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The Blessing Jar

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The first part of the year I read a post on FB about a blessing jar and setting one out to give regular thanks to the Lord for His goodness.  I loved the idea and got started with my Mom’s clear glass pitcher. 

I have had gratitude journals and consider myself to be a thankful person yet through this exercise, God has shown me so much more.

His presence, His Love, His tenderness, His goodness, His Faithfulness,

His moving in my midst.

The pitcher is a physical reminder to be thankful and it has helped inspire me to be intentionally thankful.  Not just looking back and being thankful which I think was what I experienced with a gratitude journal. Now, there is the seeing and being thankful in the moment.  I then get to write it down to remember it.  It’s different, it’s knowing He is right there, right there blessing my life.  Even when I don’t understand or struggle with the hard things, being intentionally thankful has changed my lense, changed my perspective.  More and more, my heart says, “If it’s God, I want it.” Joy and sorrow, hard and smooth, if it’s God, I want it. 

He is good, His plans for my life are good just as Psalm 23 tells me.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I am imagining that at the end of the year, I will dump the pitcher out on the table and open these 2025 blessings and my heart will be filled with joy in the recalling once again those precious good things the Lord has blessed me with.  In each one, He was there and is here reminding me that I am His precious child, His love and goodness is real, His ways are higher than my ways, and no matter the challenge, He never leaves me or forsakes me.

And the same is true for each of us that believe on His name and seek Him.  We will find Him and see Him and believe what He says is true, because it is.

It started out as just a jar and a plan to be thankful and now…. SO much more!

Little Rock, BIG Reminder

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Tidying my office today, I came across this rock. Turns out it was one of the small rocks the children used in their floor game and in God’s goodness, He reminded me afresh of His goodness and truth for our lives.

God blessed us this week with the privilege of hosting His Little Feet International Children’s Choir (www.Hislittlefeet.org) and learning of Him.

Each day, the Word of God came to life in these children.  Reminding me of the MORE in Him, of the things God calls us to in this life and the very big joy in living them out.

God says to us:

Serve Me Only – The Children are traveling the country for 10 months, doing homework, singing praise to the Lord in a new city 2x a week.  They are living a life surrendered to the Lord, about His business for His glory.

Matthew 4:10b, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

Love God & Love Others – The children demonstrated so much love of the Lord and for each other and all those they come in contact with.    

Matthew 22:37-39, 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

Put on Humility – We had been given a small packet of information on the schedule of the children, ideas for healthy meals and requirements for sleeping arrangements.  After the children and chaperones arrived, I would ask about their choice within the list.  They would not specify a preference for the meal, the location for homework or activities following.  “Whatever you provide will be fine for us”. This response continues to stick with me as I consider my heart, my willingness to yield in humility to the Lord. 

Colossians 3:12-15, 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Trust Me – I was in awe as the children and chaperones were so trusting of the Lord in all the details of their lives.  This included the location of their performance and host homes they would stay at.  The transportation, the people, the activities, the bed, the blankets, even the pillows.  The bathroom facilities, the thermostat setting (where I always struggle), every detail.

Philippians 4:4-6, 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  5 Let your [b]gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of glory – The children had great joy and laughter each day as they interacted with strangers, learned, experienced new things, and rode in the vehicle yet again. My heart was so happy and they sang in the car and when they fixed their hair for bed waiting for their turn in the bathroom. 

1 Peter 1:9, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

God’s goodness continues to overwhelm me as I look at this little rock. That He would give us this honor and privilege to be a part of their visit, seeing Him in each of their young lives, seeing all these truths walked out and the joy in it. That He would give me this little rock as a sweet reminder.

My cup overflows with Your goodness Lord.  Let it be so in my life Lord, a truly surrendered life.  Let it be so for Your glory and my great joy.