Eucharisteo-A New Word

If you spend much time out here in the blogosphere, I am sure you have heard all of the buzz about Ann Voskamp's new book One Thousand Gifts. (learn more about a book club here)  Well the buzz is all worth it, because it is ah-maze-ing.

But what I want to focus on today is a profound truth that I found for myself on page 15.  I want to quote it for you here so you can get the full focus of all that is hidden within this gem:

"From all of our beginnings, we keep reliving the Garden Story.  Satan, he wanted more,  More power, more glory.  Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate.  And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden.  Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity:

  the sin of ingratitude.  

Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave.  Isn't that the catalyst of all my sins?  Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives.  We hunger for something more, something other."

I have struggled my entire life with always wanting "more".  This especially creates a problem when your income is limited, as I have lived, credit card debt can quickly get you into trouble.  I have never lived extravagantly, by any means, but the point is that I always wanted more than what God had already provided.

And He has provided me with more than I can count.  I've never been homeless.  I've never gone without anything that I need.  But I have lived the sin of ingratitude.  I am giddy.  Not because I am happy about my sin, but excited that I finally have the answer to my lifelong question of "why".  Why do I always want to go shopping?  Why do I buy things that I really don't need?  Why do I have the desire to canvas every garage sale and book sale?  My house is full, I need nothing, but yet I purchase more.

Yet as I buy more, I am never satisfied.  I can always find something else that I feel I need.  I have such relief in being able to identify this sickness.  It is as if I am a bottomless pit that can never be full.  That is the emptiness that Satan created when Eve reached out to take something that was not hers.  The one thing that God was not willing to give, surrounded by everything she could have possibly dreamed or imagined.  She was in paradise, but wanted more.

Does this sound like your life?  I hope that I am not the only one that will be touched so deeply by this message.  I have felt such a heavy weight off my shoulders this week as I have pondered this miraculous truth in my life.

Now that I have a greater realization of my battle, I can choose my weapons more carefully.  I can cut Satan off when he tempts me with the Sunday ads.  I can praise more deeply for all the gifts I have been given.  I can turn my attention to praise instead of supplication.  I will renew my journal of counting 1000 Gifts.  I will praise God for his Word that reminds me everyday that He has a purpose for me, and that His eternal plan has always been to return every believer to His full glory.

I implore you to read this book.  It will change you.  God will change you.

1. God's message through gifted writers
2. God's unfailing love
3. forgiveness through Jesus Christ
4. my Bible
5. sunshine

I'm contributing over at The ModSquad Blog today. We're talking about family unity.