Thankful...

Today... I am reflecting, reminiscing back and expectantly looking forward... offering up endless thanks for God's grace in my life... soaring into another year of doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with the One who loves me lavishly and relentlessly... this lavish and relentless love that I've come to finally fully embrace.

It's no secret to those who know me that I am a fan of Ann Voskamp and her writing... today's reminiscing brought me back to when I first read Chapter 11 and the Afterword of her debut book, One Thousand Gifts. Let's walk down memory lane, shall we?

He's singing that song!  The one I really didn't believe He sang!  "He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs" (Zephaniah 3:17).

Years of Christian discipleship, Bible study, churchgoing had been about me thinking about God; practicing eucharisteo was the very first I had really considered at length what God thought of me - this ridiculous and relentlessly pursuing love, so bold.  Everywhere, everything, Love!

Not take anything. Not ask anything, demand anything, petition anything.  I could simply give something to God.  A gift to Him!  Like He had given one thousand, countless, gifts to me!  This I could do!

... we're called to do more than believe in God; we're called to live in God.  

Communion with God, what was broken in the Garden, this is wholly restored when I want the God-communion more than I want the world-consumption.

Then came what Ann wrote in the Afterword...

"A-I-M-E-E." Loved one.

God is always good and I am always loved and eucharisteo has made me my truest self, "full of grace."  Doesn't eucharisteo rename all God's children their truest name:

"Loved one."

Aimee is the name of Ann's sister... the sister whose tragic death Ann wrote about in the starting pages of the book. The tragedy that marked the beginning of Ann's journey towards full communion with God.

Tears fell as I read the portion I quoted above from the Afterword. This book and the practice of eucharisteo has indeed transformed me. Eucharisteo has allowed me to see Grace every single day. Each new day, I am on the hunt for grace-gifts!

And... eucharisteo didn't need to rename me... like Ann, it has made me my truest self, "loved one." For my blog readers who do not know me in real life, that is my name.

Aimee --- it means loved one! :-)

Today, I celebrate... because God is always good and I am always loved!

You have looked deep into my heart, Lord,
    and you know all about me.
 You know when I am resting or when I am working,
    and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.
 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
     and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.
 I can’t understand all of this!
    Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

 You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body,
     and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
    Of this I have no doubt.

 Nothing about me is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below,
     but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book
    everything I would do.

 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding,
    much more than I could ever imagine.
 I try to count your thoughts,
    but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.
And when I awake, I will find you nearby.

 Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything
    I am thinking.
 Don’t let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way
    that time has proven true. 

~ Excerpts from Psalm 139, CEV.

Unwrapping more of His love in this world.

Act justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly with God!