“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 NIV)
Last week I posted the 1000th post to this blog I started in 2009. [Please, don’t go back to read all of them! My writing has definitely evolved – and, hopefully improved!!]. That got me thinking about what 1000 means.
In a millennium of 1000 years there are 10 centuries of 100 years each.
In three years there are about 1000 days.
Depending on how long your fence needs to be, you may use 1000 posts.
One thousand is 10x10x10. There were ten commandments, ten plagues, ten generations Adam to Noah and Noah to Abram, ten “I Am” statements Jesus made in book of John, a parable of ten virgins, a parable of ten talents, etc. The number “10” means God’s completeness, authority, order, and divine protection.* I have only written consistently for the last two years or so, and I don’t think that reaching 1000 posts necessarily means I have authority, order, or divine protection — or that the purpose of the blog is complete and finished.
Yet, 1000 posts is something of a milestone – a minor celebration, if you like. Some celebrations in life are huge – like 50th anniversaries, babies born, graduations, job promotions, etc. Yet, some celebrations – some milestones seem less important but I think are still worth celebrating. Toddler finishes potty training? Time to celebrate! Third grader finishes memorizing the times tables? Time to celebrate! High schooler brings a bad grade up substantially? Time to celebrate! Someone else washes, folds, and puts away the laundry? BIG celebration! In the grand scheme of things, 1000 blog posts may not be so interesting. Yet I believe God is interested in the “little things” of life and wants to celebrate those “little things” with us.
Let’s take time today to celebrate those little things – with hearts of gratitude.
God,
Thank you for your completeness, authority, order, and perfection. We thank you for the ways in which you are moving and working in our lives. Thank you for enough money and other resources for our food. Thank you for safe transportation as we go about our days today. Thank you for our automatic breathing, the rotation of the earth through its seasons, and the orbit of our planet around the sun. There are so many things we can ignore as “normal,” when they are also gifts and graces from you. Thank you that, in Christ, you will carry on to completion the good work you have begun in us. Holy Spirit, give us awareness of what you are doing, give us humble hearts to recognize you as the Giver of All Good Gifts, and give us spirits that are grateful for Who you are and what you have done for us. We ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIV)
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 NIV)
h/t *http://www.steppesoffaith.com/apologetics/meaning-number-10-bible