It's birthday time! Cue the confetti, grab your paper hat, and let's celebrate!
Like many of you, I believe some annual milestones are worth noting ... and others deserve to be casually ignored or conveniently forgotten.
65 years? A real clunker, complete with a harsh, whiny post that begged to be re-titled 3 hours after it was published.
63 Years? A serendipitous LOVE fest.
60 Years {the new 30}? An enthusiastic ode to my 60+ year old friends who made aging look like a walk in the park.
What to do with #66?
The word gratitude quickly comes to the forefront. This mindset doesn't come naturally to many of us. It necessitates a distinct change of heart, a Christ-centered focus, and most certainly a moratorium on whining, self-pity, and grumbling.
So straight from my serendipitous ❤ to yours, here's 66 snippets of gratitude randomly gathered from six years of blog posts ... and a first come, first served 7 book giveaway.
I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak His praises.
{Psalm 34:1}
1. My inner gratitude list is long, and certainly flourishing far better than my sandy backyard garden.
2. An outpouring of gratitude for daily joys isn't just for the month of November.
3. Gratitude waits patiently, expectantly, hopefully, just waiting to be scooped up, claimed with joy, and celebrated!
4. It's no secret that I'm especially grateful for those who jump into the ongoing dialogues on a regular basis, complete with gusto, wisdom, and a hefty sense of humor.
5. I'm so grateful at the way the Lord orchestrated all the moving parts together again.
6. I am concerned, even as I'm so grateful for her strong commitment to Christ.
7. I'm smitten with gratitude for graces small and big indeed.
8. I'm beyond grateful that we're doing life together even from afar.
9. I've seen Him answer prayers in recent weeks in ways that have left me weeping in relief and gratitude.
10. Please know that I'm all kinds of grateful and inspired and encouraged by what's happening around here.
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11. So grateful to have you receive these little whispers in your inbox.
12. I am forever grateful, forever in awe at what God did during that span of time.
13. All is well. I'm so grateful.
14. And I'm grateful to be turning the corner and opening the door after a long, challenging, faith-stretching stint in God's waiting room.
15. Our souls overflow with gratitude, Lord.
16. Contentment has emerged as a lovely gift borne from the hours of reflection, morning devotional time invested with the Lord, a purposeful focus on naming and speaking gratitude day in and out.
17. I'm grateful for every minute of it all.
18. God, accept the praises that rise full and strong from hearts that overflow with a joyous gratitude.
19. And I've just gotta tell Him how deep and wide my love and gratitude flows.
20. I'm especially grateful for all those who took a bit of their valuable time to hang around and chat when you certainly could have been somewhere else.
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21. I couldn't be more delighted ... or grateful.
22. When we choose to tend to our souls, bodies, homes, and screens in ways that are winsome and life giving, we will be fortified with a spirit of peace, confidence, and gratitude as the day continues to evolve.
23. Breathe deep and smile with gratitude each step of the way.
24. His Word will take you back to that place where gratitude abounds, even in the midst of the ugliest or saddest of circumstances.
25. And for God's peaceful, steady presence, I'm grateful.
26. Gratitude waits patiently, expectantly, hopefully, just waiting to be scooped up, claimed with joy, and celebrated!
27. Ever and always, I overflow with gratitude and praise God for His faithful loving care.
28. And gratitude for our home, the haven that over time has become our space, our place.
29. These posts are all about noticing what's going on around us and capturing and claiming gratitude as we do so.
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30. This imperfect heart overflows with gratitude for childhood memories way back in the day ... and this, the here and now.
31. I want to offer you my simple but heartfelt gratitude for spreading the word that single women in the church don't have to feel isolated, and that together, we can join hearts and hands to spark a fire that can change the world for Christ, no matter what our marital status.
32. You hope that someday there'll be a Phase 2, but if that doesn't pan out, you'll still be overflowing with gratitude over what God's allowed you to accomplish.
33. I'm forever grateful. For there are no regrets.
34. He leads. We follow. Our souls overflow with unspeakable gratitude.
35. I breathe gratefulness that my body still works.
36. Who has time to indulge in endless self-absorption or obnoxious behaviors when you're on the lookout for ways to bless others with your gratitude?
37. And I am so very grateful for the community that God is growing and nurturing in this place.
38. Gratitude for prayer increases yet again.
39. There's always something to spark gratefulness, many occasions to breathe fragrant prayers of thanksgiving, and multiple reasons to count those blessings that are heaped up right and left, just begging to be embraced.
40. List 3 gratitudes each day.
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41. Even in this unsettling season, there are always things to be grateful for.
42. Keep a little gratitude journal.
43. I know you're joining me in heaving a deep sigh of mingled relief and gratitude that the season of the relentless nor'easters is over and done with.
44. We are overflowing with an abounding gratitude laced with peace-filled joy.
45. Mom's expression of simple gratitude has stayed with me as I've been puttering in our own home in recent days.
46. If ever we needed to speak gratitude it would be right about now.
47. As we journal through weird seasons we claim gratitude for all God is inviting us to in the midst of the unsteadiness.
48. How very good it is to rejoice in the dailyness of those simple grace moments that bring a smile, a tug of gratitude.
49. Being fully present to another soul requires 4 gratitude-fueled distinctives that have been cultivated over time.
50. I'm grateful for what God's doing as I head into yet another year of writing online.
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51. The craziness of life can kick off an onslaught of gratitude that we simply must speak outloud.
52. The exhausting decorating marathons are gone ... instead, a peaceful kind of gratitude holds center stage.
53. May abiding gratitude and endless praise be our by-words.
54. To say I'm grateful would be an understatement.
55. God honors our sacrifice of praise and propels us forward as we purposely cultivate gratitude in our minds and hearts ... and speak it out loud and often.
56. We are grateful for a place to lay our heads that's safe and warm.
57. Gratitude. Embracing it. Speaking it. Living it out. First in our own souls and then in conversations with whoever God brings on our paths.
58. My heart is filled with gratitude for you, wise and cherished readers.
59. We crawl out of our endless self-absorption and begin to glimpse new rays of hope, sweet whispers of life, opportunities to reach out, and answered prayers that await our grateful attention.
60. And I am forever grateful for Your never ending love and Jesus' sacrifice.
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61. We claim gratitude in the discoveries of 'whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy {Philippians 4:8}.
62. Perhaps joy, gratitude, and gentle memories flood your soul.
63. To say that I'm grateful for the gift of who God's shaped my husband to be would be a ridiculously vast understatement.
64. When someone gives us a gift, it usually brings us a gratitude-laced joy.
65. And for God's peaceful, steady presence, I'm grateful.
66. And the huge sense of relief and the deepest gratitude that's emerged from following Him repeatedly through the next open door outweighs the myriad of frustrations, disappointments, and sadness that have woven their way into this year.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
{Psalm 40:3}
Gratefully His & Gratefully Yours,
Linda
❤
THE 7 BOOK GIVEAWAY
Let's celebrate! Scroll down and select the book you want. Tell me your #1 choice and #2 choice in the comment section. Please be sure to leave your name, too.
Email readers - click on the title of the post & come over to the website to join the party.
First come, first served. Titles will be crossed out when I verify your request. Books are in almost like new condition. USA only, please.
Keep an eye on the comment section to find out the status of your request. Sorry - I am not able to track you down to notify you or ask for your mailing address! I must have your snail mail address within 48 hours or you forfeit your book.
linda stoll @ juno . com
CHOOSE A BOOK
Her Devotional:
5 Minutes a Day For Teens
Brighton Books
Daily Light
for Every Day
Anne Graham Lotz
Life-Changing Bible Verses
You Should Know
Erwin & Rebecca Lutzer
31 Days of Drawing Near to God:
Resting Securely in His Delight
Ruth Myers
The Passion of Jesus Christ
John Piper
The Power of the Cross
Charles Stanley
The Pursuit of God:
The Human Thirst For the Divine
A.W. Tozer
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thanks
Happy Birthday, Linda! What a beautiful way to remember your birthday. Love your snippets of gratitude. If it's not gone yet, I am drawn to 31 Days of Drawing Near to God: Resting Securely in His Delight. Love and blessings of peace and thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThanks for kicking off my little party, Trudy! The 31 Days book now has your name on it. 'Resting Securely' comes with trusting Him completely ...
DeleteI'm so grateful for that peace that passes understanding.
Life-Changing Bible Verses or The Power of the Cross.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda, for giving us all these gratitude gifts on your birthday. So meaningful, especially to me as I believe life must be left with bounteous gratitude. I turned 66 this year, too, so welcome to the club!
Blessings!
You've got the Life-Changing Bible Verses, Martha! I've heard Lutzer speak and he is excellent.
DeleteThanks for your welcome into the 'Club,' friend!
Hooray! Thank you, Linda, and Happy Birthday again!
DeleteDaily Light For Every Day or The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirsts for the Divine. You have such a sweet spirit surrounding your blog, so I have stuck around. :) Thank you for your generosity!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I don't know who you are!
Delete;-{
Ooops, this is Heidi Lara, in all of my excitement I forgot to add a name. :)
DeleteTrying again, I love giveaways!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI (Heidi) was the one who commented above for the Daily Light For Every Day or The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirsts for the Divine. Sorry for all of my confusion!!!
DeleteYay, you came back!!!!
DeleteSo glad!!!!
The Daily Light Book is yours, Heidi. Please email me your mailing address
linda stoll @ juno . com
Happy Happy Birthday, Linda!! What a wonderful way to celebrate and live in gratitude for God's love and care! May you be abundantly blessed in the year ahead - - and thank you for the ways you bless us (me!). Much love!
ReplyDeleteAnd you bless me, too, friend ... for all of 55 years or so!
Delete;-}
Happy birthday! Mine was last weekend--had a lovely time with all the family here. Hope you have (had?) a great day!
ReplyDeleteSo glad your special day was lovely, Barbara ... same here ... but 97 degrees out!
DeleteHappy birthday, Linda. I love your list of gratitudes dear one!
ReplyDeleteThanks, sweetie!
DeleteHappy, happy birthday, sweet friend! SO thankful for all God has brought you through and done in your life and how that beautiful grace flows out to us here in this place! You are a Divine gift to us all, and you are so very loved and appreciated! If it is not taken, "The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst For the Divine" would be my first choice. And second choice is "The Power of the Cross." You are so generous and kind and I pray that goodness comes back to you in countless ways on this your 66th Birthday!
ReplyDeleteYou got Tozer, friend. What a classic!
DeleteHappy birthday. Charles Stanley would be my pick.
ReplyDeleteYou got it, friend!
DeleteI'm happy you're here on this boiling hot afternoon!
Please be sure to email me your home address ...
Happy Birthday to you! Hope you're having a great one, Linda!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe we're 66!
Not sure if I'd told you about the book trilogy by Richard Paul Evans. Believe it is called, "The Broken Road, etc.".about a guy going through a life crisis, and deciding to walk most of route 66 back to his ex-wife. Hence, the thought of route 66 and our "number" this birthday!
Well, have a wonderful day, and blessed year!
* via email *
That sounds like an incredible read ... I love when you send book recommendations this way!
DeleteI'm with you, I can't believe we're 66. Time is galloping ahead by the minute. Trying to live it well ... and I know you are, too.
Happy birthday! I won't enter giveaway but the books look like excellent reads. I have the The Pursuit of God as a paperback and my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteHey, welcome back, Regina ... it's good to see you again!
DeleteHappy birthday and what a clever enjoyable way to celebrate! I loved this post
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean!
DeleteHappy Birthday, and thank you for the reminder to be grateful. It is so hard these days with everything going on in the world.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Amy! It's too easy to head in the opposite direction.
DeleteI'm glad you're here ...
Happy Birthday, Linda! What a wonderful way to start it with with as many gratitude's as the years God has given you on earth!
ReplyDeleteHe has blessed us all with so much. Those little gifts sometimes seem to be hidden, but He is there, rejoicing in our thankful hearts ...
DeleteA very happy birthday Linda! 🎂 What a blessed reminder for me!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely to see you, Dee!
DeleteI love every single one of your gratitudes! Happy Birthday, Linda. Maybe a few days late, but no less heartfelt!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, thanks! 66 sure beats 65 for a whole lot of reasons ...
DeleteWe share a birthday month. My birthday is August 31, 1948. Gratitude, the word alone, is a reminder on my granddaughter, Grace’s, phone, and I am sure she would like the 5 minute devotional book if it is still available. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGrace has it! Please have her send me her mailing address!
DeleteI hope she loves this little spiritual companion ... it's a great little book.
So it’s your birthday? Happy day, my friend! I hope your celebration continues throughout the year.
ReplyDelete* via email *
Thank you, friend ... you've always been so kind to me!
DeleteToday I made it through my late husband's birthday pretty well. In my quiet time this a.m. I decided to dwell on gratitude. So many good things God did using him. Made a list of some of the things about him for which I can be thankful.
ReplyDelete* via email
Thank you for sharing how the Lord walked with you through your husband's birthday. He truly was a wonderful godly man.
DeleteBless you, friend.
xo
Happy birthday, dear Linda! What a wonderful way to celebrate … and what a beautiful testament to one of the underlying themes of your blog. Thank you for always pointing us to gratitude, my friend. Even in a world where so much seems to be going wrong, there is still so much to be thankful for … including you and your writing!
ReplyDeleteI need to be reminded day in and day out that God's mercies are new every morning and that there's ALWAYS something to be thankful for.
DeleteHappy birthday Linda. I enjoy your blog post so much. You always have a way of bringing sunshine to a most dreary day. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of sunshine, that'd be you, my southern friend!!!
Delete;-}
I'm grateful for the sunshine
Deletethat comes down from the sky so blue,
and more than grateful for the time
that I've spent here with you.
I'm grateful for your Christian heart,
and for your honest words
that have played no small part
in turning my soul towards
the Christ who waits with open arms
for the worst of sinners,
saves them from their self-made harms
and turns them into winners.
Thanks to you, dear Linda, Stoll
for the help you gave to save my soul.
All praise to Jesus only!
DeleteWe are meant to be His representatives on Earth, and in that, my friend, you have done a superb job.
DeleteThank you.
DeleteJoining the gratitude party late, but wanted to participate anyway--even if the books are gone. (My shelves are thankful!) Especially loved #48, Linda: "How very good it is to rejoice in the dailyness of those simple grace moments that bring a smile, a tug of gratitude." Praise God for being with us, for revealing himself, even in the simple grace moments.
ReplyDeleteThere's 1 book left as we chat right now.
Delete;-}
And all I say is 'amen' to your last line, Nancy ... this praise only gets sweeter as time marches on.
Happy Belated Birthday, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThis is the second birthday age gratitude that I've seen this month. Love it!
What better time to give thanks than on our birthdays?! God is so good.
Delete;-}
Happy Happy Birthday, Linda!! What a wonderful way to celebrate and live in gratitude for God's love and care!
ReplyDeleteAzka, thanks! And welcome ...
Delete"35. I breathe gratefulness that my body still works."
ReplyDeleteI claim that one too. I'm often way too harsh in how I talk about my body, but I should be grateful to her (and God) and that she still works as well as she does. :)
Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Linda! Love you much!
You're so right, Lisa. Harshness does us no favors, but gratefulness gives us a healthy perspective ...
DeleteHappy, Happy Birthday Linda! What a lovely way to celebrate: sharing of yourself with others. The gratitudes were such a blessing to me!!
ReplyDeleteThat something here blessed you encourages my heart. Thank you, Donna ...
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