When was the last time you felt awed by the wonder of life?
Believe me, awesome was not the first word that came to mind when an alarm went off at 2:00 a.m. in our living room. Three Loud Tweets every thirty seconds. Jose checked the smoke detectors. He tried to disarm a motion sensor, but it was electronically wired with no off switch. What was making that noise? An hour later, it continued. Three Loud Tweets. Every. Thirty. Seconds.
We shut the bedroom door, put in earplugs, and tried to sleep. When my alarm clock sounded at 6:00 a.m., I groaned and went into the kitchen to make coffee to the tune of Three Loud Tweets. Every. Thirty. Seconds. The tweeting continued through several telephone calls to our security company until 9:30, when Jose happened to discover an additional smoke detector we’d never even seen. Dead battery.
But you know what? Even with the unseen smoke detector beeping, my French roast coffee still tasted heavenly. The breakfast my dear husband cooked blessed me, and a lovely rain pattered on the windowpanes. The beeping sound almost made me miss the beauty of the morning.
Just like that tweeting alarm, life gets loud, and we miss its beauty for all the noise.
Awesome may not be the first word that comes to our minds as we wolf down an early dinner to take the kids to sports practice or chase them down when it’s bath time. At the office or in line at the grocery story, we wonder where life’s wonder went.
Wonder is all around us, but we miss it.
We zoom down freeways and drive into the garage at night without looking at the stars. We wrestle the kids to bed without rejoicing because they’re fearfully and wonderfully made. We eat on the run without noticing how amazing an apple tastes.
We lose touch with the awe of our Creator and His Works.
During the month of November, I’m on a mission to reconnect with God’s wonder and pursue the joyful life. I hope to do two things:
Get in Touch with God’s Greatness
When we slow down enough to behold the beauty of a simple flower or look up at the color of the sky, we’re inspired to praise our Creator. As we read Scripture, our picture of Him grows bigger, and we can’t help but praise His greatness.
Thank Him for His Wonders
We forget that even the food we buy at the supermarket is a gift from God’s hand. How much more should we give Him thanks for wonders like these?
- Marriage: such a blessing even when quality time is hard to come by.
- A baby: so miraculous even though she cries at night.
- A teenager: awe-inspiring even though he sometimes explodes.
Will you join me for 30 Days of Thanks and Praise?
Let’s take a few moments every day to step away from the noise of life and remember the wonder of God and His gifts. Each evening before bed, and each morning upon rising:
1. Whisper a word of praise to God. One simple sentence is enough.
2. Thank Him for three blessings.
Morning and evening: a word of praise and thanks for three blessings.
Are you with me, friend? I’d love to know your thoughts.
Reposting from my archives because the story makes me laugh and because I’m doing the challenge this year too.
Join the Faith Spilling Over Facebook Community for 30 Days of Thanks and Praise. Look for a daily word of encouragement.
Linking up with Kelly Balarie’s RaRaLinkup, Holly Barrett’s #TestimonyTuesday, Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart, Crystal Storm’s #HeartEncouragement, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
This is a beautiful post, Betsy. The photos are gorgeous, and I love the inspiration to give thanks in all things. I have had the exact same experience with ear-splitting smoke alarm tweets in the middle of the night. Need to go buy some 9V batteries for backup just in case! I am joining you in a season of thanksgiving, asking my children to list three reasons for thanksgiving on our drive to school each morning.
That’s a great idea to involve your kids, Sarah. Yes, those 9V batteries are great to have on hand, aren’t they? Our problem was thinking it was the security alarm!!!
Beautiful post, Betsy – both in words and photos. I have so many reasons to be grateful this morning but this morning I am most grateful that our God is sovereign in all things. All. And in Him I trust. Blessings!
Thanks so much, Joanne. Yes, I’m thanking Him for that this morning too. <3
Love this post Betsy and I’ll be sharing it this weekend in my weekly Encouragement for your Weekend post to my subscribers. 🙂 It’s good to be thankful in all seasons of life, even the three tweets, every 30 seconds. You had me chuckling. We’ve been there! 🙂
Oh I bet you HAVE been there, Nicki. We all have, girl! Yes, let’s keep giving thanks, even when it’s to the tune of three tweets (or honks, or barks, or kid shouts) every 30 seconds!
The background noise does get loud — and annoying! But fixing our eyes on the eternal, whispering thanks to the God who gives us so many blessings: this is the key to contentment, and to a wonderful Thanksgiving season.
Thanks, Betsy, for your always-timely words!
Thank you, Michele. May contentment be yours this season. I wonder how your new job is going?
Great reminders Betsy of the marvel of the mundane and keys be thankful in it all. Teaching in attitude this week & we are totally in sync!
Glad we’re in sync, Jill. 🙂
I love this, Betsy! I know, that you know, that we share “wonder” as our word for 2016. It’s probably been one of my hardest words because it truly is an intentional choice to seek and stand in awe of the wonder of God in a world that can feel less than wondrous. I’m looking forward to joining you in being thankful for His wondrous deeds! Hugs!
You are so right about this: “an intentional choice to seek and stand in awe of the wonder of God in a world that can feel less than wondrous.” I’ve found it to be my hardest “word” ever! 🙂
Those beeps always seem to start in the middle of the night, don’t they? 🙂
Definitely joining for Thanks and Praise. He is worthy.
Good to see you, Betsy. I’ve had a lot going on and have been out of the loop a little lately.
Grace to you, my friend. ((hug))
Oh, I’m so glad to see you, Brenda. Welcome. I’ve missed you. Yes, let’s give Him thanks.
If we ever needed to focus on gratitude and praise it would be right about now. Thanks, Betsy, for the needed recalibration this evening …
Oh yes, Linda. You are so right. 🙂 Let’s do this!
Betsy,
I’ve been doing the 7 Day Gratitude Challenge from Jennifer Dukes Lee’s “The Happiness Dare”. I’ve been writing down the 3 blessings each day that I am grateful for…just need to add in the word of praise and Yes!! I’m with you…I’ll keep it going through November. Keeping my eyes open to being awed by Him!!
Blessings,
Bev
I haven’t read The Happiness Dare, but it’s on my list Bev. I love Jennifer’s message.
A good word Betsy. I try to name 5 things I’m thankful for when I go to bed and first thing when I wake up. It gives me the right perspective on life and the Life Giver.
I’m with you, Christy! I want to do this too!
Thank you for sharing Psalm 65:8 and this beautiful post. Joining you today in thanking God for all of the wonders of this beautiful life!
Thanks for showing up here today, Lauren. I appreciate your reading my words.
What a great way to start and end every day Betsy! Joining you in this my friend. I’m ready to reconnect with wonder!
I’m having to remind myself of this every day, Kristine. Somehow I’m distracted this November. Maybe the elections??? 🙂
Such a good reminder to look around us for all the GOOD things, and there are plenty of them! “Life gets loud, and we miss its beauty for all the noise.” May I tune out more noise today to see more beauty. Thanks, Betsy.
Oh yes, me too, Lisa! I want to tune out that noise to see more beauty.
Love this reminder for my heart to slow down and give thanks to the One who created it all. Thank you, Betsy, for sharing your heart.
You’re welcome, Crystal. I need this message so much myself.
If I’m not careful I will let little things steal my joy and I have a feeling that the annoying alarm would’ve ruined my day :-). I’m glad you’re able to really stop and give thanks in spite of all of that.
Sending you hugs!
Thanks, Marva. I appreciate your reading today. Sending love and joy your way, friend.
Yes, Betsy, we tend to get caught up in the noise of life, don’t we? Giving us another reason to be purposeful to rest in Him. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.