Easy Days

Today is one of those beautiful, joyful days.  Sometimes it seems as if the days slog by, or that they fly by (when you need more hours in the day).  But, today is not one of those days.  This day is a wedding day, in my family.  My niece is marrying the nephew of one of my dearest childhood friends.  This family that has always seemed like "family" now truly will be, in the most legal sense of the word, family.  Hallelujah!

The mother of the bride, my sister, the mother of the groom, and I have been running around this morning, attending to last-minute details.  There are always some last-minute "water into wine" miracles needed!  Here and there, between blogging, I've gotten to be that bringer of miracles ... while holding joyful tears at bay.  So, my blog formatting looks crazy, because I am cray-cray today. That.Is.All.

The text that Ann Voskamp is featuring today, in my ongoing tracking here in the blog with her Advent series, is Habakkuk 3:17-19.

When the fig tree does not bud,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

when the olive trees do not produce,

and the fields yield no crops;

when the sheep disappear from the pen,

and there are no cattle in the stalls,

18 

I will rejoice because of the Lord;

I will be happy because of the God who delivers me!

19 

The sovereign Lord is my source of strength.

He gives me the agility of a deer.

This text speaks of rejoicing always, even under the direst of life's circumstances, letting the Holy Spirit fill you up to praise Him, no matter what.  Its parallel in the New Testament is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks.  For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Today, it's an easy task.  Praise the Lord, for He is GOOD!

Below is a wedding blessing, written by my friend, Susan Browning Schultz.  I thank her for the permission to use it to bless my niece and her soon-to-be husband today.

Seven Helpings of Marriage Wisdom

1.God always encourages us to be the person you would like to be married to. If you need more understanding; give more love and understanding to your spouse. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

2.Nobody is perfect. Don’t let the world find out about your spouse’s imperfections via you. “The heart of her husband trusts in her.” Proverbs 31:11

3.Make it a point to give your spouse the best of you: the best of your touch, the best of your good attitude, the best laughter, and the best words. Don’t always bring them what’s left over after the world has drained you. “ . . . But set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

4.Be intentional. Each day look for ways to bless your spouse. “Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10

5.Believe the best about your spouse, even when they don’t communicate well and don’t keep a record of all of their mistakes. “Love always protects, always trusts, and always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13

6.Greet your spouse with a kiss. Positive touch releases endorphins so you associate your spouse with pleasant feelings. “Kiss me and kiss me again.” Song of Songs 1:2

7.This one is for later: Life affects us all. No one remains the same. We change physically; act less romantic, and so forth. Take time to find the two people who fell in love and reconnect. “Rejoice in the wife of your youth.” Proverbs 5:18

I hope each of you can praise today...no matter what.

Dear God, thank you for those halcyon days when it is so very easy to praise You!  We need them, Lord, to carry us through the rough days, when praising You is a more costly act of worship.  Thank you for the joy that a wedding brings, that you have given my niece a godly man to be her husband.  I pray your richest blessings on them and on the generations following.  (Deuteronomy 5:10).  In Jesus' name, amen.

Source:

Voskamp, Ann. The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas. 

Thanksgiving

Good morning,

Frankly, Thanksgiving Day has taken a hit in our modern,  American culture.  From its birth, established a national holiday by President Lincoln in 1863, it has been a day when people ceased from their labors, gathered together with loved ones, and thanked the Lord for all He has done. Lately however, it has been overshadowed by encroaching Christmas commercialism.  Harvest-themed decorations are scarce, while Halloween decor proliferates.  Then, as early as September, we begin to see Christmas decorations.

Last evening, on his radio show, my friend, Erick Erickson, asked callers to phone in as to what they are thankful for, since Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow, (as I write this in real time).  There was a variety of answers, as you might expect.  I fleetingly thought about what I am most thankful for, and that is the privilege of knowing Jesus Christ.  Then, en route to a destination, I did not give it any deeper thought.  After that huge #1, there are many competing blessings for which I am thankful.

Christian thankfulness springs from a sure belief that God our Father is the Giver of all good things, through the person of His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who lives within us.  Without that foundational truth, thankfulness is superficial.  Perhaps this is why Thanksgiving Day has fallen so out of fashion.  We, as a people, do not acknowledge that our dependence is on God, that our successes flow from His gracious hand, that the very food we eat and the clean air we breathe are His providence.

In the dead of night last night I lay awake for a couple of hours, trying to find sleep again.  During that time, I reflected on how blessed I am and how thankful I am that so many of our family members still walk this earth with us.  Thanksgiving week has always been one of my favorite times of year, but it became of greater significance 18 years ago when my daddy lost his long battle with cancer the Saturday before "the big day".  In fact, today, 18 years ago, we laid his body in the ground.  Last April, our family lost my husband's brother to an extended battle with cancer.  Losing that dear, sweet, generous Christian man was a huge blow to our family.  All of this caused me to be grateful that so many of our loved ones are still here.  All other 50 or so of my husband's large, extended family are still with us.  My husband and children are healthy and well.  Both my siblings are thriving, as are their children.  Of my 10 aunts and uncles, all in their late 70s or 80s, only one has gone on.  Of my 11 cousins, only one has passed on.  My mother has been blessed, similarly, with good health this past year.  For these bountiful blessings, I am tremendously grateful.

Publix food stores has a poignant Thanksgiving commercial out at the moment.  It shows many aspects of Thanksgiving Day celebrations - - - dropping the casserole, burning the food, setting off the smoke alarm, the power going out, squabbling family members, etc.  In the end, though, everyone gathers around the table, joins hands and (presumably) gives thanks.  In the middle of all that upheaval and catastrophe, peace and thankfulness come.

Paul, in his letter to the Colossians (3:15), says - - -

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. 

(KJV)

It is difficult to be thankful unless peace is present first.  By an act of our will we must embrace Christ's peace, that peace only available from Him, and let it rule in our hearts, not only at the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, but always.  His peace, so transformative, brings thankfulness.

No matter the upheaval, the unpleasant surprises, the disagreements, the various human foibles or seemingly indiscriminate sorrows that may arise to steal your joy this Thanksgiving, look toward Jesus, embrace His truth and His peace.
And then, give thanks.

Heavenly Father, You are the Source of All Blessing.  We thank You today for Your Son, our Savior. In His name, may we be truly thankful for the tremendous bounty we have received from Your hand. Amen.