“Give thanks to the LORD,
for He is good;
His loving devotion endures forever”
~ Chronicles 16:34
“The LORD is my strength and my song” ~ Exodus 15:2.
My husband received a call the other day about unclaimed money – apparently, there’s some out there, and we ought to go claim it. Yet, what about the unclaimed goodness God has left for us since the day we were born? God has left and continue to leave his goodness in every day of our lives. This isn’t about prosperity. It’s about the goodness God leaves us in the daily, how he lavishes his love on us, letting us know he is there, wooing us into relationship with him. There are years and years of unclaimed gifts because I didn’t know – years I spent not understanding how he is present in every moment of my day, how he leaves reminders of his great love for me . . . in what seems like the everyday ordinary. Maybe I cannot vintage all the goodness He left me in the past, but I can certainly claim the goodness he has left me today and in the future.
I’m in the middle of a challenge right now – and I find myself needing to keep close to the one who knows my heart – who designed it and understands it better than I do, so right now – and maybe throughout the summer, I’m going to be journaling God’s goodness He leaves me along the path of each day’s journey. Maybe you will join me with your own journals of his goodness and leave a link in the comment section.
You are good, Father, my strength and my song
two red birds chasing each other, flying
ahead of me
God invited to the table
a little boy snuggling close, trusting,
falling into nap
ice cream joy
the quiet with God before the busy sets in
You are good, Father, my strength and my song
morning footsteps in the kitchen, sharing coffee and the needs
for the day ahead
courage to push the clamor of tasks back to give attention to the call of my soul
golden-retriever comfort
the soothing repetition of layering, brushing melted butter,
layering, brushing pastry sheets
for baklava
in a space not hurried by the clock,
the methodical layering, brushing, layering, sprinkling walnuts slowing
my harried heart
the layering, brushing, sprinkling training me in healthy barrier setting
so God joy and peace in the little things
aren’t rushed away
before being savored
little arms hugging in excited, happy welcome
You are good, Father, my strength and my song
vanilla drops in ice water
hearts that don’t let misunderstanding stop the conversation or break the connection
chocolate kisses, sour-patch kids and jelly beans in candy jars
remembering good memories
self-less prayers for others
for God-designed plans fulfilled,
insight into choices,
needs met for the day’s challenges,
for success to rise out of failures
and desire fanned to draw closer to God –
self-less prayer not to make me breathe easier
worry less
but for others to live their God-designed plan
because their story is their story
not mine
You are good, Father, my strength and my song
the bantering of my boys
cooking behind the kitchen counter and watching . . .
one son opening books to study,
another sitting down to take an on-line quiz,
a group sitting around the table talking,
the plastic glasses taken out of the cabinet,
filled with water, one stirring chocolate into his milk,
shoes kicked off and left in the middle of the floor,
“What’s to eat?”
daughter-in-laws who break the boundaries to become daughters
Sadie, our golden, running for her stuffed bunny when someone walks through the back doors.
chocolate ganache over white butter cream.
You are good, Father, my strength and my song
Thank you Father, for your goodness, for your enduring devotion.
Trekking Through – http://www.trekkingthru.com/
http://www.richfaithrising.com/ Unite the Bloggosphere
http://purposefulfaith.com/ Cheerleading #RaRaLinkUp
http://www.messymarriage.com/ Messy Marriage
http://holleygerth.com/ Coffee for Your Heart
Mary Geisen/ TellingHisStory
abounding Grace/Graceful Tuesday/
Creativity with Art
Blue Cotton Memory 
I trust you will feel God’s presence in ever increasing ways as you walk through this season of challenge.
Thank you, Cheryl. I think it is being intentional in seeking his goodness that brings grace to this season! Shalom!
Maryleigh
Ahhh Mary-Leigh, your post resonates so with me. I just want to spend more time with the Lord, I want to see His hand in everything. I have missed so much because of my own clouding of life. Thank you for the reminder to be grateful, to look – and – SEE God’s hand. It is there, in everything.
God bless sweet friend
Tracy
Tracy, praying that you reach through the clouding to grab hold of his daily goodness – even if it’s just 5 minutes! Bless you, too, sweet friend!
Maryleigh
How wonderful that your are seeking God’s goodness in your time of challenge. This will get your through – most definitely. I pray right now that you will be infused with joy – for the joy of the Lord is our strength. You are well on your way with such a beautiful attitude of gratitude! Blessings to you!
Thank you for your prayer! I receive that and hold tight to it – that God will infuse me with joy during the hard parts of the journey! Thank you for this blessing!
So much goodness. So much goodness goes unnoticed, left on the table without realizing Who left it there, and for whom; goodness that calls our names and we never hear a thing. Yes, I am clearly at fault too…not knowing or noticing. Thanks for this poignant reminder…and so much gratitude for your coming by and leaving me the goodness God gave you to give to me.
I love how you say, “goodness that calls our name” – because the goodness he leaves us does that, doesn’t it?!! And in the goodness of hearts that bring his comfort and encouragement, like you always do! Praying God’s shalom during this grieving time for you!
Oh, what a beautiful post. You so eloquently spoke of the things I felt in my last post, but was unable to really express. Made my morning.
I think our hearts are in the same place. Your post spoke to me, too! So glad we could lift each other up in encouragement!
Oh how I love this! Daughters-in-law who break the boundaries to become daughters. So sweet!
I so love it, too! So glad you picked up on that one. I think as moms of sons only, that is our hearts desire – daughter-in-laws who are willing to break those boundaries to become daughters.