3 Gifts of Tradition - 30DaysThankful - 20

#1 - Pie #2 - Pie #3 - Pie

 

 

....need I say more?

 

 

-Kerry-

3 Gifts of Autumn - 30DaysThankful - 19

Three things I'm grateful to get to do in autumn

 

#1 - Prepare the garden for winter. [= cuts spring work in half]

 

#2 - Harvesting the last of the crops.

 

#3 - Packing Christmas boxes for children around the world.

 

-Blessed-

Kerry

A gift made, shared, passed on - 30DaysThankful - 18

 

A Hobbit Hole

 

This cake represents a vision an author created. A story and an idea that readers have loved. It has been recreated in many forms and shared with others and passed on to new generations.

 

I'm thankful for that kind of gift.

 

-Tidings from Middle Earth-

Kerry

3 Gifts Laughter - 30DaysThankful - 17

"A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

 

#1 - Pets. They make me laugh, daily. Look at this country pup. She's a mess...

  

 

#2 - This girl. Her face can do amazing things... :^D

 

 

 

#3 - Family and friends. We can always find a reason to laugh. Even in through the tears. I'm grateful for that.

 

-laughing with you-

Kerry

3 Gifts Hard Eucharisteo - 30DaysThankful - 16

*To help define Eucharisteo, if you haven't read Ann Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts"; I've included below a portion of an interview of Ann explaining Eucharisteo as the crux of Christianity.

 

Giving thanks when it's hard...

 

#1 - I don't always feel thankful. I'm counting that as gift. To recognize that I don't always have it all together, but God does.

 

#2 - Being just one of the crowd. Unnoticed. Not as special as my 'self' wishes. I'm thankful God doesn't let me have my way. Even when it's hard.

 

#3 - Waiting. Waiting is something we as humans do a lot of. And it's hard. I mean, really hard. No matter what it may be today, I will be thankful in the waiting.

 

-waiting with you-

Kerry

 

*Quote from Ann Voskamp*It's all Greek to me, but this is the word that can change everything: eucharisteo—it comes right out of the Gospel of Luke: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them…” (Luke 22:19 NIV). In the original language, “he gave thanks” reads “eucharisteo.”

The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy.
Deep chara joy is found only at the table of the euCHARisteo; the table of thanksgiving. The holy grail of joy, God set it in the very center of Christianity. The Eucharist is the central symbol of Christianity. Glynn, doesn’t the continual repetition of beginning our week at the table of the Eucharist clearly place the whole of our lives into the context of thanksgiving?
 
One of Christ’s very last directives He offers to His disciples is to take the bread, the wine, and to remember. Do this in remembrance of Me. Remember and give thanks.

This is the crux of Christianity: to remember and give thanks, eucharisteo.

Why? Why is remembering and giving thanks the core of the Christ-faith? Because remembering with thanks is what causes us to trust; to really believe. Re-membering, giving thanks, is what makes us a member again of the body of Christ. Re-membering, giving thanks is what puts us back together again in this hurried, broken, fragmented world.

3 Gifts Golden - 30DaysThankful - 15

"Worth it's weight in gold"

Something golden, must be valuable, right?

 

 

#1 - This smile. Pure Gold.

 

#2 - Of knights and chivalry. A golden age. Thankful there are still parents instilling in their young men to be courageous and protect the fair maidens.

 

#3 - My Momma. Our friendship means more than any amount of gold. [Isn't she so cute with golden rod in her hair?]

 

Have a golden day,

Kerry

3 Gifts Silent - 30DaysThankful - 14

 

#1 - I love the peace and quiet that I find during my craft times. Especially in my sewing room.

 

#2 - Change. It can be silent, and gradual, but change always comes.

 

#3 - Growth. Like change, you often don't notice the growth. But before you know it, it's time to harvest.

 

Have a great day, and enjoy the silent.

 

-Kerry

3 Gifts Behind a Door - 30DaysThankful - 13

When I think of this one, '3 Gifts Behind a Door', I think of, game show host style... 'What's behind door number 1??'

 

#1 - Gifts unknown. Held too with hope.

 

#2 - The gift of anticipation.

 

#3 - The people I love behind the doors of their homes. That is gift when I can go behind those doors with them. :^)

 

 

Blessings - Kerry

3 Gifts at Noon - 30DaysThankful - 12

At noon, yesterday, [cause I'm behind on my gift posting] I was practicing Christmas Carols on my Guitar!

2010

#1 - Breaking rules. [I NEVER listen to Christmas Music before Thanksgiving... oops]

#2 - The deep theological truths in Christmas Hymns. It speaks to my soul.

2013

#3 - Anticipation of practicing with the children at church! They sing so joyously!


Blessings!
Kerry

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3 Gifts of Rememberance - 30DaysThankful - 11

Thankful for Veterans Day that was on the 11th, and the opportunity to remember those who have fought and died for #1 - my country #2 my freedoms #3 - my family



3 Gifts found in Bible reading - 30DaysThankful - 10

1 - "The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24

"Thanksgiving proceeds the miracle" - Ann Voskamp

He 'gave thanks' and then was broken. For me. May I partake of the miracle with thanksgiving.

2 - "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13

Christ took the most ugly and shameful way to die, and transfixed it.

It was well known in those days [2000 years ago] that to be crucified on a tree was the worst possible death, physically, prolonging death, and culturally, as in, it was reserved for only the most wicked criminals.

Christ Jesus was perfect! He was beautiful! He became sin. He bore all the wicked evil and took on the name 'criminal'. Then He changed it all. He turned the ugly, beautiful. The curse to blessing. The cross as an emblem of shame and repulsion, now is a symbol of ultimate love and true hope.

"I will cling to the old rugged Cross, and exchange it some day for a crown"

 

3 - "Then the same day at evening, ...the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.." John 20: 19


"What would a disciple have said, thought, and done during the time between Jesus’ burial and his resurrection from the grave? The Bible doesn’t provide much information. John 20:19 includes the most detail: Jesus’ disciples were hiding behind locked doors in fear of further reprisal.
"I suppose I would have done the same. Jesus was brutally murdered by an angry mob. The Roman establishment did nothing to provide security; they carried out his shameful execution. As a disciple, I could have been next. I would have felt duped by all of Jesus’ kingdom talk. 
"On that day, I suppose I would have been cynical about his claims of deity. How is it possible for God to die? He had been clear about going to Jerusalem to do just that, but I would have considered that a metaphor. And surely any talk about him rising from the dead would have been lost in the fog of my grief. So there’s no doubt: I, too, would have been very scared for my own life, hiding in the dark, hurting over the loss of my leader, and hoping not to be the next martyr."
- Pastor Dave Bruskas, Mars Hill Church, 'The Day After Jesus Died'

Those who were there did not know the ultimate outcome of the cross. They had been told. Yes. But they had forgotten.  They relied on there past experience ["when people die, that's the end"], they relied on the natural world ["if the Romans/Jews can kill Him, then none of us are safe"]. They did not fully trust in the words of the Lord, believing that He is NOT restrained by past experience and He is not limited by the natural world. The believers who mourned Christ's death could not see the glory to come.

We too, enduring ugly trials, cannot see the beautiful plan Christ is working in us, we cannot see the ultimate outcome. Instead of looking forward to Truth with faith, we look behind to experience and flesh/natural. We forget. We are cast down.

BUT! We have Christ power living within us, as born again children of God. And we too, like Christ, can transfigure the ugly to beautiful, turn the curse into blessing through giving thanks!


Thankful for the Ugly/Beautiful - Kerry

 
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3 Gifts Harvest - 30DaysThankful - 9

We had a full day here on Set Back Farm. Clearing out, cleaning up, cutting down, raking back. Weeding, mulching, burning. A good day full of loads of work that couldn't have gotten done without my brother Jeremy and my cousins, Grace, Sam, Josh and Sara. 

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3!

Here are three things we harvested today! [top; dried okra pods to save seed, bottom right; sweet potatoes, bottom left; turnips, or rutabagas. not sure which]

Thankful for this place and the work, the fellowship and the harvest allowed here. 

Have a blessed Lord's day tomorrow. Rest well. 

-Kerry

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A Gift Sweet, Salty, Sipped - 30DaysThankful - 8

A gift sweet = Peanut butter bars [aka 'Donna Bars] 

A gift sipped = hot roibos tea

A gift salty = yeah, it's salt. I'm grateful to be a part of the body of Christ. The ones who were called to be 'the salt to the earth'. We're here to add the flavor. And to be a little irritating. :^) [people pleasing is not something we're called to do]. 

:sigh:

That's a load off. 

-Kerry

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Ladies Leather Coat Redesigned

And for my next trick....

I'll take a boring ladies [fake] leather jacket and...

Cut the sleeves off and reshape sides so they aren't so much an hour-glass figure...

rework the front adding darts and pleats creating an asymmetrical closure...

And use the sleeves to make leather lace-up bracers...

And you've got one epic boy's costume. Ready for battle. 

3 Gifts from my Window - 30DaysThankful - 7

#1 - The gift of rain. We've had a lot of it. 

#2 - The blessed gift of sunshine on a cold morning after a long week of dreary days.

 

#3 - The gift of adoring pets who peek in on me all morning til I go out and play with them and feed them. 

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3 Gifts Government - 30DaysThankful - 6

So this one is kind of stumping me... 3 Gifts Government? Did I read that right?

:checks chart again:

Yes. It does in fact say, day six = 3 gifts government.

:CONFESSION:

I googled 'gifts of government'...

And LOOK what I found! --- Kubernesis (greek verb) [go ahead, say it out loud... it will be fun!]

It is translated as government or administration in the Bible. But literally means, "to steer, like steer a ship, or aircraft, to pilot, to govern, to rudder. James uses the metaphor of a small rudder of a ship being like the tongue, able to steer a large vessel (James 3:4)."

#1 - The gift of Kubernesis. I'm grateful for the small control by grace I have over the small rudder of my tongue.

Then! Look at this one --- Kubernetes (greek noun) this "refers to the person who performs kubernesis. This is the pilot or the navigator."

#2 - The gift of Kubernetes. The one who Guides. The One who gives the grace, provides the map, so I'm not completely lost on this voyage.

#3 - I do thank the Lord for our current government of the USA. Of course they're making mistakes. [who doesn't??] But I do believe that 'Thanksgiving proceeds the miracle.' [I'm thankful for them; now I wait for the miracle, in faith, that they can make better choices].

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Thanks to http://www.giftofgovernments.org/ for the Greek-y info!
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Step Up

There is a place where we get to, a point in our life where we are given a choice. We've been given some kind of news, information, an awakening or enlightenment. Then there is the choice. To step up. Or back down.

As you look back on your life, you can probably pinpoint times where you stood up. It was hard, or maybe it was easy. But the ultimate result was a victory gained, a life improved, an enemy pounded and hope restored.

Can you remember those times when you backed down?? When there was hope within the grasp of the weak and you let go of the rope, you dropped the lifeline and let them fall? Those regrets are often only shadows compared to that of the pain of the one who was let down.

Each year, nearly 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade. (UNICEF)




Since she was rescued from slavery, Susheela has flourished. Now she raises goats and supports her family.

1 in 5 women is a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. (U. N. Development Fund for Women)



This family was once in slavery in #India, but are now free to flourish.



27 million men, women and children are held as slaves. (Kevin Bales, Disposable People)

Meet Grace

She's stepping up.

Yeah, she's only 13.

Yeah, she's only one girl.

But she has freedom. She has a voice. Which is more than those caught in slavery and sex trafficking have. It is more than those orphaned and abandoned have. She has hope. And she is reaching out from where she is to share that hope with the weak and poor.



 

"Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked." Psalms 82:3-4

 

 

 

Will you step up with her?

 

Go to her blog: http://campaign117.blogspot.com/ 

This is where you can read all about:

*the campaign she has organized

*the reasons WHY she organized it

*WHY it's called Campaign 1:17

*what top rated organization she is partnering with to help free slaves and change lives.

*AND how YOU can be a part

 

 

 

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Blessings - Kerry

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PS - This amazing girl just happens to be my cousin and sweetest friend!!

 Drop by her blog and leave a comment of encouragement and pray about supporting her in her campaign!!

 

 

 

 

 

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Photo Credits: The two of the pretty blonde are my pictures [as in, I took them, I own them] the rest are pictures from IJM's Facebook page.