An Overflowing Heart

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
Yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
And meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You' re the God who works wonders;
You have made known your might among the peoples.
You with your arm redeemed your people,
The children of Jacob and Joseph.
(Psalm 77:11-15)

Tuesday Ten

I thank God for:

1. Faith -- which He starts, perseveres and perfects.

2. The steadfastness of godly friends who are truly sharing in His suffering, and who so glorify Him as they do so

3. Preaching that exposes our hearts as idol factories and reminds us to constantly battle such foolishness

4. The example of vigilant Christian friends to have a wartime mentality

5. Rain, and grass that now looks so much happier

6. Courage, unexpectedly, when I most need it

7. Two new hand-me-down couches, making our front room a true sitting room

8. Ever-increasing plentitude here and into eternity -- there is and always will be more about Him to know and to take my breath away

9. My mom and dad getting us a dishwasher for my birthday

10. Reading Neil Postman with my family :-)

Tuesday Ten

I thank God for:

1. Choosing us to be His children

2. Entrusting us with such children as ours

2. His assurance that: "it is the Lord who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Phil. 2:13)

3. Eating chocolate fondue as dinner

4. Our backyard firepit, and the soothing effect of watching flames

5. Listening to my children pray

6. That working out hard can make me feel so clear-headed

7. Red mulch, capable of reviving the most forlorn landscape

8. A newfound ability to shoot sports action photos -- stumbled upon in John's last game

9. Florida sunshine in May -- makes my skin feel alive the minute I step out the door

10. Seeing small things accomplished each day

11. My husband's prayers

Tuesday Ten

I thank my Mighty and Loving God for:

1. Letting me use the pronoun "my" in referring to Him

2. May -- my favorite month

3. A chance to see Laura and Tessa in "Oliver" and to sit next to little Jacob Grosholtz who said, "I'm so proud of all my friends."

4. Time to work on cataloging books again, which I know pleases my husband

5. The Slocums bringing that much-needed carafe of extra coffee

6. Getting to feast on food that we all love and enjoy

7. My alert son, whose smart and scrappy base running is so fun to watch -- and for his colorful baseball nickname: Broccoli Rabe

8. My creative daughter, who at this very moment is crocheting hobbits (yes, truly!)

9. My husband's sermon on the physical redemption of all Creation and the Eternal value in exercising dominion now

10. The stories God tells, glorifying Himself, through the lives of the people I know

Ten Today

I thank God for:

1. The 4-year-old church visitor who informed me that "holy" is a bad word. Um...do you see where he was going with this? I didn't -- until I asked, "It is?" He said, "Well, 'Holy ----' is." (I love this child already.)

2. The utter security that comes when you see a door closed decisively by His hand -- and know that He is a wise father who can be trusted to make decisions that His child never would.

3. Changes in life that only highlight the sweet constancy of God -- "there is no shadow of turning with thee"

4. Friends who have become so tangled up in my life and heart that I don't know who I would be if I had never known them

5. Buck Greatheart, who will not stop retrieving no matter how tired he may be

6. That Laura and Marie actually asked for this list...

7. The wise woman who told me: Whoever needs me is who I need.

8. That Christ will return to save those who eagerly wait for Him and to make all things new.

9. For the many very convincing reasons I have to be humble.

10. Calvin's insight that in our struggle with the "obstinacy of the flesh ...the most valiant combatants never vanquish without being wounded."