Did you labor on Labor Day? Most of us didn’t birth a baby today but many enjoyed a day off from the job. That’s how Americans typically celebrate work, by getting a holiday. Labor Day also marks an end to summer vacation season and begins fall activity. As a teacher, the Labor Day holiday will forever mean Back to School for me, a sort of New Years!
The last day of vacation season made a good first beach day for us!
Is work really something to celebrate? YES. God gave us work. First, He modeled work as He created the universe. Then He tasked His human creation with work, the work of cultivating God’s garden and subduing the rest of creation. (Read about these events in Genesis 1 and 2) But then the events of Genesis 3 unfold, and the perfect earth is corrupted. Work is corrupted too. Work doesn’t become bad, but it becomes difficult. Mankind will toil and sweat to get things done.
We live in life after Eden: our work results in challenge, challenge beyond the physical to mental and emotional challenge. Work is still good and a gift from God, but it is hard.
Americans have historically valued hard work, understanding that it supplies needed income and provides personal satisfaction. Jobs keep us busy and are a wise use of time keeping us away from activity that is unhealthy or dangerous. Overworking, greed, and other sins including lying or stealing, beset some workers but God’s ideal for work is inherently good, just as His work in creation was good.
Excuse the pun, but the American work ethic may be shifting. Most of us have experienced the worker shortage. Entry level work and beginner wages are questioned or rejected. I think there are misunderstandings about achievement and prosperity and how success is attained. As employees or business patrons, we can encourage workers to strive for success and promotion. We can acknowledge a job well done and tip generously. Dream jobs are just that but visualizing advancement through career planning and training can open doors ahead. Talking with young workers helps them dream real possibilities. The Bible says, “The worker deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18) The truth is two-fold: work must be done and wages must be paid. Happy Labor Day!
Even entry level jobs can provide further education. Way to go, McDonald’s!
Five years later, I am writing this blogpost from the screened porch of our new home, overlooking a North Carolina golf course on a beautiful August evening! From our home in Fairfax, I launched this blog in the summer of 2016, feeling nudged by God’s Spirit to share thoughts about life and its proximity to God’s timeless writing, the Bible. I aimed to write for those who might not read Scripture that often or understand its relevance to daily living.
Blogs vary greatly. “A Writer’s Daughter” allowed me to publish short articles on a public platform, but it wasn’t a focused dialog. As you may have noticed, I didn’t schedule posts. I contributed regularly enough for my readers to know that I hadn’t vanished from the earth. 2020 was my least consistent year of writing. The onslaught of deeply divisive controversaries last year, made it difficult to address lighter topics and this blog is not meant to take sides, other than to stand fully with God’s perfect Word.
Technology challenged me the most as a blog writer. My main difficulties and frustrations came from learning the software and preparing a post to finally publish. A few entries flopped from a posting and graphics standpoint, but I accepted those failures as a humbling process from the Lord. If this blog is His work, then He determines its success. Speaking of success, bloggers can track stats. I get a count of views for each post. At times, I sigh that I haven’t reached the “millions” that my friend Cynthia envisioned, but again, my goal is to follow-through with faith, not keep records.
I plan to forge ahead with blog-style writing. Sometimes my father asks me if I will write a book. For now, I will continue these short posts and leave authoring a book to another inspiration. I thank each of you for reading “A Writer’s Daughter.” I love your comments and welcome your suggestions. With five years behind me and a new coastal locale, I am hoping to update my theme colors and feature photo. Expect a new look next time “A Writer’s Daughter” pops up. And remember that my writing clearly trumps my photography and design skills.
May God continue His good work (Philippians 1:6). Godspeed to all as we journey on, Brenda
My feature photo from the last five years is of a stack of journals and planners I’d written. The design theme appeared in dark, woodsy hues. My new photo will be of a stack of books with a more coastal color scheme.
As I farewell this series inspired by a recent beach vacation, I end with the topic of beach goodbyes. Although our beach crowd enjoys time together oceanside, a big deal is not made of the parting. Occasionally someone snaps a group photo or contact info is exchanged but mostly all linger late to soak in the last of the waves, the sun, the view that we really came for.
I’ve given thought to farewell phrases. “Goodbye” seems inadequate for a longer separation. I stay away from “good luck,” believing as a Christian that nothing is luck; all is known by the Lord. “Blessings” works and offers to pray for someone is great if you really commit to praying for them! Some say fun multilingual parting words like “Adios” or “Au revoir.” During COVID, I ended a few work emails with “Salud,” a Spanish greeting wishing good health – seemed cute for an ESOL teacher!
A goodbye that I like and use occasionally is “Godspeed.” Godspeed is an older English expression of farewell, used mostly when referring to a journey. It can be a wish of prosperity and safety but since it calls on God, to me, it appeals for God’s favor and guidance. And if God’s presence is invoked, surely, He desires to lead us spiritually, not just directionally or for gain. As I parted with one beach acquaintance, I wished her “Godspeed,” knowing with the miles ahead, our mature years, and Covid’s nasty presence, it best expressed our need for Jesus’ presence in our lives. I also gave her one of my blog cards, aiming to be salt and light in her life (see Part 2).
Godspeed brings to my mind a classic Scripture that most of us know as written in the old King James Bible version: “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) God always desires to journey us to right living because that’s what brings Him the most glory; He wants us to stay on His path.
On the Atlantic coast, we see only sunrises, so our sunset photos are out the back door, looking west. #Duneset #signpost?!
Vacation Trilogy: Part 2, Beach Salt and Light
Salt and light. That’s what vacationers hope for at the beach: plenty of salty ocean air, the therapeutic salinity of the sea, and lots and lots of sunLIGHT! All of these were delightfully plentiful on our recent vacation.
In Part 1, I shared that we have taken this same vacation for over 30 years. Many other guests at our moderate motel, and even others who rent nearby beach homes, have also vacationed the same July week. We have become beach friends for one week per year. With only a couple of exceptions, I don’t have contact with these folks outside of beach week. However, with years of sitting together oceanside, relationships have formed. We know much about each other, seeing the families grow with children and grandchildren, marking the milestones such as graduations and weddings, witnessing sad losses in families, and being spectator to the occasional drama!
I notice how life’s going for our beachmates. After a while, lifestyles and values surface. Family dynamics emerge in the week of togetherness. Priorities are evident. Though my best beach week is to get lost in reading, reading, reading under my big beach umbrella, I try to step into conversations and time with friends who also have noticed quite a bit about me and my family over the decades. It is never far from my mind that I am called to be salt and light to those around me, to the circle of acquaintances at our annual week at the beach.
Jesus said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. “ (Matthew 5:13-14) He expounded on the metaphors saying that salt should be salty, potent; that light should shine, be bright and visible. Jesus warns that flavorless salt is useless and discarded; hidden light is ineffective.
Around East Coast beach towns, I often see a bumper sticker that just says, “SaltLife.” It’s a statement about a coastal state of mind. In the same stylized font, I’ve seen another bumper sticker that mixes it up a bit saying, “Be Salty.” Under “Be Salty” are the words of Mark 9:50: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Again, this is Jesus’ charge to His followers, and to us who follow Jesus still.
Vacation Trilogy: Part 1, Beach Worship
For over three decades, we’ve vacationed at the same spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We visit with many of the same people and repeat favorite annual activities, yet each year is unique. For only the second time, my husband and I went alone on this year’s vacation: no kids, other relatives or friends joined us this time.
For quite a few years, my husband has attended Beach Worship early on our first morning, Sunday. I haven’t tagged along, preferring to visit with those who were staying with us. But solo this year, I decided to attend church on the beach with him! He managed a couple of chairs, and we biked the easy mile down the road.
About two dozen folks were gathered on the open public beach. The church team was in place, greeting us, handing out song sheets, testing the sound system. The service began with a brass quintet playing a hymn anthem. What a joyful sound drifting over the ocean, almost better than the praise bands of contemporary services! My husband commented that this was new and a big improvement from canned music of previous years. The beach-going congregation then sang two songs, led haltingly by an amateur volunteer. Finally, the pastor delivered his brief message which seemed prepared and Scripturally sound. The service ended with a brass postlude, and we were on our way before the sun became scorching.
My husband and I have attended many flourishing churches and heard many great preachers. Comparatively, Beach Worship in Kitty Hawk, NC is tiny and simple. One wonders, what is its impact and purpose? The explanation is that God has called a man and others to do His Work, and they have faithfully responded to God’s challenge.
God is like that, challenging us with opportunities that may defy reason. Is God calling you to fully believe Jesus Christ, or to obey His designs for your life, or to serve and minister as you’re gifted? Listen for His call; take the chance on answering. Luke 16:10
This blog, “The Writer’s Daughter,” is now five years old and I will say more about that soon. Starting the blog and putting my writing out there was a response to God’s prodding in my life. It is simple and small, and one wonders at its purpose and impact, but I took the chance on answering the call.
Salt and light. That’s what vacationers hope for at the beach: plenty of salty ocean air, the therapeutic salinity of the sea, and lots and lots of sunLIGHT! All of these were delightfully plentiful on our recent vacation.
The motel owner puts families in the same unit every year: we’re # 3.
In Part 1, I shared that we have taken this same vacation for over 30 years. Many other guests at our moderate motel, and even others who rent nearby beach homes, have also vacationed the same July week. We have become beach friends for one week per year. With only a couple of exceptions, I don’t have contact with these folks outside of beach week. However, with years of sitting together oceanside, relationships have formed. We know much about each other, seeing the families grow with children and grandchildren, marking the milestones such as graduations and weddings, witnessing sad losses in families, and being spectator to the occasional drama!
I notice how life’s going for our beachmates. After a while, lifestyles and values surface. Family dynamics emerge in the week of togetherness. Priorities are evident. Though my best beach week is to get lost in reading, reading, reading under my big beach umbrella, I try to step into conversations and time with friends who also have noticed quite a bit about me and my family over the decades. It is never far from my mind that I am called to be salt and light to those around me, to the circle of acquaintances at our annual week at the beach.
Our family always spent an evening at the Jockey’s Ridge dunes.We progress over the years!
Jesus said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. “ (Matthew 5:13-14) He expounded on the metaphors saying that salt should be salty, potent; that light should shine, be bright and visible. Jesus warns that flavorless salt is useless and discarded; hidden light is ineffective.
Around East Coast beach towns, I often see a bumper sticker that just says, “SaltLife.” It’s a statement about a coastal state of mind. In the same stylized font, I’ve seen another bumper sticker that mixes it up a bit saying, “Be Salty.” Under “Be Salty” are the words of Mark 9:50: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Again, this is Jesus’ charge to His followers, and to us who follow Jesus still.
Vacation Trilogy: Part 1, Beach Worship
For over three decades, we’ve vacationed at the same spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We visit with many of the same people and repeat favorite annual activities, yet each year is unique. For only the second time, my husband and I went alone on this year’s vacation: no kids, other relatives or friends joined us this time.
For quite a few years, my husband has attended Beach Worship early on our first morning, Sunday. I haven’t tagged along, preferring to visit with those who were staying with us. But solo this year, I decided to attend church on the beach with him! He managed a couple of chairs, and we biked the easy mile down the road.
About two dozen folks were gathered on the open public beach. The church team was in place, greeting us, handing out song sheets, testing the sound system. The service began with a brass quintet playing a hymn anthem. What a joyful sound drifting over the ocean, almost better than the praise bands of contemporary services! My husband commented that this was new and a big improvement from canned music of previous years. The beach-going congregation then sang two songs, led haltingly by an amateur volunteer. Finally, the pastor delivered his brief message which seemed prepared and Scripturally sound. The service ended with a brass postlude, and we were on our way before the sun became scorching.
My husband and I have attended many flourishing churches and heard many great preachers. Comparatively, Beach Worship in Kitty Hawk, NC is tiny and simple. One wonders, what is its impact and purpose? The explanation is that God has called a man and others to do His Work, and they have faithfully responded to God’s challenge.
God is like that, challenging us with opportunities that may defy reason. Is God calling you to fully believe Jesus Christ, or to obey His designs for your life, or to serve and minister as you’re gifted? Listen for His call; take the chance on answering. Luke 16:10
This blog, “The Writer’s Daughter,” is now five years old and I will say more about that soon. Starting the blog and putting my writing out there was a response to God’s prodding in my life. It is simple and small, and one wonders at its purpose and impact, but I took the chance on answering the call.
For over three decades, we’ve vacationed at the same spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We visit with many of the same people and repeat favorite annual activities, yet each year is unique. For only the second time, my husband and I went alone on this year’s vacation: no kids, other relatives or friends joined us this time.
For quite a few years, my husband has attended Beach Worship early on our first morning, Sunday. I haven’t tagged along, preferring to visit with those who were staying with us. But solo this year, I decided to attend church on the beach with him! He managed a couple of chairs, and we biked the easy mile down the road.
About two dozen folks were gathered on the open public beach. The church team was in place, greeting us, handing out song sheets, testing the sound system. The service began with a brass quintet playing a hymn anthem. What a joyful sound drifting over the ocean, almost better than the praise bands of contemporary services! My husband commented that this was new and a big improvement from canned music of previous years. The beach-going congregation then sang two songs, led haltingly by an amateur volunteer. Finally, the pastor delivered his brief message which seemed prepared and Scripturally sound. The service ended with a brass postlude, and we were on our way before the sun became scorching.
My husband and I have attended many flourishing churches and heard many great preachers. Comparatively, Beach Worship in Kitty Hawk, NC is tiny and simple. One wonders, what is its impact and purpose? The explanation is that God has called a man and others to do His Work, and they have faithfully responded to God’s challenge.
God is like that, challenging us with opportunities that may defy reason. Is God calling you to fully believe Jesus Christ, or to obey His designs for your life, or to serve and minister as you’re gifted? Listen for His call; take the chance on answering. Luke 16:10
This blog, “The Writer’s Daughter,” is now five years old and I will say more about that soon. Starting the blog and putting my writing out there was a response to God’s prodding in my life. It is simple and small, and one wonders at its purpose and impact, but I took the chance on answering the call.
Just weeks into living in our new home, my husband unearthed an old glass bottle from our unlandscaped yard. For me, it meant familiarity; a find ready to add to our assorted collection of found jars and glassware.
I discovered my first vintage glassware on a walk in the woods with my friend Mary. Her family owned a large property in the neighborhood, going back a couple of generations. I guess she knew a spot that had once been a dumping ground. There I dug up a cut-glass saltshaker, loving both its pretty design and nostalgic aura. Years later, I married a man who collected many antique bottles. They were medicines and various food bottles. He’d spent his growing up years in rural western New York, full of old houses and barns where antiques were plentiful.
Pictured are my first glassware find, a saltshaker; a McConnon & Co. bottle dug up in our new yard; and a nostalgic blue bottle found in Virginia, spring water from Saratoga Springs, NY!
After marriage, our house in suburban Virginia sat in an area where Civil War units once encamped. We found a bullet or two over our nearly 30 years there and various other glass items and canning jars not quite that old. When our son and his wife planned their wedding décor, they used our bottles in the table centerpieces. Vintage bottles, from youth to retirement, seem to be our story. So, wouldn’t that theme make a great blog subject, but what is the message in the bottle? My stated blog purpose is to apply truths from God’s Word to the words I write.
The tablescapes at our son’s wedding featured the couple’s photo, a table card, and one of our ‘heritage’ bottles with a fresh sprig of eucalyptus.
Let me suggest two possibilities: Just as collecting bottles has spanned my childhood to maturity, and touched the next generation too, the Gospel spans time and generations. Faith may pass from generation to generation as we subtly model and overtly share the legacy of our Christian beliefs. Be bold. Be instructive. Do so humbly. This directive is found in Psalms 48:13, 87:18 and 145:4.
Similarly, excavating an old glass bottle again here on our new property brought to mind God’s unchanging nature. Scripture promises that God remains the same without even a shadow of difference yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17). Such eternal assurance far outweighs the serendipitous find of another glass bottle for our collection.
I am thrilled to add something my husband wrote after hearing that my topic was on finding bottles: “Even though glass bottles are lost in the ground for hundreds of years, when they are found, nothing has deteriorated or decayed. They are cleaned off and as good as the day they were left in the ground. We see this in certain families. Spiritual foundations are intact for many generations, just as excavated glass bottles remain in good condition for centuries. Glass bottles seem to preserve themselves, but the spiritual foundations need to be preserved with dedicated precision and care.” Thank you, dear – it’s perfect!
Living in a brand-new house accentuates even the smallest of flaws. Since everything is newly constructed and freshly painted, the imperfections, nicks and dirt really stand out. Mostly I notice and cringe at damage such as scratches on the wall or dings on moulding. Some of it happened even as the movers brought in our stuff and I won’t rant about those gashes, but most of the marks are from day-to-day wear that will occur in any home. We are the first residents, and our living here spoils the perfection and brings in dust and SAND!
These new blemishes remind me of a sermon I heard our former Pastor preach. Based on a verse* from the book Song of Solomon, he talked about the danger of “the little foxes” in our lives, those ‘little’ sins we consider harmless. But the verse goes on to say that the foxes spoil the vine and need to be caught before they harm the grapes. Fox cubs may seem innocuous in a garden, but they are destructive enough to ruin a vineyard and probably a year’s livelihood.
Could the “little foxes” be the seemingly minor sins like partial disclosure, grumbling, resentment or discontent, the wayward eye? Those aren’t The Big Ten anyway! But the Bible tells us that all commandments matter and a “spoiled vine” turns into a dead plant or at least one without fruit, rather useless. Little sins, like little stains, taint and must be cleaned up quickly.
As I researched for this blog post, I came across an interesting application from a good Bible resource called GotQuestions.org: “Take preventative measures to protect this love from anything that could harm it.” “Little foxes that spoil the vine” is out of one of the Bible’s love stories, Song of Solomon. The “little foxes” directive may refer to relationships or marriage. The little things like harsh words, going to bed angry, unforgiveness and selfishness badly mar relationships quite quickly, like the gash from a table leg on a spotless hallway wall! I was surprised to realize this context and it was a reminder I needed to hear.
I will have to live with a house that gets dirty and damaged but spiritually we lean on Jesus’ power to rid us of thoughts and actions that spoil our lives. *Song of Solomon 2:15
I like this cute quip in my home and I think the spiritual equivalent is “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”.
One of the Susans in my life shares a funny tendency with me. We both go to extreme measures to give away stuff. One of her extreme measures involved chasing down a preschool teacher at the town parade to give her some puppets that Susan was sure were perfect for her teaching. One of my extreme measures was giving away a decades old encyclopedia set. After listing it as a freebie, a man responded; his reason for wanting it was something about caring for his dying uncle. We arranged for the pick-up time and as is often the case in giveaways and resales, there was a delay. I ended up ridiculously waiting an entire Saturday afternoon. His airplane broke down and he had to drive the distance to my house rather than a quick flight. As they say, you can’t make this stuff up!
More recently, Susan and I both had bike giveaway stories. One of my neighbor moms reached out on the local chat that she was looking for a bike for one of her kids. Just a day or two later, I noticed a house with good bikes set out for trash and recycling pickup. I quickly texted the mom who wanted a bike. She went and found one perfect in size and style for her daughter and commented, “And tomorrow’s her birthday!” I replied, “Well, consider that bike God’s special gift to her.”
Susan had been cleaning out her garage and dug out some family bikes that were no longer needed. She set the bikes at the end of her driveway with a “FREE” sign. The first bike went so quickly, she never even saw who took it. Susan had interactions with another taker, finding out a bit of her story. The lady was new in town. Susan offered to pray with her and told her about churches in the area they might try. Turned out that Susan had more giveaway items the new family could use.
John 3:16 is a Bible verse often displayed for its concise Gospel explanation. Pastor Andy Stanley breaks it into four short phrases: God loved, God gave, we believe, we receive.
Susan and I were both purposeful in bringing God into conversation, as Scripture encourages (Ephesians 5:16, 1 Peter 3:15). What we know in the Bible is true stuff and it is good news. Good news is always something to be told! People post that they got the vaccine. They tell everyone about things they get on sale or recommend restaurants that are particularly good. Graduation and birth announcements are printed and sent out. That’s what we do with good news, we share it.
Are you sharing the Good News of Easter? Jesus’ birth was happy news, and His ministry and miracles were inspiring, His death – shocking, gruesome and sad. But the resurrection, coming back from the dead as victor over death and sin for us, is astounding! The accounts of the resurrection in the Bible is full of people running, exclamations, excitement, and energy. And it is still an exciting story to know and tell. Jesus’ final earthly words instructed His followers to go and share the Gospel with people (Matthew 28:19). This is the mission of every Christian*. So, give away the Good News; use extreme measures!
*This is also the mission of every church, a tenet that has lately come under attack.
This Gospel fold-out tract lays out God’s plan us. McLean Bible Church produced it.
Our transplant process from Virginia to North Carolina includes building a new house. Some, like my husband, plunge into home construction with great enthusiasm. I, on the other hand, falter at the enormity of the tasks and choices. Reviewing house plans, selecting tile, picking appliances, and determining paint colors have stressed and overwhelmed me. I dutifully did my best, but it wasn’t easy or joyful for me. Then we started talking about landscaping. Suddenly I was engaged in garden planning, enjoyably doing extra research on regional flora, and coming up with ideas for the yard. Now I am scouting local plants on our walks and harvesting seeds. My green thumb is getting back its color!
I am not a master gardener by any stretch, though I have friends who are. I do not have a good eye for layout and design. I merely like being outdoors and trying new plants. I buy nursery plants, start flowers from seed, propagate plants or forage for seeds and salvage plants on the brink. I love ‘window shopping’ at nurseries and garden centers.
I have often thought to myself that it was a good day when I could get my hands in some dirt. Even repotting a houseplant seemed to tend my soul and cheer me up. This winter I was reading a book on brain health and came across an interesting finding. There actually is something to connecting with soil. The phenomenon is called “grounding.” Any physical connection to the earth, be it hands in the dirt, bare feet on sand, or wading in a stream somehow renews us. Timothy R. Jenkins, MD, writes, “coming into direct contact with the earth with one’s skin results in immediate changes in the electrical condition of the human body and restores a healthy natural balance.” I think we innately know this: don’t kids love to make mudpies, stomp in rain puddles, and dig in the sand? My mind really was feeling good after gardening!
Here again I see the amazing truth of God and word of Scripture being discovered in science. Yes, we were made to tend the earth (Genesis 2:15, Genesis 1:26). Though gardening and farming are plagued with hardship since sin’s corruption of the perfect creation (Genesis 3:17-19), remnants of the original blessing and design remain. God gives us the healthful opportunity to work the earth and be outside in His world. And Spring is coming, earlier in Coastal Carolina than in northern Virginia!
I asked my friend Barb, who is a Master Gardener, about this asparagus fern that seems to be a perennial here. She says it can winter over in this area. She suggested harvesting stray seeds to sow – will do!
The book I read is The Aging Brain by Timothy R. Jennings, MD, 2018.
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!
Another brand of garage floor confetti.
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
Full credit to the Christian Science Monitor website and to photographer Efrem Lutkatsky/AP. The caption read: “A bird flies over the sky near the 1,000 year old Orthodox Monastery of the Caves covered with the first snow this winter in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 15.” I happen to be of Ukrainian descent and my birthday happens to be January 15 😊 Wouldn’t this be a great scene for a jigsaw puzzle?
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.
