1000 Gifts

If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: “God with us.” – John F. MacArthur

3 Gifts Miraculous

782. That God would call (unworthy) me His daughter.
783. The triplets actually mingling with other kids at their school picnic.
784. Educating 3 kids on a single income.

3 Gifts Manger-Small

785. The  boys’ school jackets.
786. A baby who would one day save the world through His death.
787. My old NIV Bible.

3 Gifts Angelic Song

788. Buffering YouTube Christmas videos for the kids to watch.
789. Listening to Christmas songs at an online radio station.
790. Hearing our boys sing in tandem.

3 Gifts Lit

791. Lights twinkling in our prayer group center.
792. Red & green candles at home.
793. The lights on our tree.

A Gift with Rejoicing, Wonder, Praising

794. The boys attending their first carnival.
795. Looking in wonder at two medals the boys received at their sports meet.
796. Praising the boys for their grades this term.

3 Gifts Starry

797. 36 tiny stars hanging from our ceiling.
798. A bright star projected at our kids’ church Christmas program.
799. The stars on a special candle holder.

3 Gifts Humble

800. Jesus’ birth.
801. His life & ministry.
802. His death.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

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We mourn a world that seems beyond redemption… and yet Christ promises His redeeming love for those who turn to Him. I’m praying that God’s presence will comfort those affected by the horrifying events that shake our world. Jesus is coming soon, and until then I plod on… thanking God each day for undeserved mercy and grace.

3 Gifts Ice Cold

761. Frozen bananas.
762. Water.
763. Strawberry ice-cream in our freezer.

3 Gifts Berry Red

764. 3 new remote-controlled cars gifted by a doting grandma.
765. Christmas decorations in church.
766. My husband’s wall art.

3 Gifts Striped

767. My husband’s formal shirts.
768. The boys’ birthday shirts, fresh out of the laundry.
769. The ruled pages of my journal.

3 Gifts Stamped

770. A card in the mail.
771. A toy car’s broken seat.
772. God’s impression on my life.

A Gift Gold, Scented, Bent Low

773. My wedding ring.
774. A lavender scented candle.
775. 3 curious boys bending low to inspect machinery at a building site.

3 Gifts Bethlehem-Unlikely

776. Angels heralding a baby’s birth.
777. That God would take the form of a helpless babe…
778. … knowing He’d have to die to save the world.

3 Gifts Frosted

779. Frozen tomatoes.
780. The milk container.
781. Mint leaves.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

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Five years ago, this day, God brought 3 miracles into my life – something I will ever be grateful for.

“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” (Psalm 143:5)

A Gift Circling, Crowning, Crafted

740. The kids doodling.
741. Teaching the kids about Jesus our King.
742. Lego creations.

3 Gifts Silver

743. My dolphin earrings – a gift from hubby on our first anniversary.
744. My milk-boiling vessels.
745. A special birthday knife with a shiny silver handle.

3 Gifts Sweet

746. Coffee!
747. A post lunch chocolate.
748. A cup of tea for my husband, late in the evening.

3 Gifts from your Savior

749. Wisdom.
750. Life.
751. A family.

A Gift Hung, Held, Heard

752. Hanging the laundry out to dry.
753. A son who tumbled down from his bed.
754. The boys playing with their toy guns.

3 Gifts Ugly Beautiful

755. Morning grogginess after a fun late night.
756. The dry, dusty parking lot at church, filled to overflowing.
757. Being interrupted by the kids in church.

3 Gifts Unframed Art

758. The kids’ hand prints.
759. My boys’ smiles.
760. The past 5 years.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

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“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)

A Gift Handmade, Held, Happy

719. A train the kids made with odd shaped puzzles.
720. A son who hurt his knee.
721. The boys happily singing, “He’s still working on me”.

3 Gifts in Community

722. Prayer support.
723. Encouragement.
724. A helping hand.

3 Gifts Red

725. Our deep red carpet.
726. 3 cycles in pitiable shape but still in working condition.
727. A torch.

3 Gifts Astonishing

728. My crazy to-do list for the next 2 weeks.
729. The weather!
730. God’s grace – I am always amazed.

3 Gifts White

731. My husband’s new shirt.
732. The boys dipping their parathas in curd.
733. 3 pairs of small white socks.

3 Gifts Bright

734. Lyrics of worship songs projected in church.
735. A bright afternoon after church.
736. The laptop screen as my husband and I watch a late night movie together.

3 Gifts Shining

737. Sunlight streaming through the trees.
738. Light shimmering through the marmalade jar.
739. A toy car’s lights that the sons got working.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.

“All of my life, In every season,
You are still God; 
I have a reason to sing,
I have a reason to worship.” ~ Desert Song (Hillsong United)

3 Gifts Hard Eucharisteo

688. Vehicles that come too close to my side of the car.
689. Being stuck in traffic.
690. Drivers that don’t pay attention to the road.

3 Gifts of Laughter

691. Laughing out loud in church.
692. The boys giggling at a birthday party.
693. My husband laughing with his friends.

A Gift Made, Shared, Passed On

694. Paper rockets.
695. Pizza.
696. Words of wisdom from the pulpit.

3 Gifts Autumn

697. Misty mornings.
698. Chilly evenings.
699. Socks and layered shirts for the kids.

3 Gifts of Traditions

700. Lighting a special candle on Christmas Eve.
701. Praying with the kids every night.
702. My husband saying ‘Bye’ at least a dozen times to the kids everyday.

3 Gifts of Family

703. Attending fasting prayer as a family.
704. My mother who willingly helps me with housework every time she visits.
705. The 5 of us being bonded by God’s love.

706. A Gift Grateful

3 Gifts Only in Christ

707. A new beginning.
708. Light.
709. Wisdom.

3 Gifts Humble

710. Jesus, stepping down from heaven to a stable.
711. My husband.
712. Our pastor.

3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful

713. Sweaty kids.
714. A tiring yet awesome Sunday.
715. Food that’s not much to look at, but tastes real good.

3 Gifts Preparing

716. My husband getting the kids ready for school.
717. Fish fry for lunch.
718. A quick pasta for dinner.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

3 Gifts Government

658. Freedom.
659. Reasonable taxes.
660. Infrastructure.

3 Gifts from your Window

661. Laundry drying on the clothesline.
662. Blue skies, white clouds and green trees.
663. Power lines and electricity.

A Gift Sweet, Salty, Sipped

664. Kit-Kat bars.
665. Mutton biriyani.
666. Coffee!

3 Gifts Harvest

667. Joy through tears.
668. Recognition for hard work.
669. Knowledge gained by reading.

3 Gifts found in Bible Reading

670. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18)
671. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
672. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

3 Gifts of Remembrance

673. My grandfather’s life.
674. His wit and wisdom.
675. His voice.

3 Gifts at Noon

676. Catching up with cousins.
677. The boys rewarded with chocolate for their bravery.
678. Preventive medication.

3 Gifts behind a door

679. Home.
680. A shoe rack.
681. Ironed shirts.

3 Gifts Silent

682. A quiet night and catching up on sleep.
683. A clear sky and still trees.
684. Sitting alongside my husband after the kids fall asleep.

3 Gifts Golden

685. Reciting “The Golden Fish” rhyme with the boys.
686. My tiny gold earrings.
687. A glimpse of the sun’s rays in the morning.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” (Psalm 150:6)

3 Gifts Overjoyed!

637. Holiday assignments complete.
638. A collage of the kids.
639. Bright smiles.

3 Gifts Hallowed

640. Thirty years of God’s grace.
641. His glorious Name.
642. His presence everyday.

3 Gifts Eaten

643. Leftover birthday cake.
644. My mother-in-law’s homemade savories.
645. Chocolate!

3 Gifts Worn

646. 3 bright read sweaters for school.
647. Comfy shoes.
648. Jackets and caps.

3 Gifts that start with N

649. November.
650. Nails on tiny fingers.
651. Night sky.

A Gift Gathered, Given, Good

652. Empty cups.
653. Bread and wine.
654. A message, a blessing, a prayer at church.

3 Gifts Acorn-Small

655. Stones by the roadside.
656. A Lego block.
657. A chewed/torn eraser.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.

“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:1-2)

3 Gifts Begun

616. The 21 Days to a more disciplined life ebook.
617. The ABC’s of Freezer Cooking ebook.
618. A walk with my mother-in-law.

3 Gifts Accomplished

619. Uninterrupted Bible study time.
620. Two blog posts written and scheduled.
621. Catching up on my favorite blogs on Google Reader.

3 Gifts Enjoying

622. An aquarium visit.
623. Sunset at the beach.
624. 3 boys enjoying the waves with their father.

3 Gifts Extravagant

625. God’s love.
626. Bungalows in South India.
627. Gifts from grandparents.

A Gift Humbling, Honoring, Happy

628. Sons who forgive easily.
629. My husband’s trust in me.
630. Boarding a bus back home.

3 Gifts in Christ

631. Forgiveness.
632. Hope.
633. Everything.

3 Gifts on Time

634. My morning run.
635. The sons waking up late {exactly at the time I wanted them to ;)}.
636. Lunch time.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” (Psalm 54:4)

3 Gifts Burning

595. The blazing afternoon sun.
596. Our stove.
597. Calories!

3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful

598. Walls covered with crayon art.
599. An old house.
600. Dirty, wet, puppies.

A Gift Shared, Saved, Surrendered

601. A trip to the grocery store alone with the boys.
602. Leftover fried fish saved for dinner.
603. Tired eyes surrendering to sleep.

3 Gifts Unexpected

604. A 7 hour power outage yesterday.
605. The number of tweets at #fmfparty on Twitter.
606. A late morning.

3 Gifs Unconventional

607. My Jesus.
608. 14 hour powercuts.
609. A dog jumping onto a neighbor’s roof and losing its way.

3 Gifts Undervalued

610. God’s love.
611. Life experiences.
612. The price Jesus paid for my sins.

A Gift Silent, Still, Strong

613. The morning quiet, before the kids woke up.
614. The trees outside.
615. My husband’s resolve to get some work done during vacation.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.

“And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (I Corinthians 2:12)

3 Gifts Returned

562. The boys putting away their toys before school.
563. Getting back to my morning routine.
564. Sons returning home after school.

3 Gifts Redeemed

565. Time.
566. My past.
567. Our internet connection.

A Gift Baked, Stirred, Eaten

568. A chocolate banana cake.
569. My morning coffee.
570. Lunch at a restaurant.

3 Gifts Prayed For

571. Health of loved ones.
572. Friends seeking a suitable life partner.
573. Women aching to hold their own babies.

3 Gifts Praised For

574. Good health.
575. The kids’ behavior.
576. My husband’s cooking.

3 Hard Eucharisteo

577. Hearing the kids whine.
578. Sore muscles.
579. Unexpected expenses.

3 Gifts of Change

580. Waking up at 5.30am.
581. Running again after several weeks.
582. Attempting to make an Indian sweet.

A Gift Small, Smaller, Smallest

583. 3 small stuffed lions.
584. The group gathered for prayer today.
585. The kids toenails.

3 Gifts Read

586. This Bible passage during fasting prayer.
587. Lyrics of songs projected in church.
588. The names of doctors in a hospital.

3 Gifts Said

589. The confessions in church.
590. The parable of the sower, read aloud in church.
591. Jason praying for the food, while we had an early dinner with friends at a restaurant.

3 Gifts Re-Read

592. Checking this blog post for errors.
593. My to-do list.
594. My first “Counting My Blessings” post.

Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?

To have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to receive new blog posts by email, or in a reader.