Joy Dare: 31-33/1000 {3 gifts redeemed}

"What does that word mean, exactly?"  wondered my brother after telling him todays joy dare.  Redeemed.  What did it mean... exactly... 

"Maybe that's a good place to start..."  I replied.  "We'll look up the actual definition.  I mean, I know we are redeemed, like, as believers.  Christ redeemed us with His death on the cross.  Like, we're made new.  But, I guess I don't know the exact meaning."  I rambled, slightly embarrassed that I didn't have a better answer for him, 9.5 years my junior.  I was sure at some point in my life I had to have known an actual meaning, but all I could think about was Christ...

I looked it up.  Whoa...

re·deem (r-dm)

tr.v. re·deemed, re·deem·ing, re·deems

1. To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.

2. To pay off (a promissory note, for example).

3. To turn in (coupons, for example) and receive something in exchange.

4. To fulfill (a pledge, for example).

5. To convert into cash: redeem stocks.

6. To set free; rescue or ransom.

7. To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences. See Synonyms at save¹.

8. To make up for: The low price of the clothes dryer redeems its lack of special features.

9. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.

The meaning IS Christ.  He is it.  The answer.  The definition of redemption.  He has REDEEMED. 

He has recovered me from the evil one, paid for my sins with His own blood in exchange for my freedom, fulfilled God's righteous wrath, turned my rags into riches...

set. me. free.

rescued me, saved me from eternity apart from the Father, He made up for my great lack of righteousness...

He has restored honor to my flesh, made my life worthy, took my failures and made me whole. 

New.
Full of His grace and mercy.

Redeemed.

One word.  One man.  Changed everything.

One word worth 1000 thanks right there.  I am thankful.  I am redeemed.

 

Joy Dare: 28-30/1000 {3 gifts almost gone}

fully enjoyed mid-morning warmth...

fresh, brown, super breakfast...

a homemade meal for two...

Joy Dare: 25-27/1000 {a gift sung, written, painted}

sung, at bedtime, a prayer for our boy...

 

 written, structure, brings harmony in our home...

 



painted, precious love between mother and child.  sweet images for little learning eyes...

Joy Dare: 22-24/1000 {3 gifts spoken}

"I'm on my way home" said my husband after a weekend away with the guys.

"Just calling to see how you're doing" my best friend left on my voicemail.

"a taka taka taka goola goola"  said my 13.5 month old who speaks alien.



"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Proverbs 16:24

Joy Dare: 19-21/1000 {3 gifts found in women today}

encouragement...
advice...
reassurance...

Had a particularly challenging day with E and his new "attitude" he's begun to display in his exploration of expression.  Basically, he was being a little turd.  So thankful for all the women who come to mind when I think... how do I handle this stage?  I reached out for help and they answered.  Encouraging, advising, and reassuring with so much grace.

Thankful for the women in my life.

Also thankful for books on discipline... my next read, Don't Make Me Count To Three.

I mean, really...

Joy Dare: 16-18/1000 {3 gifts found in His word}

a promise...

a resting place...

 a fresh start...

Joy Dare: 13-15/1000 {a gift salty, sweet, just right}

Gramps, 87 years, spunky, solid, salty...
"You are the salt of the earth.."  Matthew 5:13

sweet...

just right...

Joy Dare: 10-12/1000 {3 gifts that made me laugh}

these two...  (this isn't from yesterday but I couldn't help myself, they make me laugh, alot).

this face...

bouncing bliss... (phone photo)

Joy Dare: 7-9/1000 {3 gifts eaten}

juicy sunshine, peeled...

 little fresh bursts of tangy sweet...

 a gift not eaten, but watched... about what we eat.  a belief reinforced.  motivation renewed.  (check it out here) 



Joy Dare: 4-6/1000 {3 gifts red}

red that's hot, steam whistling out...

red that's juicy, sweet, tart...

 red that's puffy, keeps chubby boys warm...

 red that wheels, brings baby boy squeals...

 

Red that spilled and covers still.  His red was shed that I be made whole.  Red that atoned. 

 

Red that still washes...

 

white as snow.

 

 



Joy Dare 1-3/1000

"I'm just going to wait 'til April." I said, thinking it would be easier to start first of the month, but knowing there was probably a deeper reason I was putting this off.  "The longer you wait, the less likely you are to go through with it." My wise, and sometimes irritatingly on target husband replied.  That was almost a week ago... 

"Honk to BE happy" is what finally did it.  I have read 1000 gifts.  It was heart-changing.  But there was something keeping me from committing to the challenge of recording 1000 gifts.  1000 reasons to thank God... ONE THOUSAND.  The weakest part of me screams to run from commitment right now.  I'll only quit.  I'll fail.  I get excited, I prepare, I plan, I start... and then I give up.  I've tried to change my diet (for Crohn's), what? 80 times since Eli was in my womb?  This would be no different.  Finishing what I start has always been a bit tough for me, my interest wanes.  But, this time in my life is different... indifferent.  There is also a darker side of me that believes I won't have 1000 reasons to praise.  Raw truth.  It hurts to type.

But... and thank God for buts... can I use that as #1?  Ha!  Anyway, His timing proves always perfect and after a hiatus from my favorite used-to-read-it-everyday blog by Ann Voskamp herself, I returned.  What I found was surprisingly, but not surprisingly just what I needed.  A story of a man who found the act of honking at a sign telling him to do so if he was happy was actually what made him find happiness.  The act of thanking, praising, naming the gifts, will bring joy to this tired heart in this dry season.  I'm ready.  I'm taking the joy dare.

1-3/1000

Since I wasn't planning on starting today and will always blog about the gifts from the previous day, I'll be deviating from the prompts Ann gives since I wasn't seeking those out yesterday.  I may do this on occassion anyway.

Unexpected entertainment.  Babies and boxes are always fun.

My baby brothers loving on my baby son.

 

 

A sweet smiling mouth, cheeks full of food.

 

 

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:10-12