Celebrating my jubilee year...

So, I'm turning 50 this month...November 21st to be exact.

I'm embracing it.

No, really! I am totally embracing this, my 50th year on this planet.

To celebrate, I plan on doing 50 random, yet intentional, things for others between now and my birthday. (I originally wanted to do 50 things on my 50th birthday, but logistics and travel plans got the best of me!) So, for the next three weeks, I'm keeping track, being intentional in acts of kindness.

I've been inspired by the concept of "jubilee." In the Old Testament, every 50th year was consecrated as a "jubilee year." The 50th year was one of liberty, remission, respite - of returning things (in those days, land) to the original owners. (Leviticus 25)

I want to celebrate my liberty and abundant blessings by returning them to my Rightful Owner -- by passing on the gift and blessing others. I want to claim the promise God made to Abraham - "I will bless you...and you will be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2)

So, I'm launching into this jubilee with some ideas for little ways I can be a gift - to those I love and those I just happen upon...

Here are a few already in the works:

-- I ordered a pair of super-cute Toms for my daughter and daughter-in-law...I figure this counts as four things, because the two girls are getting gifts and two little children in need of shoes are also getting some! (Full disclosure: I actually ordered a pair for me, too. Hey, it is my birthday month!)

-- Sending a gift to another young friend who just returned from Afghanistan. No, really, thank YOU!

-- Ordering flowers for my mom to be delivered on my birthday. (This is already a tradition of ours - inspired by Wayne Watson.) This year, for my 50th, I figure I'll send my dad something too. Probably something along the lines of a Sonic gift card, because that's how HE rolls!

-- Donating a book to our church library. (A copy of 1000 Gifts - which we're currently studying!) This book also has inspired me to count gifts...and to become a gift:

"Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives and God will simply not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for: Joy in Him." -- Ann Voskamp

-- I have plans to write a few heartfelt notes to some random wonderful folks who have impacted my life in ways small and large...

-- We'll be taking a college student to supper this week (Hi, Norm!)

-- And supporting a couple of young missionaries planning international trips.

There are more plans in the works - plans involving cookies, homemade bread, flowers, meals, smiles and children and goodness!

You're invited to this jubilee - a month-long celebration of love, joy, faithfulness, blessing and hope for the future...(you don't have to wait until you're 50 to join!)