A Good Book

A Good Book

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

 

At the end of a Sunday School class a couple of weeks ago a friend came over to talk to me. She is a librarian and often hears about books before I do. She said she had a new one for me – she had not yet read herself but had only heard good things about it.  “One Thousand Gifts” was the title, written by Ann Voskamp. I had never heard of it but she is someone I trust on these things so I went home and downloaded it onto my Kindle (only $3.99). We were leaving on vacation the following Saturday, a new book was a good idea. 

Well, I don’t want to say too much about it except to say if I could afford it I would be buying copies by the hundreds and just handing them out to everyone I know.  This is a book that we need to read. The author describes a challenge she received to look for one thousand gifts from God in her life.  As she kept a journal it led to a life changing way of thinking about and relating to our loving and generous God.  

I will read it again as I have started my own list of one thousand things – as I am writing this I am only at #48. I am averaging four gifts a day – not including the long term gifts God has given me in His provision of my basic needs, of the man He gave me in marriage, of the mere existence of my children and grandchildren. I am looking for the new things God does for me every day.  

Yesterday, as I was getting out of the car with relative ease, I was reminded that God has completely healed the myalgia I was living with just over a year ago. Then, getting in and out of the car was very painful. It brought a moment of joy to remember how God answered our prayers. I wrote it down! I want to see, acknowledge, and remember all that God has done, is doing,  and will do for me. 

The author, Ann Voskamp, does not skip the hard stuff. She addresses, head on, being thankful in difficult – even tragic circumstances. She looks at grief and joy, describing them both as coming from the same gracious God that we love and serve – often even from the same events.  

 .. “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 

“Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy’s flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will.” (location 2553, kindle version).  

I don’t want to tell you any more about the book. I want you to read it, as I will do again, thanking my God for the precious reminders and calling me closer in His desire for me to see more of His love for me. I am thankful for such a kind, generous, and gracious God, beautifully described in “One Thousand Gifts”.