A new year is often a new beginning of goals, and what goal is more important than how we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
A few years ago, a "chance" conversation with a neighbor at a home sales party led to our reading the Bible in 90-ish days.
You can find lots of info about this plan here and can download a bookmark here.
I came across another blogger who lists the themes that her pastor's wife suggested she look for when embarking on a rapid read program through the Bible. Check them out here.
Have you ever tried a rapid read program? I don't do that well at one-year reading plans ... either a 90-day plan or a 2-3 year plan. What about you?
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
It's Not Christmas Without ...
::from the archives::
The Christian school's 2008 outdoor Living Nativity had just drawn to a close and the final strains of the Hallelujah Chorus were reverberating off the buildings. In the seconds of silence before the final announcement, I heard the yaki-imo truck, driving through a nearby neighborhood, singing its advertising plea for customers to come out on a cold night and purchase a sweet potato, freshly roasted over coals on the truckbed.
"It's just not Christmas without the yaki-imo truck," I thought sarcastically. (Click on the link to watch a short YouTube video with the yaki-imo truck's song.)
But when you think about it, what was 1st century Bethlehem's equivalent of the yaki-imo truck? Mary & Joseph were not secluded in a private suite, listening to majestic strains of the Hallelujah Chorus, far away from the nighttime sounds around them. They were in a real place with real people (and real animals) living real lives. Time and space did not stop for the King of kings to be born as a babe in this world.
And the hustle and bustle of our lives do not stop so that we can ponder the Babe who lived and died to become our Savior. Our surroundings may not be filled with the sounds of yaki-imo trucks, but we are surrounded by other noises: noises of our culture, advertisements crying out for our money, good causes clamoring for our time, the bickering of children (and adults), priorities we have let slide, and much more.
The next time I hear the yaki-imo truck, I hope I'll be reminded of how much I need to quiet my own heart and block out the sounds of distraction around me, in order to ponder the magnificent truths of the Lord of the universe and His entering my time and space.
The Christian school's 2008 outdoor Living Nativity had just drawn to a close and the final strains of the Hallelujah Chorus were reverberating off the buildings. In the seconds of silence before the final announcement, I heard the yaki-imo truck, driving through a nearby neighborhood, singing its advertising plea for customers to come out on a cold night and purchase a sweet potato, freshly roasted over coals on the truckbed.
"It's just not Christmas without the yaki-imo truck," I thought sarcastically. (Click on the link to watch a short YouTube video with the yaki-imo truck's song.)
But when you think about it, what was 1st century Bethlehem's equivalent of the yaki-imo truck? Mary & Joseph were not secluded in a private suite, listening to majestic strains of the Hallelujah Chorus, far away from the nighttime sounds around them. They were in a real place with real people (and real animals) living real lives. Time and space did not stop for the King of kings to be born as a babe in this world.
And the hustle and bustle of our lives do not stop so that we can ponder the Babe who lived and died to become our Savior. Our surroundings may not be filled with the sounds of yaki-imo trucks, but we are surrounded by other noises: noises of our culture, advertisements crying out for our money, good causes clamoring for our time, the bickering of children (and adults), priorities we have let slide, and much more.
The next time I hear the yaki-imo truck, I hope I'll be reminded of how much I need to quiet my own heart and block out the sounds of distraction around me, in order to ponder the magnificent truths of the Lord of the universe and His entering my time and space.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
First Christmas
::from the archives::
She leads a full and active life. Her children are grown. Her husband is nearing retirement. But this year she celebrated her first Christmas ... her first Christmas as one who believes that the Babe in the manger is the Christ, the Savior --- her Savior!
After 16 years in Bible study, this year the light came on, her heart was softened and broken, and she began to worship Christ. At the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, eleven days after her baptism, she was glowing. She opened her Bible and read for me Jesus' words which were the ones that gave her peace in her heart.
And this is life between the first coming and second coming. One by one, knees are bowing and tongues are confessing.
Testimonies like this keep us going, knowing that the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise.
She leads a full and active life. Her children are grown. Her husband is nearing retirement. But this year she celebrated her first Christmas ... her first Christmas as one who believes that the Babe in the manger is the Christ, the Savior --- her Savior!
After 16 years in Bible study, this year the light came on, her heart was softened and broken, and she began to worship Christ. At the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, eleven days after her baptism, she was glowing. She opened her Bible and read for me Jesus' words which were the ones that gave her peace in her heart.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.This is Christmas. Christ made himself nothing so that we can pass from death to life.
And this is life between the first coming and second coming. One by one, knees are bowing and tongues are confessing.
Testimonies like this keep us going, knowing that the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Eve Candle Service
:: from the archives ::
I'm pretty sure that isn't the way that we say it in English, but it's how I said it in Japan.
For Christians in Japan, Christmas Eve is the culmination of weeks of a full-throttle series of evangelistic events, since it's the easiest time of the year for nonbelievers to come to a church building or service.
For single Christians in Japan, especially single women, who live in a nation of few single Christian men and are patiently waiting for a Christian husband, this night can also be the lowest of lows, as they're "missing out" on this romantic night.
The last three years I was in Japan, the single girls in my church and I developed a neat tradition. We attended an early evening candlelight service at one location of our church. Then we met at my apartment. I provided the space, decorations (including tree), candles and background music. A good friend provided the lasagna. One year we did a summary of an Advent Bible study I had led. One year we watched "The Nativity" in English. The next year we rented it in Japanese from the video store. And then! Then we went to an 11 PM Christmas Eve service at another location of our church.
Those were some of my best Christmases ever! I remember coming home from the 11 PM service and thinking, "Now that was Christmas!" I would have been content even if I hadn't had a traditional American celebration with missionary friends the next day, and even if I hadn't spent a few days later in the week with my cousin's family, enjoying our family traditions.
Praying tonight for my single sisters in Japan...
I'm pretty sure that isn't the way that we say it in English, but it's how I said it in Japan.
Translation: Christmas Eve Candlelight ServiceChristmas in Japan really is Christmas Eve. (The 25th is a normal workday.) A typical family might order Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Christmas cake (see a photo here or here). For the singles, it's the most romantic night of the year, and calls for a specially planned date, perhaps followed by checking into a hotel.
For Christians in Japan, Christmas Eve is the culmination of weeks of a full-throttle series of evangelistic events, since it's the easiest time of the year for nonbelievers to come to a church building or service.
For single Christians in Japan, especially single women, who live in a nation of few single Christian men and are patiently waiting for a Christian husband, this night can also be the lowest of lows, as they're "missing out" on this romantic night.
The last three years I was in Japan, the single girls in my church and I developed a neat tradition. We attended an early evening candlelight service at one location of our church. Then we met at my apartment. I provided the space, decorations (including tree), candles and background music. A good friend provided the lasagna. One year we did a summary of an Advent Bible study I had led. One year we watched "The Nativity" in English. The next year we rented it in Japanese from the video store. And then! Then we went to an 11 PM Christmas Eve service at another location of our church.
Those were some of my best Christmases ever! I remember coming home from the 11 PM service and thinking, "Now that was Christmas!" I would have been content even if I hadn't had a traditional American celebration with missionary friends the next day, and even if I hadn't spent a few days later in the week with my cousin's family, enjoying our family traditions.
Praying tonight for my single sisters in Japan...
Monday, December 23, 2013
Disappointment & Sadness at "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
::from the archives::
This Christmas may find you lonely or disappointed. We each probably have an image of our ideal Christmas, and we're probably going to be disappointed in some way. For others, the celebrations and memories of past holidays are like rubbing salt in a wound as grief becomes fresh again.
Today's post is a link to a helpful article.
Wendy Horger Alsup summarizes her post with these words:
This Christmas may find you lonely or disappointed. We each probably have an image of our ideal Christmas, and we're probably going to be disappointed in some way. For others, the celebrations and memories of past holidays are like rubbing salt in a wound as grief becomes fresh again.
Today's post is a link to a helpful article.
Wendy Horger Alsup summarizes her post with these words:
Wherever you are this season, daughter of God and bride of Christ, I hope this vision of the eternal One you have in Christ will sustain you during lonely times. ... [This] truth won't erase the pain of your very real loss this holiday season, but may it be the balm that soothes and comforts you, for by His wounds, you are healed.Go here to read the entire post.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Top Ten Hymns: Christmas Edition
::from the archives::
A continuing series, with the hymns listed in reverse alphabetical order, culminating with a Christmas hymn.
#1 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
This is indeed the cry of our hearts.
Come.
Ransom.
Free.
Save.
Give victory o'er the grave.
Cheer.
Disperse.
Put to flight.
Open wide.
Make safe the way.
Close the path to misery.
And His answer is indeed sure.
#10 - When I Survey
#9 - Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord
#8 - The Church's One Foundation
#7 - Rock of Ages
#6 - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
#5 - How Sweet and Awesome
#4 - God Moves In A Mysterious Way
#3 - Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare - Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare
#2 - Beneath the Cross of Jesus
A continuing series, with the hymns listed in reverse alphabetical order, culminating with a Christmas hymn.
#1 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
This is indeed the cry of our hearts.
Come.
Ransom.
Free.
Save.
Give victory o'er the grave.
Cheer.
Disperse.
Put to flight.
Open wide.
Make safe the way.
Close the path to misery.
And His answer is indeed sure.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.Original post
#10 - When I Survey
#9 - Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord
#8 - The Church's One Foundation
#7 - Rock of Ages
#6 - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
#5 - How Sweet and Awesome
#4 - God Moves In A Mysterious Way
#3 - Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare - Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare
#2 - Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Friday, December 20, 2013
Christmas Reading
:: from the archives ::
How do you prepare your heart at Christmastime? How do you combat the to-do lists, busy schedule of activities, opportunities for ministry, and more? Have you found any articles helpful to read each year? How do you keep Christ in Christmas? In addition to playing my Christmas playlist nonstop, I have found the following helpful.
Noel Piper explains that Advent is a season to look back and look ahead.
USA Today explains that evangelicals are adopting Advent.
Chapter 5, "God Incarnate," in J. I. Packer's Knowing God is a chapter I try to re-read each December.
I am thoroughly enjoying Nancy Guthrie's Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, "an anthology of Advent readings collected from the writings and sermons of 22 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers."
Piper's compilation of verses that answer the question, "Why did Christ come?" makes a nice responsive reading, with the leader asking before each verse, "Why did Christ come?"
A small booklet my mom gave me years ago with daily Advent readings, and an article I printed from byFaith's website some years back round out my annual Advent reading.
How do you prepare your heart at Christmastime? How do you combat the to-do lists, busy schedule of activities, opportunities for ministry, and more? Have you found any articles helpful to read each year? How do you keep Christ in Christmas? In addition to playing my Christmas playlist nonstop, I have found the following helpful.
Noel Piper explains that Advent is a season to look back and look ahead.
USA Today explains that evangelicals are adopting Advent.
Chapter 5, "God Incarnate," in J. I. Packer's Knowing God is a chapter I try to re-read each December.
I am thoroughly enjoying Nancy Guthrie's Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, "an anthology of Advent readings collected from the writings and sermons of 22 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers."
Piper's compilation of verses that answer the question, "Why did Christ come?" makes a nice responsive reading, with the leader asking before each verse, "Why did Christ come?"
A small booklet my mom gave me years ago with daily Advent readings, and an article I printed from byFaith's website some years back round out my annual Advent reading.
Monday, December 16, 2013
His Word in My Heart
Just noticed that the book, "His Word in My Heart," which I've referenced in my posts on memorizing, is currently $2.99 for Kindle.
Price may change at any time, so be sure to look before you buy.
And remember, you don't need a Kindle to read books for Kindle.
Price may change at any time, so be sure to look before you buy.
And remember, you don't need a Kindle to read books for Kindle.
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #71
721. crossing off household projects
722. a fire blazing in the fireplace (for the first time ever!! - see #721)
723. completing 8 weeks of a study of True Woman 101
724. a really warm jacket (with a warm hood)
725. seat warmers in the car
726. surviving sustained cold weather
727. the fun of leaving a strip mall parking lot (after #723) and seeing Jim walking through the parking lot, pulling around to where he was parked, and connecting 25 miles from home!
728. a delightful evening out with his parents for a special meal and a Christmas concert in a small stone chapel
729. the last carol of the concert - Stille Nacht sung by two men accompanied by guitar - just as it was the first time it was sung
730. 2nd grade hugs (and spelling game fun!)
722. a fire blazing in the fireplace (for the first time ever!! - see #721)
723. completing 8 weeks of a study of True Woman 101
724. a really warm jacket (with a warm hood)
725. seat warmers in the car
726. surviving sustained cold weather
727. the fun of leaving a strip mall parking lot (after #723) and seeing Jim walking through the parking lot, pulling around to where he was parked, and connecting 25 miles from home!
728. a delightful evening out with his parents for a special meal and a Christmas concert in a small stone chapel
729. the last carol of the concert - Stille Nacht sung by two men accompanied by guitar - just as it was the first time it was sung
730. 2nd grade hugs (and spelling game fun!)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Sweet potatoes
"Could you bring sweet potato casserole ... or however you make sweet potatoes?" the hostess asked, a couple weeks in advance of a dinner, which would introduce internationals to a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner.
I only make sweet potatoes one way, so I did what I usually do:
Fill the oven racks up with washed, pierced sweet potatoes.
Bake at 375 for about two hours.
Remove.
Slice in half.
Using a spoon, scoop out each half into a serving dish.
Stir a little and press down to make it look like a casserole.
That's it! One ingredient. No added sugar. No added butter. No marshmallows. And, as the hostess said, after she took a bite, "These didn't come from a can."
Truth be told, I usually don't do that last step of stirring and pressing down. Nor do I scoop into a serving dish. I scoop them into quart-sized ziptop bags, which I then freeze. Easiest form of freezer-cooking ever!
I only make sweet potatoes one way, so I did what I usually do:
Fill the oven racks up with washed, pierced sweet potatoes.
Bake at 375 for about two hours.
Remove.
Slice in half.
Using a spoon, scoop out each half into a serving dish.
Stir a little and press down to make it look like a casserole.
That's it! One ingredient. No added sugar. No added butter. No marshmallows. And, as the hostess said, after she took a bite, "These didn't come from a can."
Truth be told, I usually don't do that last step of stirring and pressing down. Nor do I scoop into a serving dish. I scoop them into quart-sized ziptop bags, which I then freeze. Easiest form of freezer-cooking ever!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Small Town Snippets
We have a GREAT little library in our village. I'd guess that the library's circulation jumped to a new plateau after I moved here. :)
This month for Book Club, we decided to read "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." Most of us requested the book online from inter-library loan from the comfort of our own living room. And, then the books started trickling into the library on the twice-weekly delivery days. But when I went to pick mine up (on the day the librarian was off), it was not there.
Later, the librarian called me and explained. She had noticed that the books coming in were all "E" for easy, and were 10-12 page picture books. She returned them to their various libraries, and said (on the Monday evening before Thursday Book Club), "We have one chapter book coming in tomorrow, but I don't know which one of you should get it." :)
The happy solution is that I purchased the Kindle version. :)
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
All 507 households in our village must go to the post office to pick up our mail. The post office opens at 9, but doesn't guarantee the mail will be in our boxes until 10. Recently, though, after a mail distribution center 25 miles away was closed and all our mail must travel to and from a distribution center 70 miles away, we often see a sign on the front doors:
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
This month for Book Club, we decided to read "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." Most of us requested the book online from inter-library loan from the comfort of our own living room. And, then the books started trickling into the library on the twice-weekly delivery days. But when I went to pick mine up (on the day the librarian was off), it was not there.
Later, the librarian called me and explained. She had noticed that the books coming in were all "E" for easy, and were 10-12 page picture books. She returned them to their various libraries, and said (on the Monday evening before Thursday Book Club), "We have one chapter book coming in tomorrow, but I don't know which one of you should get it." :)
The happy solution is that I purchased the Kindle version. :)
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
All 507 households in our village must go to the post office to pick up our mail. The post office opens at 9, but doesn't guarantee the mail will be in our boxes until 10. Recently, though, after a mail distribution center 25 miles away was closed and all our mail must travel to and from a distribution center 70 miles away, we often see a sign on the front doors:
Mail truck 2 hours late.I feel like we need to start a phone tree or something, so no one gets out of sorts because their daily routine isn't working, and they end up having to make two trips to the post office (maximum .8 miles away).
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Monday, December 9, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #70
711. an email that read, "I pray for you when I think of you."
712. a rare quiet afternoon (and upcoming 24 hours) at home
713. doing sewing projects together :)
714. the privilege of meeting a few specific needs
715. protection during the nearby tornadoes & in the severe storms
716. finding a nearby allergist who is helping me navigate the insurance-mandated process of changing asthma meds
717. weekly thirty minutes in kindergarten (such FUN!)
718. weekly hour in 2nd grade (Fun! FUN!)
719. an opportunity to meet some new friends today
720. a willing volunteer to sub in kindergarten so I can do so
712. a rare quiet afternoon (and upcoming 24 hours) at home
713. doing sewing projects together :)
714. the privilege of meeting a few specific needs
715. protection during the nearby tornadoes & in the severe storms
716. finding a nearby allergist who is helping me navigate the insurance-mandated process of changing asthma meds
717. weekly thirty minutes in kindergarten (such FUN!)
718. weekly hour in 2nd grade (Fun! FUN!)
719. an opportunity to meet some new friends today
720. a willing volunteer to sub in kindergarten so I can do so
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Brrrr! It's cold out there!
After two days of living in a cloud of fog (one old-timer said it was the worst fog in 20 years), today we can see a bit higher toward the sky, but the clouds look heavy, and flurries are predicted.
The bigger change is that for the past two days we've had highs in the 50s, almost 60 (!), but as I write, the windchill is 11 (F) and predicted to be below zero tomorrow night. Not a good breathing day, for this asthmatic. :(
Our schedule is so erratic that those who know us best can't even predict our routine. A phone call at 7.09 AM wondered if the Farmer had left yet. A phone call at 7.46 AM wondered if he were awake yet. You never know!
Due to the impending freeze, 7.15 each morning this week has found me home alone, having served breakfast and sent him off with a packed lunch and supper. This morning's 7.46 caller asked what time he came in last night. I couldn't answer. Some nights I rouse for maybe five seconds to notice he's home.
Yesterday brought a welcome mid-day meeting, so the Farmer hurried home in time to take a quick shower before the doorbell rang. We welcomed two ladies (who know more about us than almost anyone in the world does) into our front sitting room (we never "entertain" there, but the carpets elsewhere had just been steam-cleaned).
So, it was surreal, all the way around: having the Farmer home mid-day, hosting visitors in the front sitting room, saying "good-bye" to our case worker who has walked this part of the journey with us, and meeting her replacement (it felt appropriate to say, "Welcome to the family!"). Answering questions about our home's safety (smoke & carbon monoxide alarms, no ponds or pools) and our planned methods of discipline was also surreal. Knowing that, if we bring a baby home, this lady we just met is the one who would be visiting us monthly for six months and eventually the one making a recommendation to the judge about whether we are fit to adopt is hard to wrap one's mind around.
But we can't put life on hold and wait to see how it turns out. There are fields to disc and chisel and fertilize. There are hogs to sell, an ESL pupil to take to the library, a table to decorate for the church ladies' tea, bookwork to complete, a Sunday School lesson to prepare, and (assuming none of that wears us out and I successfully breathe in this weather) a much-anticipated dinner & Christmas concert to attend!
The bigger change is that for the past two days we've had highs in the 50s, almost 60 (!), but as I write, the windchill is 11 (F) and predicted to be below zero tomorrow night. Not a good breathing day, for this asthmatic. :(
Our schedule is so erratic that those who know us best can't even predict our routine. A phone call at 7.09 AM wondered if the Farmer had left yet. A phone call at 7.46 AM wondered if he were awake yet. You never know!
Due to the impending freeze, 7.15 each morning this week has found me home alone, having served breakfast and sent him off with a packed lunch and supper. This morning's 7.46 caller asked what time he came in last night. I couldn't answer. Some nights I rouse for maybe five seconds to notice he's home.
Yesterday brought a welcome mid-day meeting, so the Farmer hurried home in time to take a quick shower before the doorbell rang. We welcomed two ladies (who know more about us than almost anyone in the world does) into our front sitting room (we never "entertain" there, but the carpets elsewhere had just been steam-cleaned).
So, it was surreal, all the way around: having the Farmer home mid-day, hosting visitors in the front sitting room, saying "good-bye" to our case worker who has walked this part of the journey with us, and meeting her replacement (it felt appropriate to say, "Welcome to the family!"). Answering questions about our home's safety (smoke & carbon monoxide alarms, no ponds or pools) and our planned methods of discipline was also surreal. Knowing that, if we bring a baby home, this lady we just met is the one who would be visiting us monthly for six months and eventually the one making a recommendation to the judge about whether we are fit to adopt is hard to wrap one's mind around.
But we can't put life on hold and wait to see how it turns out. There are fields to disc and chisel and fertilize. There are hogs to sell, an ESL pupil to take to the library, a table to decorate for the church ladies' tea, bookwork to complete, a Sunday School lesson to prepare, and (assuming none of that wears us out and I successfully breathe in this weather) a much-anticipated dinner & Christmas concert to attend!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Links of Interest
Are you in the "M" season? One lady's story of clinging to God.
Reading the Bible in the 40 days before she turned 40. January 1st is a great time to start a 40-day or 90-day Bible-reading plan. I highly recommend doing so at least once.
Another good article on reasons we need those great hymns!
Reading the Bible in the 40 days before she turned 40. January 1st is a great time to start a 40-day or 90-day Bible-reading plan. I highly recommend doing so at least once.
Another good article on reasons we need those great hymns!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Mentoring in December
::This article was originally written to be used in a mentoring newsletter, but I think the concept applies to all believers.::
When you look at your calendar for this month of December, is mentoring the first thing that comes to your mind? If your calendar is anything like mine, you don't have too many empty squares or spare moments.
Is my excuse a valid reason for passing up ministry opportunities during 1/12 of the year.
Too often I decide in advance that other people are too busy to accept my invitation to lunch or tea or even that they are too busy for a phone call. Even if that is true, are they too busy to receive a card from me with an encouraging verse this December?
Am I too busy to listen to others this month? Perhaps in no other month are people more in need of a listening ear, as they process all that is going on in their lives.
We'll all probably run into friends while out shopping or we'll strike up a conversation in line at the checkout or post office. Do you have a few questions at the ready to redeem those conversations?
I know that I don't want to just endure the busy season only to make it to New Year's Day with a numb heart. Busy times are when I most need questions that probe my heart. Will I do the same for others this December.
As my first short-term missions experience came to an end, a wise friend suggested I prepare a 15 second, 30 second. 1-minute, and 2 -minute answer to this question, "How was Japan?" I could talk for hours, but most people were looking for a 15-second answer.
Once I distilled my answer, I knew that even if the person stopped listening after 15 seconds, they would have heard the most important thing. In my case, I most wanted my listeners to grasp more of God's power to answer prayer.
What about this month? Do you have a 15-second answer prepared for when people casually ask you how you are? Will your 15-second answer point them to your busy schedule, leading them to commiserate with you or to feel bad in comparison?
Or will your 15-second answer point them to Jesus, the One whose birth we celebrate, the One who gives us daily grace, joy and reason for living? Will your answer point them to the One who forgives us when we're short with those closest to us and gives us a second chance?
As we move through this month filled with additional actives, I wonder if we should ask God for quiet hearts that listen - both to Him and His Word and also to others. I wonder if we should ask Him for grace to speak less and wisdom so that the words we do speak are a ministry of encouragement to others.
Of course, this type of mentoring ministry of intentional listening and speaking only flows from a quiet heart that sits at Jesus' feet.
When you look at your calendar for this month of December, is mentoring the first thing that comes to your mind? If your calendar is anything like mine, you don't have too many empty squares or spare moments.
"December is a busy month. It's just one month. I'll look for opportunities in January
when things slow down."
Is my excuse a valid reason for passing up ministry opportunities during 1/12 of the year.
Too often I decide in advance that other people are too busy to accept my invitation to lunch or tea or even that they are too busy for a phone call. Even if that is true, are they too busy to receive a card from me with an encouraging verse this December?
Am I too busy to listen to others this month? Perhaps in no other month are people more in need of a listening ear, as they process all that is going on in their lives.
We'll all probably run into friends while out shopping or we'll strike up a conversation in line at the checkout or post office. Do you have a few questions at the ready to redeem those conversations?
I know that I don't want to just endure the busy season only to make it to New Year's Day with a numb heart. Busy times are when I most need questions that probe my heart. Will I do the same for others this December.
As my first short-term missions experience came to an end, a wise friend suggested I prepare a 15 second, 30 second. 1-minute, and 2 -minute answer to this question, "How was Japan?" I could talk for hours, but most people were looking for a 15-second answer.
Once I distilled my answer, I knew that even if the person stopped listening after 15 seconds, they would have heard the most important thing. In my case, I most wanted my listeners to grasp more of God's power to answer prayer.
What about this month? Do you have a 15-second answer prepared for when people casually ask you how you are? Will your 15-second answer point them to your busy schedule, leading them to commiserate with you or to feel bad in comparison?
Or will your 15-second answer point them to Jesus, the One whose birth we celebrate, the One who gives us daily grace, joy and reason for living? Will your answer point them to the One who forgives us when we're short with those closest to us and gives us a second chance?
As we move through this month filled with additional actives, I wonder if we should ask God for quiet hearts that listen - both to Him and His Word and also to others. I wonder if we should ask Him for grace to speak less and wisdom so that the words we do speak are a ministry of encouragement to others.
Of course, this type of mentoring ministry of intentional listening and speaking only flows from a quiet heart that sits at Jesus' feet.
"The branch of the vine does not worry and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and
there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right
time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord
Jesus." - Hudson Taylor
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 ESV
Saturday, November 23, 2013
The mail
From making sure I pick it up at the post office during the limited hours to the never-ending dilemma of what to do with the piles of mail that quickly accumulate, it's a daily (well, six-days-a-week) chore.
I try to open it on my kitchen island, with my computer at hand, and trash can at the ready.
All the envelopes & junk mail go straight in the trash. Junk mail catalogs lead me straight to the company's website, where I immediately contact customer service to have our name removed from their list. (Unfortunately, the same goes for unsolicited fundraising letters from Christian ministries, that purchased our address from another organization.)
Any catalogs or home magazines that are of no interest to Jim go into my pile in a corner of the living room.
Bills to be paid go directly behind the pencil case, standing up along the back of the kitchen counter.
That leaves the Wall Street Journal, any ads, the farm magazine du jour, and any personal mail on the corner of the kitchen island, the spot where Jim immediately looks upon returning home to see if I've left any telephone messages for him.
The trick in our home (as I predict it may be in yours, as well) is removing that pile on the corner of the island before the next day's mail doubles the stack!
I try to open it on my kitchen island, with my computer at hand, and trash can at the ready.
All the envelopes & junk mail go straight in the trash. Junk mail catalogs lead me straight to the company's website, where I immediately contact customer service to have our name removed from their list. (Unfortunately, the same goes for unsolicited fundraising letters from Christian ministries, that purchased our address from another organization.)
Any catalogs or home magazines that are of no interest to Jim go into my pile in a corner of the living room.
Bills to be paid go directly behind the pencil case, standing up along the back of the kitchen counter.
That leaves the Wall Street Journal, any ads, the farm magazine du jour, and any personal mail on the corner of the kitchen island, the spot where Jim immediately looks upon returning home to see if I've left any telephone messages for him.
The trick in our home (as I predict it may be in yours, as well) is removing that pile on the corner of the island before the next day's mail doubles the stack!
Friday, November 22, 2013
One thing missing ~ answered
Although the recipe I use for banana bread is quite healthy, and does not include butter or oil, it is not so healthy that it omits sugar! The one thing missing, as I prepared to put my loaves in the oven, was ...
... sugar!
... sugar!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Labels
We humans like to ask questions, using
labels, to determine how to value, judge, or categorize a person, a book, an
institution, etc.
Labels are one of my buttons! In fact, a freedom from labels is one thing that really attracted both of us to our church.
Labels are one of my buttons! In fact, a freedom from labels is one thing that really attracted both of us to our church.
My main issue with labels is that
they tend to mean different things to different people, so if I am asked, “Is it good?” or “Is he godly?” I hope I
reply, “What do you mean by that?”
Not only do labels mean different
things to different people, we carry baggage from associating labels with
certain people. Labels cover a spectrum,
and one problem is that we all know
people who have used labels to identify themselves (or who have been labeled by
others) and, while we know people who embody the best qualities of that label, it's easier to remember the people
who embody the worst qualities of
that label. So, the label is quite
unhelpful when we try to apply it to someone else.
When I ask someone, “Is he a
successful missionary?” or “Is it a good church?” or “Is it a charismatic school?” I’m putting my
lack of love on display. Love seeks to
listen and understand. Yes/no questions
seek short-cuts. A better question might
be, “What do you think about the church?” or “How do you see God using that
missionary?” or “What are the strengths and weaknesses of the school, in terms
of how it interprets and applies the Bible?”
Using labels makes us dull to rigorous thought and discourse.
Using labels makes us dull to rigorous thought and discourse.
Yes/no questions using my labels can
also reveal my pride and the standards by which I identify or measure myself. By asking yes/no questions with a label, I may
be more preoccupied with finding out how others measure up (so I can feel
better about myself) rather than focused on knowing the truth and understanding
the other person.
I have known people who are
constantly asking questions in a way that helps them categorize people or
groups according to their preconceived notions of what is right and wrong,
good and bad. And honestly, those aren’t
the type of people I feel comfortable and welcome around.
In an attempt to be a welcoming person, I may be careful about using theological
labels, but I no doubt still use labels in other areas of life. So reviewing my thoughts on labels has reminded me that I am guilty of this human tendency. Lord, have mercy!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Whatever Happened to Bible Study
I don't know anything about the person who wrote this, but as I read it, I wanted to shout, "YES!"
Whatever Happened to Bible Study
When was the last time you were in a Bible study that studied the Bible?
Whatever Happened to Bible Study
When was the last time you were in a Bible study that studied the Bible?
But
it was the product of my labor in the Word and I think there might be
something to the process of actually digging into the Word, not just
someone else’s insight into the Word, that is healthy. - See more at:
http://sbcvoices.com/whatever-happened-to-bible-study/#sthash.8Ffrs1t1.dpuf
But
it was the product of my labor in the Word and I think there might be
something to the process of actually digging into the Word, not just
someone else’s insight into the Word, that is healthy. - See more at:
http://sbcvoices.com/whatever-happened-to-bible-study/#sthash.8Ffrs1t1.dpuf
But
it was the product of my labor in the Word and I think there might be
something to the process of actually digging into the Word, not just
someone else’s insight into the Word, that is healthy. - See more at:
http://sbcvoices.com/whatever-happened-to-bible-study/#sthash.8Ffrs1t1.dpuf
But
it was the product of my labor in the Word and I think there might be
something to the process of actually digging into the Word, not just
someone else’s insight into the Word, that is healthy. - See more at:
http://sbcvoices.com/whatever-happened-to-bible-study/#sthash.8Ffrs1t1.dpuf
But
it was the product of my labor in the Word and I think there might be
something to the process of actually digging into the Word, not just
someone else’s insight into the Word, that is healthy. - See more at:
http://sbcvoices.com/whatever-happened-to-bible-study/#sthash.8Ffrs1t1.dpuf
But
it was the product of my labor in the Word and I think there might be
something to the process of actually digging into the Word, not just
someone else’s insight into the Word, that is healthy. - See more at:
http://sbcvoices.com/whatever-happened-to-bible-study/#sthash.8Ffrs1t1.dpuf
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
One thing missing
I gathered all my supplies, finally ridding my counter of the rotting bananas.
Cooking with Fannie Farmer makes me feel wholesome and connected to my grandmothers.
I could just taste the warm, hearty banana bread!
And I remember thinking, "This is a really simple recipe. Just a few basic ingredients."
Thankfully, shortly before adding the walnuts and pouring the batter into the loaf pan, the light bulb turned on.
Do you see what ingredient is missing?
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Mystery Picture Revealed
What was different about the Mystery Picture?
The windows slide horizontally, not vertically. It reminded me of Japan!
The windows slide horizontally, not vertically. It reminded me of Japan!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Mystery picture
Do you notice anything unusual in this photo (other than the individual-sized soup tureen which I love?!)?
We were at the lake for our final weekend this summer and, after a few days with family, were enjoying the last 24 hours by ourselves. For only the second time ever, we decided that I would surprise Jim and plan our evening meal out.
The first time I did that (several months previously), I would call it a flop. (I based my plans on the restaurant's website, not on real life experience.)
This time was a success! We had a view across a lake to a beautiful golf course. We could see the sunset (partially). We both liked the restaurant's atmosphere and food.
But something seemed unusual to me (or usual, as the case may be). Do you see anything unusual?
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
A Morning in Late Fall
iPhoto tells me I took these photos on November 3rd. I'm not sure how accurate that is. But I love the views just the same! As with most of my photos, these are taken out our sliding glass door, right behind our kitchen table. I love the mist!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
iPads for all
All the women who went on our church's women's retreat received one of these "iPads."
Black border, button at the bottom, same size, ....
changing views on the "screen," ....
but it's just a black composition book. Quite creative, wouldn't you say?
Monday, November 11, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #69
I'm thankful to the Lord for:
700. this time of year when the sun rays are long and low just before sunset, and they turn the fields behind our house golden!
701. a tidy kitchen (at least at the moment I write this!)
702. remembering the pioneers of Protestant missions in Japan (free ebook here)
703. more time recently to stay in and be busy at home
704. candles on dark winter evenings
705. seasons (While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”)
706. learning that I can get points (i.e., free money) at a drugstore by exercising at home
707. a quiet morning in a new library, helping my ESL student get a library card
708. the home stretch to the finish line for Harvest 2013!!!!!!
709. simple food ~ and a husband who prefers it
710. preparing my heart for Advent
700. this time of year when the sun rays are long and low just before sunset, and they turn the fields behind our house golden!
701. a tidy kitchen (at least at the moment I write this!)
702. remembering the pioneers of Protestant missions in Japan (free ebook here)
703. more time recently to stay in and be busy at home
704. candles on dark winter evenings
705. seasons (While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”)
706. learning that I can get points (i.e., free money) at a drugstore by exercising at home
707. a quiet morning in a new library, helping my ESL student get a library card
708. the home stretch to the finish line for Harvest 2013!!!!!!
709. simple food ~ and a husband who prefers it
710. preparing my heart for Advent
Friday, November 8, 2013
Benediction
Benediction means a good word. I love benedictions! I love good words! In this season of life we do not hear a weekly benediction, but my Bible is marked with a circled "B" by all the familiar benedictions used in my past.
One of those familiar benedictions is Jude 24-25. My all-time favorite is
In my college church, for one season we sang Jude 24-25. For another season, we sang Hosea 6.3.
(The music doesn't start until 0:46 on this video:)
I spent a delightful summer worshiping with a congregation which concluded each Lord's Day morning worship with the first two verses of "Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise," and concluded the evening worship with the last two verses of the same hymn (one version of the words below)!
One of those familiar benedictions is Jude 24-25. My all-time favorite is
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.With or without a benediction, most every church I've worshiped with has had a closing song. In our current church, we sing a hymn (LOVE!) that connects to the sermon, and we always hear something about either the circumstances of the author or a few phrases to listen for.
In my college church, for one season we sang Jude 24-25. For another season, we sang Hosea 6.3.
(The music doesn't start until 0:46 on this video:)
I spent a delightful summer worshiping with a congregation which concluded each Lord's Day morning worship with the first two verses of "Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise," and concluded the evening worship with the last two verses of the same hymn (one version of the words below)!
Savior, again to Thy dear Name we raise
With one accord our parting hymn of praise;
We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease;
Then, lowly kneeling, wait Thy word of peace.
Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way;
With Thee began, with Thee shall end the day.
Guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
That in this house have called upon Thy Name.
Grant us Thy peace, through this approaching night;
Turn Thou for us its darkness into light;
From harm and danger keep Thy children free,
For dark and light are both alike to Thee.
Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life;
Peace to Thy church from error and from strife;
Peace to our land, the fruit of truth and love;
Peace in each heart, Thy Spirit from above.
Thy peace in life, the balm of every pain;
Thy peace in death, the hope to rise again;
Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.
With one accord our parting hymn of praise;
We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease;
Then, lowly kneeling, wait Thy word of peace.
Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way;
With Thee began, with Thee shall end the day.
Guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
That in this house have called upon Thy Name.
Grant us Thy peace, through this approaching night;
Turn Thou for us its darkness into light;
From harm and danger keep Thy children free,
For dark and light are both alike to Thee.
Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life;
Peace to Thy church from error and from strife;
Peace to our land, the fruit of truth and love;
Peace in each heart, Thy Spirit from above.
Thy peace in life, the balm of every pain;
Thy peace in death, the hope to rise again;
Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
The Christmas Letter
Back in my single days, a favorite Christmastime activity overseas was to sit in (fellow expat) friends' living room and read their Christmas letters outloud. From year to year, I felt like I got to know "the long-winded couple that tells all the details," "the nice family that leads a quiet life," and "the boasters."
We have three Christmases under our belt and have handled our Christmas correspondence each year in a different way: a picture only, a card only, and a traditional "Year in Review" letter.
Although we would have liked to include a family picture in 2013, our goal is another letter. But what shall we write about 2013? In some senses it has been a routine year ~ plant seeds, harvest crops, teach Sunday School and find other opportunities to serve, visit with family, attend piano recitals and graduation, etc. In other senses it has been a year that is difficult (and maybe not appropriate) to communicate in a Christmas letter.
We want to avoid writing a letter that seems to brag about our accomplishments (and we certainly don't feel like we have anything to brag about this year ~ except God's faithfulness!). Neither do we want to write a letter that drones on and on about the mundane everyday stuff of life (which is no different from everyone else's!).
But what is the purpose of a Christmas letter? To share the highlights of our year? To merely inform people that we are still alive and remember them fondly enough to keep them on our Christmas card list? :) To comfort others with the same comfort we have received? To transparently share both our struggles and also our hope in Immanuel ~ God with us?
Taking a step backward, what response do we want to elicit in our readers? Do we want them to feel badly in comparison to our bragging?! Do we want them to pity us because we didn't have an exciting year?! Do we want them to feel empty because we just strung together some nice platitudes and called it a Christmas letter, but didn't say anything meaningful?! Do we want them to meditate more on Jesus?!
What is your goal for your Christmas letter? What type of letter do you enjoy receiving?
We have three Christmases under our belt and have handled our Christmas correspondence each year in a different way: a picture only, a card only, and a traditional "Year in Review" letter.
Although we would have liked to include a family picture in 2013, our goal is another letter. But what shall we write about 2013? In some senses it has been a routine year ~ plant seeds, harvest crops, teach Sunday School and find other opportunities to serve, visit with family, attend piano recitals and graduation, etc. In other senses it has been a year that is difficult (and maybe not appropriate) to communicate in a Christmas letter.
We want to avoid writing a letter that seems to brag about our accomplishments (and we certainly don't feel like we have anything to brag about this year ~ except God's faithfulness!). Neither do we want to write a letter that drones on and on about the mundane everyday stuff of life (which is no different from everyone else's!).
But what is the purpose of a Christmas letter? To share the highlights of our year? To merely inform people that we are still alive and remember them fondly enough to keep them on our Christmas card list? :) To comfort others with the same comfort we have received? To transparently share both our struggles and also our hope in Immanuel ~ God with us?
Taking a step backward, what response do we want to elicit in our readers? Do we want them to feel badly in comparison to our bragging?! Do we want them to pity us because we didn't have an exciting year?! Do we want them to feel empty because we just strung together some nice platitudes and called it a Christmas letter, but didn't say anything meaningful?! Do we want them to meditate more on Jesus?!
What is your goal for your Christmas letter? What type of letter do you enjoy receiving?
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Meditating
He began his devotional comments with, "I don't know how you incorporate meditation into your life."
He assumed we do!
And then went on to explain, with great joy and an obvious and contagious love for the Lord and His Word and work, that meditation is what enflames our soul.
Next he shared from his recent meditations from Jude.
Verse 3 and verses 20 & 21 command our human activity ("contend for the faith," and "build yourselves up ... pray ... keep yourselves"). But the bookends of the book (verses 1 &2 as well as verse 24) declare God's sovereignty.
The best I could find online is a different arrangement, but beautiful nonetheless. Enjoy the music!
He assumed we do!
And then went on to explain, with great joy and an obvious and contagious love for the Lord and His Word and work, that meditation is what enflames our soul.
Next he shared from his recent meditations from Jude.
Verse 3 and verses 20 & 21 command our human activity ("contend for the faith," and "build yourselves up ... pray ... keep yourselves"). But the bookends of the book (verses 1 &2 as well as verse 24) declare God's sovereignty.
"To those who are called, beloved ... and kept..."My college church sang Jude 24 and 25 as our closing song, and at the end of this devotional, the leader sang it to us. (Brought back so many memories!)
"Now to him who is able to keep you... and to present you ..."
The best I could find online is a different arrangement, but beautiful nonetheless. Enjoy the music!
Monday, November 4, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #68
I'm thankful to the Lord for:
691. this series on memorizing God's Word
692. a sweet thank you note for something small I did, something which I believe was obedience to the prompting of the Spirit
693. faith to obey that prompting
694. tiny chunks of time the past few weeks that have resulted in bringing some order out of the chaos that my home naturally tends toward (especially those pesky bathroom cabinets and a few dresser drawers ... things that no one else will see but which, when managed, bring a measure of peace & relief)
695. peace that comes from neat piles rather than out-of-control messes
696. time in the car as I give Jim rides out to a distant field so he can bring back machinery
697. so many opportunities lately where I am out of my comfort zone and have to beg God to show up and help me
698. biblical church leadership
699. a more-beautiful-than-words (or even than these pictures show) sunrise!!!
691. this series on memorizing God's Word
692. a sweet thank you note for something small I did, something which I believe was obedience to the prompting of the Spirit
693. faith to obey that prompting
694. tiny chunks of time the past few weeks that have resulted in bringing some order out of the chaos that my home naturally tends toward (especially those pesky bathroom cabinets and a few dresser drawers ... things that no one else will see but which, when managed, bring a measure of peace & relief)
695. peace that comes from neat piles rather than out-of-control messes
696. time in the car as I give Jim rides out to a distant field so he can bring back machinery
697. so many opportunities lately where I am out of my comfort zone and have to beg God to show up and help me
698. biblical church leadership
699. a more-beautiful-than-words (or even than these pictures show) sunrise!!!
700. joy in the journey
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Finding God in our discomfort
Mindlessly listening to the radio as I drove the other day, the following words got my attention:
You can listen to the whole message by James MacDonald here.
He encourages us to know ~ and even memorize ~ what he calls the four main NT passages on trials:
If you believe God exists to make you comfortable, then you will find Him very absent in your discomfort.
But, if you believe, as the Scripture teaches, that God exists to make you holy, you will feel God at work in you ... in the midst of a trial.
... God is never more present, never closer, than when His children are suffering.
You can listen to the whole message by James MacDonald here.
He encourages us to know ~ and even memorize ~ what he calls the four main NT passages on trials:
- 2 Corinthians 12
- Hebrews 12
- James 1
- 1 Peter 4
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Book Review: Holy Is the Day: Living in the Gift of the Present
Holy Is the Day: Living in the Gift of the Present, by Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford
(see my review of Surprised by Oxford here)
Carolyn Weber's first book (which I highly recommend) tells the exciting story of her coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Her second book (Holy Is the Day) tells the story of her growing in learning how to live out her faith in mundane (and even disappointing) circumstances of real life.
Her first book is a gift to the skeptic. Her second book is a gift to the believer who wonders how to reconcile the glory of God with real life.
Mrs. Weber writes transparently about health crises and also the general naggings of everyday life when she just can't seem to get it together. She lets us into her heart and mind as God reveals and begins to break her pride in performance, as "trauma cracks [her] open so the Holy Spirit can get in," as she counts the cost of "publishing a work about her faith while going into tenure," and as she lives in an "evaluative world that does not 'get' grace."
She writes of God using all these events to help her pay attention, value how precious life (everyday life) is, grow in her sense of wonder, see grace "even when things are lower than low," and turn carpe diem into worship (which she terms "carpe Deum"), by "honoring the God who honors us with His presence."
I found "Holy Is the Day" to be a heavier book than "Surprised by Oxford," one that pulled me in to think and ponder as I read. Depending on your background, you may be uncomfortable by the number of references to Catholicism (e.g., a friend sends her a photo to encourage her and says, “Remember. Mary knows how you feel").
Overall, the book provides a good contemporary example of fighting to live out one's faith.
(I was given an Advance Reading Copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
(see my review of Surprised by Oxford here)
Carolyn Weber's first book (which I highly recommend) tells the exciting story of her coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Her second book (Holy Is the Day) tells the story of her growing in learning how to live out her faith in mundane (and even disappointing) circumstances of real life.
Her first book is a gift to the skeptic. Her second book is a gift to the believer who wonders how to reconcile the glory of God with real life.
Mrs. Weber writes transparently about health crises and also the general naggings of everyday life when she just can't seem to get it together. She lets us into her heart and mind as God reveals and begins to break her pride in performance, as "trauma cracks [her] open so the Holy Spirit can get in," as she counts the cost of "publishing a work about her faith while going into tenure," and as she lives in an "evaluative world that does not 'get' grace."
She writes of God using all these events to help her pay attention, value how precious life (everyday life) is, grow in her sense of wonder, see grace "even when things are lower than low," and turn carpe diem into worship (which she terms "carpe Deum"), by "honoring the God who honors us with His presence."
I found "Holy Is the Day" to be a heavier book than "Surprised by Oxford," one that pulled me in to think and ponder as I read. Depending on your background, you may be uncomfortable by the number of references to Catholicism (e.g., a friend sends her a photo to encourage her and says, “Remember. Mary knows how you feel").
Overall, the book provides a good contemporary example of fighting to live out one's faith.
(I was given an Advance Reading Copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
Friday, November 1, 2013
Esther
Our pastor just finished a sermon series on Esther.
He titled the series, "It just so happened," and repeated that phrase multiple times each Sunday morning. Now whenever I want to marvel at how God arranged circumstances to work things out in my own life, I catch myself saying, in his tone of voice, "It just so happened...!"
God's name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but that is no indication that God is not present and working in the events recorded in that book.
The series, as you can imagine, was full of good stuff about God's sovereignty, but I was amazed at his conclusion (when he preached from chapters 7-10 in one fell swoop).
His conclusion: There are only two endings to a story - the good/happy ending or the bad/sad ending. All of literature reminds us that there are only two endings to life - the good (heaven) ending or the bad (hell) ending.
I had never considered that literature is one more way that reveals that eternity is indeed written in our hearts!
He titled the series, "It just so happened," and repeated that phrase multiple times each Sunday morning. Now whenever I want to marvel at how God arranged circumstances to work things out in my own life, I catch myself saying, in his tone of voice, "It just so happened...!"
God's name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but that is no indication that God is not present and working in the events recorded in that book.
The series, as you can imagine, was full of good stuff about God's sovereignty, but I was amazed at his conclusion (when he preached from chapters 7-10 in one fell swoop).
His conclusion: There are only two endings to a story - the good/happy ending or the bad/sad ending. All of literature reminds us that there are only two endings to life - the good (heaven) ending or the bad (hell) ending.
I had never considered that literature is one more way that reveals that eternity is indeed written in our hearts!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Benefits to group Bible study
There are many benefits to group Bible study, but here are four more:
- If the study is in the general location of a friend's dad's new retirement home, you can pop in for a visit with him on your way.
- He will then pray for your Bible study!
- If the study is held at Panera, and you buy a YouPick2 meal, you might succumb to the 99-cent pastry and bring home a cinnamon roll for the next day's breakfast.
- The cinnamon roll may even be big enough to share!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Naming the losses
Driving home from Kroger the other day, instead of taking the {boring} interstate (which goes south and then east), I drove east and then south on country roads. Googlemaps tells me the mileage was the same. The scenery was anything but! The interstate route is flat with endless views on either side of fields. The scenic route had curves and some hills, and a smaller horizon.
As I headed down one hill, it looked just like a hill on the route I frequently drove from Narita Airport. So, although I was here in the Midwestern U.S., I took a little trip in my mind back to my old stompin' grounds, re-living in my mind the road from the airport.
And realized I'm not sure I could drive it today without getting lost! I drove that 26-mile, hour-long route more times than I can count, knew it as well as I know the back of my hand, and relished in finding my way on backroads with confusing route signs.
So, that's a loss - that road in mydaily weekly (?) life and my sense of direction on it.
But, with losses come gains! : )
The other day while driving a (recently-arrived-to-the-U.S.) friend around the nearest large town, she marveled at how well I know the roads in a town 25-30 miles from my home. Really?! Wow! It's been a couple l-o-n-g years coming, and those first several months were painful, as I frequently got lost. I still don't know my way perfectly, but I've learned many routes and streets and shortcuts, and have gained confidence in finding my way places. Without her newcomer perspective, I'm not sure I would have realized my progress. :)
One more loss; one more gain.
As I headed down one hill, it looked just like a hill on the route I frequently drove from Narita Airport. So, although I was here in the Midwestern U.S., I took a little trip in my mind back to my old stompin' grounds, re-living in my mind the road from the airport.
And realized I'm not sure I could drive it today without getting lost! I drove that 26-mile, hour-long route more times than I can count, knew it as well as I know the back of my hand, and relished in finding my way on backroads with confusing route signs.
So, that's a loss - that road in my
But, with losses come gains! : )
The other day while driving a (recently-arrived-to-the-U.S.) friend around the nearest large town, she marveled at how well I know the roads in a town 25-30 miles from my home. Really?! Wow! It's been a couple l-o-n-g years coming, and those first several months were painful, as I frequently got lost. I still don't know my way perfectly, but I've learned many routes and streets and shortcuts, and have gained confidence in finding my way places. Without her newcomer perspective, I'm not sure I would have realized my progress. :)
One more loss; one more gain.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
My secret
The hanging baskets are not. :-)
The most work I do for them is remember to bring them in before the first frost, when their color would betray my secret.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Late harvest morning
The night before was like most of the other evenings in
October. I tried to stay up until my
farmer came home, so I’d at least see him and say, “Hi,” and “How was your
day?” and “I’m glad to see you.” Working
8 AM until past 9 PM makes for a long workday, and, if I go to bed before he
comes home, can also make for long stretches of not seeing each other.
In the morning, I felt myself waking up, but tried to keep
sleeping. Insomnia and I are not on good
terms. Plus no need to awaken Jim before
he absolutely must get up. “Why didn’t I
close the blinds last night? Then the moonlight wouldn’t be waking me up when I
stir.” I dared to peek through my
eyelids, and, “What?! Is that the
SUN?!?”
We had slept ‘til 7 AM, and, even better, (I) had been
gently awakened by the dawning of the new day.
Going into the kitchen, I quickly (with weeks of recent
practice) packed a lunch and supper, put toast in the toaster, boiled water for
tea, and fried two eggs, all the while marveling (and even exclaiming aloud!)
at the blue and golden sky, as the sun slowly rose above the horizon. The soybean field out back (which until a
week ago had been full of amazingly tall bean plants), now empty and covered
with small pieces of straw, was painted with the first frost of the
season. Combined with the first winter
sunrise, the view was breathtaking!
We ate quickly, grabbed the red lunch box, and both got into
our respective vehicles, backed out of the garage, closed the garage door, and
headed to the farm, where one vehicle was parked for later use, and where the
Farmer and his father piled into the car with me, and we headed ten miles
southwest to a distant rented field.
One scrambled up into the cab of the red grain truck and one
into the driver’s seat of the old farm truck, and off we went, caravanning at
8.15 in the morning for the first couple miles, before they headed off to a
field twenty miles to the northeast.
A few raindrops hit the windshield. Maybe the forecasted
rain is coming; maybe not. But a
forecast is no reason to stop; there are beans to harvest in the next field.
I drove the rest of the way home, realizing unfortunately
that I hadn’t really watched our route on the way there. Thankfully the roads are straight north-south
or straight east-west, and I knew the general direction. But on our way, we had turned west south
of the windmills, and I was driving east north of the windmills, so I
was a bit confused. Once I saw the
distinctive roofline of the Mennonite Church in the distance, I knew where I
was.
Though it was cloudy and cold (and rain was
forecasted), we saw a farmer out chiseling his field (in 4WD, the farmers in
the car told me). Another man was
setting up what looks like survey equipment out in the middle of a field,
probably preparing the field for tiling.
Another field, which not two days ago, had a pile of long metal strips
off-loaded by the side of the road, now sports a ready-to-go irrigation pivot. Those fields are harvested, but that doesn’t
mean the farmers are taking it easy. They are racing to do as much work as
possible to prepare the ground for the next growing season before it freezes.
As I approached the next-to-the-last stop sign on my route
home, I slowed down much earlier than usual, due to the farm equipment in front
of me, which had to take the downhill slope very slowly. We both turned left, and when the oncoming lane
was clear, I passed him. Hmmm…. A green
tractor pulling two full grain wagons, one green and one blue. Could be one of ours. …. Or could be any other farmer. I think perhaps the farmer is my
brother-in-law, but I don’t wave, remembering the day last week when I waved
enthusiastically to a farmer driving a similar set-up, only to learn later that
Jim was never on the road where I met said farmer. : )
Now to start my non-farm day.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Do geese honk?
Now that I'm back in the world of ESL for a couple hours a week, my use of the English language is questioned, and I sometimes second-guess myself.
When I taught multiple English conversation classes every week, I kept a running list of questions to ask other native speakers, and was quick to say to my students, "I'll get back to you on that." At the time, I thought I was just losing my English, due to living outside of a native-speaking country.
This morning after breakfast, we heard one of the sounds of fall - geese honking. But after I mentioned it, I got to wondering, "Do they honk?" (Thank goodness for Google! Yes, they do!)
A week or so ago, my ESL student was describing being in Chicago the day before the Chicago marathon. I re-stated her explanation: "Security was tight." But "tight" is not a direct translation of the Japanese word she was trying to communicate, so naturally she questioned me (as I would have done in the same situation).
And then I was left wondering, "Do we really say, 'Security was tight?'" Out came my little notepad, and once again I have started keeping a running list of questions to research. Once again, Google to the rescue. Yes, we do say, "Security was tight." : )
When I taught multiple English conversation classes every week, I kept a running list of questions to ask other native speakers, and was quick to say to my students, "I'll get back to you on that." At the time, I thought I was just losing my English, due to living outside of a native-speaking country.
This morning after breakfast, we heard one of the sounds of fall - geese honking. But after I mentioned it, I got to wondering, "Do they honk?" (Thank goodness for Google! Yes, they do!)
A week or so ago, my ESL student was describing being in Chicago the day before the Chicago marathon. I re-stated her explanation: "Security was tight." But "tight" is not a direct translation of the Japanese word she was trying to communicate, so naturally she questioned me (as I would have done in the same situation).
And then I was left wondering, "Do we really say, 'Security was tight?'" Out came my little notepad, and once again I have started keeping a running list of questions to research. Once again, Google to the rescue. Yes, we do say, "Security was tight." : )
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Tree-lined streets & fixer-uppers
To follow up on Thursday's post about 31 Days, I'm also enjoying 31 Days of Hope.
Multiple times in the past few months I've thought to myself, "I'd like to do a word study on 'hope.'" This blogger is doing one!
Her posts are not only informative and academic (Do you know tiqvah, a Hebrew word that means expectation and also cord, as in Rahab's cord! or Miqveh, another Hebrew word for hope), but also thought-provoking and heart-piercing.
Read this one to consider what your tree-lined streets are.
Or this one to consider how our hearts are like fixer-uppers that God is fixing up.
Multiple times in the past few months I've thought to myself, "I'd like to do a word study on 'hope.'" This blogger is doing one!
Her posts are not only informative and academic (Do you know tiqvah, a Hebrew word that means expectation and also cord, as in Rahab's cord! or Miqveh, another Hebrew word for hope), but also thought-provoking and heart-piercing.
Read this one to consider what your tree-lined streets are.
Or this one to consider how our hearts are like fixer-uppers that God is fixing up.
"And maybe the disappointments and hurts and no, not yet, maybe nevers are just siding coming down. Maybe they are sheet rock being stripped. Maybe they are exposing all of the framing and studs and God is building something different on the footprint of our heart."
All of her Hope posts are linked to this page.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Happy foods
We have had some intense days, especially the run of six days in which I saw Jim for about five minutes before 8 AM and about five minutes after 9 PM (except for the days where I fell asleep before he came home).
I don't know about you, but when we're in that type of a routine (is that even considered a routine?), I lose all motivation to wash dishes, sweep the kitchen floor, or put away laundry. Not to mention that I tend to go somewhere (20-30 miles away) almost every day (a habit which has got to stop). So, all of that to say that you wouldn't really want to come visit us today (or tomorrow).
But today is a rare day in which I do not need to leave until noon. Jim left shortly after 6, and other than a few pressing business phone calls, my time is my own, and I'm sort of in recovery mode.
As I sit here eating the P-E-R-F-E-C-T bowl of oatmeal (no sugar, chopped apple, and a few raisins), I'm reminded of the list of happy foods which hung on my refrigerator in Japan. Apparently I made a copy for one of my sisters, and she just found it the other day and reminded me of it.
Did you know that oatmeal is one of the mood-enhancing foods?!?!? I have no idea where I found this list or if it's true, but I like it. :)
Oatmeal
Walnuts
Lentils
Salmon
Tea
I could live on that!
What foods make you feel good?
I don't know about you, but when we're in that type of a routine (is that even considered a routine?), I lose all motivation to wash dishes, sweep the kitchen floor, or put away laundry. Not to mention that I tend to go somewhere (20-30 miles away) almost every day (a habit which has got to stop). So, all of that to say that you wouldn't really want to come visit us today (or tomorrow).
But today is a rare day in which I do not need to leave until noon. Jim left shortly after 6, and other than a few pressing business phone calls, my time is my own, and I'm sort of in recovery mode.
As I sit here eating the P-E-R-F-E-C-T bowl of oatmeal (no sugar, chopped apple, and a few raisins), I'm reminded of the list of happy foods which hung on my refrigerator in Japan. Apparently I made a copy for one of my sisters, and she just found it the other day and reminded me of it.
Did you know that oatmeal is one of the mood-enhancing foods?!?!? I have no idea where I found this list or if it's true, but I like it. :)
Oatmeal
Walnuts
Lentils
Salmon
Tea
I could live on that!
What foods make you feel good?
Thursday, October 17, 2013
31 Days
Over a thousand bloggers are writing daily during October as part of the 31 Day series at The Nester.
[I debated joining in, but knew that giving time to writing would mean taking time from something else (even if that something else is sleep), and in this season there's not enough "something else" to take from. Maybe next year!]
The past several years I've read some really good 31-day series that have hit me right where I was and said things I needed to hear.
This year, I'm enjoying:
31 Days of Hymns,
31 Days of Printable Verses (download for free on that day only), and
31 Days of Scripture Memory.
Are you reading any of the 31 Day series?
P.S. - Oh, and by the way, any suggestions for topics I could attempt in a 31-day series?
[I debated joining in, but knew that giving time to writing would mean taking time from something else (even if that something else is sleep), and in this season there's not enough "something else" to take from. Maybe next year!]
The past several years I've read some really good 31-day series that have hit me right where I was and said things I needed to hear.
This year, I'm enjoying:
31 Days of Hymns,
31 Days of Printable Verses (download for free on that day only), and
31 Days of Scripture Memory.
Are you reading any of the 31 Day series?
P.S. - Oh, and by the way, any suggestions for topics I could attempt in a 31-day series?
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Happy, happy, happy
Driving 30 minutes to go to prayer meeting isn't always easy, but is always worth it!
This past week, God met me in so many ways during that brief hour.
As we were singing, "Jesus, I am Resting, Resting," and "He Hideth My Soul," I thought of one more reason that prayer meeting is always worth it. We sing hymns!!
Singing hymns is always a sure way to increase my happiness level!
This past week, God met me in so many ways during that brief hour.
As we were singing, "Jesus, I am Resting, Resting," and "He Hideth My Soul," I thought of one more reason that prayer meeting is always worth it. We sing hymns!!
Singing hymns is always a sure way to increase my happiness level!
With numberless blessings each moment He crowns...
Monday, October 14, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #67
682. I'm thankful to the Lord for a wonderful B&B visit from a cousin's son, wife, and infant son!
683. I'm thankful to the Lord for an inspiring missions report yesterday by a couple doing rural church planting out west... and whose church is now self-supporting!!
684. I'm thankful to the Lord for the stimulation of attending an orphan care conference Friday & Saturday and hearing from the authors of Orphanology.
685. I'm thankful to the Lord for a fun group of 6th grade girls and the opportunity to share in their spiritual nurture in Sunday School.
686. I'm thankful to the Lord for a hard Sunday School lesson on God's goodness in our suffering last week ...
687. and fun elements in our lesson on sin this week ... complete with marshmallows, toothpicks, silly string, and food coloring!
688. I'm thankful to the Lord for the discipline of family reunions and remembering God's faithfulness through the generations.
689. I'm thankful to the Lord for safety ~ and better gas mileage!!! ~ in driving 20,000 miles this past year. (We acquired this car a year ago this month.)
690. I'm thankful to the Lord for good progress with harvest!
683. I'm thankful to the Lord for an inspiring missions report yesterday by a couple doing rural church planting out west... and whose church is now self-supporting!!
684. I'm thankful to the Lord for the stimulation of attending an orphan care conference Friday & Saturday and hearing from the authors of Orphanology.
685. I'm thankful to the Lord for a fun group of 6th grade girls and the opportunity to share in their spiritual nurture in Sunday School.
686. I'm thankful to the Lord for a hard Sunday School lesson on God's goodness in our suffering last week ...
687. and fun elements in our lesson on sin this week ... complete with marshmallows, toothpicks, silly string, and food coloring!
688. I'm thankful to the Lord for the discipline of family reunions and remembering God's faithfulness through the generations.
689. I'm thankful to the Lord for safety ~ and better gas mileage!!! ~ in driving 20,000 miles this past year. (We acquired this car a year ago this month.)
690. I'm thankful to the Lord for good progress with harvest!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The complexities of our brains
I am enjoying opportunities to speak Japanese each week, after a couple years of not even uttering one word. It's not exactly like starting over, but my brain is definitely rusty! As with initial language learning, my listening comprehension is far out-pacing my speaking fluency.
The other day, as we discussed food and cooking, my brain heard the words for fried chicken, but I frantically asked myself, "What does é³¥ mean? Hmmm, é³¥?é³¥?é³¥?" Ummm, it's chicken, a word that should have been very easy.
We cleared that up and continued on to the topic of baking potatoes. I was explaining the process, and, without even skipping a beat, said (in Japanese) that the next step is to pierce the potatoes.
How could I forget the word for chicken and yet rattle off the word for pierce?!?
Our brains are certainly complex!
The other day, as we discussed food and cooking, my brain heard the words for fried chicken, but I frantically asked myself, "What does é³¥ mean? Hmmm, é³¥?é³¥?é³¥?" Ummm, it's chicken, a word that should have been very easy.
We cleared that up and continued on to the topic of baking potatoes. I was explaining the process, and, without even skipping a beat, said (in Japanese) that the next step is to pierce the potatoes.
How could I forget the word for chicken and yet rattle off the word for pierce?!?
Our brains are certainly complex!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Do you work?
"Do you work?" she asked, when I lamented not being able to regularly attend an exercise class in the next farm town [farm town = 800 pop.] west of us.
"I volunteer a lot," was the simplest answer.
One of the biggest adjustments from my single life to my married life is not location (Tokyo metropolitan area to cornfields), nor marital status, nor denomination, nor domicile (Japanese-sized apartment to American-sized house), but having to make my own schedule.
Jim's desire ~ and mine ~ is that I serve others, but figuring out how to make that happenhas taken is taking time.
I'm enjoying the opportunities given to me this fall:
What is your favorite way to serve?
"I volunteer a lot," was the simplest answer.
One of the biggest adjustments from my single life to my married life is not location (Tokyo metropolitan area to cornfields), nor marital status, nor denomination, nor domicile (Japanese-sized apartment to American-sized house), but having to make my own schedule.
Jim's desire ~ and mine ~ is that I serve others, but figuring out how to make that happen
I'm enjoying the opportunities given to me this fall:
- 30 minutes a week in kindergarten (in a public school our church partners with),
- an hour a week in 2nd grade (in our local public school that I can walk to),
- twice-a-week ESL tutoring (one-on-one),
- twice-a-month Bible study with a few friends, and
- team-teaching my delightful 6th grade girls' Sunday School class!
What is your favorite way to serve?
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Putting down roots
Culture shock ~ and reverse culture shock ~ are sort of like grief. In the beginning, it can be consuming. But, as time goes on, you spend more and more time in "normal" life, and the episodes of culture shock are fewer and farther apart. But that perspective will always be part of who you are.
Because I was taken aback by my most recent experience with reverse culture shock, I appreciate all the more the moments I've had lately when I have felt like my roots are going down in this place!
In the early months of our marriage, we often ate Sunday lunch with friends in a town near our church. I remember distinctly how disoriented I was every Sunday, as Jim drove to that town (20 miles or so from our home). My mental map was v.e.r.y. slow in forming!
Whenever I went there, the first several months, I always took the GPS - or printed out directions from Googlemaps! I soon learned how to drive from our home to Farm & Fleet. Or from our home to Kroger. I was shocked one day to realize that one could drive from Farm & Fleet to Kroger! I was very confused by the roads in that town, which makes me very happy to say that just in the past few weeks (3 years later!) my mental map seems pretty accurate.
I can go from random point A to random point B to random point C ~ all in that town! A few weeks ago I went from my sister-in-laws' parents' home to the Goodwill drop-off location. And even on to a third spot!
I've successfully driven to that town's post office, one afternoon when I was at Kroger, and could not make it back to our post office in town.
It is such a feeling of accomplishment ... and one more step in the process of putting down roots and feeling like this place is my home.
Because I was taken aback by my most recent experience with reverse culture shock, I appreciate all the more the moments I've had lately when I have felt like my roots are going down in this place!
In the early months of our marriage, we often ate Sunday lunch with friends in a town near our church. I remember distinctly how disoriented I was every Sunday, as Jim drove to that town (20 miles or so from our home). My mental map was v.e.r.y. slow in forming!
Whenever I went there, the first several months, I always took the GPS - or printed out directions from Googlemaps! I soon learned how to drive from our home to Farm & Fleet. Or from our home to Kroger. I was shocked one day to realize that one could drive from Farm & Fleet to Kroger! I was very confused by the roads in that town, which makes me very happy to say that just in the past few weeks (3 years later!) my mental map seems pretty accurate.
I can go from random point A to random point B to random point C ~ all in that town! A few weeks ago I went from my sister-in-laws' parents' home to the Goodwill drop-off location. And even on to a third spot!
I've successfully driven to that town's post office, one afternoon when I was at Kroger, and could not make it back to our post office in town.
It is such a feeling of accomplishment ... and one more step in the process of putting down roots and feeling like this place is my home.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Fall
An international friend who is looking forward to carving her first jack-o-lantern was confused as to why people have uncarved pumpkins sitting on their porch or front stoop.
I was in the pumpkin capital the other day, and noticed the tractor-trailers loaded with pumpkins waiting outside the Libby canning facility.
Everywhere I drive these days, I see combines in fields or traveling down the road (blocking the road) going to fields, and I see grain carts laden with corn or soybeans being pulled down Main Street to the elevator.
Taking advantage of the nice weather, I had the window open this evening and heard my first loud HONKs of the season. A large flock of Canadian geese flew over, quite noisily.
"Because it's fall," I explained.
I was in the pumpkin capital the other day, and noticed the tractor-trailers loaded with pumpkins waiting outside the Libby canning facility.
Everywhere I drive these days, I see combines in fields or traveling down the road (blocking the road) going to fields, and I see grain carts laden with corn or soybeans being pulled down Main Street to the elevator.
Taking advantage of the nice weather, I had the window open this evening and heard my first loud HONKs of the season. A large flock of Canadian geese flew over, quite noisily.
It's fall!
Monday, September 30, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #66
My 1000 Gifts list began in a paper journal in November 2006 ... and changed my life. When I reached 1000, I stopped, and it was noticeable ... to the point that my friends started asking, "Are you still writing your list?" [Hint, hint!]
And so I continue ... plodding away on this journey of cultivating gratitude.
Recently, in an effort not to forget the Giver of all good gifts, I have added a small (but big-in-meaning) phrase to the front of each gift I list.
Do you count your gifts?
671. I thank the Lord for a week of perfect weather - highs in the 70s/low 80s and lows in the 50s with clear blue skies!
672. I thank the Lord for many opportunities to serve and invest in others' lives. (I'm headed to my first weekly half-hour in kindergarten today & my first weekly hour in 2nd grade tomorrow!)
673. I thank the Lord for a husband who asks fantastic questions!
674. I thank the Lord for moments of reading together in the living room and periodically sharing newly gleaned information or insights with each other.
675. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve together on our church's missions conference team.
676. I thank the Lord for how our past experiences are being put to good use on that team. :)
677. I thank the Lord for a very ordinary widowed grandmother who has experienced God's faithfulness for decades ~ and was willing to speak candidly and powerfully to our church women's retreat.
678. I thank the Lord for a first-grader running to greet me with reckless abandon and tell me all about her day at school and teach me how to play "Pretty Pretty Princess." :)
679. I thank the Lord for case workers, adoption attorneys, and parents who have gone before us who listen, share their wisdom, and help us muddle through options.
680. I thank the Lord for a new 7-week women's Bible study with four other women.
And so I continue ... plodding away on this journey of cultivating gratitude.
Recently, in an effort not to forget the Giver of all good gifts, I have added a small (but big-in-meaning) phrase to the front of each gift I list.
Do you count your gifts?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
671. I thank the Lord for a week of perfect weather - highs in the 70s/low 80s and lows in the 50s with clear blue skies!
672. I thank the Lord for many opportunities to serve and invest in others' lives. (I'm headed to my first weekly half-hour in kindergarten today & my first weekly hour in 2nd grade tomorrow!)
673. I thank the Lord for a husband who asks fantastic questions!
674. I thank the Lord for moments of reading together in the living room and periodically sharing newly gleaned information or insights with each other.
675. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve together on our church's missions conference team.
676. I thank the Lord for how our past experiences are being put to good use on that team. :)
677. I thank the Lord for a very ordinary widowed grandmother who has experienced God's faithfulness for decades ~ and was willing to speak candidly and powerfully to our church women's retreat.
678. I thank the Lord for a first-grader running to greet me with reckless abandon and tell me all about her day at school and teach me how to play "Pretty Pretty Princess." :)
679. I thank the Lord for case workers, adoption attorneys, and parents who have gone before us who listen, share their wisdom, and help us muddle through options.
680. I thank the Lord for a new 7-week women's Bible study with four other women.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Reverse culture shock (Retreat edition)
Last Saturday I woke up at a nice retreat center, and walked across the conference ground, enjoying the perfect early-fall weather.
It had been several years since I'd been on a retreat, and I certainly had never been to this Midwest conference ground. How fun to explore a new part of my new home state! How wonderful to be outside early in the morning during this glorious time of year! And ... breakfast! My favorite meal of the day!!
I walked through the buffet line, selected my food in a daze, set my tray on a table, went over to the drink station to make my tea, and then sat down to eat.
And the feeling I know all too well (though had not felt in awhile) came back! My head was spinning, and it felt like I was having an internal whiplash.
Aha!! The last time I was on a retreat was in Japan. And typical breakfast fare at such retreats usually includes whole grilled fish, rice, and miso soup, none of which was visible at this Midwestern retreat center on a Saturday morning in September.
Culture shock. It always trips you up when you least expect it!
It had been several years since I'd been on a retreat, and I certainly had never been to this Midwest conference ground. How fun to explore a new part of my new home state! How wonderful to be outside early in the morning during this glorious time of year! And ... breakfast! My favorite meal of the day!!
I walked through the buffet line, selected my food in a daze, set my tray on a table, went over to the drink station to make my tea, and then sat down to eat.
And the feeling I know all too well (though had not felt in awhile) came back! My head was spinning, and it felt like I was having an internal whiplash.
As the conversation around my table continued, I tried to make sense of what was going on inside me. I've been back in America for four years. And never once in those four years have I wanted fish and rice for breakfast. What is going on?!
"Where is the fish and rice and soup?!?!?"
Aha!! The last time I was on a retreat was in Japan. And typical breakfast fare at such retreats usually includes whole grilled fish, rice, and miso soup, none of which was visible at this Midwestern retreat center on a Saturday morning in September.
Culture shock. It always trips you up when you least expect it!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Freezer Cooking, Lunchbox Edition
Freezer cooking ... it's one of those things that takes some forethought {and work!}, but the payoff is incredible!
Last year I read Not Your Mother's Make Ahead and Freeze Cookbook (Thank you, Interlibrary Loan!). Several of the recipes became part of our list of well-loved dishes that freeze well. The best part is that I've even been able to take a frozen (thawed) casserole to a friend when I signed up on Take Them a Meal.
We are rounding the corner to the start of harvest, which means lunches & suppers packed in the red lunchboxES. The best lunchbox meals in our family do not involve spoons or forks, thus the casseroles are out of the question. I don't want to send a ham sandwich twice a day for three or four weeks ... mainly because I wouldn't want to eat a ham sandwich twice a day for three or four weeks!
So, what to do?!? Freezer cooking to the rescue!
One Saturday afternoon I baked two meatloaves, cooked a pot roast in the slow cooker, and grilled a bunch of pork chops on the George Foreman. After the slices cooled in the fridge, I froze them in ziptop bags with freezer paper in between. Once they were frozen, I removed the freezer paper, and I have the equivalent of IQF sliced meat to add variety to harvest lunchboxes. Someday soon, I hope to add a roasted turkey breast and roasted chicken to this lineup.
In full disclosure, I really haven't cooked since that day a couple weeks ago. Even when Jim is home for a meal, I just pull out two slices of meat, defrost them in the microwave, and add some vegetables, salad, or fruit.
What are your best freezer cooking recipes or tips?
Last year I read Not Your Mother's Make Ahead and Freeze Cookbook (Thank you, Interlibrary Loan!). Several of the recipes became part of our list of well-loved dishes that freeze well. The best part is that I've even been able to take a frozen (thawed) casserole to a friend when I signed up on Take Them a Meal.
We are rounding the corner to the start of harvest, which means lunches & suppers packed in the red lunchboxES. The best lunchbox meals in our family do not involve spoons or forks, thus the casseroles are out of the question. I don't want to send a ham sandwich twice a day for three or four weeks ... mainly because I wouldn't want to eat a ham sandwich twice a day for three or four weeks!
So, what to do?!? Freezer cooking to the rescue!
One Saturday afternoon I baked two meatloaves, cooked a pot roast in the slow cooker, and grilled a bunch of pork chops on the George Foreman. After the slices cooled in the fridge, I froze them in ziptop bags with freezer paper in between. Once they were frozen, I removed the freezer paper, and I have the equivalent of IQF sliced meat to add variety to harvest lunchboxes. Someday soon, I hope to add a roasted turkey breast and roasted chicken to this lineup.
In full disclosure, I really haven't cooked since that day a couple weeks ago. Even when Jim is home for a meal, I just pull out two slices of meat, defrost them in the microwave, and add some vegetables, salad, or fruit.
What are your best freezer cooking recipes or tips?
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Elevator speech
Last week's prayer meeting focused on a nearby home for boys. Two of the boys who are nearing graduation (& who are much better at public speaking than I was at that age) addressed our group, explaining the philosophy of the boy's home, the stages through which the young men progress, and what a typical day is like.
In conclusion, their leader asked them to give us their elevator speech, each of which went something like this:
Their elevator speeches (and the entire presentation) were all the more meaningful because one of the farms Jim rents is owned by a trust, and half of the profits go to this boys' home. No doubt it makes the hours spent sitting on a tractor in those fields more meaningful, as he ponders how the Lord of the harvest is transforming the corn seeds in those fields into Gospel seeds in the hearts of broken boys!
In conclusion, their leader asked them to give us their elevator speech, each of which went something like this:
"I was sent to this home because I was defiant. I didn't think my parents would have the courage to do it, but they did. I've learned to be responsible and respectful. I gave my life to Christ and was baptized a few months ago. I want to go to college and study history. This home has changed my life."
Their elevator speeches (and the entire presentation) were all the more meaningful because one of the farms Jim rents is owned by a trust, and half of the profits go to this boys' home. No doubt it makes the hours spent sitting on a tractor in those fields more meaningful, as he ponders how the Lord of the harvest is transforming the corn seeds in those fields into Gospel seeds in the hearts of broken boys!
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Small things
Sometimes it's the little pleasures in life that can make a big difference!
What are some of the small things you do to make your day special?
- Serving Sunday evening popcorn in a real dish instead of a recycled plastic container.
- Drinking hot tea out of a teacup, complete with saucer!
- Freshly laundered sheets, blankets & pillows!!
- A tablecloth on the dining room table after weeks of having it bare (& cluttered with projects).
- Spending $2.27 on a pack of gel pens, after using a clerk's nice gel pen one day to sign my receipt.
- Nice smelling soap in the linen closet.
What are some of the small things you do to make your day special?
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Good Words
I've been appreciating Paul David Tripp's Facebook page. Some recent gems include:
He has a way of rephrasing truth that I know into words that cause me to stop and consider how deviant my lived-out faith is from my professed faith.
Today you will worry about your needs being met or believe that in Christ they have been met and get up and live like you believe it.
Today you will be tempted to minimize remaining sin and in so doing devalue the gift of the grace of Jesus Christ.
He has a way of rephrasing truth that I know into words that cause me to stop and consider how deviant my lived-out faith is from my professed faith.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Links of Interest
A few links for you to ponder:
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The Very Worst Trend Ever
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I appreciated one of the comments on the blog post, A Letter to Marilyn as She Travels to India:
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On Whales & Worship Lyrics:
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The Very Worst Trend Ever
Only when we acknowledge that we have really sinned can we be thankful for sin's authentic remedy: Jesus our Savior. Messiness—of the it's-been-a-rough-day variety—doesn't require a Savior. My sin does. ...
If we are constantly looking for someone else who is broken in all the same places, we overlook the comfort we can have in the perfect God-man.
"For we do not have a great 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" (Heb. 4:15).
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I appreciated one of the comments on the blog post, A Letter to Marilyn as She Travels to India:
"... living in another country can affect you deeper than you realize. It will always be apart of you inside where only those who have experienced it can understand."
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On Whales & Worship Lyrics:
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If I supplied you with a copy of the lyrics to the 6,500 hymns of Charles Wesley, two things would happen to you as you read it. First, you would be deeply moved by the truths the lyrics contained, whether you knew the melodies associated with them or not. Second, you would know your Bible better. Could the same be said if you read through the lyrics of our modern worship offerings?
Monday, September 16, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #65
661. Thank you, Lord, for sound sleep.
662. Thank you, Lord, for delightful times over meals with three different groups of people.
663. Thank you, Lord, for the fun of discovering Thai food!
664. Thank you, Lord, for friends modeling simple ways to encourage others.
665. Thank you, Lord, for a GREAT first Sunday back in 6th grade girls' Sunday School!
666. Thank you, Lord, for a dozen DELIGHTFUL girls!
667. Thank you, Lord, for some early mornings this past week when I watched your world awake.
668. Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of your moment-by-moment changing canvas as the sun peeked over the horizon, and the sky turned all manner of blue and purple and golden, in turn changing the color of the landscape.
669. Thank you, Lord, for three girls running to my window to talk during my 1-2 minutes parked in their driveway.
670. Thank you, Lord, for hearing others' stories of God at work.
662. Thank you, Lord, for delightful times over meals with three different groups of people.
663. Thank you, Lord, for the fun of discovering Thai food!
664. Thank you, Lord, for friends modeling simple ways to encourage others.
665. Thank you, Lord, for a GREAT first Sunday back in 6th grade girls' Sunday School!
666. Thank you, Lord, for a dozen DELIGHTFUL girls!
667. Thank you, Lord, for some early mornings this past week when I watched your world awake.
668. Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of your moment-by-moment changing canvas as the sun peeked over the horizon, and the sky turned all manner of blue and purple and golden, in turn changing the color of the landscape.
669. Thank you, Lord, for three girls running to my window to talk during my 1-2 minutes parked in their driveway.
670. Thank you, Lord, for hearing others' stories of God at work.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Reading with a Kindle
This summer I was delightfully surprised by the gift of a Kindle Paperwhite! (Thanks, Jim!!)
I'm not here to write a review; I'll just tell you how I'm learning to live with and use mine.
This review convinced me to order a $10 cover. I ordered magenta, and although it's a little more pepto-colored than I like, I am very happy to have a brightly colored case, so that I don't lose my Kindle, as I think I would if the case were black and didn't stand out whenever I dig through my backpack or a stack of books or magazines.
I was used to reading on Jim's iPad, so at first I found it very strange to read on such a small screen (which seems even smaller the larger you make the font - ha!). Therefore, I was very glad to accidentally discover landscape view. If you, too, are trying to find landscape view, the best I can tell you is, "Do a google search." :)
I enjoy slipping it in my purse and having my Bible, hymnal, and dozens of books at my fingertips whenever I find myself waiting somewhere, but the biggest change was when I packed for a recent weekend getaway. Instead of packing an entire totebag s-t-u-f-f-e-d with books, I took two books and my Kindle!
I had been collecting free Kindle deals for several months (and reading them on the cloud online on my computer), so I have a nice variety - ESV Bible, some devotionals, fiction books, and missionary biographies.
My favorite sources for Kindle deals are: Challies A La Carte, eReader Girl, and David C Cook emails. Of course, there's always the library website, too, and the good thing about that, is that you never have an overdue e-book; it just disappears from your e-reader in 14 days!
Do you know of any other sources for good Kindle deals?
I'm not here to write a review; I'll just tell you how I'm learning to live with and use mine.
This review convinced me to order a $10 cover. I ordered magenta, and although it's a little more pepto-colored than I like, I am very happy to have a brightly colored case, so that I don't lose my Kindle, as I think I would if the case were black and didn't stand out whenever I dig through my backpack or a stack of books or magazines.
I was used to reading on Jim's iPad, so at first I found it very strange to read on such a small screen (which seems even smaller the larger you make the font - ha!). Therefore, I was very glad to accidentally discover landscape view. If you, too, are trying to find landscape view, the best I can tell you is, "Do a google search." :)
I enjoy slipping it in my purse and having my Bible, hymnal, and dozens of books at my fingertips whenever I find myself waiting somewhere, but the biggest change was when I packed for a recent weekend getaway. Instead of packing an entire totebag s-t-u-f-f-e-d with books, I took two books and my Kindle!
I had been collecting free Kindle deals for several months (and reading them on the cloud online on my computer), so I have a nice variety - ESV Bible, some devotionals, fiction books, and missionary biographies.
My favorite sources for Kindle deals are: Challies A La Carte, eReader Girl, and David C Cook emails. Of course, there's always the library website, too, and the good thing about that, is that you never have an overdue e-book; it just disappears from your e-reader in 14 days!
Do you know of any other sources for good Kindle deals?
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Hidden Blessings
Our phone & internet kept cutting off ... sometimes mid-call or mid-search. It had happened periodically for a couple years, and we just thought they worked on the line a lot. But this particular week, we experienced no service multiple times a day for hours at a time.
When the technician came, he discovered a wire connected in the wrong position. It would work in that position, but not as well as intended.
It especially would not work correctly in the heat. ... And we had been having near record-breaking heat!
So, the hot days were a hidden blessing, allowing us to discover a problem that had been causing low-level stress over time.
Have you had any hidden blessings lately?
When the technician came, he discovered a wire connected in the wrong position. It would work in that position, but not as well as intended.
It especially would not work correctly in the heat. ... And we had been having near record-breaking heat!
So, the hot days were a hidden blessing, allowing us to discover a problem that had been causing low-level stress over time.
Have you had any hidden blessings lately?
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Grieving in the pew
"There are grieving people sitting in every pew."
That sentence jumped off the page and stayed in my head, as I stood in the Christian bookstore, flipping through books a few years ago.
I don't recall the title of the book or even the topic, but the more I live, the more I agree with that statement.
How to help the grieving people in our pew ~ or what to do with our own grief ~ is the question.
Molly Piper has a blog series, "How to Help Your Grieving Friend," which offers practical ideas for supporting a friend who is grieving a death, specifically the death of an infant or child.
Most of our grief is different from that, stemming from disappointments of life, hurts from others, and even losses we ourselves might not even notice.
Every choice, even the good choices, means we say, "No," to another option, and to varying degrees, we grieve what might have been.
While house-hunting, you decide on the house with more bedrooms, thereby not choosing the house with bay windows. In the grand scheme of things, most people won't actively grieve the loss of bay windows, but sometimes it's helpful to name (and acknowledge) our losses, even those that we think don't matter.
As with all human experiences, when we enter into grief (our own or our friend's), we experience new &/or deeper aspects of God's character.
As I've reflected on loss & grief lately, my "Aha!" moment has been the reminder that it won't always be this way. As Jim's grandfather would say,
"It's better farther on."
Until that day when the Lord Jesus returns, let's encourage one another by being present in one another's grief and by reminding one another of our sure & certain hope as believers, that it is better farther on!
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