Looking back to 2013

On February 9, 2013 I sent this notice to 148 recipients of weekly devotionals like this one – devotionals that have, thanks be to God, been going out every Monday morning since. At that time I eagerly wrote:

“I’m so glad to finally be sending an email to you. I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile, but needed to learn how to use this MailChimp program which will allow me to write to a whole bunch of people at once. What a neat thing, to be able to share in this way! Please pray for me that the juices will keep running, that the desire to write will continue. It’s such a blessing to share with others what God is showing me.”

With today’s mailing we celebrate our fifth anniversary. When I started I didn’t think I would be writing weekly for this length of time. The ministry was started as an adjunct to Living Room, bringing encouragement to those who were not able to attend group meetings. Two years ago it became an independent ministry looked after by Marja Bergen. Today emails go out to 280 individuals a week.

So what did I write for my first Monday devotional? I wrote about a book by Ravi Zacharias, Recapture the Wonder: I think I sounded a bit younger on those days.

Zacharias talks about how “the awe-filled experience is more than just an illustration to me. It summarizes for me what life is intended to be – the thrill of wonder and the irresistible urge to share it.”

What exactly does “wonder” mean? What does it feel like? This is what I was trying to put my finger on as I read the book. Zacharias said, “Gratitude fills the heart when the gift has been understood, and wonder fills the soul when gratitude is expressed to the fullest.” There is no wonder without gratitude.

In the reading I’ve come to understand the wonderful feelings I’ve had when I studied the beauty of a bed of flowers and – as I did so – thanked God for them. At times I felt my heart dancing. That was wonder. I had thought it was only a sense of joy. But it was more that that…it was a sense of wonder about what God had created.

Wonder is getting lost in the amazement of something. Wrapped up in it. Thanking God for it.

And isn’t the most wonderful thing we can celebrate God’s forever love for us?

Dear Lord, thank you for the wonder of the love you have for us. For each and every one of us. Help us to be fully aware of it, to be thankful for it, and to feel the joy and wonder.

Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes. Psalm 17:7

Do you remember times when you were full of wonder? How could you bring back times like that?

Blessings to you all.
marja
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