Several months ago, my deepest friend pulled me aside…and pulled up a chair. In her hands, compassion and a book.

I know her well…and she, me. If she was suggesting that I read something, it was definitely worth the read.

The book? One Thousand Gifts. Within its pages, author Ann Voskamp chronicles the transformation of her intimacy with God when she decides to note 1,000 things for which she is thankful…practicing the communing art of eucharisteo in ALL things.

Eucharisteo [Greek] = grace, thanksgiving, joy…in ALL things.

Especially the broken things.

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.  Do this to remember me.”  1 Corinthians 11:23-24, emphasis added.

So in June of this year, my adventure began…

Practicing “eucharisteo” with intentionality and purpose…determined not to look for, but to see the grace, thanksgiving, and joy…in ALL things. Every single one.

#59 – Love won

#60 – Love still wins

#61 – Romans 8

#257 – Praying friends

#285 – Cloud cover in heat

#374 -New mercy

And, as I peered through life’s difficulties and listed my thanks, I learned…

Choosing to see God in ALL things allowed me to see more deeply into the things of God.

So, when we set out on this mission 39 days ago…my own journey was already well underway.

Grace whittling away at my discontent.

#441 – I surrender all

#443 – Hourly bread

#484 – Fanning the flames

And now as day 40 sunsets, I ponder this truth: Clint and I may have been sent out across this nation on a mission for God, but…

God also had a mission of His own.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 NLT