Do Not Be Offended (Part 3)

In Part 1 I talked about what started me thinking about people finding offense where none was intended.

In Part 2 I wrote about a situation where Christians do this very thing during the Christmas season.

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.” – James 3:18

So what do we do when we hear or see “Happy Holidays”? Well, first, let’s figure out if there really is any offense to be taken (and please don’t intentionally be nit picky about a situation to find offense). It’s usually pretty easy to tell and in about 99% percent of the cases (at least in my experience) there are only good intentions at the root of the greeting or farewell.

When we see it in advertising or some other generic type place (such as an end of year thank you some companies mail to their customers or employees) let’s keep things in context. A business which really appreciates its customers and/or employees and wants those customers to continue spending money (or wants their employees to continue to work hard) is not going to intentionally try to offend them. So a “Happy Holidays” in that context is an attempt to be as inclusive as possible without having to deal with the many societal and legal issues which can arise when you ask someone (especially an employee) what religion, if any, they practice.

When it’s on a more personal level, one individual to another, again, please keep things in context. For starters, how well does the person saying “Happy Holidays” really know you? I may talk to the drive thru guy at Taco Bell about once a week, but the only thing he really knows about me is the kind of car I drive, that I like a side of sour cream with my Fiesta Potatoes, and I always say thank you. Also, how many other people does the speaker come in contact with each day? They may just say “Happy Holidays” out of habit (I refer to the Taco Bell drive thru guy again) because they say it so many times each day.

If there is no offense intended, then your reaction can simply be to say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas (nobody says you can’t say it in response to a “Happy Holiday”) in return.

A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.” – Proverbs 19:11

And what do we do on those extremely infrequent occasions where an offense is clearly meant by “Happy Holidays”? I say don’t take the bait. Overlook the “offense” and accept it with grace and love. Respond with grace and love. Now you don’t have to listen to me if you don’t want to, but there are plenty of biblical references to back me up on this:

• “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh.” – Leviticus 19:18 (HCSB)
• “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.” – Ephesians 4:3-3 (HCSB) 
• “Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, for you know that many times you yourself have cursed others.” – Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (HCSB) (other translations have “Do not take to heart all the things that people say. . . “) 
• “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (HCSB) (I have also seen the “is not provoked” section written as “takes no offense” but I can’t find a specific translation with that version)
• “So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.” - Romans 14:19
• “But I tell you, don’t resist an evil doer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” – Matthew 5:39 (HCSB)

And those I’ve used previously in this series: Proverbs 10:12, James 3:18, Proverbs 19:11

Clearly, the message here is to love each other. Even those who mean to “offend” us. We are not supposed to keep track of offenses or hold a grudge, or try to get even. We are meant to LOVE and live in peace and patience with each other. Please, during this Christmas season, share the love God gave to us when he sent his Son to earth. Do not take offense at “Happy Holidays”, do not harden any hearts or minds to the love of Jesus by negatively responding to those simple words which are often meant as heartfelt good wishes.

And, Merry Christmas to all. (Even if you don’t believe in Christ, I wish you nothing but peace and joy.)

Do Not Be Offended (Part 2)

(In Part 1 I talked about what started me thinking about people finding offense where none was intended.
In Part 3 I talk about how we can respond to "offenses".)

“In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Jesus Christ will be persecuted.”  - 2 Timothy 3:12

So the sentiment I started seeing that made me realize Christians were taking offense where none was intended was this:

“It’s not Happy Holidays, it’s Merry Christmas”

When I started seeing this message this Christmas season, the thoughts I was having about taking offense where none was intended suddenly had a whole new meaning. We Christians have been doing this exact thing. For years!

 I know there are people who vehemently believe that the retailers and individuals who use the phrase “Happy Holidays” are intentionally trying to put down or squash Christianity. While there may very well be some instances where that is the case, I don’t believe there is a widespread conspiracy. In fact I believe it’s really more of a recognition that the United States has fulfilled the dream of religious freedom for all people that our founding fathers (and by this I mean the men and women who fled from religious persecution by sailing across an ocean in WIND powered boats) imagined. There are quite a number of holidays and winter festivals (Hanukkah, Ramadan – on occasion, Christmas, a variety of Solstice celebrations/festivals, Kwanzaa, etc.) that take place during the months of December and January.

In order not to offend anybody (and to not break the bank with the cost of printing ads for all those different holidays) retailers use “Happy Holidays”. Also, it’s not always easy to determine if a person celebrates a particular holiday, especially if you’re in Minnesota bundled up in your winter attire (hat, gloves, heavy coat, scarves, etc), or in your car at the drive thru window. So what’s a person to do? Ask every individual they meet which holiday, if any, they celebrate? That’s ridiculously impractical, so they say Happy Holidays.

Despite the logic of people using the phrase “Happy Holidays”, Christians are still finding offense in it and I don’t understand why. Maybe someone else can explain it to me. During this time that is supposed to be a celebration of the love God showed to us by sending his son to us, shouldn't we be accepting these well wishes with grace and in the spirit in which they are intended?

Don’t get me wrong. I do believe Christians are, and Christianity is, being attacked in very real ways. I just don’t believe the use of “Happy Holidays” is one of those ways. The energy we waste on this topic could be used in much better ways. Also, the negative emotions (hostility, anger, hurt, etc) that emanate from the people who take offense to these words do nothing to share God’s love. In fact, it does the opposite and closes hearts and minds (because in a lot of cases the person who originally said "Happy Holidays" with no ill intent is now hurt/offended that you took it as having ill intent)..

An offended brother is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress. – Proverbs 18:19 (HCSB)

Is that really what we want to do? Make spreading the word of God’s love and salvation even harder? I can’t speak for anyone else, but as for me and my house, we say heck no!

So what do we do when we hear or see “Happy Holidays”? Well, apparently, I will share my opinions on that in part three. (Seriously, when I started writing this I had no idea I would have so much to say. I just pray that my words and thoughts on this subject are pleasing to God and that He is the one who is inspiring them).

Do Not Be Offended (Part 1)

Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.  - Proverbs 10:12 HCSB

A couple of weeks ago I watched a story online about a man who had donated a bag of clothes and shoes to a Goodwill store in Texas. Unbeknownst to the man, his wife had hidden their life savings of $3300 in one of the shoes he had donated. A worker at the Goodwill found the money in the shoe when he started to arrange the items on shelves. The worker reported his find to his manager and they set the money aside, just in case someone came looking for it. A few days later the wife of the man who donated the shoes came into the Goodwill store and was able to claim the money after she answered a few questions.

That’s the way things are supposed to work, right? Somebody finds something that may have been lost and they set it aside so the proper owner can claim it. Yes, that’s the way it’s supposed to work, but we all know this world isn’t perfect and is filled will things/acts/sins that shouldn’t happen. No one was with the Goodwill worker when he found the money and he could have easily just put it in his pocket and no one would have known about it.

But, he didn’t. He did the right thing and in the online comments of this story many people were praising him for his honesty and integrity. One commenter left a message saying “May God bless you for your honesty.”, and another commenter’s response to that message puzzled me and started the gears going in my head. They responded by saying something along the lines of, “Keep God out of this. God has nothing to do with it. How do you know that the person wouldn’t be offended by you asking your God to bless him?”

The response confused me. How could anyone be offended by a heartfelt sentiment of good wishes for their well being? Even if you don’t believe in the God, deity, spirit, concept, etc. that the person is using to express their desire for your well being; you can still accept their sentiment in the spirit in which it was given.  Why would you look for offense where none was intended?

Those were the thoughts and questions going through my head when I started seeing a certain sentiment being shared on the internet. It was a sentiment that I have seen each Christmas season for many years. In fact, I must admit, it is a sentiment that I once believed myself until I did a little research on the history of Christmas (which is a great subject for another post). What is that sentiment?

You’ll have to wait for my next post, because this post is already getting long. . .

(If you haven't figured it out already, don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging for long. The next post is already written, mostly.)

My Reaction to "Middle class trading 'I do' for 'maybe later'"

This article in the Lifestyle section of today's StarTribune has me all fired up, and since I try not to feed the comment trolls on the paper's website (they can be incredibly vicious and cruel) I decided to do a little venting here. Anyone is welcome to comment, as long as you keep the conversation civil.

Honestly, I don't know where to start with this so I'm just going to give a quote from the article and then explain why it bugs the heck out of me. Just to warn you, there are several quotes so this may be a longer post.

"Not feeling that pressure gives me the opportunity to focus on my career and have more great life experiences I might not be able to have if I was in a serious relationship." - Becca Bijoch, 25 (in response to not feeling societal pressure to marry).

Apparently, the ability to have great life experiences stops when you are in a serious relationship. What?!? While it may be more difficult to drop everything at the spur of the moment to take some crazy fun vacation or to switch cities when you are promoted/change jobs it doesn't mean you can't do those things. "Great life experiences" can be even greater because you overcome the challenges and are often even sweeter when you have someone to share them with and reminisce about them with.

"I've got about a million things to dedicate financial resources to before I can even think about buying an engagement ring or paying for a wedding," said Micheal Foley, 32, a website editor in Hudson, Wis. "Taking the best thing in the world -- love -- and turning it into a legal obligation isn't worth ruining your financial future over. I love my girlfriend and I hope to one day give her the wedding she deserves, but not at the expense of our financial well-being afterward."

Mr. Foley (and everyone else waiting to get married until they can afford a wedding), marriage is a lot more than a "legal obligation" and if you could get past the idea of spending tons of cash (so much that you could ruin your financial future) on a lavish wedding perhaps you would see that. If more people would spend the same amount of time/money/energy on looking at what their marriage is going to be like as they spend planning the perfect "wedding", marriages would be so much stronger. (And fewer people would think that their opportunity for great life experiences ends at the alter).

"These are not the 'oopsies,' the 15-year-olds who didn't know any better," said William Doherty, professor of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. "It's more like women are saying, 'This guy isn't marriage material, but he's good enough to have a child with, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if I got pregnant.'"

Yes, I commented about this quote on Facebook already, but I think it bears repeating (especially for those of you who can't see what I posted on Facebook. This quote just begs me to ask, really? Is that the message you want to give your kids about their dad? Oh, he wasn't good enough for me but he's okay for you. What the heck?!?

Also, a good friend brought up another good point. She said "Are ladies so spoiled that they think men have to be perfect before they marry them? Men are good enough to give 'em a baby but not anything more? And we accuse men of objectifying women?! Wow." What a great point, Nancy.

One reason is the premium that couples place on maintaining their independence, financially and psychologically.

Many see marriage more as a way to split expenses than pool resources, according to The Marriage Project study. High divorce rates tell them to plan for the worst and to be ready to support themselves if needed. -a quote made in regards to couples who wait to get married because of financial reasons

Why do people spend so much more time and energy on their contingency plans (making sure they can support themselves if the marriage doesn't work out) than they spend on making their marriages work out? I believe that part (not all, but part) of the reason there is such a high rate of divorce is because so many people are planning to fail rather than planning to succeed. Yes, marriage is work, hard work, but if you spend more time preparing to fail you are more than likely going to fail. This is true with just about anything in life.

D'Angelo (a marriage and family therapist) put it this way: "Marriage is seen less as a journey and more as a destination. And that concerns me because it is the journey and not the destination."

Okay, so this is a quote that I mostly agree with. I think TheHusband said it better though when he said "Marriage is both the journey AND the destination."

A common thread among those postponing marriage is resistance to settling for less than the ideal.

Today's young adults, raised by ever-bolstering parents, believe they can achieve what they desire if they put forth some effort, Doherty said. They see no reason to lower their expectations just because they haven't found someone who measures up.

I believe the above statement is further evidence of the ever increasing sense of entitlement we, as a society, are teaching to younger generations. There isn't anyone on the planet who is "ideal". We are all flawed human beings with cracks, bad habits, and blemishes. Can we work on those things, absolutely, but if you are waiting for someone who is "ideal" you are going to be waiting a long time. Finding someone who loves and accepts you for you (cracks, bad habits, blemishes and all) is what you should be looking for.

He worries about how easily a desire to marry post-children will be fulfilled, given the logistics of co-mingling their various attachments. -William Doherty, professor of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota.

Many of the women highlighted in this article indicated a desire to find a husband once their children were older or grown. I too wonder how "easy" this will be for them, especially those who are still looking for the "ideal" person. If they aren't willing to bend and grow with a person now, how much harder will it be for them in 10 to 20 years when they have firmly established life patterns and beliefs? How much more difficult will those marriages be when they have to deal with blending families and traditions?

I'm going to get off my soapbox now. Getting that off my chest has been very good for me, and now I can go spend time with TheHusband without having all that stuff banging around inside my head. Thanks so much for bearing with me, and as I said before, please feel free to leave your comments.

Memorial Day 2012

Original photo by Robert Linder (www.sxc.hu/profile/linder6580)

No words can express the debt of gratitude that we, as a country, owe to the men and women who have fought, are fighting, and will fight for the freedoms of this country. The sacrifices they and their families make are incredible and can never be fully understood or repaid.

I humbly say thank you to the men, women, and families who sacrifice so much for so many. May God be with you all.

Need a New Do. . . The Reveal

So have I made you all wait long enough to reveal the new hairstyle I went with? No? Okay, well then I'll just have to give you a little filler. Hee Hee.

Last Thursday TheHusband and I celebrated our 10th anniversary by going to MOA (the Mall of America, for those of you who aren't in or from MN). We had been planning this outing for several weeks, but on Thursday morning we decided we would leave the house a bit earlier than originally planned so we could make a stop at Fantastic Sams to get my hair chopped. We arrived before they unlocked doors and were happy to see our favorite stylist was working.

Ten Years Ago, A Letter to My Husband

Dear Husband,

Today I woke up a different person from who I was on this morning ten years ago. The 26 year old version of me was too distracted by the last minute details of that day's events to consider the days, months, and years that lay ahead. She bounced around the church hanging pew bows, setting out chocolate flower centerpieces, and worrying about the cake being delivered late. I am happy to say that she was, in fact, very grateful for the day itself. Having been in a car accident the day before, she was very much aware of how blessed she was to be able to worry about pew bows, centerpieces, and late cakes. What she didn't know was exactly how blessed she was.

Over the past ten years you, my dearest love, have taught that 26 year old version of me many things (some of which she thought she knew, but didn't really). Here are just a few of those things:

• First and foremost, I have learned that marriage is work, hard work, but oh so worth it when both of us are working together. 
• Love is many things, including a choice. We've had our rough patches. Times when we could have easily walked away, but chose not to. I am so glad we chose to work through those rough times. They have made our marriage and friendship stronger and deeper.
• I am weaker than I thought. It may sound crazy, but that is a very good thing. I don't have to take on the world by myself, it's okay to not only need help but to ask for it. In fact, in a weird way, it actually makes a person stronger.
• Sometimes, a lot of times, it is the small things that make the biggest difference. While the AS has imposed some physical limitations on me and I'm not able to help nearly as much as I would like, you constantly show me that the little things I can do to help you (like typing your notes for your Sunday morning classes) are still helpful in BIG ways.

There are so many other things I could list, but we have plans for today and I just don't have time to type them all up. Please know, as we celebrate our first 10 years of marriage, that I am so very thankful for God blessing my life by putting you in it. He could not have gifted me a better friend or husband to make the journey's of this life with. The 26 year old me didn't know that, but I do, and I can't wait to wake up next to you on all the days, months, and years ahead of us.

I love you.

*head bump*

Need a new do. . .

The state of my hair has been quite bothersome to me for awhile now. Currently, my hair is about 1/2 to 3/4 down my back and it needs to go. Don't get me wrong. I love long hair and the ability to whip it up into a ponytail, but let's face the facts here. I wear my hair in a ponytail (or ponytail variation) about 95% of the time and I really dislike the maintenance factor (especially with the frequent pain issues in my hands). So, I'm looking for a new, short, do!

Pictured below are a few options. (Please ignore the hair color, it was the closest approximation to my own color but not quite). I'm looking on feedback regarding the cut and maintenance of these styles, which is where you all come in. Please feel free to leave feedback in the comments. Keep in mind that I'm looking for a wash & go, no muss no fuss look. Sometime this weekend I'll be going from long to short.

  

  

Or if anyone has other HELPFUL suggestions, just let me know (a link to specific example would be great).

Torn about Spirit Airlines' Decision

If you are unaware of what my title refers to, here is a link for you to read & watch a little bit about the issue. A quick summary would be that Spirit Airlines (an airline I've honestly never heard of) decided to enforce its NO REFUNDS policy when Mr. Jerry Meekins (a 76 year old Vietnam veteran) requested a refund of the $179 plane ticket he had purchased two weeks prior. Mr. Meekins requested the refund after his doctor told him not to fly because of his deteriorating health (Mr. Meekins has terminal esophageal cancer).

Before I explain why I am torn about this situation, let me say that I have the utmost respect for anyone who has served in the United States' armed forces. The sacrifices they and their families make to defend the values this country was founded on are enormous and can never be compensated for.

That being said, I wonder if there would be such a brew-ha-ha over this if Mr. Meekins wasn't a veteran. How would people feel if he was an ex-con, a dead beat dad, or a 20-something kid who has never had a job and lives in his parent's basement? Would the outrage people are feeling be as strong if Mr. Meekins weren't terminally ill? These are just some of the questions I have been asking myself since first hearing about this situation.

As a person who gets to enforce a "No Refunds" policy, I totally understand the airline's stance. Once you make an exception for one person it opens the door for having to make an exception for every person. In order to be fair you can't take it on a case by case basis (which is what Mr. Meekins has stated he wants to the airline to change their policy to), because everyone's situation is special and unique and deserving. Where would you draw the line, and how soon would that "line" become the basis for lawsuits of favoritism or special treatment?

Now here's where I'm torn. I actually have a heart. Anytime somebody calls me to ask for an exception to our No Refund policy because of their unique situation (which, sadly, are not actually so unique), my heart breaks a bit because I have to tell them no. Sometimes, the situations they describe are achingly familiar because I've been through them myself, which makes it even more difficult.

Anyway, I'm torn over this. While I certainly wish Spirit Airlines could have given Mr. Meekins a refund, I feel like the company has now been backed into a corner which leaves them little room to handle this situation more compassionately, without feeding into the popular belief that if a person makes a big enough stink they can get whatever they want (which is rant for another time).

And now you can all hate me. Just keep it civil in the comments, because if you get to "hateful" TheHusband will start to rule them with an iron fist (and by that I mean moderating the comments with the "ban-hammer").

Thoughts on Forgiveness (part 2)

Part 1: Recently Watched: "Forgiving Dr. Mengele"

After watching the documentary "Forgiving Dr.Mengele", my heart and my brain really went into overdrive pondering the idea of forgiveness. As a Christian, it is a subject that I have heard about all my life. Mostly in regards to how Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins and the sins off all mankind. It is  also something that I struggle with when it comes to forgiving those wrongs (perceived or real) that have been done against me.

What really got my heart riled up were some of the comments that others made about forgiveness after Eva Kor publicly forgave Dr. Mengele (the camp doctor at Auschwitz prison camp, who performed horrific experiments on the prisoners there, including Eva and twin sister). These comments included:

Recently Watched: Forgiving Dr. Mengele (a documentary)

I recently watched the documentary "Forgiving Dr. Mengele". The documentary is about Eva Mozes Kor who not only survived the horrific experience of being in Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust, but managed to do so despite being part of Josef Mengele's cruel experiments on twins.

Hello 2012

I've seen a lot of people stating how horrible the year 2011 was for them, and how glad they are that it's over. And to each of these people I really hope that this next year treats them better. Personally though, I can't complain. Sure, last winter really kicked my behind because of the cold and snow, and a person who was very dear to me went to meet Jesus, but those things are just a part of life. I am ever so grateful for so many things that happened (or didn't) in the year 2011 and I'm choosing to embrace those things and to discard the negative (no use dwelling on them).

Now on to 2012! I'm not really a person who makes New Year's Resolutions, but if I were I would resolve to be a happier and healthier person. Here are a few of the things I'll be working on over the next several months to help make that happen:

1. Stop letting the spondylitis control so much of what I do. Sure, I'm an introvert by nature but this past year has been ridiculous and I'm D.O.N.E. with it. Most days my body is going to hurt regardless of what I do, so I'll be doing more of the stuff I want to do and less worrying about how my body will react.

2. Pursue more of my creative ideas. I have a bunch of ideas rattling around my head and it's getting crowded in there! It's time I start clearing things out by seeing if those ideas can amount to anything.

3. Spend more time with God. That means getting back to reading my bible and spending more time in devotions and prayer. Spending my time like that has always helped me focus on what's important and allowed me to get rid of a lot of negative "stuff".

Each year is another year to learn about ourselves and others. I am grateful for the lessons 2011 had for me and look forward to learning more in 2012.

Happy New Year, everyone!

In Their Debt

When I was in the fifth grade I participated in (and, shockingly, won) the Modern Woodmen Of America speech contest. The topic we were given was "My Favorite Symbol of Freedom", and I chose to speak about the American flag. While I could have recited the speech in its entirety up through the time I graduated from high school, now I can only remember that I spoke about the history of the flag and its symbolism.

While there is debate about whether or not all of the symbolism currently ascribed to the flag was actually intended at the time it was originally created, here is what my fifth grade self said about it:

• the stars: one for each state
• 13 stripes represented the 13 original colonies
• red: stands for valor and bravery, and the blood that was shed that enabled this country to be formed
• white: stands for purity and innocence
• blue: stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice

The thing about my fifth grade self though, is that she didn't entirely understand what all those words actually meant. And to be perfectly honest, my 36 year old self doesn't always entirely understand what all those words mean. My 36 year old self would give a different speech though.

I would still talk about the flag and its symbolism.  I would also talk about how the things it represents are lived out daily by the men and women who serve our country and defend its ideals despite the danger doing so often puts them in. I would talk about their families who sacrifice so much and get so little (in comparison to what they truly deserve) in return. I would talk about the living, breathing symbols of freedom living among us. Here are a few of those symbols:

     David Martin - Marines                Roy Martin - Marines               Shawn Bingham -Navy

(TheHusband is not pictured because I don't have a picture of him in uniform, and because he's kind of on the private side and has previously asked not to be pictured on the blog. And my father-in-law isn't pictured because I don't have a picture of him in uniform either.)

I thank each of you, and all service members and their families, for your service to our country. We are in your debt.

Proverbs 31

The Words of Lemuel

¹ The words of King Lemuel,
    an oracle that his mother taught him:

² What [should I say], my son?
    What, son of my womb? 
    What, son of my vows?

³ Don't spend your energy on women
    or your efforts on those who destroy kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine 
    or for rulers [to desire] beer.

⁵ Otherwise, they will drink,
    forget what is decreed, 
    and pervert justice for all the oppressed.

⁶ Give beer to one who is dying,
    and wine to one whose life is bitter.

⁷ Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
    and remember his trouble no more.

⁸ Speak up for those who have no voice,
    for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

⁹ Speak up, judge righteously, 
    and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.

   

In Praise of a Capable Wife

¹⁰ Who can find a capable wife?
    She is far more precious than jewels.

¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will not lack anything good.

¹² She rewards him with good, not evil,
    all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with willing hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from far away.

¹⁵ She rises while it is still night 
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her servants.

¹⁶ She evaluates a field and buys it;
    she plants a vineyard with her earnings.

¹⁷ She draws on her strength
    and reveals that her arms are strong.

¹⁸ She sees that her profits are good,
    and her lamp never goes out at night.

¹⁹ She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰ Her hands reach out to the poor,
    and she extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
    for all in her household are doubly clothed.

²² She makes her own bed coverings; 
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is known at the city gates,
    where he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes and sells linen garments;
    she delivers belts to the merchants.

²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing, 
    and she can laugh at the time to come.

²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and loving instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the activities of her household 
    and is never idle,

²⁸ Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
    Her husband also praises her:

²⁹ "Many women are capable,
    but you surpass them all!

³⁰ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, 
    but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward of her labor, 
    and let her works praise her at the city gates.

*****

I want to be THAT woman! Really, that's all I can say.

Genesis 1

The Creation

 

   ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

    ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light "day," and He called the darkness "night." Evening came, and then morning: the first day.

    ⁶ Then God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water." ⁷ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. ⁸ God called the expanse "sky."  Evening came, and then morning: the second day.

    ⁹ Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land "earth," and He called the gathering of the water "seas." And God saw that it was good. ¹¹ Then God said, "Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds." And it was so. ¹² The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³Evening came, and then morning: the third day.

    ¹⁴ Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. ¹⁵ They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth." And it was so. ¹⁶God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars. ¹⁷ God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, ¹⁸ to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ Evening came, and then morning: the fourth day.

Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

 ¹ Listen to my words, LORD;
    consider my sighing.   
² Pay attention to the sound of my cry, 
    my King and my God, 
    for I pray to You.
³ At daybreak, LORD, You hear my voice;
    at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.
⁴ For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil cannot lodge with You.
⁵ The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; 
    You hate all evildoers.
⁶ You destroy those who tell lies; 
    the LORD abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.
⁷ But I enter Your house
    by the abundance of Your faithful love; 
    I bow down toward Your holy temple
    in reverential awe of You.
⁸ LORD, lead me in Your righteousness, 
    because of my adversaries;
    make Your way straight before me.
⁹ For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
    destruction is within them;
    their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongues.
¹⁰ Punish them, God;
    let them fall by their own schemes. 
    Drive them out because of their many crimes,
    for they rebel against You.
¹¹ But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; 
    let them shout for joy forever.
    May You shelter them, 
    and may those who love Your name boast about You.
¹² For You, LORD, bless the righteous one;
    You surround him with favor like a shield.

*****

Oh, the sighing I am doing this week. Each morning has been a struggle to make myself go to work, and because of the way things are going at work, I certainly need to ask God to guide my path. 

Psalms 2 - 4

Psalm 2

Coronation of the Son

¹ Why do the nations rebel

    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth take their stand 
    and the rulers conspire together
    against the LORD and His Anointed One:
³ "Let us tear off their chains
    and free ourselves from their restraints."
⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord ridicules them.
⁵ Then He speaks to them in His anger
    and terrifies them in His wrath:
⁶ "I have consecrated My King
    on Zion, My holy mountain."
⁷ I will declare the LORD's decree:
    He said to Me, "You are My Son;
    today I have become Your Father.
⁸ Ask of Me,
    and I will make the nations Your inheritance
    and the ends of the earth Your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
    You will shatter them like pottery."
¹⁰ So now, kings, be wise;
    receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with reverential awe,
    and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Pay homage to the Son, or He will be angry,
    and you will perish in your rebellion,
    for His anger may ignite at any moment. 
    All those who take refuge in Him are happy.

Psalms 1

The Two Ways

 ¹ How happy is the man
    who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
    or take the path of sinners,
    or join a group of mockers!
² Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction,
    and he meditates on it day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted beside streams of water
    that bears its fruit in season
    and whose leaf does not wither. 
    Whatever he does prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not like this;
    instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, 
    and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.
⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, 
    but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.       Psalms 1

Hmmm. You think God is trying to remind me that spending time with Him and His word is a good idea? How appropriate that my renewed effort to spend time with God begins with this chapter. What a way for Him to reaffirm what He has been speaking to my heart these last few days. My own life/attitude has not been bearing fruit lately, instead I have been a withered tree not taking advantage of the life giving water He provides. I pray that God will remind me of these verses whenever I start to forget how important time with Him is.