A White Thanksgiving?

I'm dreaming of a white Thanksgiving......

Said no one ever! That's not how the song goes.

It's snowing this morning.  And the weatherman says it will snow tomorrow as well.  So it seems we will be having a white Thanksgiving.

That's not exactly what I had in mind.  In fact, this snow has the potential to interfere with my Thanksgiving plans.  Depending on how much snow we have, we may or may not be able to drive down to Spartanburg tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner with friends.  And that means I may or may not have to rustle up a Thanksgiving dinner for two from whatever I can find in the pantry and freezer.

In the words of Robert Burns, "the best laid plans go oft awry."

Well, what he actually wrote, in his poem To a Mouse, was "the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley, an' lea'e us nought but grief and pain....."

 

But since your Gaelic is likely no better than mine, we'll just stick with the English.  The best laid plans of mice and men do oft go awry.  Certainly it seems that our well-laid plans for Thanksgiving may be in jeopardy.

 

And that just proves, once again, that we're not in charge.  We're not in control of the weather.  Or of anything else, for that matter!

 

God is in control.  Of the weather.  And of everything else.  God is God.  And I am not.

 

And for that truth, on this Thanksgiving Eve, I am thankful. 

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

How Does Your Garden Grow?

In this season of thanksgiving, I have so very many things for which I am thankful.  My family.  My friends.  My church.

I could also list the beautiful view out my window and hot coffee and a warm fire.  And I could add that the coffee was made for me by my non-coffee-drinking husband!

My list would be quite long if I were to write out all the reasons I have for giving thanks, not just in this season, but all the year long.

One of the things I'm most thankful for and excited about this year is the publication of my book.  Much time and study and prayer went into this little book over the past year, and to see this labor of love come to completion is a cause for thanksgiving and for celebration.

Seeing the finished product, holding it in my hands, and knowing that it is getting into the hands of others is humbling and gratifying and brings me great joy!

Earlier this year, as I began studying John 15:16 ("You did not  choose Me but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain."), I had no idea what shape the finished product of my study would take.

And now that I have the book in my hand, I'm so grateful.  Grateful for the process and all I learned along the way.  Grateful for the time I was able to devote to study and for the lessons learned as I dug into the Word of God.  Grateful to be holding this book in my hands.  And hopeful that others will be blessed as they read and study, using this little book as their guide.

As we're ending up one year and anticipating the next, perhaps you're looking for a resource to use during your quiet time.  Or a study guide for your small group or to use as you study with a neighbor.  Or perhaps you're looking for a gift for a friend, a relative, or a neighbor.

Might I humbly suggest you consider "How Does Your Garden Grow?"


It's available in paperback or for Kindle at www.amazon.com.








At this special season of the year, as I'm listing out my thanksgivings, I always include those of you who read these posts.  I'm thankful for you and honored that you spend a few minutes of your day reading my musings.

I pray for you often, and today I'm especially praying that your Thanksgiving will be very special indeed! 

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the world!

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all."  (Philippians 1:3-4 NASB)

It's Thanksgiving Week!

Just a few days until we celebrate Thanksgiving!   If you have been in a mall or watched TV lately, you might not realize that.  It seems Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday.  Retailers have skipped right on to Christmas. I love Christmas, but I find it incredibly sad that we just skip over Thanksgiving.  That Thanksgiving is more about Black Friday sales than about family gatherings.  That it's  more about football and food than about pausing to be thankful.  I love food and football and saving a little money, but that really isn't the point, is it?

Over on Facebook the annual tradition continues, and many people are posting daily reasons they are thankful.    It has been an interesting read......people are thankful for all sorts of things.  Good health.  Good coffee.  Salvation.  Freedom. Family.

As I have been reading the "thankful for" posts, I have made an interesting observation.  The number of "complaining posts" has decreased!  We humans have a tendency to focus on the not-exactly-the-way-I-would-like-it-to-be, don't we?  I'm finding it interesting that as people are focusing on the things they have to be grateful for, they are less focused on the things they might like to grumble about.  It seems impossible to give thanks and complain at the same time!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do that all the time.....every day.....every season......not just for a few days in November??!!  If we would cultivate an attitude of gratitude every day!!

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"
(Psalm 107:1 ESV)

Lessons Learned in the Mall

My goal for yesterday was to finish my Christmas shopping.  Although I didn't completely accomplish that, I did spend a lot of time in the mall yesterday.  And in doing so, I learned a few things.

I learned that I'm not as young as I used to be.  There was a time when spending the entire day in the mall, walking from one end to another and carrying multiple packages, would have been no big deal.  That is no longer true.  After one pass, I was exhausted, my knees felt three times their normal size, and my feet ached beyond what I have words to describe.  All that explains why I do a lot more on-line shopping these days!

I learned that if I had to look at my unclothed self in a mirror every day, I would probably lose a lot of weight.  As I stood in the fitting room, surrounded by mirrors as I tried on the clothes I had selected, I realized that installing more mirrors throughout the house might be the solution to my weight problem!  Ugh!

I learned that social media is not just for the young.  As I was eating my lunch, three people sat down at the table next to me.  Three people who are much older than I.  The first thing these three ladies did after they were seated was pull out their I-phones and begin scrolling.  They said not a word to each other and continued to focus on the phones until the food arrived.  Only when the food was served did they put the phones away.

I learned that maybe my eyesight isn't as good as I think it is. I saw a young woman walking through the mall ahead of me.  I thought that she was one of those elves.  You know the ones.  The Santa-helpers who are there to see that children are photographed  with the mall Santa.  However, when I got a little closer to her, I realized she was not an elf at all.  She just had green hair!

The mall is a good place for people-watching.  There are all sorts of people there.  In all shapes and sizes and colors.  Young people and old people.  And those in between.  Some are thin and some are round.  Some are smiling and friendly.  Some not so much.

All kinds of people.  And all these people have something in common.  Jesus died for them.

Think about that the next time you are out shopping.

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"    1 Chronicles 16:29 ESV)

Just When I Need Him

When I got up this morning, I had no idea what this blog post was going to say.  My mind was a blank.  I had begun a post yesterday, but it is far from being completed.

As I was wondering what to write about, I recalled an episode of Family Feud that I had seen recently.  Steve Harvey read the question, and the contestant just stood there with a blank look on his face for most of his allotted time.  Then he said, "I got nothin'!"

That pretty much summed it up for me this morning!

Then I checked my e-mail.

Yesterday was one of those particularly frustrating days that are part of selling a house.  One of those days when waiting is hard.  Just one of those days.

Al and I were both frustrated.  And last night he said, "Why don't they just make a decision?"

Not knowing is the worst of the frustration.  Yes, it would be disappointing if they decided on another property.  But at least we would know.

So, Al asked the question.  And we both expressed our frustration.  But we had no answers to the question, so eventually we just went to bed.

This morning I checked my e-mail and discovered that, at the exact moment that we were having that conversation and asking "why don't they just make a decision?", our realtor had sent an e-mail saying that the prospective buyers would be back in the area on Saturday, wanting to see our house again, along with three other properties.

At the exact moment.

That answered the question what will I write about today?  And it answered our frustrations about why don't they just make a decision?  It drove me to prayer!  And to tears!

At the exact moment. 

Even if I didn't read the e-mail until today.  Even if I didn't know that the showing was set for Saturday. 

Even if I didn't know.  God knew.

God knew exactly what I needed.  He knew exactly when I needed it.  And He provided. 

I am overwhelmed.

All this has brought the words of an old hymn to my mind.  It's another one of those hymns we (sadly) don't sing much anymore.  But it's certainly appropriate this morning!

"Just when I need Him, Jesus is near,

Just when I falter, Just when I fear;

Ready to help me, ready to cheer,

Just when I need Him most."

 

(words: William C. Poole; music: Charles H. Gabriel)

 

 

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."  (Psalm 103:1-2)

What's on Your Tree?

 

We're just over a week away from Thanksgiving Day.  What are your Thanksgiving Day traditions?

 

For many, the day includes turkey and pumpkin pie, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce.  It may include watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade while the food cooks.  Football may be a regular part of the day's festivities, whether watching a game (or two or three) on television, or getting family and friends together to play a game in the front yard. 

 

In recent years I've been hearing more and more about including a Thankful Tree in the Thanksgiving celebrations.  I found this particular Thankful Tree on Pinterest, where there are many versions of Thankful Trees if you're looking for inspiration to begin your own tradition. 

I love the idea of a Thankful Tree!  It's a great opportunity for you and your family members to write down the things your thankful for, whether you write on construction paper leaves or on Post-Its or on scraps of paper, and then decorate your tree with your "thanksgivings".  And that means you actually have to take time to think about all the reasons you have for being thankful!

We're not planning to spend our Thanksgiving here at home this year, so I haven't done a lot of Thanksgiving decorating.  I guess I'm saving my energy for Christmas decorations - which I refuse to do until Thanksgiving is over!

But if I had a Thankful Tree, the first thankful I would list is Jesus!

My heart overflows with thanksgiving for my Savior!  That He loves me.  That He died for me, so that I might have an eternal relationship with the Father through Him.  That He was willing to pay that sacrifice for me.  That He died so I might live.

He did all that, and so much more, not because I did anything to deserve it, but in spite of the fact that there is nothing in me deserving of such grace.

And He continues to love me.  Not because I deserve it.  In spite of the fact that I don't.  Even when I'm unlovable.  Even when I mess up.  Even when I lose my temper or say things I shouldn't or I'm unkind or I'm irritable or impatient.  Even then.

I am overwhelmed by such love.  Such mercy.  Such grace.

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Learning to Wait. An Update.

Every morning in my e-mail I receive a devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah.  This morning's topic was waiting and included this quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes.

That was a very timely thought for me to ponder.  (No surprise there, since God knows exactly what we need and exactly when we need it!)

If you've been reading this blog for very long at all, then you are aware that we are trying to sell our house.  If not, you can read about that here: http://susanssittingroom.blogspot.com/2014/03/todays-day.html  and here:  http://susanssittingroom.blogspot.com/2014/06/i-need-your-help_20.html

This has been a long process.  Certainly it seems like a much longer process than it actually has been.

Last spring we cleaned and cleaned and decluttered and did all the other things that are part of putting a house on the market.  This was the third time we had listed this house, but with the economy being what it has been over the past few years, we had no success in our previous listings.  However, we were confident that the third time would be the charm!  That the timing was right.  That this was what God was leading us to do.

We listed the house.  We kept it clean and tidy.  And we waited.

We're still waiting.  We have a prospective buyer who has expressed interest; who has asked all the right questions; who has come back for another look; who has been researching options.  So now we're waiting to hear if that buyer has made a decision, a decision which will hopefully be in our favor.

In the meantime, over the weekend we found what we believe is the perfect house for us.  But we can't act on that until we have a decision from this prospective buyer, or another buyer, about this house.

I said all that to say that waiting is frustrating.

Even so, waiting is a blessing.  And on this Thankful Tuesday, in spite of the frustration, I am thankful for this process.  Thankful for waiting.  Thankful for all I have learned and am continuing to learn through this time in the "waiting room".

Thankful that God has a plan and a purpose.

Thankful that He is in control. 

Thankful that because He is in control, I don't have to worry about any of the details.  That I don't have to sweat the small stuff.  Or the big stuff either.  Thankful that He has it all covered.

Thankful that I am learning to "rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him."     (Psalm 37:7)

Thankful for His love and His goodness and His mercies that are "new every morning."  (Lamentations 3:23)

Thankful that even when I am frustrated and impatient and stressed and anxious - and I am sometimes (often!) these things, and sometimes all at once - even then, I can remember that God is in control, and I am at peace. 

It's a process.  I'm a work in process.  I'm still learning.  And God has it all under control!

"For the vision awaits its appointed time......if it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."  (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV)

Brought to You by the Letter 'F'

If you have ever watched an episode of the television show "Sesame Street", then you are familiar with the phrase "Today's show is brought to you by the letter....."

I'm borrowing that phrase, and since today is Friday, it seems fitting that today's post is brought to you by the letter F.

F as in fog.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, or if you follow me on Facebook, then you know that we often have spectacular views of the mountains from our front porch.

However, that is not always the case.  Several times recently the view looked more like this:

 

That particular day's view was actually no view at all.  We were fogged in.  Couldn't see a thing, except that very faint glimpse of the trees in front of us.  And today's view is quite similar.  Not quite as gray as that photo, but almost.

 

The fog can be pretty thick up on this mountain. 

 

If you know someone dealing with a chronic illness or with cancer, you may have heard them talk about fog.  Chemo fog.  Fibro fog.  Brain fog.  The effects of the disease or of the medication to combat the disease may sometimes cloud their thinking.

 

We experience fog in all sorts of ways in life.  Circumstances can "fog up" our thinking.  So can attitudes.  Or the way we spend time.  Or the way we don't spend it.

 

Often our thinking gets "foggy" because of a lack of time spent in God's Word and in prayer.  Because of a lack of time spent worshipping, both corporately and privately.  Because of a lack of fellowship with other believers.

 

That kind of fog blocks our view.  We can't see things clearly.

 

On most days, I have a clear view of the mountains in front of me.  But some days I can't see them at all.  Fog obscures my view.  I know the mountains are there, but I can't see them.  I know there are trees in front of my house, but I can't see them.

 

And that brings us to another "F" we need to consider.  Faith.

 

Faith tells us that "we walk by faith, not by sight."  (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)

 

It's by faith that we trust, even when we can't see. 

 

It's by faith that we believe in God, even though we can't see Him.

 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

 

Faith is being sure, even of things we cannot see.

 

Faith is believing in God.  But it's also more than that.  Faith is not only believing in God; faith is believing God.

 

Remember Abraham in the Old Testament?  Abraham is a great example of faith.

 

Abraham believed God.

 

• Even when he didn't know where he was going, Abraham believed God and obeyed.  "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going."  (Hebrews 11:8 ESV)
• Even when he didn't know how God's will would be accomplished.  "By faith Sarah received power to conceive, even when she was past the age."  (Hebrews 11: 11 ESV)
• Even when he didn't know when God would fulfill His promises.  "The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as He had promised.  And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age."  (Genesis 21:1-2 ESV)
• Even when he didn't understand why.  "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son Isaac."  (Hebrews 11:17 ESV)

 

Abraham believed God.

 

He believed His promises.  Even when he didn't understand, he still believed.

 

That's faith. 

 

Believing God.

 

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."  (Romans 4:3 NASB)

 

 

 Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(Yates/Sankey)

 

 

 



Take Time

Twenty-four hours a day.  We all have them.  How well are you using yours?

If you're at all like me, you're a creature of routine.  You have certain things that you do on certain days.  And when you have weeks that are busier than normal, that have lots of extra activities and appointments thrown in, that routine gets a little out of kilter.

During those kinds of weeks, and on those kinds of days, we must take care that the main things, the really important things, still get done.  Things like feeding the children and getting them to school on time.  Things like Bible reading and prayer.  The important things.

But this post is not intended to address those kinds of things.  Or to lay a guilt trip on you if you're not staying exactly on schedule with your laundry and house cleaning.  Or to give you a list of twenty habits that are sure to make you more productive.

This post is about the things we all have time to do, but somehow neglect.

Things like a smile.  Or a kind word.  Or a hug.

How often do you rush through the halls, whether at work or at school or in the mall or even at church, and completely ignore the people you pass by?  Or perhaps you've had the experience of being the one who was ignored?

Are we really so busy that we can't take time to give someone a smile or a pleasant word?  Or is it that we think too much of ourselves?  Is it that somehow speaking to those people is beneath us?  Surely that isn't what you think!  If it is, then shame on you!

Just how much time or energy does it take to smile as you walk by?  You don't always need to stop and have a lengthy conversation on your way from Point A to Point B.  But really, is it necessary to always stare straight ahead and never be bothered to give a smile or a "good morning" to those you pass on your way? 

Does it really take so much time to smile?

Are you too busy to give a smile or a kind word? 

If you're that busy, then you're too busy.

Or is it an issue of time at all?  Is the reason you don't smile or say good morning as you pass by that you think you're somehow on a level above those you have passed?  Are you just too good to be bothered?  Is time really the issue?  Or is it your ego?

Take time to be pleasant today.  Take time to give away a smile.....or two or three.  Stop thinking so much of yourself and take the time.  I dare you!

Give the world a smile each day,

Helping someone on life's way.

From the paths of sin oh bring the wanderers in

To the master's fold to stay.

Help to cheer the lone and sad;

Help to make some pilgrim glad.

Let your life so be that all the world might see

The joy of serving Jesus with a smile.

 

(Yandell/Deaton)

  

It's Official - I Have a Barcode!

One click of the mouse and the final proof was approved.  And with that click my little Bible study book became available for purchase on Amazon.com.

After months of dreaming about it and thinking about it.  Months of writing and re-writing.  Months of editing and proofing and then doing it again.  Months of study and of prayer.  After all that, my little book is now a reality!

 

 

In case you might be a bit curious as to what this is all about, here's an excerpt:

 

 

This book had its beginnings in a daily time of Bible reading.  As I was reading through John 15, this verse tugged at my heart strings:

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain.” (John 15:16 NASB)

Go and bear fruit.  Bear fruit that remains.

Those commands of Jesus prompted me to dig a little deeper, to begin asking some questions.  Questions you may be asking as well.

What does it mean to bear fruit?

What kind of fruit?

How do I bear fruit? 

How do I bear fruit that remains?

As I was pondering these, and other, questions, I began to think in terms of a garden.  A Mother Goose poem came to mind:  Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

And so began this little book.  The title is a play on words based on that Mother Goose line.

As we dig deeper into the Scriptures, seeking answers to our questions about fruit, about bearing fruit, about fruit that remains, we will be approaching these questions from two perspectives.

How does your garden grow?  This question focuses us on the process. 

How does your garden grow?  This focuses us on condition. Just how well are we obeying the command to bear fruit?

This book is the result of my personal quest to answer the question how does your garden grow? 

 

And there you have it.  How Does Your Garden Grow? is written to be used for either personal or group study.  For more information, or to purchase copies for your personal use or for your small group, you can go to this link:  http://www.amazon.com/How-Does-Your-Garden-Grow/dp/1502963388/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415713348&sr=8-1&keywords=susan+feaster



Little Things

I cut myself this morning.  It's just a little paper cut, but it sure does hurt!  It doesn't make much sense that such a little thing could cause so much discomfort. 

That little paper cut has me thinking about little things in general.

Little things can make a big difference.  Sometimes, as in the case of my paper cut, it's a bad thing.

One or two little words uttered in anger or frustration can negatively impact a relationship.

A simple tweet or Facebook update, perhaps typed in anger or frustration, can do great harm.

A few seconds texting while driving can have disastrous consequences.

A few words.  A few seconds.  Little things matter.

The little things can have great negative impact, but can also have great positive impact as well.

A quick little phone call can brighten someone's day.

A few minutes to write a note can make a big difference.

A simple tweet or Facebook update can just as easily have a positive impact as a negative one.

A little note.  A little phone call.  A little act of kindness.

Little things can make a big difference.

Little things can discourage.  But little things can also encourage.

Which will you choose today?

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."  (Proverbs 25:11 ESV)

The Scarlet Thread

Lately I've been spending a lot of time in the book of Hebrews.  We've been studying Hebrews in our Life Group on Sundays, and our pastor has been preaching from Hebrews as well. 

These weeks in Hebrews have been a fascinating and challenging study.  We've centered our focus around the theme Jesus Is Better.  For the last several weeks, our attention has been focused on the middle chapters of the book, the chapters that explain to us that Jesus is our High Priest.  A better high priest.

 

 



One of the duties of the High Priest was to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people, as well as for his own sin.  This was done year after year after year after year.

Jesus is a better High Priest because He offered Himself as the sacrifice for sins.  One sacrifice that covered all sin for all time.

"But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.  For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."  (Hebrews 10:12, 14 ESV)

That's the scarlet thread that runs throughout the Scriptures, the promise of, and then the fulfillment of, this once for all sacrifice.

We see this thread in Genesis 22, as we read of God's instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.

Isaac must have wondered what was going on!  He and Abraham were going to make a sacrifice.  They had fire and wood, but where was the lamb?  And so he asked, "Behold the fire and the wood:  but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"  (Genesis 22:7 KJV)

"And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide Himself a lamb'" (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

God will provide Himself.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  (John 1:1 ESV)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14 ESV)

"When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."  (Galatians 4:4 ESV)

"God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

"Christ died for sin, once for all, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit."  (1 Peter 3:18 NASB)

"Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom."  (Matthew 27:50-51 ESV)

Jesus, the Lamb for the sacrifice. Jesus, God Himself the Lamb.  Jesus, the sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus, our Great High Priest who made a way for us to enter into the very presence of God.

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

Jesus, our Great High Priest.

Jesus, the sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus, the Scarlet Thread of redemption, woven throughout the Scriptures.

Jesus is better.

Jesus died for me.  Jesus died for you.

May we live for Him!

"I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."  (Galatians 2:20 ESV)

Because It Matters

It's Tuesday.  It's Election Day here in the United States.

On this Tuesday, I'm giving thanks for the privilege of voting.  Voting is a privilege denied to many around the world, a privilege many around the world only dream of.

We are blessed in this country to have this privilege.  To be free to go to the polls.  To voice our opinions through our ballot choices.

I'm thankful for the founders of this country.  Thankful for their wisdom in designing this system.

And I'm sad that so few participate in the system.

Unfortunately, in this country we have become more interested in celebrities and athletes than in the process of government.  We are more informed about football scores and standings than we are about candidates and issues.  That makes me incredibly sad.

Today is Election Day.  For more than two hundred years, men and women have sacrificed so that we might have this privilege.  Let's not take it for granted.

I voted last week.  (My state has Early Voting.)  If you haven't voted yet, I hope you will vote today.

I hope you will carefully consider the candidates and the issues.  I hope that you will not base your decisions on thirty-second sound bites.  I hope you will be informed.  I hope you will vote based on your worldview and your faith. 

I hope we will all make our choices prayerfully and carefully.

I hope we will be informed voters.

I hope we will continue to participate in and honor this process.

Because it matters.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  - Edmund Burke,  Irish orator, philosopher, & politician (1729 - 1797)

Disappointments, a Snow Storm, and the Time Change

I'm not sure who first decided that moving our clocks forward or backward every six months was a good idea.  I seem to remember that Benjamin Franklin has been credited with the idea.  Of course, when Ben mentioned daylight savings time, it was in the middle of a satirical essay, which likely means even he didn't think it was such a good idea.

Taking an hour from one end of the day and putting it on the other end of the day really accomplishes nothing, in my humble opinion.  There are still only twenty-four hours!  Well, it does accomplish something.  It messes with my body clock.  And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one!

Since we had the "fall back" over the weekend, this morning - and probably for the rest of the week - I'm trying to adjust.  Not really sure what time it is.  Out of sorts.  Thinking it's mid-morning when it's really only eight o'clock.  Things like that.  Of course, I'll adjust.  We all will.  We're flexible like that.  But I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who will be complaining about it.  (See me smile!)

Winter arrived a little early.  Much too early for my liking.  At this time last week, we were enjoying a glorious fall and even experienced record high temperatures.  That all ended rather abruptly on Friday night, when temperatures plummeted and snow began to fall.  We woke up Saturday morning to frigid temperatures, howling winds, and the ground covered in snow.  It snowed all day.  And into the night.  And the temperatures dropped some more.  You get the picture.

I'm not so naïve as to think we could get through winter with no snow.  But I would like to wait until winter gets here before we have to deal with it!  Even my friends in Minnesota have not had snow yet! 

The snow was, of course, beautiful.  That goes without saying.  But there are still leaves on the trees, for goodness sake!  I'm just not ready for this.

That snow led to one of several disappointments.  We weren't able to get off this mountain and make our Sunday trip to Spartanburg to church.  No Cracker Barrel pancakes.  (I had to make my own!)  No fellowship with friends.  I had been scheduled to teach our Life Group lesson on Sunday, and I was looking forward to that.  Because of the snow, I had to switch Sundays with another teacher.  The good news is that now I'll get to teach from Hebrews 11.  The disappointment is that I didn't get to teach the lesson I had prepared. 

Biggest disappointment of all yesterday was not being able to worship "in person" with my church family.  Yes, we joined the service via internet and that was wonderful.  I'm so thankful for that option!  But, as wonderful as it is, there's just nothing like being there in person, in the room, surrounded by the "family".

Another disappointment has to do with a DIY project Al and I have planned for one of our bathrooms.  Al stopped at nearly every Lowe's and Home Depot in Asheville Friday night on his way home from the airport to pick up the bead board wainscoting we need.  We had looked at it several weeks ago, and decided on exactly what we wanted, so he was going to pick up the materials Friday night so we could work on the project on Saturday while it was snowing.  But, in the few weeks since we had first researched the materials and his trips to the store on Friday night, all the stores had discontinued this particular product.  It is now only available by special order.  Frustration!  Disappointment!

Disappointments.  We all have them.  A snow storm.  Missing church.  Losing a football game (my team lost....what about yours?). Not being able to purchase a product you want or need.  There are all sorts of things in life that cause us disappointment or frustration.

There will be some disappointments after tomorrow's voting.  There will be some winners and some losers.  The winners will be thrilled; the losers, and their supporters, will be disappointed.

Disappointments and frustrations are a part of the journey of life.  They are the potholes and detours on life's highway.  Our choice is whether to keep our focus on the potholes, or to enjoy the rest of the scenery!  Disappointments and frustrations can make us angry and bitter, or we can choose to accept them as part of the "all things" that are working together for our good (see Romans 8:28).

It's a choice.  Which will you choose?

"Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  (Philippians 4:8 ESV)