Giving Thanks

Dear World,

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I should have posted something sooner in observation of the holiday, but didn't think about it. Maybe I'll be on top of things for Christmas. Maybe.

This year, like most years, I flipped through a list of things I was thankful for as I encountered them throughout the day. I woke up thankful for soft mattresses and warm blankets. I logged onto Facebook and was thankful for my friends and family (both those with, and those without Facebook). I took a picture and was thankful for my camera. I played with the dog and was thankful for her. I washed the dishes and was thankful for running water. I wished we'd used paper plates and was thankful for the beautiful pattern on the "new" ones we'd inherited from Granny. But this year I also felt sincerely grateful for bad hair days.

I love my hair and love when it does what I want it to. But sometimes it decides to be... "artistic" and try doing things it's own way. Thanksgiving day, I felt thankful for bad hair days. We are to give thanks in all thing right? So that includes the little irritating inconveniences too. Like bad hair days.

I had an analogy brewing earlier. About how I'm trying to shape my hair into something beautiful (like what God is trying to do with my life). And how when my hair resists I have to pin it back with more or stronger hair clips or use hair spray (in either case, it's less comfortable) and how when I resist God's direction He has to use more forceful means to get me to follow Him, etc... But I got distracted in the middle of my musings and that's as far as the analogy making got.

Grateful for the season,

SingingGem

 

I Can See Clearly Now!

Dear World,

My glasses broke today. One of the ear pieces snapped off. My first reaction was mild sorrow and slight irritation. I'm fine now though. Anyway, to share what happened:

I'm sitting at the table, looking blankly at my now broken glasses. Step one: call the ophthalmology office and learn what my options are. Step two: decide which option is the best. Step three: follow through on decision. I go to the phone to call the ophthalmologist and figure out what my options are. I spoke to a lady who informed me the optician would have to see the glasses to evaluate if the were repairable or not. So I decided to drive down to the office and talk with the optician. 

Because I'm nearsighted, I had to dig out my old glasses to drive down there. The optician mentioned one option would be to switch the lenses with my current prescription into the frames from my previous prescription, but she couldn't do it at this branch - I would have to drive out to the other office to get it done. This seemed to be the cheapest option. This took care of steps one and two. So after she got me a temporary ear piece for my regular prescription, I drove with my normal glasses down to the other office to get step three taken care of.

By this time I was starting to get a headache from switching between no glasses, to current prescription, to old prescription, to no glasses, to current prescription, to... you get the idea. Thankfully the main office lab was able to switch the lenses with minimal trouble. There was something technical about the shapes being different and having to heat the frames to shape them or something... but it all worked out.

I have to laugh no since it's almost like I got my own little object lesson from a conference I'd been to on Saturday. It was a conference for the young adult Christian homeschoolers in my state. The speaker shared about worldviews. About how important it is to see the world through the right worldview.

Well, right about now I'm getting writer's block. It's not that I don't have anything to say, it's just that I don't know how to say it. So I'm just gonna cut to the chase: It hurts to see through the wrong prescription lens - whether it's glasses or your worldview. So make sure your vision is correct, both literal and metaphorical.
Anyway, there's a mini-analogy along with a personal update. Two birds with one stone - booyah!

Goodnight,
SingingGem

Voting Without Fear

Dear World,

Here in the United States, it's election year. Mom keeps saying this is a big election, I keep telling her that all of them are. But truth be told, I find myself becoming more and more anxious over each Presidential election. I know in my head that the anxiety is useless, but that doesn't really stop it from washing over me.

Today I watched the most recent Blimey Cow (aka Messy Mondays) video on YouTube. One of the things Jordan said really encouraged me:
“I guess I just don’t understand the Christians that get so fearful during election time. As if life hangs in the balance. It’s like they think the country is the only thing protecting them from persecution or death or something. If you need to pledge allegiance to a nation for your safety and security, your God isn’t big enough.” 
It was a good reminder that, ultimately, God is in control. Two things really jumped out at me from this quote:

1. "It’s like they think the country is the only thing protecting them from persecution or death or something."
Is it really such a bad thing if we do come under persecution? Don't get me wrong! I love the thought of a persecution free life. But at the same time, persecution is a gift. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven..." Matthew 5:10-12 [emphasis added]. We are commanded to rejoice in persecution.

2. "If you need to pledge allegiance to a nation for your safety and security, your God isn’t big enough." 
Why put your confidence in politics and politicians when God is the one who is really in control? Romans 13:1 talks about how it is God who allows those in leadership to rule, "...For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." It doesn't matter who is ruling the nation, because ultimately God is ruling the ruler. Proverbs 21:1 states that, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." 

Now please don't use this as an excuse to be lazy. It is still important to get involved in politics. Because we have been given the right to vote, we are held responsible to do our part in electing a God-honoring President. You know that Spiderman quote about the person who is given many gifts having lots of responsibility? Guess what, the Bible came up with that idea first, "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (Luke 12:48) If we are given the power of deciding who is President, then we are partly responsible for who is elected. 

So bottom line, what am I trying to say? Voting is a big deal. We are blessed to live in a country that allows us to dictate who dictates us. Go vote! But once you've voted, don't become fearful about the results. Once we have fulfilled our responsibilities, the rest is in God's hands. And He doesn't make mistakes.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding dwell in your hearts richly as you seek to follow and honor Him.

Voting tomorrow,
SingingGem