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Weird title alert: what do an insect, a condiment, and something by definition considered an inconvenience have to do with each other? And how did they come together to form a book title? It would be better for Daphne Tarango to explain that—as she does well in the introduction to her book. Suffice it to say she has found that each of them adds uniquely to her life and, more importantly, she has remembered to thank God for them. Not just in a whispered thank you as she falls asleep but in a committed several-times-daily journaling that helps her not to forget what God has done for her.
Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls is a thankfulness journal in which Daphne both records her gratitude to God and teaches you how to do it. She gives you inspiration, paper, and space to record your gratitude several times a day. And she adds a Notes section to each of the 31 chapters to allow you to express some thoughts that are more prose than praise. At the end of each day’s Notes section she ends with a wonderful quote, such as: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” by John Piper. (I confess to borrowing some for my quotes list that I use in teaching adult Sunday School lessons.)
At the end of the book, Daphne supplies the reader with a list of all the Scriptures in the book. It’s a handy guide for times you’re not feeling all that thankful (don’t we all have those times?) and just need to read through them to prime the pump.
As you read her book, you’ll see that Daphne Tarango is a grateful person. Because she came out of an addictive background, she knows she has a lot to be grateful for and, in her blogging and public speaking, she shares what she has learned with those in various stages of recovery. I believe her thankfulness journal sprang from the knowledge of what God has saved her from—and how He wants her to respond. She also knows what He has saved her to. I admire her tremendously because she and her husband Luis adopted three young children at the same time. Anyone who has raised children knows how difficult it is even when you know them from the womb and are genetically linked to them. (Then you recognize where they got some of those aggravating characteristics!) But remove those criteria and imagine what could arise. From her other writing, I know that Daphne handles those difficulties with honesty—and grace.
Reading Dragonflies, Ketchup, and Late-Night Phone Calls: 31 Days of Journaling God’s Blessings
in some places you may say to yourself, I’ve never felt like that or I wouldn’t say it that way. Good! Daphne is not giving you a liturgy to repeat but a jumping–off place to find your own praise voice. Her thoughts as she worships God are hers; what are yours? If you have difficulty expressing your feelings or finding the words to abundantly thank and praise God, I think you’ll find following Daphne’s pattern for journaling your thanks can be especially helpful.
January: Begin @ full strength in Christ
Anchoring Deep in God’s Word Schedule today, 01/14/14: Genesis 29-30 and Job 21.
Join hosts Page and Cindy on Facebook where we are discussing today’s reading. Everyone is invited to join by clicking the ‘Join Group’ button. We have 700+ women reading the Bible through in 2014! Join us and invite your friends too! We are using the Ownit35 whole Bible plan. Download the free app or print out the reading schedule to use with your Bible.
About Vicki Huffman
National award-winning journalist Vicki Huffman's latest book is Soon to Come: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a verse by verse exposition of the only purely prophetical book in the New Testament. Her other five books are: The Jesus Moses Knew: How to See Christ in the Old Testament; A Secret Hope (novel); Still Looking: Finding the Peace of God in Job Loss; Plus Living: Looking for Joy in All the Right Places, and The Best of Times. All are available in print and e-book on amazon.com. Vicki is a national award-winning author who has taught the Bible for many years. She was an editor for several Christian publishing houses, including Thomas Nelson and David C. Cook Ministries.
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