"Follow Me"

I am reading Thomas Keller's The Prodigal God and I came across this little number tonight. Such a good little story and a great little reminder about following Jesus for Jesus...not for our own pleasure/satisfaction/glory.

One day Jesus said to his disciples: "I'd like you to carry a stone for Me." He didn't give any explanation. So the disciples looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find. After all, Jesus didn't give any regulations for weight and size!
So he put it in his pocket.
Jesus then said: "Follow Me." He led them on a journey. About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down. He waved his hands and all the stones turned to bread. He said, "Now it's time for lunch." In a few seconds, Peter's lunch was over.
When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up.
He said again, "I'd like you to carry a stone for Me." This time Peter said, "Aha! Now I get it!" So he looked around and saw a small boulder. He hoised it on his back and it was painful, it made him stagger. But he said, "I can't wait for supper."
Jesus then said: "Follow Me." He led them on a journey, with Peter barely being able to keep up. Around supper time Jesus led them to the side of a river. He said, "Now everyone throw your stones into the water."
They did.
Then he said, "Follow Me," and began to walk. Peter and the others looked at him dumbfounded. Jesus sighed and said, "Don't you remember what I asked you to do? Who were you carrying the stone for?"
(pages 58-59)

gifts, VIII

100. phone calls from a best friend
99. finding so much truth in one single Bible verse
98. the chorus of voices speaking together
97. the smell of my hands after peeling an orange
96. a fire burning in a fireplace
95. warm brownies and ice cream
94. voices singing harmony
93. clean toilets
92. a blue patch peeking out of an overcast sky
91. the first sip of coffee
90. lists of thankfulness to give me a better perspective on life
89. tying my shoelaces
88. the sound of trumpets
87. baking a new recipe
86. laughing so hard I cry
85. game nights with friends
84. bright colored Gerber daisies
83. eyesight to read books
82. a full inbox of e-mails from my mama, just checking in

gifts, VII

81. friendships since 1st grade

gifts, VI

80. lightning flashing in the sky
79. thunder booming
78. sleeping in
77. drinking tea
76. painting a blank canvas
75. holding a newborn baby
74. the way Noah says "Kim" when I walk through the door
73. being asked out on a date
72. mason jars filled with tea lights
71. afternoon movie watching
70. newly painted toenails
69. seeing a friend excited and in love
68. the glint of diamonds in the sunlight
67. tan lines
66. watching bread rise in the oven

gifts, V

65. iced coffee at the French Press
64. dessert with my grandparents
63. wearing a dress
62. road trips
61. hearing my parent's engagement story
60. laughing at my dad's goofiness
59. family dinners with the parents, brother, and sister-in-law
58. sand in my toes
57. holding hands
56. my mom's laughter
55. a Sunday with no plans or obligations
54. reminiscing about childhood stories

gifts, IV

53. palm trees
52. reaching down to touch my toes
51. stretching
50. walking
49. emptying a clean dishwasher
48. a new bar of soap
47. fleece blankets
46. wrapping my hands around a warm cup of tea
45. the blue/purple sky of an impending storm
44. using coupons and saving money :)
43. a clean whiteboard
42. hugs from students excited to see you
41. soft raindrops falling on me as a listen to an outdoor concert

gifts, III

40. praying before a meal
39. a kitchen full of friends
38. pulling on an old, soft sweatshirt
37. dusk
36. getting a hug from a sweet 4 year-old
35. campfires crackling
34. taking out a full trashcan
33. looking back at old photos
32. frost on the grass
31. creaming butter and sugar
30. buying a plane ticket
29. vacuuming
28. thunderheads billowing over the mountain

gifts, II

27. dirt-filled and dirt-streaked shoes from the trail
26. getting a letter via old-fashioned snail mail
25. a full bookshelf
24. pelicans diving in the ocean
23. the ends of my hair, freshly cut
22. clapping hands
21. a Clorox bleached, white kitchen sink
20. bright red tomatoes at Farmer's Market
19. early morning coffee dates
18. seeing dolphins surface
17. apple pie baking in the oven

gifts

16. the twinkling lights on the Riviera
15. hitting all green lights on the way to work
14. singing loud a favorite song while driving
13. freshly washed sheets
12. dogs barking when a fire truck's sirens sound
11. a full moon in the night sky
10. the pop of opening a new jar of homemade jam
9. a cool breeze while hiking
8. a full gas tank
7. the smell of rain soaked asphalt
6. video chats with friends who are hours away
5. voices joining together in worship
4. the smell of Bounce dryer sheets
3. the sound of a child laughing
2. sun-warmed skin
1. the rustling of turning the page of a book

My own list of eucharisteo begins.

...

I used to think that God's gifts were on shelves one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we should reach them. I find now that God's gifts are on shelves one beneath the other, and that it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower, and that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.

(F.B. Meyer)

eucharisteo

eucharisteo: to be grateful, feel thankful, give thanks

the root word is charis, meaning grace, but there is also the deritive Greek word chara, meaning joy. grace and joy are wrapped up together.

true, deep chara joy is only found when we are thankful...when we are in the state of eucharisteo.

One Thousand Gifts

I have been reading a book by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts.
A friend told me it would change my world and my perspective. I shrugged off that comment because I hear that all the time with books and I don't necessarily always feel like my world was rocked.

But let me tell you, my perspective on life is being altered while reading this one.

It sounds cheesy to my own ears to write that sentence, but it's true.

This book is reminding me to be thankful for what I have, to be thankful for where I am, and to live fully right where I am.
There is joy in so many of the little (and big) things in life and God blesses us with gifts that remind us of those joys. But, going even further, God also blesses us with gifts with which to extend joy to others...and this is something I want to apply and remember.