21 Days of Wonder: Time #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

From author, Margaret Feinberg:

Reflect on the wondrous gift of time.
Pull out a calendar or day planner and spend fifteen minutes considering
all that’s on your schedule for the upcoming two weeks.
Consider marking the activities that fill up your time, versus those that fill you with life
and provide opportunities to awaken you to God’s wonder that is all around.
Prayerfully consider what changes—including cuts and additions—
you need to make to your schedule
to awaken to the wonder of rest and a healthy rhythm in your daily life.
Make sure you have time built into each day
 to worship for the remaining days of the challenge.

Wonder Challenge:Post, tweet, pin, fb or proclaim two things
you’re going to say “No” to in order to say “Yes” to more of God.
Include #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK so we can find you!

I'm saying 'no' to unnecessary activities and conversations...in order to make more time to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

Example: God, help me to say “no” to over committing and people-pleasing so I can say “yes” to you. I want to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

Tomorrow: HOPE

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21 Days of Wonder #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

From author, Margaret Feinberg:
As followers of Jesus, we have the opportunity to live each day in wild amazement of God. If we pay attention, we can begin discovering the wonders all around us—those moments of spiritual awakening that spark our curiosity to know God more.
For 21-Days Margaret is challenging us to find the wonder in our life, praying that during the next 21 days, we will sense the Holy Spirit leading us to do and say things we may have passed by before.
So, every day we will focus on a different opportunity to find wonder in the ordinary (and sometimes the extraordinary), and we invite you to post your experiences, your aha moments, and your photos that display what you’re discovering along the way. Whether you post on Facebook or your blog, Pin on Pinterest, Instagram or Tweet, use hashtag #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK. We’re going to be looking for you, celebrating with you, and even giving gifts to you along the way.

Ask God to unleash His wonder in your life
like you’ve never experienced it before. 

Now live today expectant for how God is going to answer.

Today: Post, pin, or proclaim a prayer for wonder.

I pray that my eyes would be open to the awe and wonder of You ~
#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

***

It’s never too late to join the 21 Days of Wonder Challenge. 

Grab a friend and begin the dare to 

#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK starting today!

Day 1: Beauty

Capture an image of God’s beauty, grace, love, peace, and joy.
you may find examples all around you!
Let’s encourage each other with God’s beauty.

Day 2: Reflection

#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK Challenge:
What are the challenges preventing you from experiencing God’s wonder?
Turn those challenges into a short prayer.
Lord, turn my heart from distractions
toward experiencing Your wonder...
I want to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK More!

Day 3: Time ~

Proclaim two things you’re going to say “No” to
in order to say “Yes” to more of God. 

Saying"No" to unnecessary activities and conversations
in order to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

source

Day 4:  HOPE 

#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK Challenge: Sometimes music brings hope and encouragement into situations
that may seem hopeless. What is one song / album that brought you restoration in difficult times? 
Post your favourite song, album, artist, or lyric that inspired you.

Ashley Cleveland comes instantly to mind -
Power of Love album - Riding With The King - 

STORY posted HERE..  

Day 5: Creation ~

 Allow yourself to spontaneously respond to God in thanks, and worship—
celebrating the wonders of creation all around.
#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK Challenge:
Upload a photo that makes you feel wonderstruck.
It could be of one of your favourite spots or
it could be of some place that you dream of visiting one day.

Day 6: Forgiveness ~

Spend some time thanking God for the way He created you
the redemptive work He’s doing in your life,
and walk in the wonder of forgiveness.

Wonder Challenge: Post a photo of what 
“walking free in forgiveness and living redeemed” looks like.

 Day 7: Silence

Share a phrase, a photo, a short expression 

what you experience, see, learn, or hear while in silence.

Wonder Challenge: 

Upload your photo, phrase, or thoughts
#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK
Here's mine ~

"In quietness and trusting confidence
shall be your strength."  Isaiah 30.15

And, if you haven’t ordered your copy of Wonderstruck yet, it’s not too late! Here’s the link:http://mar.cta.gs/04w
Receive notifications for the 21 Days of Wonder in your inbox each day. Click here to sign up and receive a bonus eBook: Wonderstruck by Jesus Christ.

One Thousand Gifts 1/21/13

Gratitude Counting for January

a gift in sky, water, memory

joining us?

for today's additions to a year of 1000 Gifts...

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Wordless Wednesday Gratitude Habit: 1/9/13

A Gift ~passed by, held, sat with...

'HABITS'

My pictured response to the Wednesday prompt at

Walk with Him Wednesday 

and Ann's Joy Dare of 1000 Gifts of Gratitude in a Year...

Find more Joy Dares at Ann's blog, twitter and fb

more Wordless Wednesday photos at Ramona's

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Joy Dare Gratitude Journalling: January 2013

Beginning a New Year of Gratitude journalling,

thought I'd share these January prompts

from Ann Voskamp ~

Many more Gratitude based printouts to download at

including Ann's beautiful Year of Graces calendar

of pages with Gratitude quotes and photos to inspirit you

or numbered pages in her newest

Need motivation to prompt your own Gratitude journalling?
Ann lists these for starters...

1. Have a relative absence of stress and depression.
(Woods et al., 2008)

2. Make progress towards important personal goals
(Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

3. Report higher levels of determination and energy
(Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

4. Feel closer in their relationships/
 desire to build stronger relationships
(Algoe and Haidt, 2009)

5. Increase your happiness by 25% —
(Who wouldn’t want a quarter more happiness!)
(McCullough et al., 2002)

   I am linking my own 1000 Gifts of Gratitude
to each Monday post at Ann's blog.

You're welcome to join us!

For the 1st Monday of January ?

1. 3 gifts heard ~ New Yr greetings,
words of appreciation, birdsong

2. a gift outside~ son arriving 

inside~ pkg of Christmas cookies + tea   

on a plate~ healthy meal

3. graces you overheard ~ prayers,
compliments, helpful counsel

4. a gift old~ china cups
new~ fantastic quilted comforter
blue~my son's eyes

5. something you're reading~ daily lectionary
making~ blog reading challenge  
seeing ~ new life perspectives

6. one thing in your bag~ books

your fridge~ chicken  your <3 i="i">Epiphany

7. 3 graces from people you love~
friendship, time shared, embraces

Ready to add yours or read more?

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Scotland Reading Challenge 2013 for January's 1st Monday !

Its January 2013’s First Monday! What are you reading?

I’m reading my first selection

in the Reading Scotland Challenge 2013

which I’m hosting now thru November..

You 

are cordially invited to participate!

Scroll down for the posted details...

My first book choice is one of Scottish author Rosamunde Pilcher’s

short story collections,

“Flowers in the Rain & Other Stories”

Other books and authors in queue?

George MacDonald series [many available as free ebook downloads] 

 Liz Curtis Higgs’ “Mine is the Night”,

 Jennifer Hudson Taylor’s “Highland Sanctuary”

to start off!

How about your own reading choices on this 1^st Monday?

Looking forward to hearing from you ~

Especially looking forward to hearing your response

to the Reading Scotland Challenge !

EnJoy your reading time this week ...

Find more at Sheila's Book Journey

More Monday Inspy here



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Invitation to Photo Party: Your 'Word' for 2013

Welcome to the Abbey Photo Party!

photo source ~ Christine Valtners Paintner

Christine at Abbey of the Arts invites you into some creative exploration 

with the word[s] which have chosen you for this year. 

( share yours here if you haven't already and enter to win one of several wonderful prizes).

In the free 12-day online mini-retreat I offer to newsletter subscribers

(click here to subscribe)

I invite you to go on a photo pilgrimage holding your word for 2013

in your hearts and noticing what images are shimmering in the world around you.

You can share images you already have which illustrate your word,

but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind and see what you discover.

You are also welcome to post other art you created inspired by your word for the year –

collages are powerful as are paintings and drawings. 

See what stirs your imagination!

How to participate:

1. Go to the Flickr Group Christine has created. [You need a free Flickr account first]. 

When you go to the link it will ask you to join the group first before posting. 

Share as many as five of your images in response to the theme. 

When you post your photo please include your word as the title 2. Leave a comment HERE  to let us know you have joined the party and what your Flickr profile name is.

3. Please post the invitation on your blog or Facebook page and encourage others to come join the party!

If you haven't yet,

share your word over at this post for a chance to win some wonderful prizes

and join in with the Abbey community.

  

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Celebrating the Wonder of Epiphany !

from Ann's Seedstuff Worship resources

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Scotland Reading Challenge for 2013 !

2013 Reading Scotland Challenge

Wondering if there are other readers, beside myself, 

who would be interested in a Challenge
to read anything Scottish this year?

I have found a number of Scottish authors whose writings
I’m keen to pursue,
along with Scottish settings and storylines
that keep pulling my attention in their direction.

Interested?

Here’s your opportunity to join the adventure!

Create your own public post of participation
at Goodreads, on FB, Pinterest, etc
If you post it later as a page, it will be easier to find for updating.
Link to your post/page in the comments below
and JOIN US at our GOODREADS GROUP.
Not a blogger?  Post your involvement in comments by Nov 1st 2013.

The more genres we explore the richer our experience.
Poetry, history, biography, memoir, essays, fiction, ya
children’s, contemporary, mystery, romance, fantasy,
spiritual, time travel, photography, recipebooks..
Whatever involves Scotland,
whether author, location, subject, is on target.

Then determine your level of involvement  ~
Bairn at 1 – 3 books
Lass at 4 - 7
Laird at 8 - 11
Queen of Scots at 12 +

Pick up your participation button [top] before you go...
even if you're in at 1 book!

Be sure to return and post the link to your reviews.
Your response may be the motivation for another
to read your discovery!

Wanting to add a Scottish themed Giveaway during the year?
Definitely welcomed!
All who complete their posted commitment level
will be entered for a surprise Scottish treat
at the conclusion of the Challenge Nov 30th 2013!

Looking forward to sharing our Scottish adventures !

For those inquiring about reading suggestions
I have a Scotland Reading Challenge shelf at Goodreads
and a Pinterest board of books ~
I look forward to hearing / seeing your choices ! 

When tweeting about the challenge ,
books you've completed, reviews written, etc.
Please use hashtag #ReadingScotland

THANKS for joining us !

For more inspiring posts ~

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Ready for Epiphany? Jan 6th 2013

Celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas

ends Sunday the 6th of January.

It is a wonderful journey from Advent through Christmas.

So Much more than a single day's event!

I hope you have enjoyed both Worship and Celebration

wholeness and completion

There are great sites offering more information

on this special time of Epiphany ~
The Church of England 

The Voice , Travel France are others
Other celebrations include eating the Kings' Cake
recipe here, and Chalking the Door

Readings for Jan 6th Epiphany ~

Isaiah 60.1-6
Psalm 72.1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3. 1-12
Matthew 2.1-12

I have chosen to share the beauty and inspiration of 

worship artisan, Naomi Pridjian of Drawing Sacred Circles ~

May you both look for and be Blessed
with Christ's appearance and manifestation
in your own life during this Season of Epiphany
and throughout this New Year ~

 A Blessing of the Home
(From The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship Worship Website)

Lead: The Lord is with you;

Community: And also with you.

All: Peace be to this house and to all who live, work, and visit here.

L: The three wise men came to Bethlehem in search of the Lord. They brought to him precious gifts: gold to honor the newborn king, incense to the true God in human form, and myrrh to anoint his body, which one day would die like our own.

L: Let us pray. O God, you once used a star to show to all the world that Jesus is your Son. May the light of that star that once guided wise men to honor his birth, now guide us to recognize him also, to know you by faith, and to see you in the epiphanies of the daily experiences of our lives.

L: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord — Jesus born of Mary — shall be revealed.

C: And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

All: As the Wise Men once sought your brilliant light, O Lord, so may we seek to live and work in your splendour.

L: O God of Light, bless this (our) house and this (our) family. May this be a place of peace and health. May each member of this family cultivate the gifts and graces you have bestowed, dedicating our talents and works for the good of all.

L: Make this house a shelter in the storm and a haven of rest for all in need of your warmth and care. And when we go out from this place, may we never lose sight of that Epiphany star.

C: As we go about our work, our study, our play, keep us in its light and in your love.

A Blessing of the Chalk for Marking the Door

L: Lord Jesus, through your Incarnation and birth in true human form, you have made all the earth holy. We now ask your blessing upon this simple gift of your creation — chalk. We use it as a tool to teach our children, and they use it as a tool in their play and games. Now, with your blessing, may it become a tool for us to mark the doors of our home with the symbols of your wise servants who, so long ago, came to worship and adore you in your first home.

People in turn mark the doorway with one or more of the symbols:

20 C M B 13

L: May we, in this house, and all who come to visit, to work, and to play, remember these things throughout the coming year. May all who come and go here find peace, comfort, joy, hope, love, and salvation, for Christ has come to dwell in this house and in these hearts.

All: May we be Christ's light in the world. Amen.