Morning Blend: March 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014

Gratitude List - Week 6

Our group is collectively writing a list of things we are grateful for as we work our way through the study One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. The list will be numbered from the bottom to the top, with the most recent additions added to the top. We're excited to watch the list grow as we work our way through the study for the next few months!

Morning Blend Gratitude List:
240. Renewed relationship with an old friend
239. Seeing the sunset over Lake Calhoun in my rearview mirror
238. Not having to work outside my home
237. baking a cake with grandson
236. reading stories with grandsons
235. beautiful concert by the Minn. Orchestra
234. wonderful eve. with long time friends
233. movie night at home
232. privilege of planning travels
231. squeeze of a friend's hand
230. fellowship with my ALS friend
229. finishing a sewing project
228. Listing God's characteristics, A to Z
227. salad with chard
226. beautiful spring fabrics
225. friends who pray
224. Early morning text messages of prayers and hope
223. Pandora
222. A home printer-copier-scanner to make homeschooling easier
221.Work hours
220. Sewing buttons on to mittens to make them cute
219. Teaching my son-in-law to crochet
218. Remote starter to warm my car
217. Warm cookies
216. Meaningful work
215. Coffee
214. Phone conversation with my sister
213. Paths
212. Trees
211. Soft blankets
210. Friends
209. Jump ropes and grandsons
208. Board games
207. Fresh snow
206. A child's smile
205. Gift of a manicure
204. Waterproof boots
203. Good sunglasses
202. Old bread redeemed into french toast
201. Seeing the ice caves
200. Watching cardinals at the window
199. Bright green on a dreary day
198. God's word in Ephesians
197. Microloans in developing countries
196. Sushi
195. Hot tomato soup
194. A new understanding of a situation
193. Warm blankets
192. A clean home
191. Cupcakes
190. Reading a good book
189. Turning sorrow into gifts
188. Chai Cold Press at Silverwood Park
187. Silent moments
186. Inspirational Team Yarn meetings
185. New babies
184. Kefir
183. Freshly falling snow covering all of the dirty brown
182. Owls
181. Flowers
180. Bubbles
179. Birds

178. Possibilities with Jesus

177. His peace & joy

176. The ability to serve Him

175. Having His hand to hold on to

174. Husband bringing home take-out food

173. Melting snow

172. Snuggle time with kids

171. Boots that keep my feet warm and dry

170. Puddles

169. Peace in the minds of clients

168. The Sun

167. People keeping their word

166. Parents & my relationship growing

165. Hugs from husband, grandson

164. Turquoise

163. Josey's birthday smile

162. A glittery #5

161. Delicious treats at Bible study

160. A smooth 3 hour drive

159. Gorgeous ice patterns on the garage floor

158. Watching my favorite show

157. Quiet moments to myself

156. "Thank yous" from my son

155. A hug from someone, anyone

154. Laughing with friends

153. Fun mugs

152. Peaceful thoughts

151. A good visit with my mom-in-law

150. A work observation that went well

149. Warm sun

148. Fluffy clouds

147. Drying intersections on the road

146. a working washing machine

145. a hot dryer

144. a drying rack

143. soft cloth

142. color
141. Sweaters that don't itch

140. White blouses

139. Ceiling fan

138. Board books

137. A good read

136. Solid deep sleep

135. A full belly

134. Happiness in matters of my mom's estate

133. Iditarod videos

132. Warm mukluks

131. Giving cute haircuts

130. Catching up on blog posts

129. A french press to-go

128. Surprisingly good soup

127. A cozy bed to sleep in
126. Teddy bears
125. Games
124. Puzzles
123. Good naps
122. Sleep
121. Cute baby hats
120. Warm feet
119. Sharp knives
118. Friends to play with
117. Green things - grapes, celery, lettuce
116. Warm slippers
115. Shoveled sidewalks and corners
114. A child's glove perched on a fence looking for its owner
113. My cat, Willow - healthy, cuddly
112. Over-sized, worn-out, warm, non-skid slippers
111. Mittens made by my mom
110. Answered prayer when I asked for wisdom
109. The beautiful wedding dress I wore in October
108. My friend's cancer-free biopsy!
107. Fresh snow that makes the inside of the house bright
106. Vanilla Ice Cream
105. For new and promising opportunities
104. Interesting conversations with people while waiting for the bus
103. Hot Showers
102. Cake
101. Although small, financial income
100. For Healing
99. For restoration and grace
98. For the Lord's constant provision
97. Tortilla chips

96. Cooked onions
95. Netflix
94. Internet
93. Blog posts by friends

92. The warm feeling in your lungs when I am doing physical work
91. the way Brayon looks at me when he says "I love you Mom"
90. feeding ducks
89. the song of a Cardinal
88. they squirrels look when they are eating
87. soft rock from the 70's
86. blackberries
85. Listening to Mikayla talk about something she is excited about
84. hugs
83. encouragement from unlikely people (if that makes since)
82. time to myself
81. chatting with friends
80. Touch of a baby's head against my cheek.
79. Hug from husband
78. Cardinal's call on a still winter's day
77. Safe, comfy, warm bed to cuddle in at the end of a long day
76. Monthly tea time with a friend
75. The Bible studies we have done
74. The Women's ministry at Park
73. People with singing ability
72. Swimming
71. Clouds that look beautiful
70. Text messages from my son-in-law
69. Favorite coffee mugs
68. Cold press coffee
67. Google video chat
66. Sunshine on the snow
65. Snow Day off from school!
64. Snow--beauty on the lilac tree.
63. Snow---able to bless the girls that shovel for us
62. For God sending us the girls to shovel for us
61. Double stick tape
60. Paper cutter
59. Adjustable 3 hole paper punch
58. Mini Payday candy bars
57. Valentines

56. Roses

55. African Skies tea from Tea Source

54. The ability to communicate via text

53. The excitement of a long awaited outing

52. Stories of athletes who overcome

51. Baby long underwear

50. Experiencing the beauty of frozen Lake Superior on a sunny winter day

49. A car with over 200,000 miles that still runs

48. Beautiful sunrises

47. Chocolate covered strawberries

46. A lovely dinner with former housemates

45. Friends who remain in my life even with times of little communication

44. Ability to be content with little

43. The memories the sock monkey evoked

42. Thankful for God's presence wherever I go and becoming aware of it in the moments I notice

41. The love and acceptance I experience in this group

40. The color purple this season

39. The gift of dancing

38. I enjoy the quiet moments

37. My easel

36. Yarn and things you can make with it

35. Colors

34. Women who are my friends

33. The ability to walk and get around

32. My Job

31. My GOD -heart Family

30. My blood related Family

29. My Dear Sister Friends

28. Enjoying the Listening

27. Growing in understanding

26. Snuggling under my down comforter

25. Watching snow fall out the window

24. baby laughs

23. Warm slippers

22. Massage
21. Momma
20. Kindle
19. Pom-poms, scissors, construction paper, ribbon and glue
18. Momma's teething necklace
17. Ice cream and popcorn and the Olympics
16. Heat in winter
15. Freshly fallen snow blanketing the earth while I sleep
14. Axel finally stopping his crying jag and smiling
13. The French press
12. Birds darting through shrubs next to the train station on a 5º day
11. Bright Moon in the clear sky at night
10. Getting up early enough to see it again out my west window in the morning
9. Ability to Read
8. Books to read
7. Ability to financially Share this gift with other
6. Birds on the windowsill
5. People I love this Valentine's Day!
4. Houseplants
3. Grapefruit
2. Nadia Bolz-Weber's book Pastrix
1. Ceola's horse shirt

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Gratitude List - Week 5

178. Possibilities with Jesus

177. His peace & joy

176. The ability to serve Him

175. Having His hand to hold on to

174. Husband bringing home take-out food

173. Melting snow

172. Snuggle time with kids

171. Boots that keep my feet warm and dry

170. Puddles

169. Peace in the minds of clients

168. The Sun

167. People keeping their word

166. Parents & my relationship growing

165. Hugs from husband, grandson

164. Turquoise

163. Josey's birthday smile

162. A glittery #5

161. Delicious treats at Bible study

160. A smooth 3 hour drive

159. Gorgeous ice patterns on the garage floor

158. Watching my favorite show

157. Quiet moments to myself

156. "Thank yous" from my son

155. A hug from someone, anyone

154. Laughing with friends

153. Fun mugs

152. Peaceful thoughts

151. A good visit with my mom-in-law

150. A work observation that went well

149. Warm sun

148. Fluffy clouds

147. Drying intersections on the road

146. a working washing machine

145. a hot dryer

144. a drying rack

143. soft cloth

142. color
141. Sweaters that don't itch

140. White blouses

139. Ceiling fan

138. Board books

137. A good read

136. Solid deep sleep

135. A full belly

134. Happiness in matters of my mom's estate

133. Iditarod videos

132. Warm mukluks

131. Giving cute haircuts

130. Catching up on blog posts

129. A french press to-go

128. Surprisingly good soup

96. Cooked onions
95. Netflix
94. Internet
93. Blog posts by friends

56. Roses

55. African Skies tea from Tea Source

54. The ability to communicate via text

53. The excitement of a long awaited outing

52. Stories of athletes who overcome

51. Baby long underwear

50. Experiencing the beauty of frozen Lake Superior on a sunny winter day

49. A car with over 200,000 miles that still runs

48. Beautiful sunrises

47. Chocolate covered strawberries

46. A lovely dinner with former housemates

45. Friends who remain in my life even with times of little communication

44. Ability to be content with little

43. The memories the sock monkey evoked

42. Thankful for God's presence wherever I go and becoming aware of it in the moments I notice

41. The love and acceptance I experience in this group

40. The color purple this season

39. The gift of dancing

38. I enjoy the quiet moments

37. My easel

36. Yarn and things you can make with it

35. Colors

34. Women who are my friends

33. The ability to walk and get around

32. My Job

31. My GOD -heart Family

30. My blood related Family

29. My Dear Sister Friends

28. Enjoying the Listening

27. Growing in understanding

26. Snuggling under my down comforter

25. Watching snow fall out the window

24. baby laughs

23. Warm slippers

22. Massage
21.Momma
20. Kindle
19. Pom-poms, scissors, construction paper, ribbon and glue
18. Momma's teething necklace
17. Ice cream and popcorn and the Olympics
16. Heat in winter
15. Freshly fallen snow blanketing the earth while I sleep
14. Axel finally stopping his crying jag and smiling
13. The French press
12. Birds darting through shrubs next to the train station on a 5º day
11. Bright Moon in the clear sky at night
10. Getting up early enough to see it again out my west window in the morning
9. Ability to Read
8. Books to read
7. Ability to financially Share this gift with other
6. Birds on the windowsill
5. People I love this Valentine's Day!
4. Houseplants
3. Grapefruit
2. Nadia Bolz-Weber's book Pastrix
1. Ceola's horse shirt

Monday, March 10, 2014

To be Blessed

I ran across this article in the Huffington Post, and it reminded me of Sara's studies on Blessing, which we have already related to Joy. We've been wrestling with what Joy looks like in the midst of hardship, struggle, and messiness. This article addresses what Blessing looks like, apart from material goods. And, to be honest, I've struggled with adding those material goods to my list of "gifts." I mean, I truly think they're gifts, and yet, it seems so unfair when others have so much less. Check it out:

The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying

A quick quote from the article:

My blessing is this. I know a God who gives hope to the hopeless. I know a God who loves the unlovable. I know a God who comforts the sorrowful. And I know a God who has planted this same power within me. Within all of us.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Gratitude List - Week 4

146. a working washing machine

145. a hot dryer

144. a drying rack

143. soft cloth

142. color
141. Sweaters that don't itch

140. White blouses

139. Ceiling fan

138. Board books

137. A good read

136. Solid deep sleep

135. A full belly

134. Happiness in matters of my mom's estate

133. Iditarod videos

132. Warm mukluks

131. Giving cute haircuts

130. Catching up on blog posts

129. A french press to-go

128. Surprisingly good soup

96. Cooked onions
95. Netflix
94. Internet
93. Blog posts by friends

56. Roses

55. African Skies tea from Tea Source

54. The ability to communicate via text

53. The excitement of a long awaited outing

52. Stories of athletes who overcome

51. Baby long underwear

50. Experiencing the beauty of frozen Lake Superior on a sunny winter day

49. A car with over 200,000 miles that still runs

48. Beautiful sunrises

47. Chocolate covered strawberries

46. A lovely dinner with former housemates

45. Friends who remain in my life even with times of little communication

44. Ability to be content with little

43. The memories the sock monkey evoked

42. Thankful for God's presence wherever I go and becoming aware of it in the moments I notice

41. The love and acceptance I experience in this group

40. The color purple this season

39. The gift of dancing

38. I enjoy the quiet moments

37. My easel

36. Yarn and things you can make with it

35. Colors

34. Women who are my friends

33. The ability to walk and get around

32. My Job

31. My GOD -heart Family

30. My blood related Family

29. My Dear Sister Friends

28. Enjoying the Listening

27. Growing in understanding

26. Snuggling under my down comforter

25. Watching snow fall out the window

24. baby laughs

23. Warm slippers

22. Massage
21.Momma
20. Kindle
19. Pom-poms, scissors, construction paper, ribbon and glue
18. Momma's teething necklace
17. Ice cream and popcorn and the Olympics
16. Heat in winter
15. Freshly fallen snow blanketing the earth while I sleep
14. Axel finally stopping his crying jag and smiling
13. The French press
12. Birds darting through shrubs next to the train station on a 5º day
11. Bright Moon in the clear sky at night
10. Getting up early enough to see it again out my west window in the morning
9. Ability to Read
8. Books to read
7. Ability to financially Share this gift with other
6. Birds on the windowsill
5. People I love this Valentine's Day!
4. Houseplants
3. Grapefruit
2. Nadia Bolz-Weber's book Pastrix
1. Ceola's horse shirt

Lent, Suffering, and One Thousand Gifts

Beth emailed me this week and suggested that there might be a connection between this week's study and Lent. Strangely (or not), I had recently finished up the following post on my private blog...about Lent and Joy. If anyone else has thoughts to add, I'd love to hear them and can post them here, too (you can reply in email or in the comments)...

*********************

The thing that "gets" me every time I sit down to really take a look at joy, at what it is, what it means, and how we find it (practice it? develop it? live it?) is the inclusion of suffering in the equation. A discussion about joy only goes so far before one runs into some seriously dark questions. How can I find joy when I lose someone precious? When war erupts? When a job is lost? When trust is broken? When hope seems so very, very far away?

It's easy to be joyful when life clips along smoothly and things go as planned. But is that really joy? I think sometimes it is. We can be both happy and joyful. All too often, though, when happiness wanes, we find that we must dig deep to find an underlying joy. Walt Wangerin, Jr. says,

"The difference between shallow happiness and a deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can't stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief."

Wangerin then draws a connection to the church season of Lent, a time when many church folks mark themselves with ashes and put on grief and mourning, when we deprive ourselves in order to remember suffering and to bring forth...joy?

"In the sorrows of the Christ - as we ourselves experience them - we prepare for Easter, for joy. There can be no resurrection from the dead except first there is a death! But then, because we love him above all things, his rising is our joy. And then the certain hope of our own resurrection warrants the joy both now and forever."

In the same way, the Jews taste the bitter herbs during the Passover Seder, to remember the suffering, to increase the joy. "When Adar comes, joy is increased."

So much of me is still resistant to this idea. Does this mean that God wills suffering? Even that God allows suffering for our own character development is too much for me. I can abide that God allows suffering because people have free will, and God allows for free will, and free will sometimes means that horrific things happen. But I cannot abide a God who allows suffering for my own character development. Maybe minor suffering - like reaping the consequences of my own mistakes. This is the kind of suffering I allow my children. I want them to learn from their mistakes. So, I don't step in and fix everything for them. But if something or someone else is threatening my child? You better believe I'll step in. You better believe I'll do everything I can to save them.

William P. Young takes on this idea in his book, The Shack, by suggesting that it makes a difference that we are all children of God. So, of course, I would defend my child against someone hurting them. But what if one of my children hurts one of my other children? Am I quite so ruthless then? Will I still go all "Mama Bear" when my child is being hurt? Most likely, the answer is more that I want to save both of them. I want the perpetrator to be spared...in case there's a possibility for a change of heart. I want the victim to be safe. I want them both to know I love them. I hope that my love has the power to change.

But then, the analogy also breaks down when we are talking about God because God has the power to bring about both outcomes, right? And it seems that at least some of the time God has stepped in to save some children, who need saving, and to destroy some children bent on destruction. The Bible tells us so. And then I come all the way back to the original question. Is suffering allowed because it brings about greater joy? Is it really true that we only know true joy in the face of (or aftermath of) sorrow? Is this why some suffering is allowed? I am afraid I don't have any answers. My hands come up full of ashes.

I know for sure that, as a human, I am, indeed, more aware of the joys in life when I have suffered, when I have been wounded. The joys, then, are piercing, poignant. I remember this beautiful scene in Tolkien's book, The Return of the King, when Frodo and Sam return after destroying the ring:

“And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness.”

I know that feeling...when joy is like swords.

And I think that maybe this is something we can only understand in stories. It is something we only know in the living out of our lives. It isn't something that can be known in so many words or explained in the theology books. It isn't something that makes sense. It is something that is in the fabric of our humanness, and, perhaps, it is something of God's image in us. Joy following suffering, following the epic drama.

And does God allow it? Does God create it? I don't know. I know God uses it. I think I understand that God suffers, too. That God suffers with us. Mike Freeman in his blog, "wordhavering," sums up some ideas of Nadia Bolz-Weber and Richard Rohr this way (from his blog post: caged god):

"In our suffering we tend to experience God as outside of it all, watching, a omnipotent bystander who by all rights could and should be able to do something, but he just sits there, stands there, whatever, letting it all happen anyway. Helping it all happen anyway? And for his glory? Yes, let me slap that.

And that’s what I appreciate about Rohr’s musing. He taps right into main line of biblical teaching when it comes to suffering – though we seldom perceive it. God participates in our suffering. In all of it. He feels each deep wound, screams in each terror, groans in each injustice more profoundly than we can begin to fathom. We groan. Creation groans. God groans."

And maybe the knowledge of God's presence in our suffering is where we find our source of joy?