Those last days of pregnancy can seem like every hour, every minute has been stretched to full capacity not unlike the belly.

No doubt Mary felt the same in her waiting.

We too, are to wait in quiet expectation of the celebration of the birth of the Messiah.

But sometimes the days counting down to Christmas are not waiting ones at all. Often those hours and minutes fly by in such a blur as we frantically prepare. Racing through crowded malls in search of those last few gifts. Tying bows on presents late into the night. Filling carts in bustling grocery stores with all the holiday trimmings.

Life was not made to be a blur.

Let’s go back to quiet waiting. Expectantly anticipating the celebration of a birth.

On this Eve before Christmas, I’m so thankful for every gift He gives. May we always slow and savour these moments.

2556. Grace.

2557. A Daddy who takes him to hockey, because Mommy’s just not the same.

2558. Drawing pictures at the table with her.

2559. How much he missed his Daddy and how much he hugged him when he came home.

2560. Their encouragement.

2561. A morning walk in the bitter cold with a good friend.

2562. When he prayed before the meal at our family Christmas dinner and thanked God for sending Jesus - so proud of our little boy!

2563. When I could answer her questions and support it with scripture.

2564. A fever and a tummy ache that didn’t last long.

2565. Quiet mornings by the fire.

2566. When he saw my list and vacuumed and ran errands.

2567. Their anticipation of their Christmas play – so fun!

2568. Watching them sing and dance and say their lines – so proud of them!

2569. A day of family and friends.

2570. When we woke to find me on my knees and how he snuggled up beside me, laying his head on my lap and listening while I prayed.

2571. Their example of godly faith.

2572. Staff Bible study.

2573. The luxury of being able to nap when the flu hits.

2574. Picking up my kids from school, because some didn’t today.

2575. When he wants to dress just like his Daddy.

2576. A sweet baby who looks just like Mason did.

2577. A young girl – a light at our Christmas Dinner – determined to serve God.

2578. The sounds of Christmas.

2579. A husband who replaces my hairdryer when he notices my current one smoking (and then goes all the way back to the store without a word when I hesitantly tell him he’s purchased the wrong one!).

2580. A day with them – swimming, skating and colouring.

2581. A surprise book hanging in a bag on the doorknob.

2582. Gifts when the doorbell rings.

2583. A Grandma who sneaks colouring books into the shopping cart, then surprises them with them when we climb into the van.

2584. Answers from the doctor.

2585. No heart murmur!

2586. The joy of taking two hot meals to families in need.

2587. New friends and the real questions they ask.

2588. Walking from one end of town to the other, ringing doorbells and delivering Christmas cookies.

 

 

I woke this morning to see the sun rise, and it confirmed again in my spirit that there is a Creator.

His fingerprints are all over the sky.

In fact, His fingerprints are all over creation.

 

 

It all points to Him.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and diving nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

This is general revelation.

Notice it says we are without excuse? But what do some people choose to do?

Turn a blind eye – that’s what.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks … ~ Romans 1:21

They knew God. They – along with everyone else – had seen His incredible majesty through the wonder of creation. But they chose not to honour Him as God or give thanks.

What happens when we don’t glorify God by giving thanks?

Read on.

… they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools. ~ Romans 1:21b-22

And it just gets worse from there (just read the extensive list of horrific actions that result in verses 29-32).

Neglecting to  give thanks affects our minds and our hearts. What we think and feel are no longer truth. We may think we are wise, but we are actually fools.

Knowledge is of no use unless it leads to holy practice.

Because we know God, let’s honour Him and give thanks.

What are you thankful for today?

I’m still counting the extraordinary gifts He gives in the midst of ordinary life. Here is what I’m thanking God for these days:

2541. Our Romans class growing, and how she says she loves spending time in the Word.

2542. Frosty mornings.

2543. Quiet afternoons at the kitchen table with my Bible wide open.

2544. Running during the warmest part of the day.

2545. A walk with good friends on a beautiful fall day.

2546. Little girls practicing Bible verses together at the kitchen table.

2547. Catching up with a good friend.

2548. A brisk walk.

2549. The first snowfall and how thrilled they were.

2550. A day to spend with him.

2551. Teaching from the Word – such a privilege.

2552. How what I humbly prayed on a Sunday morning, is what He quietly spoke to my heart while sitting on the pew.

2553. This message – I’ve listed to it over and over. Lord, make it be true in my life.

2554. Running through freshly fallen snow on a beautiful, sunny morning – God so close.

After several days of being unplugged (some intentionally, some not-so-intentionally) …

I tuck her in for the night and ask her to pray ‘dear God.’ She says three sentences and they all start with thank you. At first I’m tempted to tell her to add some variety to her talk with God, but then I remember that gratefulness for who He is and what He’s done is the basis of our faith. It is me who must remember to come to Him as a little child.

For these I’m thankful …

2423. Northern air.

2424. Rocks, trees, and lakes and the beauty of God’s creation.

2425. Four kids full of adventure – biking, swimming, jumping and fishing.

2426. A Grammie who thinks of everything.

2427. A new summer routine: Bibles, scripture journals and gratitude lists around the table.

As I pull the cotton sheet up to  his neck, I tell him it’s time to pray.

He looks and me and says, “I don’t know what to say, Mommy.”

I tell him he has much to thank God for.

When we don’t know what to pray, we can simply count the blessings. Simply thank Him for His endless gifts.

2406. Fingerprints on glass because all too soon they will be grown and gone.

2407. Their sheer delight over a backyard pool and listening to their happy shrieks.

2408. Air conditioning.

2409. Sitting in the shade of a tree all afternoon with good friends as they kids run and play.

2410. Country air and sheep grazing.

2411. A bright field of canola and how they kept asking me to take another picture.

2412. Good conversation making a slow three-and-a-half hour drive pleasant.

2413. Spending a day with a good friend I haven’t seen in a long time.

2414. Beautiful wather for a 7-year-old birthday party.

2415. Wrestling through deep theological questions together.

2416. Water balloons and freezies and chocolate cupcakes.

2417. The way she clung to her brother as they rode around.

2418. A grandma who takes her grandson to the swimming pool.

2419. Crop tours with Papa.

2420. My mom’s cooking.

2421. The way he said thank you and gave grateful hugs after opening each gift.

2421. Rain that holds off.

2390. Pushing myself and aching legs and feeling better after.

2391. Hot air balloons against a clear blue sky as the sun goes down.

2392. Reading books with her in the rocking chair.

2393. A safe flight and ‘I love you’s’ over text.

2394. A Bible and a lounge chair on the deck and her reading with me.

2395. Fresh green beans.

2396. Memory verses at breakfast and explaining repentance to them.

2397. A phone call at bedtime from Daddy, stranded in a western airport.

2398. A day with my girlie on her school trip and the way she clutched my hand and said she wanted me to be in her group.

2399. Watching her excitement as she discovered the animals.

2400. Pushing myself longer and harder than I ever have.

2401. Watching them splash in the summer sun.

2402. BBQ’d chicken and corn on the cob on the deck.

2403. A leisurely walk by the river.

2404. His patience and understanding.

2405. Listening to him read her a story.

2373. When she said, “Mommy, it’s fun Bible studying with you!”

2374. Sweet notes tucked strategically by my husband for me to discover first thing in the morning.

2375. Lively discussion in Bible class.

2376. Nanny and Papa on the sidelines as she plays.

2377. How excited he was that I could come to hep his class and they way he hugged me when I walked in.

2378. A baby bunny hopping after it’s mama and the way she ran from window to window to watch them.

2379. The tiny freckles appearing on her nose in the summer sun.

2380. A day to myself.

2381. A leisurely walk with my camera.

2382. Light flooding through the new screen door (so thankful for my hubby who installed it!).

2383. The way she wraps her arms around my neck at bedtime.

2384. An opportunity to use the Word to minister to someone.

2385. A new project in the Word.

2386. Early morning walks.

2387. A BBQ on a patio in the shade with good friends.

2388. How proud she was to dirtbike with the big boys (and how relieved I was that she didn’t hurt herself!)

2389. Climbing trees.

The practice of counting His endless gifts keeps me in a continual state of gratitude …

2356. The clip-clop of 2 teams of horses resounding down an empty street in the cool of the day.

2357. Having him home for lunch.

2358. The way I can feel everything slow.

2359. Fresh green onions in a salad on the deck on a hot summer day.

2360. Her hat pulled low as she creates.

2361. The first day of a new season.

2362. Lunch out with my hubby.

2363. An uninterupted afternoon at the table with my Bible and notes spread open.

2364. Worship music on the front porch.

2365. An early morning walk with a friend.

2366. Mist rising off the pond as the sun comes up.

2367. Rain all day on the parched, dry earth.

2368. A lazy Lego afternoon.

2369. Bible study around the table as a family.

2370. The way he wanted to sit right beside me and how we laughed silly together.

2370. An incredible testimony and God’s amazing power to redeem.

2371. The whole family together and family photos.