Hi friends! Welcome to Week Two of “One Thousand Gifts.” This week we read chapters 4-6. Here are a few questions to ponder and discuss:
Chapter 4: A Sanctuary of Time
Ann says, “I don’t really want more time; I just want enough time” (pg. 67). Do you relate to this statement? Do you agree that living fully in the moment creates enough time (pg. 68)?
Do you agree that listing our gifts is a way to slow down and feel full in the life God has given you? What do you think a full life looks like?
Chapter 5: What in the World, in All This World, is Grace?
“The hard eucharisteo” is the main idea of this chapter. It is those things that are devastating to us and the choice we have in how we view them. Do you wrestle with the hard eucharisteo?
How do you respond to the idea that life is not a mix of good moments and bad moments but it is all grace (pg. 99-100)? How can you embrace this idea more fully? Looking back on the curse moments in your life, can you see how God has worked through those situations?
Chapter 6: What Do You Want? The Place of Seeing God
Ann almost misses a beautiful moment but her husband redirects her towards it. Do you have people in your life that help redirect your gaze? Do you help others notice gifts around them? How might you be able to do that?
The author tells the story of the harvest moon leading to a childlike wonder. Do you feel that your sense of wonder has changed since you were a child? How might you regain your sense of wonder? Do those moments of awe lead you to worship God more freely?
“I long to live all eye” (pg. 115) What does this statement mean to you? How can you begin to live “all eye”?
Join me back here on Monday, January 18th for some encouragement on how to be more grateful and then again on Friday, January 22nd for Week Three’s discussion questions. Hope you are finding this month encouraging as we learn more about gratitude and learning to live with eyes wide open to all the gifts God has given us š
This book just keeps getter more amazing – I think Iāve underlined most of it so far! So many things to think about….here are some thoughts:
Chapter 4:
I think for most of us, we consider Time one of our worst enemies! We put so much pressure on ourselves to do it all, and yet deep down we know we really canāt do it… none of us can. Multitasking is the deceiving solution to this problem, but again, we still canāt get it all done. When I try to fully live in the moment, it definitely helps create enough time because my mind isnāt focused on the 8 million other things I could/need to be doing.
I think a full life looks like slowing down and appreciating where youāre at, moment by moment. Every life stage or situation has gifts – even if theyāre hard to find initially. By writing our gifts down (even if they seem silly) it allows us to really see God working in and through our lives and it reminds us Heās with us.
Chapter 5:
Itās weird because itās so easy to be grateful for good/great things, and yet itās so easy to be ungrateful for them because we usually take them for granted. But nobody has an easy time being grateful in the tough times – or wants to be. For me, the hard eucharisteo is where I have to really put my faith in God and have Him help me believe Heās in control and works out all things for good, no matter what it looks like from my perspective – I only see a piece of the puzzle.
Grace has been a complex issue for me – I believe I am only now seeing it as I should. And viewing it alongside Thanksgiving is a huge āAhaā moment. I think moments can hold within them good or bad, or a little of each, but Grace is what needs to be focused on in all of these moments. I think taking myself out of the equation is the first step to embracing this idea more fully. When I can step back and realize/remember itās not about me, Grace can start to seep in.
Chapter 6:
Yes; my husband does a great job helping me redirect my gaze so I get my eyes off myself – heās very good at being real and direct and thatās helping me be so too. I also have a great circle of girlfriends that help me figure out myself and this crazy life š and focus on what really matters. I try to help others notice gifts around them – Iām a talker and always love having deep conversations about God and life.
Being a grown-up, and more so a parent, definitely makes it hard to have (or keep) a sense of wonder. Haha š But itās so important to have/feel that! I think we can start to regain that sense of wonder when we stop and breathe, honestly (what parent does that often enough?!). And I donāt mean a count-to-ten breathing so you donāt lose your mind – but a few minutes of real, steady inhale/exhale to gather yourself unto Christ…I think thatās when and where we can more freely worship Him and begin finding those moments of awe.
To me, āI long to live all eyeā means I am fully attentive and aware; Iām not sidetracked or distracted by anything… it doesnāt mean there arenāt distractions, it means Iām not fazed (or as fazed) by them. Saying ānoā to things – even if itās my own thoughts; being still until I feel my mind begin to get quiet; asking God what He sees that I should see; and writing down what I notice about situations, are all ways I think I can begin to live āall eye.ā