One Word

She came over on Friday

And we laughed,

Watched a movie,

Cooked dinner.

We used as many peppers and tomatoes as would fit in the casserole dishes,

Dumped rice from a pretty full 10-pound bag into the rice cooker,

Browned good ground beef from a local meat counter.

We didn't have to worry about not having enough,

Didn't have to worry when we burnt the garlic bread and three smoke alarms went off.

We had an abundance -

More food than we needed.

This is normally what I think of when I think of food -

That which is eaten,

Which satisfies my stomach,

Or, just as often, my cravings.

We college students here on a tight budget

Manage to have approximately five crock pot meals still bagged in our freezer,

And we'll probably still have two or three of those left when we reach the end of this week.

We complain that money's tight,

That we're spending a lot on a low income,

But we have more than a week's worth of food,

Prepared,

Just waiting to be cooked.

There's a food that's needed for the body.

We have it in abundance.

There are other kinds of food, too.

Like the one we're all here for -

Studying,

Doing way more homework than any professor should expect

(And yet all of them seem to),

Going to class,

Not getting enough sleep,

Paying thousands of dollars in tuition -

We want to learn.

Our minds need to be fed.

There is a desire to grow in knowledge,

And also a need,

A need for the future,

To have a job,

To support ourselves,

To have enough -

Well, what Americans consider to be "enough".

There is a food that is needed for the body,

And there is a food that is needed for the mind.

Perhaps the most important food, however,

Is the food that is needed for the soul.

Jesus said it Himself:

Matthew 4:4

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

More than anything,

We need that kind of food.

We need to know God,

To grow in Him,

To love Him with all that we are.

If He's not everything to us,

Then we're going hungry,

Starving,

Deprived of that which is essential to life:

Its Creator and Sustainer.

It's probably the type of food that people think about the least -

And yet it's the one that all of us need the most.

Before we watched the movie,

Cooked dinner,

Burned the garlic bread,

I showed her around our humble abode -

The couches in the living room,

The clothes piled on the floor,

And the pictures on the refrigerator -

The ones of the children I sponsor,

The ones of the children my roommate sponsors.

She told us that we were inspiring her,

That she wanted to sponsor a child, too.

I told her how worth it it was,

How much I treasured those relationships.

I may be a "poor" college student,

But I'm not starving by any means.

There are at least three kinds of food.

And, at the moment, I have enough of all of them.

But there are so, so many people in this world who do not.

I am more than willing to share my meager income to provide food for these children whom I love so much:

Food for the body - my sponsorship helps to make sure that these children get meals, helps to ease the burden on families that are struggling to survive.

Food for the mind - my sponsorship provides the money needed so that these children can go to school, to learn and dream of a better future.

Food for the spirit - my sponsorship through Compassion means that these children will be taught the Word of God, that they will hear about Christ, that they will be directed and discipled.  Nothing is more important to me.

And I?  I get fed, too.

Every time one of those letters comes in the mail,

My heart is filled with joy.

Reasons 4699-4777 today,

(Still in Job - basing my counting off this series),

So amazed at who He is,

So fed:

4699. He is mighty, but despises no one (Job 36:5)
4700. He is mighty, and firm in His purpose (Job 36:5)
4701. He does not keep the wicked alive (Job 36:6)
4702. He gives the afflicted their rights (Job 36:6)
4703. He does not take His eyes off the righteous (Job 36:7)
4704. He enthrones the righteous with kings (Job 36:7)
4705. He exalts the righteous forever (Job 36:7)
4706. If people are bound in chains, He tells them what they have done (Job 36:8-9)
4707. If people are held fast by cords of affliction, He tells them what they have done (Job 36:8-9)
4708. If people are bound in chains, He tells them what they have done - that they have sinned arrogantly (Job 36:8-9)
4709. If people are held fast by cords of affliction, He tells them what they have done - that they have sinned arrogantly (Job 36:8-9)
4710. If people have sinned arrogantly, He makes them listen to correction (Job 36:9-10)
4711. If people have sinned arrogantly, He commands them to repent of their evil (Job 36:9-10)
4712. If people will obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity (Job 36:11)
4713. If people will obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their years in contentment (Job 36:11)
4714. If people do not listen to Him, they will perish by the sword (Job 36:12)
4715. If people do not listen to Him, they will die without knowledge (Job 36:12)
4716. He fetters the godless in heart (Job 36:13)
4717. Those who suffer He delivers in their suffering (Job 36:15)
4718. Those who suffer He speaks to in their affliction (Job 36:15)
4719. He woos people from the jaws of distress (Job 36:16)
4720. He woos people from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction (Job 36:16)
4721. He woos people from the jaws of distress to the comfort of their tables laden with choice food (Job 36:16)
4722. He is exalted in His power (Job 36:22)
4723. No one is a teacher like God (Job 36:22)
4724. No one has prescribed His ways for Him (Job 36:23)
4725. No one has said to Him, “You have done wrong” (Job 36:23)
4726. All humanity has seen His work (Job 36:24-25)
4727. Mortals gaze on His work from afar (Job 36:24-25)
4728. He is Great - beyond our understanding! (Job 36:26)
4729. The number of His years is past finding out (Job 36:26)
4730. He draws up the drops of water (Job 36:27)
4731. He draws up the drops of water which distill as rain to the streams (Job 36:27)
4732. No one can understand how He spreads out the clouds (Job 36:29)
4733. No one can understand how He thunders from His pavilion (Job 36:29)
4734. He scatters His lightning about Him (Job 36:30)
4735. He scatters His lightning about Him, bathing the depths of the sea (Job 36:30)
4736. He governs the nations (Job 36:31)
4737. He provides food in abundance (Job 36:31)
4738. He fills His hands with lightning (Job 36:32)
4739. He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark (Job 36:32)
4740. His thunder announces the coming storm (Job 36:33)
4741. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach (Job 36:33)
4742. His voice roars (Job 37:2)
4743. Rumbling comes from His mouth (Job 37:2)
4744. He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole heaven (Job 37:3)
4745. He sends His lightning to the ends of the earth (Job 37:3)
4746. He thunders with majestic voice (Job 37:4)
4747. When His voice resounds, He holds nothing back (Job 37:4)
4748. His voice thunders in marvelous ways (Job 37:5)
4749. He does great things beyond people's understanding (Job 37:5)
4750. He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth” (Job 37:6)
4751. He says to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour” (Job 37:6)
4752. He stops all people from their labor (Job 37:7)
4753. He stops all people from their labor so that everyone He has made may know His work (Job 37:7)
4754. His breath produces ice (Job 37:10)
4755. His breath produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen (Job 37:10)
4756. He loads the clouds with moisture (Job 37:11)
4757. He scatters His lightning through the clouds (Job 37:11)
4758. At His direction the clouds swirl around (Job 37:11-12)
4759. At His direction the clouds swirl around over the face of the whole earth (Job 37:11-12)
4760. At His direction the clouds swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them (Job 37:11-12)
4761. He brings the clouds to punish people (Job 37:13)
4762. He brings the clouds to water His earth (Job 37:13)
4763. He brings the clouds to show His love (Job 37:13)
4764. No one knows how He controls the clouds (Job 37:15)
4765. No one knows how He makes His lightning flash (Job 37:15)
4766. No one knows how the clouds hang poised, wonders of Him who has perfect knowledge (Job 37:16)
4767. He has perfect knowledge (Job 37:16)
4768. He spreads out the skies (Job 37:18)
4769. He spreads out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze (Job 37:18)
4770. He comes in golden splendor (Job 37:22)
4771. Out of the north He comes in golden splendor (Job 37:22)
4772. He comes in awesome majesty (Job 37:22)
4773. He is beyond our reach (Job 37:23)
4774. He is exalted in power (Job 37:23)
4775. In His Justice and great Righteousness, He does not oppress (Job 37:23)
4776. People revere Him (Job 37:24)
4777. He has regard for all the wise in heart (Job 37:24)

It's blog month over here,

Blogging for Compassion,

Trying to get 3,160 children sponsored this month.

Honestly, the ability to make a difference,

The ability to develop a relationship with a child,

To teach,

To learn,

Is one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Please consider joining us in releasing children from poverty

In Jesus' Name.

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:


 

I See Her

I see her.

Head on the pillow,

Daddy kneeling beside her bed.

He's praying.

So is she.

She starts with the prayer Daddy used to always pray out loud.

He doesn't pray out loud anymore.

She's too old for that.

He prays to himself and she prays to herself.

The words they've said so many times together become the focus of her thoughts:

"Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep."

After she asks God to please bless everybody in the whole wide world,

She starts with her prayer.

It's pretty similar to the one she prayed the last night.

And the night before that.

She tries to pray for everyone she can think of,

People she knows and people she doesn't.

She never wants to leave anyone out,

So she's always following the same pattern.

When she finishes that, she prays the Lord's Prayer

Because that's what they pray every Sunday at church,

So it must be very important.

I see her

And I know.

I am her.

I see her years later

With her high loft bed

That she never could make herself, the way it was built.

Usually her daddy helped her.

He was gone and Mom was there.

I see her mom pass her up a blanket.

She explains that it isn't the right one,

That the blankets absolutely must go on in a certain order

And don't give that to me now

Because I can't sleep if we make the bed like that.

Her mother tells her she's OCD,

And I wonder if one can have an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder of the heart?

I see her mother turn the light off,

And she kneels on her bed

And prays a prayer not too different from the one she used to say all those years ago,

Only this time without the childhood favorite,

Without the Lord's Prayer,

Because she knows that prayer is not supposed to be a reciting of mantras

But a communion with the Father,

And yet her prayers still aren't too different,

One night to the next.

I see her,

And,

All these years later,

In a lot of ways, she's still me.

She may be the one who put the purfumes in rainbow order,

And the scrubbie/loofa/pouf things, too . . .

I'm the one who keeps them that way,

Can't stand to have them any other.

It wasn't so long ago that I took the mess of hair ties,

Divided them into individual plastic sandwich bags,

Based on size and color,

Then put those in rainbow order, too.

Shirts, pants, skirts, dresses,

All in order by color, by size,

CDs on the counter in order by artist, release date (except the one in the player),

And the blankets on the bed are still in the same order they always were.

I struggle even now

With the fine line between habit and discipline.

There are prayers now that are different,

But still many that are the same,

And I just feel so often like I won't be doing enough,

Won't be doing what I'm supposed to be doing -

Not exactly in a legalistic sense,

But there are things I feel obligated to keep praying for others,

To keep praying for myself,

Things that I feel that I ought to do,

Even though I can't say I've ever believed God would be angry at me for not doing them -

And there are times I don't know exactly which side of the line I'm on.

The envelope's on the table.

I see the logo, the few words telling me what's inside,

And rip it open as fast as I can.

I read the words she's written me,

Answering my questions,

Telling me about herself,

Her life.

I get to the part where she's responding to my questions about prayer meetings.

I love to pray with my friends,

And asked her if she ever went to any prayer meetings.

When I read her words, though, I think I must've said something wrong

Because it sounds like she feels obligated

And is apologizing that she's never been able to

With all of the responsibilities she has at home

And my heart just sees this reflection of myself -

This idea that this is what I'm supposed to do,

This is how I'm supposed to act,

This is what will make people happy -

If I pray for them,

If I pray as they want me to,

If I . . .

When I sit down with her letter

And a pile of stationery,

I say to her what I want to say to that little girl praying with her daddy,

That little girl kneeling on her bed,

That not-quite-so-little girl bent over a book of prayer requests,

Reading so many chapters of her Bible each day,

Just trying to be disciplined,

To do all the right things,

Wondering if what she's doing is spiritual discipline or empty habit.

I tell her

I hope you don't think that I'm expecting something of you,

That I'll be disappointed in you if you don't.

I am so proud of you,

Your hard work for your family,

For your education.

My greatest hope for you is that you love God and come to know Him more.

Sure, going to prayer meetings is a good thing,

But that's not the point.

The point is growth,

And that happens differently for everyone,

And God always, always makes His people grow.

He is Faithful.

Just love Him.

Whatever that looks like for you,

Just love Him.


That little girl?

I still see her.

Every time I look in the mirror.

I've still got a lot to learn,

But, oh, don't we all?

Reasons 4590-4698 today,

Venturing into Job again

(Basing my counting off this series, for anyone curious),

Trying to see God,

And love Him,

Just love Him:

4590. He is the maker of Israel (Psalm 149:2)
4591. He is the King of Zion (Psalm 149:2)
4592. He takes delight in His people (Psalm 149:4)
4593. He crowns the humble with victory (Psalm 149:4)
4594. His praise is a double-edged sword in the hands of His people (Psalm 149:6)
4595. His praise is a double-edged sword in the hands of His people to inflict vengeance on the nations (Psalm 149:6-7)
4596. His praise is a double-edged sword in the hands of His people to inflict punishment on the peoples (Psalm 149:6-7)
4597. His praise is a double-edged sword in the hands of His people to bind the nations' kings with fetters (Psalm 149:6-8)
4598. His praise is a double-edged sword in the hands of His people to bind the nations' nobles with shackles of iron (Psalm 149:6-8)
4599. His praise is a double-edged sword in the hands of His people to carry out the sentence written against the nations (Psalm 149:6-9)
4600. He is to be praised in His sanctuary (Psalm 150:1)
4601. He is to be praised in His mighty heavens (Psalm 150:1)
4602. He does acts of power (Psalm 150:1)
4603. His Greatness is surpassing (Psalm 150:1)
4604. He considers those who are blameless (Job 1:8)
4605. He considers those who are upright (Job 1:8)
4606. He considers those who fear Him (Job 1:8)
4607. He considers those who shun evil (Job 1:8)
4608. He puts a hedge around those whom He chooses (Job 1:10)
4609. He puts a hedge around the households of those whom He chooses (Job 1:10)
4610. He puts a hedge around everything that those whom He chooses have (Job 1:10)
4611. He blesses the work of the hands of those whom He chooses (Job 1:10)
4612. He blesses the work of the hands of those whom He chooses, so that their flocks and herds are spread throughout the land (Job 1:10)
4613. He allows terrible things to happen to the possessions of those whom He chooses (Job 1:11-12)
4614. He allows terrible things to happen in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-12)
4615. He allows oxen and donkeys to be stolen in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-15)
4616. He allows servants to be killed in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-15)
4617. He allows sheep to be burned in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-16)
4618. He allows servants to be burned in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-16)
4619. He allows camels to be stolen in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-17)
4620. He allows sons and daughters to die in order to test the upright (Job 1:11-17)
4621. He gives (Job 1:21)
4622. He takes away (Job 1:21)
4623. He considers those who maintain their integrity (Job 2:3)
4624. He allows the upright to suffer physically in order to test them (Job 2:4-6)
4625. He allows the upright to be afflicted with painful sores in order to test them (Job 2:7)
4626. He allows the upright to be afflicted with painful sores from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads in order to test them (Job 2:7)
4627. He gives good to His people (Job 2:10)
4628. He gives trouble to His people (Job 2:10)
4629. He takes away those skilled in flattery (Job 32:22)
4630. His Spirit makes people (Job 33:4)
4631. His breath gives people life (Job 33:4)
4632. All people are the same in His sight (Job 33:6)
4633. All people are pieces of clay in His sight (Job 33:6)
4634. He is greater than any mortal (Job 33:12)
4635. He does speak (Job 33:14)
4636. He does speak - now one way, now another (Job 33:14)
4637. He does speak - now one way, now another - though no one perceives it (Job 33:14)
4638. He speaks in a dream (Job 33:15)
4639. He speaks in a vision of the night (Job 33:15)
4640. He speaks in a dream when deep sleep falls on people (Job 33:15)
4641. He speaks in a vision of the night when deep sleep falls on people (Job 33:15)
4642. He speaks in a dream when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds (Job 33:15)
4643. He speaks in a vision of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds (Job 33:15)
4644. He speaks in people's ears (Job 33:16)
4645. He terrifies people with warnings (Job 33:16)
4646. He terrifies people with warnings to turn them from wrongdoing (Job 33:16-17)
4647. He terrifies people with warnings to keep them from pride (Job 33:16-17)
4648. He terrifies people with warnings to preserve them from the pit (Job 33:16-18)
4649. He terrifies people with warnings to preserve their lives from perishing by the sword (Job 33:16-18)
4650. He delivers His people from going down to the pit (Job 33:28)
4651. His people shall live to enjoy the light of life (Job 33:28)
4652. He afflicts people - twice, even three times (Job 33:29)
4653. He afflicts people - twice, even three times - to turn them back from the pit (Job 33:29-30)
4654. He afflicts people - twice, even three times - to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them (Job 33:29-30)
4655. Far be it from Him to do evil (Job 34:10)
4656. Far be it from Him to do wrong (Job 34:10)
4657. He repays everyone for what they have done (Job 34:11)
4658. He brings on everyone what their conduct deserves (Job 34:11)
4659. It is unthinkable that He would do wrong (Job 34:12)
4660. It is unthinkable that He would pervert justice (Job 34:12)
4661. No one appointed Him over the earth (Job 34:13)
4662. No one put Him in charge of the whole world (Job 34:14)
4663. If it were His intention and He withdrew His Spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust (Job 34:14-15)
4664. He says to kings, “You are worthless” (Job 34:18)
4665. He says to nobles, “You are wicked” (Job 34:18)
4666. He shows no partiality to princes (Job 34:19)
4667. He does not favor the rich over the poor (Job 34:19)
4668. Both the princes and the poor are the work of His hands (Job 34:19)
4669. His eyes are on the ways of mortals (Job 34:21)
4670. His eyes are on the ways of mortals; He sees their every step (Job 34:21)
4671. There is no deep shadow where evildoers can hide from Him (Job 34:22-23)
4672. There is no utter darkness where evildoers can hide from Him (Job 34:22-23)
4673. He has no need to examine people further, that they should come before Him for judgment (Job 34:23)
4674. Without inquiry He shatters the mighty (Job 34:24)
4675. Without inquiry He shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place (Job 34:24)
4676. He takes note of people's deeds (Job 34:25)
4677. Because He takes note of people's deeds, He overthrows them in the night (Job 34:25)
4678. Because He takes note of people's deeds, He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed (Job 34:25)
4679. He punishes people for their wickedness (Job 34:26)
4680. He punishes people for their wickedness where everyone can see them (Job 34:26)
4681. He punishes people for their wickedness where everyone can see them because they turned from following Him (Job 34:26-27)
4682. He punishes people for their wickedness where everyone can see them because they turned from following Him and had no regard for any of His ways (Job 34:26-27)
4683. He hears the cry of the needy (Job 34:28)
4684. If He remains silent, no one can condemn Him (Job 34:29)
4685. If He hides His face, no one can see Him (Job 34:29)
4686. He is over individual and nation alike (Job 34:29)
4687. He is over individual and nation alike to keep the godless from ruling (Job 34:29-30)
4688. He is over individual and nation alike to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people (Job 34:29-30)
4689. If people sin, that does not affect Him (Job 35:6)
4690. If people's sins are many, that does nothing to Him (Job 35:6)
4691. The righteous can give Him nothing (Job 35:7)
4692. He receives nothing from the hand of the righteous (Job 35:7)
4693. He gives songs in the night (Job 35:10)
4694. He teaches His people more than He teaches the beasts of the earth (Job 35:11)
4695. He makes His people wiser than the birds in the sky (Job 35:11)
4696. He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked (Job 35:12)
4697. He does not listen to the empty plea of those who cry out (Job 35:11-12)
4698. He pays no attention to the empty plea of those who cry out (Job 35:11-12)

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:

It's blog month over here,

Blogging for Compassion,

Trying to get 3,160 children sponsored this month.

Honestly, the ability to make a difference,

The ability to develop a relationship with a child,

To teach,

To learn,

Is one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Please consider joining us in releasing children from poverty

In Jesus' Name.

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 . . .