Today was enchantingly marvelous! My soul sister, and absolute kindred spirit Andi brought her nine year old grand Bella over.  Tears flowing, we binged on “Anne with an E”, and indulged ourselves with ice cream.  Our individual imaginations were keenly bright as our hearts and minds were wonderfully bathed with the newest version of Anne of Green Gables.  Sensitive to the Spirit, our eyes welling, we embraced the freckly faced actress who gushed the wordy, colorful visions.  Both Andi and I hold dear the words that Anne used to adequately describe the glorious moments of her soul’s response to God’s creation. This orphan reminds us all to search our hearts and to forever  seek the best of words THANKS to speak.  We were arrested by the story of this unwanted and abused orphan who was finally welcomed into a family. The wonder of God so captured this uneducated girl that she overflowed with gratitude for every bloom, tree, and droplet of water.  The wonders of God purposefully mesmerize and should fill us with awe in every breath.  Daily we breathe in more than 11,000 liters of God given air, and each evening millions of stars blaze and yet we hesitate to gasp in glory !  Listening to this girl’s glee filled bluster of praise for the tiniest confrontation with a rosebud – awakened me to the grandeur that ever hopes to pierce my ho-hum soul. Thanksgiving envelops us in grace and joy.  Who does not long to capture and hold onto that seemingly slippery and elusive three letter word “JOY”?  A wise person proclaimed “Without exception…all try their hardest to reach the same goal, and that is, joy.”  The quest for ‘more’ is all about obtaining JOY and keeping it.  Many struggle to reach, seize and squeeze the most joy we can.  What Anne seemed to understand is that deep joy lasts as she was determined to declare thanksgiving in all things, good, bad or indifferent. Her joy spilled out during her outbursts of thanks!  “As long as thanks is possible, then joy is possible!”

Andi Cook joined Jesus Nov 2, 2017

Like Anne, all of us are on a quest, in a unique physical buggy, with either red, brown, blonde, or grey hairs!  The holy grail of joy is NOT in some exotic location.  It is right here, in every single hurtful, messy, and glorious moment.  As we inhale oxygen, let us exhale with thanks and experience His abiding joy!   One day our Father will take us home, to a place that also cannot be improved upon by our imagination!  “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.” Revelation 4:1-4  — Andi, Bella and Barb joyfully worshiped our faithful Father today as we celebrated LIFE. Astounded and ambushed by the glory of God.