Sunday, May 4, 2014

A Merry Heart

It was fifteen days of embracing a merry heart.
Fifteen days of realizing blessings.
Fifteen days of counting blessings.
Fifteen days of unexpected joy.

When Michelle at She Looketh Well invited me to join in her #merryheartchallenge,
my mind replied, "Definitely."
heart whispered, "Oh yes."
My soul sang, "Yes!"


 So, each day we all focused on this verse:

Proverbs 15:15. 
“All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad (merry) heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].”

Michelle shared her reasons for starting this challenge:  "It really is true, when our hearts are merry, glad and light, we have a continual feast, regardless of the circumstances. I don’t know that choosing a merry heart will change my circumstances, but it will change me, and how I see and handle the circumstances."

God was waiting to change me.
I was ready for change. 



Of course, God's plans were always always better than the ones I had made.
But as my heart searched continually for happy things, merry things, things that made me or someone else smile...
praise and gratitude overflowed from my soul.

Here are only a few of the MANY blessings he poured into my life during this merry journey.


Cherished time spent with my parents...




sunshine filling the back yard and turning the grass green...




seeing tiny green buds on the trees...




relishing some springtime sunshine...




finding my favorite 'Rosita vendela' roses at the store...




cleaning and simplifying the studio...




spending time with my little girl...





running for 30 minutes non-stop on my treadmill four times a week...




setting out spring decor on the front porch...




finding some charming vintage treasures at the first antique market of the season...




and spending time sitting quietly...and listening.






When I thought of everything He's done for me,
 all of the God-struck moments I've experienced...
I felt very overwhelmed.
Very blessed.
Very grateful.

A quote swept through my mind ~

"What if you woke up today with only the things that you thanked God for yesterday?"


"And it was in this attitude of gratitude that she could feel the grace of it:
Yesterday …. was our Lord’s grace.
Tomorrow…. is our Lord willing.
Today…. is our Lord’s gift —
which is why everyone, everywhere, calls right now the present."
 - Ann Voskamp



A merry heart.
A grateful soul.
Stringing every blessing together and lifting them high.


Google image

Thank you, Lord.



~  Eucharisteo  ~



♥ Thank you, Michelle, for inviting me on this sweet, merry journey. ♥


Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar.






33 comments:

  1. Oh sweetie... what a beautiful challenge!... I would have loved to join in on that too... "a merry heart"... a "continual feast"... I am going to focus on these words totally and do my own challenge!... your photos tell so much... I know how you cherish your time spent with your precious parents... and your little Maizie girl... the morning sun shining in your home is gorgeous and so are your roses and statice... do you dry your statice?... I always grow that and love to dry it... after reading your post, I too have a "merry heart" right this minute!... so many beautiful things in this world to be thankful for... and let go of any negativity, wherever it comes from... love the photo stringing blessings together!... and you are certainly one of my blessings... love you, xoxo Julie Marie

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  2. Beautiful! Such a pleasure to be on this journey with you!! I love you, sister!!

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  3. Beautiful! Such a pleasure to be on this journey with you!! I love you, sister!!

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  4. Such beautiful Words ! Very inspiring to Me to be more Grateful for my Blessings that go unnoticed day to day.Always enjoy your Posts.

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  5. Thank you so much for this post...........thank you!

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  6. Lovely post! I would do well to do this challenge! Your photos are so pretty... Blessings to you.

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  7. Hi Laurie,
    A Merry heart indeed and God knows it well. Love the reminder of the grateful poetry of words that blessings are all around us, daily setting aside for us to take note of what God so graciously grants.
    This was a wonderful 15 days for you and blessed for the days ahead.

    I have to say that your photos of all you have been blessed with is beautifully inspiring. Love the soulfulness of your dinning table in its peaceful light. You my friend have been blessed with a husband who's fine hands create love, and the beauty in all he builds, your home is filling up with what you have been blessed with.

    Blessings

    Xx
    Dore

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  8. I've been trying to be more aware of doing this very same thing. I have been blessed in sooo many ways, I have much to be grateful for. Thank you for your beautiful words and pictures. A beautiful challenge.

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  9. Hi Laurie, What a beautiful post to celebrate the blessings from God and the gift received of a Merry Heart!! Love this and all your gorgeous pics. Your little girl looks like an angel sleeping. So precious.
    This was a lovely challenge. Thank you for sharing and touching my heart!
    Wishing you a grand week.
    XO Blessings

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  10. beautiful post and reminder, laurie:) life is full of blessings that go unnoticed too often:( enjoy your blessings:)

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  11. Laurie,
    I always, ALWAYS welcome reading a new post written in your poetic words that comes straight from the heart. Your merry heart that understands God's blessings and has gifted you with grace and love.
    Enjoy a soulfully joyful week.
    XO,
    Vera

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  12. Beautiful post thanks for sharing this!!! Oh and the view outside that window .....................wow

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  13. beautiful commentary along with lovely styling and photography. surely this makes Him glad.

    keep keeping it merry.

    michele

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  14. Amen !! what a great post love from me...Ria...x !

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  15. Very beautiful post! I took Ann Voskamp's bible study on Eucharisteo. It was quite enlightening and deep!

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  16. Beautiful post, Laurie! It's so true, gratitude and truly looking for things to praise Him for changes the way we feel about/see our circumstances. Thank you for putting it into such lovely words and encouraging others to share in the blessing!

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  17. I love this Laurie! What a beautiful post. A merry heart does good like medicine...not an exact quote, but that verse rings true. Blessings to you my friend!
    Hugs, Deborah

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  18. Beautiful post Laurie! That photo of your sweet mama is so lovely.

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  19. Beautiful photos and heart! My parents are gone and I miss them so much! Hug them often:)

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  20. I have to admit Laurie, at the beginning of your post made ​​me want to cry.....My mother died when I was almost 23 years old , is a blessing to have your family together ......... Beautiful post - heart and love !!!!
    Hugs sweeet friend!xoxo
    Vicky

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  21. A heart-filling post full of inspiration. One of my favorite photos on your blog is the one of your parents. Have a merry heart.

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  22. Your pictures are beautiful. They seem to take me to time's past, where life is a little slower, and a little more beautiful. Thank you! The one of your parents just warmed my heart. I love the name and premise of your site! thank you again!

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  23. Lovely composition of pictures.
    Happy ODW!

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  24. Just beautiful! Your photos, your words and especially YOU are so inspiring for us, my friend! Hugs to you, xx

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  25. Laurie,
    Thank you for sharing your journey with us!!!
    In my devotional time, I have switched my routine. . .
    Now instead of coming to the Lord with my Prayer Warrior Request,
    I first begin with Praise for who He is. . .and for His presence in my life.
    This "little" change in approach to my prayers has made all the difference in the world!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  26. Made my heart merry to read this post! Lovely pictures and inspiring reflection. Thank you. Linda @ bushelandapickle.com

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  27. So beautiful and inspiring. These are the things that we should fix our mind and hearts on.
    Our God is awesome and we glory in giving Him the praise. Thank you so much for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Patti

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  28. Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the features at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here's the link to the party. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2014/05/make-it-pretty-monday-week-100.html Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  29. I love this post, Laurie! Very inspiring words and treasured photos!! I'll be featuring you this week at Simple & Sweet Fridays. Thank you so much for sharing!
    Hugs,
    Jody

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  30. This is so grue, especially when the joy and peace comes from God - beautiful post! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  31. Just beautiful Laurie! Your parents picture is so sweet.
    Sherry

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  32. This has touched me, how you were so touched, and I am feeling gratitude now for alot, including a waterproof house and the beauty I have in it, to be home when I want to, baby sitting a dog who loves to play....my kitchen and everything in it, my bedroom and all in it too.....everything.....the Heart is the Place I Love to Live From.
    But Laurie, you have a way with words....you should also be the one writing in your own beautiful, fabric bound beaded and pressed flowers,feathers and leaves embellished Book of Laurie Love. :D

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  33. Your post touched me, after a very difficult last year I am every day feeling gratitude, and another change, another day, another new awakening moment. You have such a way with words, I struggle so with this, and your home is ever so very lovely. Thanks for sharing at Sunday's best, hope to see your creativeness at Sunday's Best tomorrow.

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Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie