Starting the New Year with Gratitude~ iPhone App.

One of my favorite reads for 2011 was a book my friend Beth introduced me to called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  {I mentioned Ann in previous posts here and here and here} Ann tells about the healing of her heart through gratitude.  Ann began to train her eyes to see all that she has to be thankful for and listed them in a little journal.  If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.  It will bless your heart and challenge you as a reader; Ann writes with depth and insight that requires chewing on every page before swallowing it!  


I recently learned that Ann has created an app for your phone that allows you to make your own list of things you're thankful for~ It is the perfect way to kick off the new year.  

You can find out more about it here.


This morning, I made an entry on the app when I saw Emily in the rocker by the fire.  I am so very grateful that my kids are home for the holidays.  I took a picture and added my words of gratitude.  This is what it looked like on my phone:

 Now that the packages are unwrapped from the tree, you have a way to keep opening gifts all year long~ Little gifts of thanks.  Each moment of gratitude recognized is a "gift."

I pray it helps us develop super power vision for quick blessing recognition!

On Days Like Today, It is good to be thankful.

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you 

who belong to Christ Jesus."

1 Thess. 5:16-18

My heart ached today. 

My sweet Emily needed me, and, according to mapquest, 

she was exactly 249.83 miles away at college and I couldn't reach her.

So...

I thanked God for giving her the opportunity to practice trusting Him.

My lifelong friend, who is really sick, got word today that her body is giving up the fight.  

I felt like my prayers had gone unanswered.

But then...

I thanked God that he was waiting for her, arms out wide, ready to grab her up in His embrace.

My oldest called and is wrestling through some things about his future and his relationships.

I wondered why life has to be so hard sometimes.

and then...

I thanked God for strengthening his "faith muscles."

It may sound noble, that I did all that "thanking" today.

But it only came after I saw this little video posted by Anne Voskamp. 

I need to practice sitting in the thankful chair more often.

God never promised us the absence of trouble, 

but he does promise us the presence of his Grace.

And with that, there is room for thanks in all things.