Endings and Beginnings

It has now been a couple of days since we had our Thanksgiving celebration, and I woke up feeling less than thankful.  It was snowing.  And windy.  And cold.  Truth be told, it looked more like a January day than one at the end of November.  I'm just not ready for this, but like it or not, it's here!

Last night I sat in front of the computer for quite some time trying to come up with something to share regarding fruit of the Spirit showing in my life, and it seemed to be missing just like the nicer weather I'd been hoping for.  Call it the "post holiday doldrums" if you like, or perhaps it is anticipation of the changes forthcoming in our lives.

Having lived with bipolar over the years, I know change is never an easy thing for me.  Keeping things simple and predictable is always best.  Sometimes, however, God allows a few curves to see how good we are at handling them.  Such will be the case as our laid back life in small town Crosby gives way to new and exciting things in our State Capitol city of Bismarck.

Although I will continue to blog, I am going to let up on my commitment to do so every day.  Instead, I will write when time and circumstances allow and pray you will all seek to find God amidst the busyness of the Christmas season.  After all, as someone aptly said, "Without Christ there wouldn't be a Christmas!"

Tomorrow marks the first day of Advent, a season  observed by many Christian churches as a time of reflection in preparation for the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  May you find peace in the midst of the holiday rush and always remember it is Jesus who truly is the "reason for the season".

Thanksgiving Reflections

T - Thankfulness in abundance
H - Houses filled with family and friends
A - Attitudes adjusted to reflect on being thankful
N - Never ending supply of food
K - Kitchens filled with wonderful aromas
S - Songs of thankfulness sung
G - Great memories of Thanksgiving's past
 I -  Important time with those you love
V - Valuing special people [This includes you!]
 I - Impossible to count reasons to be thankful
N - Naps in the afternoon
G - Good pie for dessert

D - Directing our thanks to God
A - Ample leftovers for the next meal
Y - Young and old gathered together

 

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name."

~Psalm 100:4

Words of Wisdom

It is Wednesday, and time to find some wisdom to share.  Turning to my husband, I asked him, "What kind of wisdom can you think of for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving?"  His reply was two simple words, "Be happy."  Then he quoted the second half of a verse found in Philippians 4:

 

". . .for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,

therein to be content."

~Philippians 4:11b

 

It is easy to be happy and content when life has been good to you.  We certainly have many blessings to count and much to be thankful for.  But what about those who find themselves in a less fortunate state, then what?

 

The word "whatsoever" is a more formal version of the word "whatever".  It is a word used to say, "no matter what".  It covers a lot of territory, both good and bad.  When Paul wrote this passage, he went on to clarify his position:

 

"I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content 

in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want."

~Philippians 4:12

 

This chapter is one in which Paul asks his readers to rejoice in the Lord, not just on Sundays, but always.  He asks them to let their gentleness be evident, and also tells them not to be anxious.  He assures the promise of God's peace when requests are presented to God, with thanksgiving, by prayer and petition.

 

Another portion of the chapter encourages the proper kind of thinking needed to maintain this peace:

 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things"

~Philippians 4:8

 

There will certainly be times when the circumstances of life cause us to question this philosophy of being content, joyful and focused on positive things.  It is then we must remember Paul's secret:

 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

~Philippians 4:13 

 

Suddenly, I'm finding myself very thankful for a husband who does his best to follow the advice of a man named Paul!

 

 

  



Preparations Begin!

This morning we woke up to snow, and it continued much of the day.  It was heavy, wet and things were slippery underneath, causing my plans for the day to change.  A trip to Williston to see my oldest grandson in a Thanksgiving play was cancelled.  So was our usual Tuesday afternoon singing session for the assisted living center and nursing home.  This is how things work in North Dakota once winter rolls around.  No plans are set in stone.  It certainly keeps us flexible.

Suddenly I was faced with an entire afternoon of free time.  Looking around the house, it wasn't hard to figure out what should be done.  By the time four o'clock rolled around, it felt good to have the dusting and vacuuming done.  We won't be entertaining for Thanksgiving, but it felt good to spruce up the house anyway.

With our recent trips to Bismarck, some of the Christmas shopping had been accomplished.  Trying to make a path for the vacuum cleaner, I realized having the items stacked in the corner of the dining room was not the best plan.  So it was, for the first time ever, there are four Christmas presents wrapped and ready to be placed under the tree prior to the first day of December.  This is unheard of in my world.  Most years, I end up doing a marathon wrapping day the week of Christmas.  We'll see if the trend continues!

Preparations are a necessary thing as we move into the holiday season.  Whether it be housework, special baking or getting to the bottom of the gift list, it all takes time.  Already the calendar is filling up with programs and parties to attend.  Last night I found myself wondering if once again the month of December would pass by in a whirl.

Sunday will be the start of the Advent season, a time set aside in the church calendar to prepare ourselves for celebrating the birth of Jesus.  While we are busy getting our homes ready for the holidays, the tradition of advent helps us prepare our hearts and turn our focus to the true reason for the season. 

Isaiah told of one making preparations.  Listen closely to the holiday music and you might just hear the words sung as part of Handel's Messiah.

"A voice of one calling:

In the desert prepare the way for the Lord;

make straight in the wilderness

a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and all mankind together will see it.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

~Isaiah 40:3-5



    

Home Away From Home

It isn't often we make the trip to Bismarck and back in one day.  Today, however, with a 2:30pm doctor appointment scheduled, it seemed like the best option.  It makes me very thankful for a husband who doesn't mind driving.

The trip also provided us with the opportunity to pick up keys for our new place of residence come January.  For the second time I was able to look the place over, and confirmed my suspicions God had a hand in lining it up for us.

Just inside the front door sits a piano.  A glance to the living room area reveals a sofa and chair in the same blue fabric as my favorite comfy recliner.  Revisiting the main bedroom confirmed my memory of a bed which looks very similar to the one we've had since early in our marriage.  God seemed to go out of His way to make me feel right at home in this new "home away from home" we will be using during the 2015 North Dakota Legislative Session.

There were even a couple of perks. . .things not in my own home which brought a smile of approval.  The second smaller bedroom was set up with a roll top desk and an entire wall of bookshelves.  Glancing through the titles, it appeared there would be several which could captivate my attention during the hours my husband would be busy at the State Capitol, along with songbooks to use in conjunction with the piano.

Some folks might say it is all merely a coincidence, but I'm one who doesn't believe in them.  The proper word in my vocabulary would be "God-incidence".  According to one of my favorite passages in Acts 17, there was a point when God determined the times set for each of us and the exact places we would live, our "bounds of habitation" if you check the Kings James Version. 

What does that mean for me?  It means God cared enough to place a woman in a condominium who would have very similar tastes to mine.  He then arranged to have her relocate to Arizona over the winter months in 2015, to free up her space for us to fill.  I can almost sense His smile in arranging the little details, knowing how much they would mean to me!

There is also an important thing for me to remember.  In this same passage, God gave His reason for giving each of us a special time and place in history:

"God did this so that [wo]men would seek Him

and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him,

though He is not far from each one of us."

~Acts 17:27

 

It is with joy and gratitude I look forward to seeking Him from a new perspective.  What a blessing to know He is already there!

 



SUNDAY SONG - "Thanks to God"

Our community has an ecumenical church service on Thanksgiving Day.  For me, it is always a blessing, partly because it is held in the church of my growing up years.  Mostly I like it because God's people have a chance to gather as one, as it should be.

 

 

Our pastor has asked me to sing a special number during the service, and I have been mulling over which song to do.  Tonight I think I have decided on an old one from our hymn book, "Thanks to God".  It seems Thanksgiving season is not complete without it, because years ago it was a given it would be sung by Bert's Uncle Vernor in his deep bass voice. 

 

Besides the three verses from the hymn book, he would also do a verse (or maybe more?) in Swedish.  I won't be doing any Swedish, but will think of him as I sing!  We do have so very much to be thankful for, and this song covers a lot: 

 

 

   Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

 

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace the none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

      

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav'nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks thru all eternity!

 



Saturday Seeking - "You've Got Mail!!"

It is always fun to get a letter in the mail.  Make it an unexpected one from your oldest grandson and it's even more special!  Such was the case this week when his letter arrived in our post office box.  They had studied letter writing in their English class, and for an assignment chose someone to write to.  What a blessing it was to be the recipient!

In the letter he told about a recent gathering of his cousins and the fun they had putting on a play for their family.  It reminded me of long ago when I was young and together with cousins.  We were always coming up with some kind of production to entertain, only judging from the contents of my letter, they do a far better job.

Tonight I spent some time preparing personal messages for each of my grandchildren.  They will get sent in the mail on Monday, and hopefully each of them will enjoy their mail.  It made me sad to think we just don't do enough handwritten personal notes in this age of technology. 

They say God doesn't have any grandchildren to contact.  Each of us must be "born again" into a new and personal relationship with Him, making us His children.  Tonight I'm thankful for the very special "love letter" He has addressed to each one of us, compiled throughout the books of the Bible.  Some of my favorite verses about God's Word are found in Psalm 119:

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart

that I might not sin against you"

~Psalm 119:11

 

"Your Word, O Lord, is eternal;

it stands firm in the heavens."

~Psalm 119:89

 

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path."

~Psalm 119:105

 

"The entrance of Your Words gives light;

it gives understanding to the simple."

~Psalm 119:130

 

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, think about who you might bless with a personal, handwritten note.  Also, take time to glean from God's Word and thank Him for orchestrating its message and preserving it over time.