Friday Five

Hello again, it's me.  Who else?

And it is time for Friday Five!!!  I know that you are tremendously excited, as am I, and I know the anticipation is killing you!!

So, for this week's Friday Five.... Christmas songs!!!

Honestly, I may do this one twice because there are just soooooooooooo many!!!!!  I start singing Christmas songs, well actually I never stop singing Christmas songs.  I just love them all, but especially those specifically about Christ.  So, this first set is dedicated to just those.  No commercial, just Jesus. 

okay here are five, in no particular order.

1.  O holy night.  love love love this song, and the lyrics are awesome.

2.  O Come, O Come Emmanuel

3.  Joy to the World

4.  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

5.  Angels we have heard on high

Okay, so what are some of your favorites?

A Thankful Heart

"giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 5:20

"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Th. 5:18

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving, with food, lots of food, family, laughter, shopping, hugs, and lots of fun.  We had a wonderful week.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, the kids and I did some extra reading on the Pilgrims and their journey to the new world.  We learned about the reasons they left, what they were hoping for, the struggles they endured on the Mayflower, and then in Plymouth colony that first winter.  Did you know that only 4 married women survived through the first winter? Wow. The Pilgrims suffered through harsh weather, harsh shipmates, bitter cold, lack of supplies, too many days at sea, sickness, disease, and hunger.  Things we only read about.

So, when the fall harvest came in, and they looked upon their bounty, and praised the Lord for His blessings, they truly had a thankful heart.  Sometimes, it is the hardships that bring the most gratitude.  But we are to give thanks for all things and in all circumstances.  Bad, and good.  Hard, and easy. 

Let us not forget to give thanks always, not just on Thanksgiving.  Let us consistently look upon the Lord's blessings and His bounty in our lives and praise His Holy name.

Father, let me always have a thankful heart.

Love

The Sunday school lesson this week was about love;  1 Cor. 13 to be exact.  You know, the 'love' chapter.  As we discussed the definition of love and its different aspects, I asked the class who they knew that exhibited this kind of love.

Silence.

They all said the same thing - no one.

Yeah, me neither.  Of all the people that I know, including myself, no one shows this kind of love.  Maybe certain aspects of it, like patience or kindness.  But not the whole package all the time.   Think of all the people you know.  Anyone?  I didn't think so.

There is no one who loves like that.

Oh wait.  I do know someone.  There is this one guy.

He is patient, kind, never envious, not boastful, not proud.  He is a gentleman, never rude, selfish, or short-tempered.  He doesn't remind me of every wrong thing I have ever done.  He does not rejoice in iniquity but in truth.  He protects.  He is faithful.  He is my hope.  He never fails.

He embodies this entire definition.  He is love.

He is one amazingly awesome guy. 

His name is Jesus.

Power Surge

I wish I could say that I have some great theological point to make with the title, but I don't.  We had a power surge last week which fried several electrical devices, including the modem, and I have been without internet.  I am at the library typing this and do not have much time.

So, just so no one worries that I fell off the face of the earth, I wanted to give an update.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The Words

We took a walk today.  It was beautiful weather outside and we were having a great time.  Until, the sibling rivalry kicked in.  Oh yes, that constant battle between brother and sister. 

'I am faster.' ' No, you're not!'  'Yes I am!' 'Well I'm stronger!' 'No you're not!' 'yes I am'

Constant arguing and bickering.

Phil. 2:14 "Do all things without complaining or arguing."

So, when it began in the middle of the road while on our walk, I did the unthinkable.  First, I asked them to stop. See that is my way of being polite.  My mom would always ask my sisters and I to do things, when what she really meant was 'DO IT!'  She was just being polite.

No go.  The battle continued.  So, I TOLD them to stop.

That should do it right?  I mean, I actually told them, not asked them, so there you go. Right?

Ummm, no.  Still going at it.

Now comes the unthinkable part - I spanked them.  Right there on the road.  I know, terrible isn't  it? 

Anyway, what ensued was a wonderful and applicable discussion of the 'punishing' aspect of discipline, or training up.  I asked my son if he heard me ask them to stop, and he did.  I asked if he heard me TELL them to stop, and he did.  Then, I asked if either one of them had listened and obeyed my words.  He answered that they did not. 

'So, if you do not obey my words, then what can I do to get your attention so that you do obey?'

Hmm.  I wonder how many times the Lord has asked me the same question.

"Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

" For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." Hebrews 12:6

I'm cool??

Did you know that I am cool?

What?  You didn't?

Yeah, me neither.  But apparently, I am.

You see, there is this one little girl, who is absolutely precious in her own right, who thinks I am the coolest around.  At least she must because not only does she want to be with me all the time, she copies almost everything I do.

Scary, right?

But it is also amazing, and humbling.

She wants to dress like me, talk like me.  She definitely acts like me.  She wants to wash her face the same way I wash mine, with the same wash (which is oil, and is totally safe for her).  She wants to use the same shampoo and conditioner, the same body wash.  She wants to cook and to teach and to lead, which is just another way of saying 'to boss'.  And as an added bonus, she wants to be with me, constantly.

She likes me.  I mean, she really likes me.

I may have posted about this before, and if I have I am sorry.  There are just these moments where it just hits me.  The awesome, overwhelming, beautiful, humbling responsibility God has given me as her mother.

Who is she really seeing when she looks at me?  While she is copying me, who am I copying?  The world?  My own flesh?

Or, am I copying the only One Worthy?  When she sees me, does she see Him?  When she is spending constant time with me, is she also with Him?

That's a lot of pressure, right? Right. It is. A lot of pressure. 

Which is actually the beauty of it all.

Because with all that pressure, there is only one place for me to go - on my knees at His feet.

He is my only hope for her.  And the more she copies me, the more I run to Him.  The more the pressure builds, the more I realize my constant need for Christ.

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."  Romans 13:14

Friday Five

And we're back!  It's time for Friday Five again.

This week's topic is ..........

five of my favorite things about November!!!

1.  No more Halloween.  I am sorry but I am not a fan of all the negative junk that goes with Halloween. Not. at. all.

2.  The Thankful Game.  This is game played via email with family and friends and families' friends and friends' families!!  Such a fun game and such a blessing!!!

3.  A very dear loved ones' birthday.  Oh I love this dear one and love the excitement surrounding this special day!

4.  Pumpkin.  I know I have used pumpkin for a Friday Five on desserts, but it is just soooooo yummy that I can't celebrate November without it!  Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin.  ummmmm

5.  Finally, and of course, Thanksgiving.  I just love Thanksgiving.  A whole day of family and food and fun and celebrating the Lord.  Just love it!! oh and let's don't forget the pumpkin pie :)

so, what do you like about November???

Have a blessed weekend!