In “Bling, Part 1,” I retold how wearing a special black and gold bracelet matched perfectly with the Bible passage about light and darkness that I read on the same day. God just has a way of speaking to us like that.
Bling is that eye-popping accent that tops off an outfit or adds glitz to a table setting. Women usually love a touch of bling but maybe men do also: a shiny silk handkerchief tucked in a suit pocket, an oversized wristwatch, designer athletic shoes or high-end boots. And then there’s cars – a silver hood ornament is certainly bling!
My husband and I have been traipsing through paint stores lately, searching for colors for the new house. Lots of interesting products fill paint store aisles, among them some BLING for garages. In more than one store, I saw floor confetti. Colorful flecks are sprinkled onto garage floor paint as it dries, adding pizazz to the man cave!
My friend Karen commented on “Bling, Part 1” that Scripture was her “spiritual nourishment – I would starve without it.” Food is exactly the analogy that came to my mind also. We must eat and God’s Word provides the nutritious food we need to thrive in this world. And if the Bible is the good food, the church is the good grocery store! Scripture nourishes us and the church, particularly a worship service, energizes us, ministering deeply to the spirit as nothing else can.
On the first Sunday of the New Year, we attended a local Sunday worship service. Though I knew no one in the congregation and most of the songs were new to me, the corporate worship with other believers fed my soul. Only an actual church service draws Christians together in prayer, music and praise, giving, encouragement and penetrating teaching. A Christian playlist or a pastor’s podcast do not serve the same purpose. We need The Church, The Body, to fully experience the blessings of the Christian life.
Though it is later in January than I would have liked, may I encourage you to make church attendance a priority in the new year? We all love high-end, specialty grocery stores, the myriad of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets, and the like. Find yourself a quality church and go there. We are commanded: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 NLT
Bling, Part 1
Crows are drawn to bright and shiny things and so am I! Recently I wore the frayed bracelet shown in the photo. As I put it on, I recalled how I acquired it. Years ago, Craig and I were in New York City over the holidays and we passed through Bryant Park. Vendors had set up small kiosks. I saw and liked the hand-crafted bracelet, so Craig bought it for me.
I have always liked jewelry with black accents. The class ring for my high school featured an oval black onyx stone with the school name “W & L” overlaid it in gold. Though I loved the unique and classic design, sadly I did not splurge by buying it. Over the years I have gotten a few inexpensive onyx pieces as well as other costume jewelry in black. Black jewelry is elegant but bright in its own way: a versatile accessory. Bling!
After dressing for the day, I turned to my Bible reading: 2 Peter 1:12-21. There I read, “pay attention … as to light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” While this is a complex passage, we know that light dispels darkness. Spiritually speaking, keeping close to Jesus, the Light of the world, protects us from shadowy evil. I marveled at the connection of the day’s Biblical theme to my morning’s musings over the gold and black bracelet. God’s Word is truly alive and is used by Him to speak into our lives.
Later that day after having breakfast with friends visiting from out of town, I realized I had lost a favorite dangly black and rhinestone earring that I had been wearing. Apparently in putting on and off my mask (see my post, “Mask-Wearing Woes,” Sept. 24, 2020), the earring fell out without my noticing. Thankfully, it was an inexpensive pair but still disappointing to lose.
I hope you read Scripture often. I believe it is God’s perfect writing. You may not agree but would you still consider regularly reading the Bible (or listening with apps)? It will shed light on dark things; you too will experience how the Word meets your world.
