The year has almost concluded. Here in the Mountain Time zone we have just over 12 hours until we kiss 2014 goodbye. It's a time for reflection and renewal. Over the last few years, I've actually gotten more serious about resolutions. About four years ago, was when I really got down to brass tacks and thought through a whole bunch of different things I wanted to improve and get to do over the year. They were lofty goals, and I think I made a good attempt, but ultimately they all fell through.
Last year, I set out smaller, but still challenging goals.
In a few hours, during my kids' quiet/nap time, I will be finishing my Bible reading for the year. It was a great exercise. I loved the different perspectives of each translation and the wealth of wisdom contained in those covers. I love getting to know God more and understanding Him in different ways. I had wanted to better understand what it meant to put His kingdom first - while I think I have a tiny bit better understanding, I think what I learned was that to put a year limit on learning about it would be fool-hardy, and it should be a resolution for my entire life, not just a mere 365 days.
For 2015, I only really have two for now. S and I are still in conversation about one that we will be working together on, but for me I am resolving to memorize the book of James and to finish at least one of the book projects I already have on the go. I currently have four, and I'm finding that the plots are getting muddled together and none of them are getting my full attention. SO! One at a time, hopefully.
Anything you are resolving to do for this coming year?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
More Christmas Musings
I have been thinking a ton about Christmas lately. I know it IS that season and all, but the thoughts are far from the normal things like who is getting what, if I have enough time to do all the baking I want, how to plan out the weeks of vacation so as to promote peace instead of chaos and so on.
This year it has been more about the theology of Christmas and how it is celebrated. Piggy-backing on the last rant post I had, I've been thinking about why our family celebrates in the ways that we do.
I love Christmas just as much as the next person, perhaps even more, but what I'm realizing is that I like the traditions and hype of the traditional holiday, much like I like Valentine's Day or even my own birthday. The thing is, Christmas as we know it in North America has really fallen into 'just' another holiday that capitalizes on manipulating feelings and people trying to outweigh their greed by trying to give more.
Hear me out. I'm not saying everyone who celebrates Christmas is like that, but our society really is changing the holiday, isn't it? I kind of love the society holiday, I really do - the eggnog, the movies, the lights, and even the tree. Thing is, I love the birth of Jesus more. I doubt that Jesus' disciples really celebrated Christmas. They might have acknowledged his birthday, sure, but more in a 'Oh, now you're older' sort of way, not with giving each other gifts and setting up a recreation of the stable he was born in. I doubt they even did that after his death and they understood (or were beginning to) the magnitude of what Emmanuel really means.
Jesus' birth in and of itself is pretty spectacular, especially considering all of the miracles that went along with it, but without the cross, it is not as significant as we make it out to be. Even within the story that we reminisce about each December alludes to the cross - in the gifts of the wisemen - a gift given to anoint a dead body. It's sobering isn't it, among the ribbons and bows? Death.
I think the traditions that were started are dandy (and I do so love them), but we've built on them and, I think, obscured the reasons they were started in the first place. For instance: St. Nicholas.
I think St. Nicholas would be appalled by the flimsy Santa Clause that is based loosely around him. Santa twists the story of giving into manipulating children into being good all year in order to earn toys or favor. St. Nicholas, and the story that sparked us having the tradition of stockings, gave to people who were undeserving and poor. He mirrored the gospel so well - the idea of even when were still sinners Christ died for us. None of this being good for goodness sake, but rather, accepting that we ARE sinners, and need a saviour. The Saviour that was born as God incarnate in a stable in Bethlehem.
I'm not saying we do away with fun and presents and eggnog. I'm saying we need to have fun and enjoy our families and maybe spoil them on December 25th. I'm also saying that December 25th is not the only day we need to celebrate Christmas. To relegate the celebration of God coming down into human form to just one day is, in a word, pithy. We need to live EVERY day in light of Jesus' birth. We need to live EVERY day in light of Jesus' death. We especially need to live EVERY day in light of Jesus' resurrection.
Our celebrating of Christmas, I submit is not too overdone one iota. Our celebrating is too weak and insignificant. Let's up the ante. Let's really show the world how significant our Lord's birth was by not just giving gifts on one day, or being extra kind because of a season. Let's also not scare our kids with elves or threats of less toys because of their behaviour. Like us, they don't deserve favour or more toys because they are good! They need to understand the Gospel - that we are all sinners who are offered God's free gift of forgiveness through Jesus shed blood. We don't get that gift because we are good, we get it because GOD is good.
Celebrate Christmas! Celebrate it everyday!
May you see the Gospel more clearly as you celebrate.
XO and Merry Christmas,
J
soli deo gloria
This year it has been more about the theology of Christmas and how it is celebrated. Piggy-backing on the last rant post I had, I've been thinking about why our family celebrates in the ways that we do.
I love Christmas just as much as the next person, perhaps even more, but what I'm realizing is that I like the traditions and hype of the traditional holiday, much like I like Valentine's Day or even my own birthday. The thing is, Christmas as we know it in North America has really fallen into 'just' another holiday that capitalizes on manipulating feelings and people trying to outweigh their greed by trying to give more.
Hear me out. I'm not saying everyone who celebrates Christmas is like that, but our society really is changing the holiday, isn't it? I kind of love the society holiday, I really do - the eggnog, the movies, the lights, and even the tree. Thing is, I love the birth of Jesus more. I doubt that Jesus' disciples really celebrated Christmas. They might have acknowledged his birthday, sure, but more in a 'Oh, now you're older' sort of way, not with giving each other gifts and setting up a recreation of the stable he was born in. I doubt they even did that after his death and they understood (or were beginning to) the magnitude of what Emmanuel really means.
Jesus' birth in and of itself is pretty spectacular, especially considering all of the miracles that went along with it, but without the cross, it is not as significant as we make it out to be. Even within the story that we reminisce about each December alludes to the cross - in the gifts of the wisemen - a gift given to anoint a dead body. It's sobering isn't it, among the ribbons and bows? Death.
I think the traditions that were started are dandy (and I do so love them), but we've built on them and, I think, obscured the reasons they were started in the first place. For instance: St. Nicholas.
I think St. Nicholas would be appalled by the flimsy Santa Clause that is based loosely around him. Santa twists the story of giving into manipulating children into being good all year in order to earn toys or favor. St. Nicholas, and the story that sparked us having the tradition of stockings, gave to people who were undeserving and poor. He mirrored the gospel so well - the idea of even when were still sinners Christ died for us. None of this being good for goodness sake, but rather, accepting that we ARE sinners, and need a saviour. The Saviour that was born as God incarnate in a stable in Bethlehem.
I'm not saying we do away with fun and presents and eggnog. I'm saying we need to have fun and enjoy our families and maybe spoil them on December 25th. I'm also saying that December 25th is not the only day we need to celebrate Christmas. To relegate the celebration of God coming down into human form to just one day is, in a word, pithy. We need to live EVERY day in light of Jesus' birth. We need to live EVERY day in light of Jesus' death. We especially need to live EVERY day in light of Jesus' resurrection.
Our celebrating of Christmas, I submit is not too overdone one iota. Our celebrating is too weak and insignificant. Let's up the ante. Let's really show the world how significant our Lord's birth was by not just giving gifts on one day, or being extra kind because of a season. Let's also not scare our kids with elves or threats of less toys because of their behaviour. Like us, they don't deserve favour or more toys because they are good! They need to understand the Gospel - that we are all sinners who are offered God's free gift of forgiveness through Jesus shed blood. We don't get that gift because we are good, we get it because GOD is good.
Celebrate Christmas! Celebrate it everyday!
May you see the Gospel more clearly as you celebrate.
XO and Merry Christmas,
J
soli deo gloria
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Thinking Out Loud
Okay, so I might not just be thinking out loud here. I might actually be stepping up on to a soap box, ranting my little face off.
I just read ANOTHER blog post/article/talk about how some one is giving up Christmas, or giving gifts to their kids, or not, or are, or or or.
ENOUGH. Please. Enough.
Though those articles, I hope, are well meaning, it is starting to feel like we're justifying our own ways of celebrating Christmas. They (we) are trying to say, "Look at me! I'm doing it the right way!"
...Is there a right way?
I submit that there is. I think the right way is the way that you personally honour Jesus the most. Perhaps that is giving everyone and their cousin gifts until they ask you to stop. Perhaps that's not even putting up a tree and going to sleep in a stable with your own child wrapped up in swaddling clothes.
Something that has popped up in my head surrounding all of this has been Jesus talking about fasting, or praying. We are not to do it like hypocrites. Matthew 6 says this:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
The key in this, regarding all of the posts lately is verse 1 : Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them..."
While not all of the articles or whatever might not be doing what this verse warns against, what are they doing? Are they helpful? Maybe. Are they promoting Christ-likeness? Perhaps.
My point is this : why are YOU celebrating Christmas the way YOU are? Do you know? Is it traditions handed down that you engage in because it's fun? Is it because you have actually thought through what would be most Jesus-loving? Is it something else?
I don't want to shame, guilt, or scare you into changing how you celebrate Christmas (or don't), but I do want to challenge you to think through why you do what you do and for whom.
Now, I think I'll step down off this soap box and eat some gingerbread.
XO,
J
soli deo gloria
I just read ANOTHER blog post/article/talk about how some one is giving up Christmas, or giving gifts to their kids, or not, or are, or or or.
ENOUGH. Please. Enough.
Though those articles, I hope, are well meaning, it is starting to feel like we're justifying our own ways of celebrating Christmas. They (we) are trying to say, "Look at me! I'm doing it the right way!"
...Is there a right way?
I submit that there is. I think the right way is the way that you personally honour Jesus the most. Perhaps that is giving everyone and their cousin gifts until they ask you to stop. Perhaps that's not even putting up a tree and going to sleep in a stable with your own child wrapped up in swaddling clothes.
Something that has popped up in my head surrounding all of this has been Jesus talking about fasting, or praying. We are not to do it like hypocrites. Matthew 6 says this:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
The key in this, regarding all of the posts lately is verse 1 : Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them..."
While not all of the articles or whatever might not be doing what this verse warns against, what are they doing? Are they helpful? Maybe. Are they promoting Christ-likeness? Perhaps.
My point is this : why are YOU celebrating Christmas the way YOU are? Do you know? Is it traditions handed down that you engage in because it's fun? Is it because you have actually thought through what would be most Jesus-loving? Is it something else?
I don't want to shame, guilt, or scare you into changing how you celebrate Christmas (or don't), but I do want to challenge you to think through why you do what you do and for whom.
Now, I think I'll step down off this soap box and eat some gingerbread.
XO,
J
soli deo gloria
Friday, December 5, 2014
Crafting at Christmas
I love to make things. It's part of the reason I started this blog - to share ideas about creating art, music, food, or even wearables.
When Christmas rolls around....or the thought of Christmas presents or decorations enters my head about mid-July I start dreaming up different things to make or bake for people around me. I love it! I love the challenge of finding something fun for me to knit that would also be liked and worn by the receiver. I like spending time praying for the person who will get it as I finagle over the tiddly-bits.
I also LOVE putting Christmas decorations up. I also LOVE making Christmas decorations. Often S has to reign in my desire to be crafty at this time of year because it is super overwhelming all of the different ideas streaming through the house.
Last year's big idea was capis shell look-alike garland. Basically, I punched/cut out HUNDREDS of wax paper circles then sewed them together to make garland for the tree. It looks just like I wanted it to. Problem of this year, though, is that we got an absolutely GINORMOUS tree and I have to probably cut about 3-5 hundred more circles out in order to make enough to go around the rest. Never can have too much, right?
This year, I had two main ideas: cinnamon snowflake garland for the windows and a stocking hanger. The first one started off grand. (I'll do a post about them later this week) I made them all up and decorated them with puff paint so they actually look like gingerbread. I love them....but they will not do what I want them to, which is hang straight. There are some improvements that S has thought up (thank God for critically minded husbands! ...really, he balances out my zany ideas and gives them legs), but they might have to wait until next year until their fruition.
BUT! I did get the stocking hanger all finished! Here are the pictures of the process (the long, and over complicated process that we would refine, should we ever attempt to do it again):
And there you have it, folks, how we spent our last week on my latest crafty idea!
More Christmas craftiness to come in the next few days!
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
When Christmas rolls around....or the thought of Christmas presents or decorations enters my head about mid-July I start dreaming up different things to make or bake for people around me. I love it! I love the challenge of finding something fun for me to knit that would also be liked and worn by the receiver. I like spending time praying for the person who will get it as I finagle over the tiddly-bits.
I also LOVE putting Christmas decorations up. I also LOVE making Christmas decorations. Often S has to reign in my desire to be crafty at this time of year because it is super overwhelming all of the different ideas streaming through the house.
Last year's big idea was capis shell look-alike garland. Basically, I punched/cut out HUNDREDS of wax paper circles then sewed them together to make garland for the tree. It looks just like I wanted it to. Problem of this year, though, is that we got an absolutely GINORMOUS tree and I have to probably cut about 3-5 hundred more circles out in order to make enough to go around the rest. Never can have too much, right?
This year, I had two main ideas: cinnamon snowflake garland for the windows and a stocking hanger. The first one started off grand. (I'll do a post about them later this week) I made them all up and decorated them with puff paint so they actually look like gingerbread. I love them....but they will not do what I want them to, which is hang straight. There are some improvements that S has thought up (thank God for critically minded husbands! ...really, he balances out my zany ideas and gives them legs), but they might have to wait until next year until their fruition.
BUT! I did get the stocking hanger all finished! Here are the pictures of the process (the long, and over complicated process that we would refine, should we ever attempt to do it again):
 |
| Step 2 (step 1 being cut the board to size) Paint background colour |
 | |
| Step 3 -get your husband to mark off 1/4in squares in the most complicated manner you can think of (our method was tacks and string) |
 |
| Step 4 - pencil mark in your pattern (I chose a cross stich pattern I found on Pintrest) |
 |
| Step 5 - paint over your pencil marks |
 |
| Step 6 -Seal the whole thing with a spray lacquer |
 |
| Step 7 & 8 - add hangers to the back and hooks to the front |
 |
| Step 9 - step back and admire after you hang your stockings! |
And there you have it, folks, how we spent our last week on my latest crafty idea!
More Christmas craftiness to come in the next few days!
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
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