Tried With Fire

I'm thankful for the opportunity to give thanks every day this month.  Not that we should need a reason, but in the busyness of life, I often forget to stop and reflect on the goodness of the Lord.  Many thanks to Rebecca for hosting this 2010 November of Thanksgiving. I'm thankful that we are going to see my family.  My mom will be celebrating her 80th birthday this week-end. We will have a mini-reunion of family and friends.  It was supposed to be a surprise, but the cat was let out of the bag.  What my mom does not know is that her sisters (2 from Canada and 1 from NY) will be coming to the celebration.  My mom is a 2x breast cancer survivor, so we are very thankful for God's mercy to her. Lizzy at one of her favorite past times: shredding cardboard boxes I'm thankful for our friend Becky who will be taking care of Lizzy and Big Bun while we are away.  Small animals care is different from cats and dogs, so it is nice knowing that they are in...

I am thankful for unexpected and pleasant surprises. This week we are planning to visit family in NJ.  My sister called last night and asked if we wanted to take a day trip to Manhattan on Thursday to see my nephew.  It's been decades since I visited the city and my daughter has never been there. We are hoping to see the Empire State Building and other tourist attractions. As an added blessing, Lord willing we will meet Christina of Heavenly Springs ! When I learned we would be in NYC, I emailed her to see if we could connect.  We only have enough time for a quick hug and hello at the bus stop before we head back to NJ.  However, it will be wonderful to meet her in person.  To identify ourselves, we will be carrying these:

I am thankful for the reminder in today's sermon that the brightest light this Christmas is "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6).  Why is this possible?  Because... In the beginning was   the Word, and   the Word was with God, and   the Word was God.     He was in the beginning with God.   All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.   In him was life,   and   the life was the light of men.   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1: 1-5

I am thankful for the fellowship of sisters in Christ.  (Not that I'm unthankful for brotherly fellowship, but I think you know what I mean.) I'm thankful for my daughter.  I am grateful that she is my sister in Christ.  Day in and day out, we talk about the Lord, the Bible, and theology.  She is my sounding board, and she also isn't afraid to confront me about things in my life. I'm thankful for the women in my church. I'm thankful to get a glimpse into their lives, their triumphs and struggles.  They have blessed me so much, and I believe God will draw us even closer. I'm thankful for my mom and my sister.  We may not be 100% on the same page doctrinally, but we have Jesus Christ in common.  I'm grateful for the tie that binds us even though we're 250 miles apart. I'm thankful for my friend Sue, who I will be having lunch with today. She has stood with me through thick and thin.  I'm grateful for our closeness which has been forged with...

I'm thankful for a cup of tea on a damp morning.  It's very soothing on a drizzly day.  I'm glad I raked the leaves yesterday even though a new batch has fallen to the ground with the wind and rain. Perhaps I will tackle them tomorrow if they've dried off by then. I'm so thankful that I am not shopping today!  It's not worth the hassle or the crowds.  Since we're celebrating the Incarnation after many years of not doing so, my daughter and I decided to give to others rather than each other.  (Such as here and here .) I have to venture out to take care of Gracie, the chinchilla, but the rest of the day I can be at home.  I need to do some typing for my job, and then I can crank out more words for my NaNoWriMo novel.  Just 12,770 words by the end of Tuesday and then it's done!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.   Colossians 1:15-22 I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am thankful although I was once alienate...

Our church had a Thanksgiving service last night.  We gave away food boxes to families in our community and then had a brief service. Pastor Ryan shared from Col 1: 12-14 "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  What a reason to give thanks! My daughter goes away this afternoon thru Sunday.  I'm thankful that we can have most of the day together.  I'm thankful for the work God is doing in her life.  She told me that she would not be where she is in her relationship with the Lord if she didn't have to go through this trial.  So I'm praying of grace for her as she is away and for opportunities to share the true gospel with her father. I'm thankful for the families who invited me to join them on Thanksgiving so I won't have to be alon...

I am thankful to be a debtor to the grace of God. What am I by grace? For all I now am - I once was not. Everything which is in any sense good in me - must be ascribed to the free grace of God.  Yes, with the holy Apostle I must say, "By the grace of God, I am what I am!"   By grace - I am a new creature, created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained, that I should walk in them.   By grace - I am pardoned, justified, and accepted by God.   By grace - I am united to Christ's person, and constituted a joint heir with Him.   By grace - I am God's child, the Holy Spirit's temple, and a part of the Savior's purchase. Grace called me, and grace made me willing to obey the call.  Grace washed away my sins in the blood of the Lamb, and washed my person in the laver of the Word.  All that has been wrought within me, all that has been conferred upon me, and all the good done by me - must be traced to the free and invincible grace of God!...

This may sound strange, but I am thankful for the times I have had to be alone.  I wasn't always thankful for the times my daughter is away - week-ends and split holidays, but I'm glad that the Lord has changed my attitude.  My time isn't always as profitable as I would like it to be, but my enforced solitude gives me a chance to read, listen to sermons, and most importantly to pray and think.  I now have my shuffle loaded with sermons and music for the drives back and forth.  Last night as I was driving to pick up my daughter, I listened to Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson.  I had a wonderful time of praising God for the Incarnation of the Son on the interstate. So if my solitude gives me time alone with the Lord, it is worth it.

I am thankful that I can be built together with a local body of believers. This morning Pastor Ryan spoke from Hebrews 10: 23-25 to encourage us to not forsake our hearts' commitment to the body of Christ.  This was a fitting end to the series on the Church, because our attitude about it shapes how we live.  If our view of the church is small, it will take a back seat to all the activities that seems to inundate the average American family.  If our view of the church is small, we will view our participation as a duty or even an option and not a vital part of our lives.  If our view of the church is small, what does that say of our attitude towards our Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood to purchase His Bride? I am paraphrasing this badly, but Pastor Ryan said that we can hold to the Doctrines of Grace all we want, but we need to realize that perseverance of the saints can only happen when we are together.  God did not intend for this process to take place i...

I'm thankful for: An early start to Saturday. I need to go to Walmart, which I generally avoid at all costs on a Saturday, and few other places.  I'm glad I can get it over with before the crowds flock in. Time to do some serious writing.  There are so many things brewing in my brain.  It helps to get them out of my head and onto paper. Serious books about serious subjects.  Maybe it's because I have been doctrinally undernourished most of my life, I prefer straight theology over most books.  I am enjoying Salvation Belongs to the Lord by John Frame which is an introduction to systematic theology.  I will leave you with a quote from the book on what is theology and why it is important. What is Theology?  To known God is to know him as Lord and therefore to pursue knowledge of him in a godly way. As we come to know God, we recognize that he initiates our knowledge, that his Word is the ultimate authority for our knowledge, and that in knowing Go...

I'm thankful that we can homeschool. This was something we had decided even before my daughter was born, so we have been doing this from day 1.  Unfortunately homeschooling was a point of dispute during the divorce. However, God intervened on our behalf, so I am aware that this is a blessing not to be taken for granted. I am thankful that homeschooling enables us to deal with issues of personal discipline and character as well as academics.  Sometimes there is pressure to prove that you can provide as good an education as any public school.  But in the long run, who my daughter is as a person and a Christian is more important than an SAT score or acceptance at an Ivy league school.  

I'm catching up on my thanksgivings because it was time for bed when we arrived home from small group, so better late than never... Last night, our small group shared a meal together to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Afterwards, we had a time where we could share the things for which we were thankful.  Our pastor encouraged us to be thankful for the good and trying seasons which we may be in, and it was a blessing to hear others voice their thanks to God. Our family is coming out of a difficult time into a fresh start for our lives, so I am thankful for both sides of this coin.  I'm thankful for the suffering God allowed us to experience.  I may not have thought so at the time, but I can see the fruit in my daughter's life and my own life as well. Also, as John Flavel writes,"Sufferings endear the family of God to each other." As I looked around the room last night, I was thankful for the brothers and sisters who came to court multiple times to stand with me, wh...

I am thankful that we are hosting the Titus 2 ladies meeting in our home tonight!  When we were looking for a house in March, I prayed for a place where we could open up our home to the saints, and the Lord provided.  We will be in Chapter 6 of  Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges.  Each time we gather, the Lord is drawing us closer bit by bit.  I love these sisters, and I am looking forward to this evening.

I'm thankful for an early start to the day.  I woke up unintentionally before the alarm went off.  Rather than going back to sleep, I exercised (much needed due to too many snacks at small group) and read the Word before my daughter was up.  We had an ordinary Monday of work, homeschooling, piano practicing, routine bunny care, running errands, etc.  Since I finished my work for tomorrow, I can enjoy the evening working on my NaNoWriMo novel while my daughter reads her Tolkien. Nothing exciting but a quiet day filled with ordinary things, which is a great blessing.

I am thankful that we celebrated the Lord's supper today.  What a privilege to remember His death until He comes. I am thankful for the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word.  In a nutshell we were admonished to guard the deposit entrusted to us (1 Timothy 6:20-21), which is the gospel and sound doctrine. But we were challenged to guard the truth and not forget Who entrusted it to us in the first place.  Also we were challenged to guard this deposit in a manner that would not cause us to forsake our love for one another. There is much that I need to wrestle through from today's sermon, because I can see this tendency in me. (I'm still cage-stage.) There's a danger of being so vigilant about the truth that I could become impatient and unloving towards those who don't see eye-to-eye 100%. The Lord has already been pricking my heart about this issue, so I'm thankful for His faithfulness in driving this point home today.

I am thankful for God's Word.  I'm thankful that we can freely read the scriptures without fear of persecution, unlike many of God's people around the globe.  May I not take it for granted. From Apples of Gold by Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Ah! the Word of the Lord is . . .   a  light  to guide you, a  counselor  to counsel you,   a  comforter  to comfort you, a  staff  to support you,   a  sword  to defend you, a  physician  to cure you! The Word is . . .   a  mine  to enrich you, a  robe  to clothe you,   a  crown  to crown you,  bread  to strengthen you,    wine  to cheer you, a  honeycomb  to feast you,    music  to delight you, a  paradise  to entertain you! Oh! therefore, before all and above all:    search  the Scripture,  study ...

My Friday thanksgivings: 1. My mouth is feeling so much better.  There's still some tenderness but nothing like the previous pain.  God is merciful despite my foolishly ignoring the infection brewing in my tooth. 2. My back is on the mend as well.  Just another reminder that I'm not young as I used to be. :-) 3. We were asked some hard questions in small group last night concerning our contentment in Christ and how it affects our view of our possessions and our giving. I'm thankful that the pastor doesn't shy away from dealing with these rubber-meets-the-road issues and wants to deal with them in a Biblical way. 4. I'm thankful for late night conversations with my daughter.  She hasn't turned into an alien life form once she reached her teen years, which is another reason to give thanks. I'm thankful that she wants to talk with me about weighty issues that affect her life. 5. I'm thankful for another beautiful fall day.

World War I Victory Arch - Newport News, Virginia I am thankful for the men and women who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces.  There are several brothers and one sister in our church who are deployed at sea and in Iraq.  May God keep them safe and comfort those who are waiting for their safe return.

I'm posting this late, but I had an unusual day. I rose earlier than usual today and had a lovely drive to the dentist's office.  The leaves are starting to turn in Southeast Virginia, so I could enjoy the autumnal color as I anticipated the fun in store for me. My tooth had a nice long crack to the point that it could not be saved. It was also harboring a nasty infection. Therefore, I have a big hole in my jaw where my molar used to be.  However, I am very thankful for my dentist.  The extraction was as atraumatic as it possibly could be given that a large tooth  was pried out of bone.  I'm thankful for Novocain.  Believe me, I was not about to tough this one out! I am also thankful that one day these bodies that seem to be decaying by the minute will be changed into  glorified ones.  I pulled something in my lower back on top of my tooth problems so I have been hobbling around with a sore jaw and a sore back.  I took my first pain med...