Stuck in the Middle...or Joy?

It’s that time of year again; the time when everyone is thinking about Christmas but can't do anything until Thanksgiving has passed. To me, I was officially stuck in the middle. I don’t know about you all, but this drives me bonkers. I like to do things when the idea *first* comes to mind. Needless to  say, constantly having to stall myself was getting a little annoying.

Then it hit me the other day, while I was brooding over not being able to hang up my, ‘Happy Christmas’ sign, that I was letting all my joy be swallowed up by my holiday-modernism. What is “holiday-modernism?” It is the belief that holidays should be prepared for at least, one month ahead (if not two) of the month the holiday is actually in.

Being able to celebrate Thanksgiving in such abundance (as we do) is a gift from God. We should rejoice in it. My distain for this time of year was just as bad as saying, “God, I’d rather be unhappy and see ugliness than be joyous in the all the beauty you have surrounded me with.” It is true there are no “Thanksgiving” songs, but there is always Fred Astaire. Yes, the decorations are the same as they were last month; but they were made with the same enthusiasm as the Christmas decorations, are just as beautiful, and are still a sign of God’s goodness. God gives us beautiful things not only so that we can be happy but more importantly, so that we can rejoice in him and give glory to his sovereignty.

This means, all my Christmas decorations will have to wait their turn so that I can rejoice in them at the proper moment -- not forgetting to give thanks for what God has given me at present. So after all, I was not stuck in the Middle, I was choosing discontentment over joy. 

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Do any of you have those moments where, you’re so busy looking for the future, you forget to realize the blessings you have right in front of you? 

5 Things That Whacked Me in the Head

My mom has a list for us this Saturday, but she has been so busy bearing fruit in real life, co-hosting a baby shower, etc., that she hasn't had time to post. Her list is of ideas that have struck her from My Life for Yours (by Douglas Wilson), the book she is going through in the women's book study she is part of. The chapter they went over recently is "Sleep in the Bedroom."   Here is what she says, and her list of five things she's been inspired to do by the chapter: 

Some chapters [of My Life for Yours] are encouraging and good to remember

and some chapters whack me in the head. Sleep in the Bedroom did that for me this week. 

[5 Things to Whack You in the Head]

1.       Honor the Lord by rising early

2.       Be thankful for the blessing of work – work hard

3.       Recognize God cares for us and He is tender with His people

4.       Recognize that the peace that makes no sense is a BLESSING from God…not something we drum up

5.       Learn and sing psalms of gratitude

 She would have given us some other good words as well, but she was so busy! We will have to look forward to next time. 

We'll see you back here on Monday!
Courtney

Sleep, Anxiety, and the Promises of God

We've been reading through this book at Bible Study, and this week's chapter was very encouraging (and convicting!). I've had so much baby stuff (only six more weeks before we meet our baby girl!) on my mind that sometimes I have trouble going to sleep, even when I'm super tired.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

"Too many Christians try to deal with their anxieties by worrying on their knees. They worry, conclude it with "in Jesus' name, amen," and then, not surprisingly, have trouble sleeping. They have reversed the promise of this passage and tried to orient their hearts and minds in such a way as to 'keep' or protect the peace of God. ... But the promise is the other way around. The peace of God which makes no sense will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

- Douglas Wilson My Life For Yours: A Walk Through the Christian Home
(on sleep in the bedroom)

~Noble
(Next week it's Courtney's turn to post a quote on Friday, so make sure to come back and see what she's been thinking about!)
(Also, I apologize for my overabundance of parentheses... I'm an addict. :-P )