains His people's hands for war (Psalm 144:1)
4469. He trains His people's fingers for battle (Psalm 144:1)
4470. He is His people's loving God (Psalm 144:2)
4471. He is His people's shield in whom they take refuge (Psalm 144:2)
4472. He subdues peoples under His people (Psalm 144:2)
4473. Human beings are like a breath, yet He cares for them (Psalm 144:3-4)
4474. Mere mortals are like a breath, yet He thinks of them (Psalm 144:3-4)
4475. The days of human beings are like a fleeting shadow, yet He cares for them (Psalm 144:3-4)
4476. The days of mere mortals are like a fleeting shadow, yet He thinks of them (Psalm 144:3-4)
4477. He gives victory to kings (Psalm 144:10)
4478. He delivers His servant David (Psalm 144:10)
4479. His people are blessed (Psalm 144:15)
4480. His Greatness no one can fathom (Psalm 145:3)
4481. One generation commends His works to another (Psalm 145:4)
4482. The generations tell of His mighty acts (Psalm 145:4)
4483. The generations speak of the glorious splendor of His Majesty (Psalm 145:4-5)
4484. His Majesty has glorious splendor (Psalm 145:5)
4485. The generations tell of the power of His awesome works (Psalm 145:4-6)
4486. His deeds are great (Psalm 145:6)
4487. The generations celebrate His abundant Goodness (Psalm 145:4-7)
4488. His Goodness is abundant (Psalm 145:7)
4489. The generations joyfully sing of His Righteousness (Psalm 145:4-7)
4490. He is rich in love (Psalm 145:8)
4491. He is slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 145:8)
4492. He is good to all (Psalm 145:9)
4493. He has compassion on all He has made (Psalm 145:9)
4494. All His works praise Him (Psalm 145:10)
4495. His faithful people extol Him (Psalm 145:10)
4496. His kingdom is glorious (Psalm 145:11)
4497. His kingdom has glorious splendor (Psalm 145:12)
4498. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom (Psalm 145:13)
4499. His dominion endures through all generations (Psalm 145:13)
4500. He is Trustworthy in all He promises (Psalm 145:13)
4501. He upholds all who fall (Psalm 145:14)
4502. He lifts up all who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14)
4503. The eyes of all look to Him (Psalm 145:15)
4504. The eyes of all look to Him and he gives them their food at the proper time (Psalm 145:15)
4505. He opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:16)
4506. He is Righteous in all His ways (Psalm 145:17)
4507. He is near to all who call on Him (Psalm 145:18)
4508. He is near to all who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18)
4509. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him (Psalm 145:19)
4510. He hears the cry of those who fear Him (Psalm 145:19)
4511. He hears the cry of those who fear Him and saves them (Psalm 145:19)
4512. He watches over all who love Him (Psalm 145:20)
4513. All the wicked He will destroy (Psalm 145:20)
4514. His Name is Holy (Psalm 145:21)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community:


 

Writing to Sponsored Children: Organizational Ideas

I am fully aware that I am writing this after taking an entire week (well, technically more than a week, because I spent some time one night labeling . . . and then I worked on a birthday card . . .) compiling two large envelopes to send to children through Compassion.

So, I am not about to make any sort of claim that, because this works for me, it's going to work for you.

It doesn't even work for me.

(What would probably work better is to not be me, because I have a tendency to want to send lots of little trinkets and presents with my letters, and collect them in large piles until I get a letter mailed off . . . and write extremely long letters.)

But, it's taken me this long to get this far,

And it really does help me to get this done faster.

(Just imagine how long it took me before I discovered a way to get this done faster.)

So, for anyone who has the same difficulties I do and is interested in how I organize,

Here's what I do:

Last winter, I purchased a 13-pocket expanding file folder.

In the first pocket, I have return address labels and envelopes.

(This would also be a good place to put stamps, but my letters are rarely light enough to send through the regular mail.)

The folder also has a front pocket meant for a CD.

In this I keep a shopping-list sized paper

With reminders of my sponsor number,

My children's numbers,

Important holidays,

Birthdays,

And days that my sponsored/correspondent children celebrate.

(This means that I don't have to be on the computer looking that information up as I'm writing letters!)

With twelve pockets remaining inside,

There is one for each month of the year.

I labeled these with the main, easy-to-read month being the month my children should receive their letters

And the smaller month to the side being the month I should send it.

Inside of the pockets for each month, I put

Stationery,

Stickers,

Coloring pages,

Sudoku puzzles,

Printables,

Pictures,

Bookmarks,

Books (free PDFs are awesome!)

Inspirational cards,

Birthday cards,

And anything else I might find that I want to send to my sponsored child.

One of the major advantages I've found to having a system like this is that I can just slip in items at any time.

When I'm at the store around Christmastime, I can pick up some Christmas stickers, slide them in the appropriate pocket, and they're all ready to be sent a couple months before the next Christmas.  Then my sponsored children can get their Christmas stickers on Christmas rather than after Christmas.  (Of course, after Christmas would be perfectly fine, but OCD people like me might prefer this method.)

When there's a cute gratitude printable available around Thanksgiving, I have something to stick in next Thanksgiving's letter that will help as I tell my sponsored child about the holiday.

When I'm surfing the web and find something that would be so cute, but I just wrote a letter two days ago and I'm sure that I will lose it in the mass of papers around our house before I get around to writing again . . .

Well, you get the picture.  That's the main reason I use this kind of system.

I recently came to the realization that taking the time to pull everything out of one pocket and sort it into two piles for two children adds to the amount of time it takes me to get letter-writing accomplished.  It also makes little sense since I usually know when I print things what I'm sending to whom.

Therefore, I purchased a second folder.

I now have one for each child.

This should mean that, in the future, when I have loaded my folders with goodies, I will still be able to close my folders!  (This was a problem last year after I fit goodies for two people for an entire year into just one folder.)

I used the same process for this folder that I used for the previous.

I labeled the months in the same way.

(I apologize for my terrible handwriting.  This is why I use a keyboard.)

I stuck the labels on

And I moved all of one intended recipient's goodies to that folder.

Not too difficult, and all I have to do later is pull everything out,

Write numbers on it,

Writ a letter,

And stick it all in an envelope.

This leads me to two other things I've found helpful:

1.  Sticking sticky notes with the intended recipient's name on the envelope.  This was a huge revelation for me because it takes me a couple of days to get the letters themselves written vs. a couple of hours to get things numbered.

2.  Numbering items before putting them in the folder.  This takes a lot of time while I'm doing it, but I obviously have some time, since I'm working on it anyway.  Later I might not have so much time available.  It helps, if printing things from the computer, to make the numbers part of the document being printed (I did this with the book - it took half an hour, but much shorter than it would've taken by hand!).  If there's anything else normally done to the items before mailing, I try to do it before sticking them in the folder (i.e. removing tassels from bookmarks, writing captions on photos, etc.).

Another thing I find helpful is getting a lot of pictures printed at once.  It isn't easy for me to make time to upload the photos, send them to the store, and pick them up.  Occasionally, there are also 50% off sales on large enough orders.  So, if I print them all at once, I save myself time, trips to the store, and money.  I can easily print lots of pictures, add sponsor & child numbers to all of them, label them all, split them up into groups of 5-8 photos per month, and be set for awhile.  (This is especially helpful to me during school months.)

And there it is!  My photos, Christmas stickers, stationery, printables, and other papers almost all ready to be mailed!  Now, if I could just take less time writing my letters . . .

In spite of the temporary topic change, I do have some reasons to share!

It's been so good to get back to counting these!!!

Reasons 4347-4387 today,

Still seeking to know who He is 

Because He is everything:

4347. He has chosen Zion (Psalm 132:13)
4348. He has desired Zion for His dwelling (Psalm 132:13)
4349. He will rest in Zion for ever and ever (Psalm 132:14)
4350. He sit enthroned in Zion (Psalm 132:14)
4351. He sit enthroned in Zion, for He has desired it (Psalm 132:14)
4352. He will bless Zion with abundant provisions (Psalm 132:15)
4353. He will satisfy the poor of Zion with food (Psalm 132:15)
4354. He will clothe the priests of Zion with salvation (Psalm 132:16)
4355. In Zion He will make a horn grow for David (Psalm 132:17)
4356. In Zion He will set up a lamp for His anointed one (Psalm 132:17)
4357. He will clothe His enemies with shame (Psalm 132:18)
4358. The head of His anointed one will be adorned with a radiant crown (Psalm 132:18)
4359. He bestows His blessing on Mount Zion (Psalm 133:3)
4360. He bestows His blessing on Mount Zion, even life forevermore (Psalm 133:3)
4361. He has chosen Jacob to be His own (Psalm 135:4)
4362. He has chosen Israel to be His treasured possession (Psalm 135:4)
4363. He is greater than all gods (Psalm 135:5)
4364. He does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth (Psalm 135:6)
4365. He does whatever pleases Him, in the seas and all their depths (Psalm 135:6)
4366. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth (Psalm 135:7)
4367. He sends lightning with the rain (Psalm 135:7)
4368. He brings out the wind from His storehouses (Psalm 135:7)
4369. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt (Psalm 135:8)
4370. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of all people and animals (Psalm 135:8)
4371. He sent His signs and wonders into the midst of Egypt (Psalm 135:9)
4372. He sent His signs and wonders into the midst of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants (Psalm 135:9)
4373. He struck down many nations (Psalm 135:10)
4374. He killed many kings (Psalm 135:10)
4375. He killed Sihon king of the Amorites (Psalm 135:10-11)
4376. He killed Og king of Bashan (Psalm 135:10-11)
4377. He killed all the kings of Canaan (Psalm 135:10-11)
4378. He gave the land of Sihon king of the Amorites as an inheritance (Psalm 135:10-11)
4379. He gave the land of Og king of Bashan as an inheritance (Psalm 135:10-11)
4380. He gave the land of all the kings of Canaan as an inheritance (Psalm 135:10-11)
4381. He gave the land of Sihon king of the Amorites as an inheritance to His people Israel (Psalm 135:10-11)
4382. He gave the land of Og king of Bashan as an inheritance to His people Israel (Psalm 135:10-11)
4383. He gave the land of all the kings of Canaan as an inheritance to His people Israel (Psalm 135:10-11)
4384. His Name endures forever (Psalm 135:13)
4385. He will vindicate His people (Psalm 135:14)
4386. He will have compassion on His servants (Psalm 135:14)
4387. He dwells in Jerusalem (Psalm 135:21)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community: