Transition

This is a week of transition.  It's time for the shift from fall décor and pumpkins and leaves to Christmas trees and holly.

Around here, it's all the time to transition from a house full of people, and all the laughter and craziness that brings, back to being just the two of us.  Two rather quiet, older-than-we-used-to-be, adults and a dog that fits into that category as well.  No more giggling boys.  Just us old folks.

Later today there will be the transition from poor eyesight to once again being able to see clearly.  This afternoon I'll be having a YAG laser procedure on my right eye to clear up some cloudiness in the lens. 

And this is the week we transition from the season of Thanksgiving to the season of Christmas.  Even though the malls and discount stores and TV commercials have been pushing Christmas on us earlier and earlier each year, now that Thanksgiving is past we are officially in the Christmas season. 

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent.  Although I didn't grow up in a church that talked about Advent, at least not that I can recall, and we didn't light Advent candles in our church back in my growing up years, as I get older I find myself drawn to that tradition.  To the way it focuses our attention on what we are really celebrating during this season of the year.

While we enjoy our snowmen and our Santas and our elves, that's really not what the holiday is all about.  This is a season to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  To celebrate Jesus!  Even though it is unlikely He was born on December 25, or even at this time of year, this is the time we celebrate that event.

Whether or not your particular church has an Advent wreath, and whether or not you have an Advent wreath in your home, you probably use candles in your Christmas decorating around the house.  Even those candles are a reminder to us of what Christmas is all about.  Jesus, the Light of the World, is the reason we are celebrating.

In many churches where an Advent wreath is part of the celebration of Christmas, the candle that is lit on the first Sunday of the Advent season is the Prophet's Candle.  It's a time to focus attention on what the prophets had to say about the coming of the Messiah, and how these prophecies are fulfilled by the birth of the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

This week, as you are transitioning from Thanksgiving to Christmas, why not take some time to find a quiet place and read some of these Scriptures yourself.  Maybe you could even light a candle.  Set aside the hustle and bustle of the holiday season for just a moment and reflect on the One whose birth was foretold so long ago by the prophets. 

Read the prophecies.  Reflect on how they are fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let your spirit be renewed by focusing on what Christmas is really all about.

It's a good way to transition into the Christmas season.


"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel."  (Isaiah 7:14 NASB)

 

 

"Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart."

(-Charles Wesley)

Limited Visibility

It's a very foggy morning.  Last night's heavy rains have stopped, and we are left with this lingering gray mist.  As a result, visibility is very limited.

 

 

It reminds me of the view from the front porch when we lived in the mountains.  There were a number of mornings like this one when we lived there.  The beauty of the view was obscured by the fog.  Visibility was limited.

 

 

 

I had an appointment with the eye doctor on Tuesday.  It was time for my annual eye exam, and was my first visit with my new eye doctor here in Spartanburg.  Several years ago I had cataract surgery, and for a time following that surgery, my vision was much improved.  However, as is usually the case, during the first year following the surgery, the lenses clouded up a bit, which meant that a laser procedure was done to clear up the cloudiness.  The left eye improved immediately, but the right eye never did.

 

When I told the previous eye doctor that vision had not improved in my right eye, his response was "don't worry about it; it will clear up", or words to that effect.  For the past three years, I have been very frustrated by my limited vision in my right eye, because, in spite of what the eye doctor said, it has not gotten better.

 

On Tuesday, I explained all this to Dr. Martin.  He called in Dr. Francis, the ophthalmologist in the office next door, to get his opinion.  I explained to them that it feels as though there is a film over might right eye.  His response:  That's because there is!

 

Finally somebody listened to me!  And finally something will be done about the limited vision in my right eye!  On November 30, I will have another laser procedure done, and hopefully after that, my right eye will be clear again.

 

And that will make me very happy indeed!

 

 

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12a NASB)

How Deep Are You Willing to Go?

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."  (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB)

That's a familiar verse.  It is perhaps more familiar in the King James Version.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Study.

Notice it doesn't say "read".  It says "study".  "Be diligent".

Both translations refer to a "workman".  That implies one who puts forth some effort.  We don't learn the truths of Scripture by osmosis.  We can't know how to "accurately handle the Word of Truth" simply by owning a copy of the Bible.  Or by having multiple copies in our home.  Picking up a Bible and carrying it with us to church on Sunday does not qualify as being "diligent".

It's heartbreaking to realize how little Christians know about the things they claim to believe.  It's heartbreaking to realize how casually many Christians today approach the Scriptures.  It's heartbreaking to be confronted with how little time many Christians actually spend reading the Word of God.  And how few go beyond reading.  How few are committed to the discipline of studying.

Is it any wonder that other religions and cults are gaining so much ground in the world today?

Is it any wonder that our culture is in such a downward spiral?

Is there any way to reverse this trend?

Perhaps it's time to get serious about the admonition in 2 Timothy 2:15.  It's time to study.  It's time to be diligent.

How deep are we willing to immerse ourselves in the Word of God?

How much time are we willing to give to studying the Word of God? 

How much are we willing to act on, to live out, the truths we learn? 

How deep are we - you and I - willing to go?

May we - you and I - study.  May we be diligent.  May we accurately handle the Word of Truth.



"Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints......"
(Jude 3 NASB)


Originally posted October 28, 2014

Therefore

It has happened again.

Another terrorist attack.

We have seen too much of this in recent years.

This time it's Paris.

We grieve for the people of Paris.  For the lives lost.  For those who are left behind, without family members and friends.  For the destruction in that beautiful city.

We grieve.

We are angry that this has been allowed to happen again.

And we grow anxious.

This time it's Paris.  Where will it happen next? When will it happen next?

This time it's Paris.  Next time it might be us.

And our anxiety grows.

But we must remember.

Therefore.  That's the word we must remember.

It's there in Psalm 46, right between verses 1 and 2. 

Therefore is a word of conclusion. 

It's a word that says because this is true.

It's the word we need to hold on to.

When we grieve.  And when we are angry.  And especially when we are anxious.


"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea."  (Psalm 46:1-2 NASB, emphasis mine)

Prone to Complain

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;  

 Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

  Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.

(words-Robert Richardson, music- Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music)

This is one of my favorite hymns.  Perhaps it's one of your favorites as well.
I was thinking about this hymn this morning, particularly a line in the third verse.  That line says, "prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.  Prone to leave the God I love."

The "prone to wander" line leads me to recall the time the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness, after they had left Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land.   We're often "prone to criticize" the Israelites for their wanderings, yet we often "wander" as well, don't we?  We're not always prompt in our obedience to what the Lord tells us to do, which can leave us wandering pretty aimlessly through life.

But today as I have been thinking about that line from the hymn, I've been thinking we could rewrite the line as "prone to complain".    The Israelites complained a lot on their journey through the wilderness.  They complained about the food.  Or more accurately, the lack of all the good food they had enjoyed in Egypt.  (I guess they forgot the part about being slaves!)  They complained about the dust.  And about having no water.  Complain, complain, complain.

It's the American way, isn't it?  Complain about everything! We are a complaining people.  We complain about the weather.  And the traffic.  About the recent time change.  About politicians.  Even about coffee cups!

We complain about all sorts of things.  I know I find myself often doing that. Complaining instead of being grateful.  Shame on us. We're such whiners! Why is that?  Why are we such complainers?  Why are we never content, but always finding something else to complain about?  It's too hot.  It's too cold.  It rains too much.  It never rains.  And on and on we go.

We aren't born with a "contentment gene".  Contentment is a learned behavior.  Paul didn't say "I am content."  He said, " I have learned to be content." (Philippians 4:11 NASB)

How do we learn that kind of contentment?  In the same way as we learn anything else.  By practice.  By repetition.  By focus.  Focusing on the reasons we have to be content, to be grateful, rather than on the reasons we have for complaining.

This month, this season of Thanksgiving, this very day, is a good time to start.  If you haven't already, start a gratitude journal, listing all the things you have to be thankful for.  Join in the "days of gratitude" activity on social media, every day posting something you're thankful for.  Make a conscious effort not to complain.

It's a good beginning.  A good way to change your focus away from complaining and toward contentment.

Why not begin learning today?

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content......In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)

Bought With A Price

Yesterday we observed Veteran's Day, a day when we remember and honor those men and women who have served in our nation's military.  I'm glad there is a day set aside for this purpose, but I also think it's sad that we don't remember them more often.  That we don't think about and honor those men and women, and their families, who sacrifice so much on our behalf.  Who pay the price so we don't have to.  We must never forget that freedom isn't free, and that many have sacrificed much on our behalf.

Freedom comes at a price.  A great price.  And not only the freedoms we enjoy as American citizens, but the our freedom in Christ as well.  May we never forget the great price that our Savior paid that we might be free from sin.  May we never forget what it cost Him.  May we never take it for granted.

We so often take our freedoms as Americans for granted.  Shame on us!  And shame on us when we treat our freedom in Christ that casually as well.

May we live this day, and every day, with gratitude for all that is ours in Christ Jesus.  May we never forget what it cost.

"For you were bought with a price."  (1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV)

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  For he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."  (Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV)

In Everything

"In everything give thanks."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)

In everything.  In all things.  However, you want to phrase it...

No exceptions.  There are none of those phrases we want to add to the end of the verse.

It doesn't say  in everything except.......

Except when I lose my job.

Except when I run out of money.

Except arthritis.  Or cancer.  Or heart disease.

Except when I'm tired.  Or angry.  Or afraid.

Except politicians.  Or government-run health care.  Or when I don't like election results.

Except when my friend or my spouse or my son or my daughter or my best friend hurts my feelings.

Except any of the other things you might be able to think of.

There are no clarifying phrases at the end of that sentence.

In everything.

Everything means everything.

It's pretty clear.

Note that the verse doesn't say anything about feeling thankful.  This is not about an emotional response to circumstances.  The verse says to give thanks.  That involves the will.  A deliberate choice to give thanks, not because I feel like it but in spite of the fact that sometimes I don't.

Give thanks.  In everything.

Today might be a good day to start.

"If we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him. Either way we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes." (from the movie "Facing the Giants")

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."                           (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)

Because Sometimes We Need to Be Reminded.....

It's that time again.  The season of Thanksgiving.  The season of daily "I am thankful for...." posts on social media.

Yet in spite of that, we don't always look like or sound like or act like very thankful people.  We spend far more time complaining than we spend giving thanks.  We spend far more energy stressing over the not-as-we-might-like-it-to-be things in our personal lives or our family or our world than we spend being thankful for the as-we-like-it things in life. We even look a little grumpy more often than we look happy or joyful or thankful.

Why is that?

Perhaps the problem is that we spend too much time focusing on what's wrong rather than on what is right.  Perhaps we are spending too much time focusing on what we don't have rather than what we do have.

Perhaps we need to be reminded of just how blessed we really are!

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes on the subject, along with a couple of favorite Scripture verses.  Perhaps these reminders will help us get our focus where it needs to be.  Perhaps they will help to remind us of all the reasons we have for being truly thankful.

"When we learn to give thanks, we are learning to concentrate not on the bad things, but on the good things."  (Amy Vanderbilt)

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many, and not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."  (Charles Dickens)

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."  (Philippians 4:8 NASB)

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits."  (Psalm 103:1-2 NASB)

Luther and Katharina: A Book Review

Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund is one of my new favorite books.  In fact, I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would!  I love historical fiction, although the 1500s is not a time period I have spent much time in.  But I was intrigued to read about the love story between Martin Luther and Katharine von Bora, and I was not disappointed!  This was one of those books that you just can't put down.

The year is 1523.  The story begins with a group of nuns escaping the convent where they have spent most of their lives.  The escape is in response to the writings of Martin Luther which have been smuggled into the convent.

This book give amazing detail about the beginnings of the Reformation.  It is sometimes hard to read, as it is often very graphic about the persecution endured by those who opposed the Catholic Church and its practices during that time period.  It is certainly not as graphic as most television shows these days, but does go into great detail.

Woven into the history of the Reformation is the love story between the noble-born Katharina von Bora and the commoner Martin Luther.  The attraction is there from the time they meet, although both resist it.  Theirs is a beautiful love story, beautifully told.

I loved the historical accuracy of this book.  I loved that we see all the characters - Martin, Katharina, the Abbott - as they really were, without glossing over their faults.  Katharina is often headstrong and prideful.  Martin deals with depression.  The Abbott is arrogant and vindictive.  There's no attempt to gloss over the humanity of any of the characters or to make them more than they were.

History.  Adventure.  Love.  Joy.  Heartbreak. Deception.  Intrigue.  All these elements are found in this beautiful telling of the love story of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora.

I loved this book.  It's one I could read again and again.

And I recommend you read it.  I think you'll be glad you did!

Thank you, Blogging for Books, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

But Now....

One of my favorite words in the English language is the little word "but".  It is also one of my least favorite words.  I've written about this before.  You can read the earlier post here:  http://susanssittingroom.blogspot.com/2011/10/but.html

I most love that little word "but" when we put it together with another word to form a phrase......but God.

But God.  The little word "but" used alone can be so negative, but the connotation changes completely when you put the two words together.  You'll find that phrase a number of times in Scripture. 

Another favorite phrase is but now.  You can find that phrase in several places as well.  I love the that was how it was then, but this is how it is now truth the phrase conveys. 

Let's use Ephesians 2 as an example. The chapter begins this way: "You were dead in trespasses and sins."  That's pretty negative, isn't it? That's how it used to be, how it was then. Sounds pretty hopeless.  However, there's more to the story!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved."  (Ephesians 2:4 ESV, emphasis mine)

That should brighten your day!

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."  (Ephesians 2:13 ESV)

Misplaced Priorities

Monday mornings around here are pretty much the same from week to week.  It's laundry day.  And declutter from the weekend day.  And, since those tasks don't require a great deal of brain power, it's also a good day for thinking.  For pondering. 

Often I find myself thinking about the previous day's lesson in our Life Group, or about the pastor's message from the previous morning, or about his teaching at our Sunday evening Bible study. 

Today is one of those hard-to-get-myself-going Mondays. This is the first Monday morning after the time change, so my body clock is out of sorts.  And it's raining again here in South Carolina.  Sigh. 

None of that is really the source of my pondering this morning.  Rather, I've been thinking about Halloween, that holiday celebrated this past weekend. Before you get your tutu in a twist, this is not a post about how you chose to celebrate Halloween, or if you choose to celebrate it at all.

As I'm going about my tasks this morning, it is my friend Jill's status update on Facebook that is front and center in my thoughts.  It was Halloween that triggered her post on Facebook and this is part of what she had to say:

"People in this nation spend more money on costumes for their pets than all mission enterprises together."  (Dr. Jill Branyon)

She's right.  In this nation, we spend a lot of money on costumes and candy and decorations for the craziness that is Halloween.  But it isn't just Halloween.  We'll do it again, minus the costumes, for Thanksgiving.  And for Christmas.  And for Valentine's Day.  And for any other occasion that we can think of.

Don't misunderstand me.  I like a party as much as the next person.  I enjoy decorating my home and preparing special foods for the holidays.  There's nothing inherently wrong with those things.  It's just a matter of priorities.

In recent months in our church, we have been studying the Book of Acts. We are studying it with a view toward how we as Christians should be living in what may well be the last days, as we are nearer and nearer to the return of Christ.  What was the Church like in its early days?  How do we compare?  What can we learn from them about how we should be living and "doing church"?

Like the early Church, we have been commissioned to take the Gospel to the nations.
How much time and energy and money are we expending in that endeavor? 

How much time and energy and money did you spend on Halloween?  How much time and energy and money are you spending for Thanksgiving and for Christmas?  And how does that compare to the amount of time and energy and money you are expending to spread the Gospel?

That's something we all need to think about.  Because, for too many of us, too much of the time, our priorities are out of order!

"You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 ESV)