Gratitude for those God has placed in my life…….now and forever. I am thankful for blogging today, for it allows us all to share and grow closer. Strangers once, but no more. Where once we met at the corner store, or the post office, or the street. Now we meet here, across this place called the “Blogosphere.” We share smiles just the same as we once did across the back fence.

It’s a little community all its own and I am glad you are here sharing a piece of your town, your homes, your families, your lives. We can all learn from each other….Those of us that look through windows that frame palm trees and sun, romanticize your glittering postcard scenes of snow….While you wish for our sun, nevertheless have dreams of summer. We want the winters to go on and on, because we know your beautiful summers will mean our dog-days of artificial air, suffocating parking lots, long days of oven-heat with only the promise of Autumn’s magic mercy.

So, though I long for days of visiting over coffee cup brims, chatting with the mail-carrier, running over with good news or to share a hug, going downtown for lunch at a favorite sidewalk spot, or trips to the bookstore to search for hidden treasure, I am glad we share this.

Thankful today for growing up in a small town, for it helped make me what I am today. Grateful that some things haven’t changed……I still stop to talk with “George” the mail-carrier, same one since I was in high school….Still stop to visit friends who will pause from what they are doing to make a fresh pot and talk….Still can walk downtown and see people I know, know what lays beyond their doors because I have many times been invited in….small miracles in this fast-paced age.

Grateful for those in my life now. I can see you all in my mind, my heart. Going about your business, your day, a part of me forever. This makes 198 grateful gatherings since I started counting!

The other day I was considering which Psalm to put to memory (other than the 23rd) which always gives such comfort when I can’t sleep. No sooner had the thought entered my mind when Psalm 68 popped into my head, and it wouldn’t go away. Thinking that God must have whispered it, I looked it up. No small Psalm was this. I was hoping for a short one, but no, 35 verses in all. I thought, “God, surely You don’t mean this one, knowing how long it takes me to memorize anything!” But it kept catching me unawares, Psalm 68 there in my mind again. So I have resigned myself to going at it one section at a time for now.

Here are some treasures from this Psalm that continues my count toward the thousand gifts of gratitude….

Vs.1 “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered.” So many horrific things are happening now that we cry out for justice and wonder how so many can get away with doing so many terrible things to innocent people? But not one act will escape His notice.

Vs.4 “Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him.” I have always loved this passage, also found in Isaiah and familiar with those who listen to Handel’s Messiah, during Christmas and Easter.

Vs.5 “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows is God in His Holy habitation” How comforting is that?

Vs.6 “He makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, only the rebellious live in a parched land”

Vs.11 “The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host.” God likes women and women like Him!

Vs.19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden” You mean I don’t have to???

Vs.35 “O God, Thou art awesome from Thy sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself give strength and power to the people. Blessed be God.”

This makes #193 toward 1000 and beyond,

Photo of Razorwire and Cross by Steven Crisp

As I settled into my prayer shed yesterday I received a precious gift. As I lit my lantern and settled into my chair I heard the soft pitter pat magic of rain on the roof. I don’t think anyone appreciates the rain quite like those of us living in the desert. To us it does seem like a miracle. I settled into prayer and as sometimes happens, I felt the blessing of God’s own Presence. Though His precious Spirit is always with me, I don’t always “feel” Him. But as Pastor said yesterday, in order to sense Him, we have to make room in our lives. And so I try to. I create small pockets of silence where I can hear Him when He speaks.

Yesterday’s prayer time was a gift. Sometimes, He wakes me at night and I toss and turn, wondering if He is trying to speak into my soul what I cannot hear in the clamour of daylight’s activity.

This happened the other night as I was worrying at my folk’s house. Worried about the state of things, and my absence, among other things, worried about how I could fix things if I were there, boy what an ego I have!

I awoke in the early hours of morning and I sensed this deep quiet in my soul. It was much like the quiet of the woods in the snow, that insulated silence. I know that I know that I know, that this was the Holy Spirit’s nudge. I felt that deep peace that He was absolutely there with me. He said, “I am still here.” Then I prayed, and the peace lasted. Even now it stands out in my mind these many days later.

Sometimes we get that peace, today I am grateful for the gifts of His Spirit because without Him I can do nothing.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such thing there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23

This makes 141 of my One Thousand Gifts…..As I continue sharing gratitude along with others in the community at:

Click here to read Cliffs review at Musings of a Minister……

What a wonderful book this was. I found myself smiling all the way through. What an inspiration to read about a teacher who truly loves his students and his job! It brought back so many memories of my own school days and of the teachers who invested in my life growing up. These people sacrifically gave of themselves because they believed that it was worth it to invest in kids, and me!

My first Principal, Mr. Tamblin. He used to wander the playground and talk to all of us kids in his suit. We really respected him. I remember him being very kind. My first kindergarten teacher Roberta Ruhl; I still remember how magic her classroom seemed. I remember making faces with Randall Speth during “rest period.” I have to thank my first grade teacher Mrs. Campbell, although she was extremely strict and most of us were scared of her, she believed in phonics. She led me to the doorway of one of the great loves of my life….Reading. During this year, I also joined the gleeclub. I am indebted to Roberta (her last name escapes me) for teaching us every verse of every patriotic song ever written. My second grade teacher was Arlie Earhardt. She had a blonde bouffant hairdo that never moved and dimples. She was beautiful. When she read “Charlotte’s Web” to us, it came alive! I can still hear her soft, sweet voice even now. My fifth grade teacher was unforgettable. Mrs. Fairchild led singing hour and had a voice like Edith Bunker, but we didn’t care. She always made us laugh, and let us watch the world series because she loved baseball, particularly the Mets.

My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Jan Wakefield was our hero. She was the one teacher we all went back to visit after we entered Jr. High. Her classroom was a haven of wonderful memories. She was like Mary Tyler Moore, very stylish. She had a beautiful smile and perfect penmanship, everything a good teacher should be, she was.

I also thank all my Sunday School teachers over the years…..especially the one who combined Bible lessons with walks to the park and DONUTS. What heroes of the faith they all were. Sunday after Sunday they dedicated themselves to us kids and role-modeled what faith should look like.

Last but certainly not least is Mr Wylie Moffat, my Choir teacher in High School. His class was one of the few bright spots of my High School experience. Yes, that is scary I admit to being a nerd. He introduced us to Opera, Broadway musicals, all of the great composers and his love of music and his passion was infectious. He had us to his home for cookouts, and we all loved him. He always forgave me when I started giggling onstage and couldn’t stop. Every year, he led us to a “Command Performance” in all our competitions because we wanted to make him proud. He loved God too, and wasn’t afraid to sing religious songs in school assemblies. I so admire him for that. Sad to say, he would probably get in trouble for it now, but back in the seventies freedom of expression was still allowed.

Take a moment to reflect on all of the great teachers in your life……I could have gone on and on.

Today makes 130 of 1000…..

Continuing with gratitude toward my 1000 blessings