A snowy Saturday

It is nice to wake up to snow here in Lynden Town. I don't know if it will shut anything will down but it is here nonetheless. Snow days are most appreciated, though, when they fall on a school day. Snow days on a school day is like a gift of a day where nothing is expected but rest and play , maybe what a Sabbath day was supposed to be.
Our pastor is preaching on how to keep Sabbath and it has made me think on what exactly a Sabbath day looks like for our family. It was/is important to God, it has become one of the less important commandments to us. In our freedom from rules amercian style christianity...we seem to pick and choose what we think is important to keep no matter what God may say about it all. He thought keeping a Sabbath was REALLY important...right up there with not killing, or stealing or committing adultery which we think is REALLY important.
In our efficient way of doing things we have condensed Sabbath to a two hour Service in the morning and if we really want to keep Sunday clear...to a 2 hour service Saturday night. I know Sabbath is Saturday...in its fundamental self. I also know that no matter what day we designate as Sabbath it looks a lot like a normal Saturday, errands, chores and catch up.
The reason we like a snow day in the middle of the week is because what we were supposed to accomplish suddenly is not necessary...it can all wait and we can sit around with each other and play and rest and enjoy. That's Sabbath!

For those we dislike.....

This morning I realized that God loves those I dislike as much as He loves me...At times, it would be great if HE was on my side of things...But He isn't... This changes how I proceed. (sigh)

Have you ever...

Had one of those feelings where all of a sudden it seems you are walking on the edge of a precept? As I was going to bed last night, anxiety seemed to overwhelm me and this is what it sounded like in my head.

#1. Is this it...is this all I am going to be doing for the rest of me life? Is this enough? Am I ever going to see the ruins of ancient cities or will I always be sitting here in Lynden town?
#2. Are my kids really OK? Are they hiding things from me and really not doing as well as I think they are? Are they deceptive and sneaky?
#3. Has the potential for what can be done and what is being done diverging paths and all that is, is the routine of sleeping, eating, going work and watching TV?
#4. Is all the adventure behind me and if it presented itself in front of me would I be too afraid to go?

These are such common refrains running in my head on any given day but last night it was an orchestrated refrain, with all stanza's humming. I thank God for sleeping medicine...or I would still be holding tight to the bedsheets.
I am sure you are wondering why I have not included my relationship with God in the mix of it all? I wonder myself.

And we are off......

It was so nice to be away from it all for 10 days. It is good to be back in a routine ,though, where I can eat a bit better, exercise a bit more consistently and get things done that need to get done. I sit here in my room with Mandarin being spoken quickly and enthusiastically around me...they also had a great break and if they are ready to be here...I don't know but being away gave them some life. One boy gained a pound a day while in china...talk about missing home cooking. He even took some pictures on his camera to remember. I also get gifts from my students...this always surprises me. From clothes to tea to tofu meat ... I am grateful. I have some tea in front of me that looks as if I am drinking spinach. I need to find a proper tea pot.

2012 is here and so far I am hoping to change some things. I innocently asked Scott the other day what he would like to change about me if he could. Did not know this would be painful to hear. I am too critical about church...it is hard on him and my daughter...I can not and will not do this anymore. These are the questions that we need to ask at the start of every year. Not what I would like to change about myself...but those whom I love the most, what would they like to see change. You may be surprised...as I was what my husbands resolution would be for me.

Here is to change that matters....

Try try again...

Last year I also had resolutions but I don't remember where I listed them. When you set goals of any kind there should be a way to see if they have been accomplished. I can remember a few but maybe what I should do is write them in a public forum...like ...a blog, then maybe a year from now I can look back and see.

#1. Dance...I think this is important for many reasons. In my older age I am becoming way to serious and cynical...this may literally loosen me up.

#2. Simplify ... Throw away or give away something everyday and not garbage but items in this house that are not is use.

#3. Intentional...about relationships. Things don't just happen, most of the time relationships need a boost of intentionality.

This may be it for the resolutions...because another one of my new goals is not to make too many.

Happy 2012 folks...let's look for the new treasures or as a friend of mine said...get rid of the old to make room for the new.

This is the time to sweep the old year out !

A Redeemed Holiday

Most everything we use to celebrate the Christmas holiday is taken from something inherently not holy. I have spoken a lot about how funny I think it is that Christians get so upset about the secularization of this holiday when from its conception it wasn't really ours to begin with. I am surprised those who are not Christians are not all up in arms about keeping Christ out of Christmas and putting this holiday back to what it was in the beginning. A mid-winter pagan holiday that celebrated the solstice.
What I love is that we have taken what it was and redeemed it... restored a holiness to this holiday.

It really isn't Jesus' birthday, He really wasn't born on December 25th, the Christmas tree isn't sacred, the stockings and gifts are just that, Santa clause is a universally held fairy tale that helps the retail industry. We fight every year to take back from the overt commercialism to a sacred realism, a holy tug of war of sorts.

What is a wonderfully true lesson about this holiday is that redemption is possible for nearly anything that the 'pagan' world celebrates. We CAN take things back, every square inch, and claim it back from the enemy. We need to fight this more often instead of being content in our encampment.
We have taken this holiday...one for us...let's keep going! Next...Halloween, New Years, 4th of July, Memorial day...What would these holidays look like if we re-did , or redeemed them?

Merry Christmas all...May this time of year bring all the happy a good party brings, all the peace contentment offers, all the good will to men that truth engenders and all that victory produces when we have won one more year a Christmas celebration !