Sunday, October 16, 2011

Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Living Proof Ministries October 15th

My Siesta Scripture Memory Team Verses for October 15th:

Colossians 3:12:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

("Clothe yourself" makes me think of slipping on a comfortable coat.)

Photo via stock.xchng. Credit to Shine4Him8.


I'll be working on this passage til the end of the year:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Socks

Laura, at I'm an Organizing Junkie, asked us to tell her the best single tip but I will put it here, too:

To tame the sock monster, do two things: first, buy lots of the same design of sock (more than you need so that as you throw out the worn ones, you still have pairs) but only one design per type (only one kind of no-show socks, only one kind of dress black socks, only one kind to wear with sneakers, etc.) and second, when folding laundry, don't bother matching up pairs, instead, just stack the sock together that are alike.

(You asked for one sentence so I complied, but it is one L-O-N-G sentence!)

Monday, October 3, 2011

The Sin of Ingratitude

The sin of ingratitude.

During a walk today, I confessed that to God.

I have been unwilling to keep after my gifts list, my list of things for which I am grateful. The list of things I love that are gifts from God.

Why had it become so hard?

And why was I so easily irritated? So quick to get angry?

I turned to One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, thinking that I might find some help there.

I bought this book shortly after it came out, but since I was involved in the challenge to read the Bible in 90 days (in addition to my BSF study), I put it aside. (Believe me, I needed every moment to accomplish the Bible in 90 days goal, and I still ran over by 13!)

Then it was summer and surely I would have time. But summer was very busy and I had my summer Bible study to do and no time to read One Thousand Gifts slowly (for that is how I knew I wanted to read it).

So although I had read the first chapters quickly when I got it, and skimmed some of the rest, I hadn't read the whole book. And I had not read slowly, marking what I needed to remember.

You know those people who save the very nicest things for "someday"? Well, that is what was going on with me with One Thousand Gifts. Once I started it, I knew I would finish it and then I wouldn't have it to look forward to.... And somehow I cannot mark a book until I have owned it for some time and I needed to mark lots in this book.

But I picked it up and re-read the heartbreaking first chapter and then further on.

And this is what I got:

I am suffering from the sin of ingratitude.
Giving thanks changes things.
I have to learn how to do this.
Practice. My list is my practice of being grateful to God for the gifts He has given.
It is my way of receiving the gifts.

Eucharisteo -- thanksgiving
root word: charis -- grace
derivative: chara -- joy

Being ungrateful is a way of saying that I know better than God. That He doesn't really love me. At least, not as much as He loves others.



So I resolve to take up the list. The list that I started in November 2007 and kept off-and-on through early July 2011. Three years and eight months. And my gifts number only 301. That is an average of six or seven gifts a month.

I almost cry for the time lost due to my stubbornness. Not so much because my list is not long, but because I have not made a practice of gratitude; I have not healed the hard, anxious heart. I have not opened my eyes to the good things. I have not surrendered my will to God's good and perfect will for my life. And I have affected those around me.

Today, I thank You, Lord, for the gifts...

302. breeze against my arms--not cool, not warm, just ... perfect
303. the color of leaves on a tree: some dark, some light. And how they move!
304. swaying of trees in the wind (so comforting)
305. remembering that at one point I resigned myself to no husband and no children: a husband and three kids
306. Lord, I love seeing birds fly
307. And airplanes in the distance
308. and that one house with the landscaping that I love.

And by naming, thanking, I receive and I hope and pray that I change. Please, Lord, change me! Amen.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Prayer Appointed for the Week: Sunday closest to October 5

Almighty and everlasting God,
You are always more ready to hear than we to pray,
and to give more than we either desire or deserve:
Pour upon Your church the abundance of Your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask,
except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior;
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We've moved into the book The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Vineyard Church in Ann Arbor has the Divine Hours prayers on its website.

This prayer originates from The Book of Common Prayer. It the Collect (Contemporary) Proper 22, for the Sunday closest to October 5th. Page 234 in my copy of the BCP.

(Vineyard Church in Ann Arbor seems to be one week behind. Or maybe I am one week ahead.)

Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Living Proof Ministries September 15 and October 1

My Siesta Scripture Memory Team Verses for September 15th and October 1st:

After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53: 11 and 12 (NIV)

(Both late. Again. Sigh.)