Shhhh! It’s coming…..
Looking ahead over the next four weeks, the so-called Advent season, what do you see coming? It’s so easy to get swept up in the “what” – the seemingly endless tornado of cooking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, partying – that we miss the “Who”.
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The term “Black Friday” screams from the TV, newspapers, radio and online. The day after Thanksgiving begins the unofficial “holiday shopping season,” the time of year when retailers move from operating “in the red” (at a loss) to “in the black” (at a profit). Stores are now opening at midnight, even 10 pm the night before, offering crazy low prices to lure customers in hoping they’ll spend lots of money.
I can’t help but think of another “Black Friday,” a day when the greatest price was paid for the greatest gift ever given. 2000 years ago, an innocent man gave His life so that others might live. Jesus, God the Son, left His heavenly home, to be born into an ordinary family and live an ordinary life in an ordinary town, until He began His extra-ordinary ministry on earth. For 3 years, He healed the hurting, taught those who would listen, and preached the truth to all. The conclusion of His time on earth was paying the price for the sins of the entire world, past, present, and future, and providing the gift of eternal life to any who receive it.
Now that Thanksgiving Day is over, let’s continue to live with thanksgiving in our hearts.
Thank you Lord for paying the debt we owe. Thank you for rising from the dead in victory, giving us the opportunity to live in victory. May we keep You as our focus in the days and weeks to come, and be ever ready to share the real reason for the season.
In August, a family vacation took us to Washington DC at the end of our week. On Sunday, we visited National Community Church that meets in a movie theater.
The movie The Help was showing in the theater where the service was held. Entering the door below the sign, I laughed out loud.
I was going there to encounter God – now He’s really the Help!
Just a few “helpful” verses to bless your day:
How has God helped you?
Thanks Jeanette Levellie for sharing this award with me. Jeanette is a gifted writer whose humor devotional book is coming out in April 2012. Look for “Mirth and Worth in the Real Lane” for a certain blessing.
Here’s the rules of the award – I need to share 7 things about me, and then pass this award along to 5 other bloggers who will do the same, and so on and so on ;D
Jeanette’s challenge is to share the “messy” and not just “cutesy little tidbits.”
So here goes:
1. I don’t drink coffee. Gasp! Yes, most unusual I know. Especially since my blog header shows two lovely ladies enjoying their coffee at a place called Eternity Cafe. I do love coffee dates with friends, but I just enjoy some other beverage while I enjoy their company.
2. I may not look it, but I am the pickiest eater alive. For example, I order a Greek salad without cucumbers, onions, or olives. And I can do without the anchovies and peppers, but I am willing to pick those out, whereas the cukes, etc. leave their taste on the lettuce. My mom says I place my food order in a restaurant like this scene in When Harry Met Sally:
4. My favorite ice cream is Haagen-Dazs. I don’t eat any other brand of ice cream (see #2), so I buy other brands for my family to enjoy and then I’m not tempted! I don’t like anything frozen in my ice cream such as nuts or chips. Must be smooth, and my favorite ice cream flavor is – coffee. Very weird since I don’t drink coffee (#1).
5. I’m beginning to think schizophrenic people are very interesting.
6. I am a reformed disco dancer. Now a big fan of classic rock – especially my husband’s Solid Rock Band.
7. I love football. Especially the NY Giants! But I’ll root for the Jets too. I like the baseball Mets, but I’ll root for the Yankees too. Some (like my son) find this impossible to do. It’s either one or the other. But I guess it’s easy for schizophrenics like me.
8. I would much rather hear about you than talk about me.
And I’m passing this award on to these 5 excellent bloggers:
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I was so proud of myself.
I’ve been digging, sorting, and clearing out stuff.
I bagged it, washed it, and carted it to the car to be donated to Ditto, the “upscale resale thrift shop” that raises funds for my kids’ alma mater.
Felt like a real accomplishment.
The problem is Ditto’s hours of operation aren’t in sync with my hours of operation ;D I can’t seem to get there before closing time.
And so I have been driving around with my discarded stuff for a week. I went through it – did the inventory. I identified and separated it. I even moved it. But I haven’t really gotten rid of it. I plan to, but it’s still there hanging around. Moving around. I stopped short yesterday to avoid a car that ran a stop sign, and heard a symphony of shuffles as the stuff in back slid toward the front.
In order for me to actually get rid of this stuff, I have to make a change. I need to change my habits and rearrange my schedule. I have to move out of my comfort zone.
I have some other stuff I’d like to get rid of. Fear, anger, resentment, jealousy. I have done some soul-searching. Taken inventory. Identified what needs to be addressed. Felt some pride and a sense of accomplishment in that.
But that stuff is still hanging around. An unwelcome remark or a difficult situation becomes like that car running a stop sign bringing all that stuff toward the front, a symphony of emotions sliding around my interior. So how do I actually get rid of it – for real?
Paul says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” But he doesn’t leave it at that.
He continues with, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph. 4:31-32)
James instructs us, “Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent”
And like Paul he goes on, “and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, .. Do what it says.” (James 1:21-22)
To get rid of these unwanted emotions and behaviors, I need to move beyond identifying them. I need to replace them with desired behaviors. Clearing out the old creates a void and the old will slide right back in if there isn’t something already in its place.
Replace resentment and anger with forgiveness.
Replace doing evil with doing what the Word says.
Then I’ll be getting rid of it – for real!
How about you? Do you have unwanted stuff hanging around? How can you clear it out? For real? Let’s talk about it.