P52: On Aunt-hood

There's this little boy who has stolen my heart, and I haven't even met him yet.  His name is Silas Landon Parker, the first son of my older brother and sister-in-law.  He is a beautiful (er..handsome) bundle of baby!

I've always heard--and now get to test the theory--that being an aunt is one of the greatest things.  It's right up there with grand-parenting.  Apparently, there is some pleasure found in spoiling your respective nephew or niece and then giving them back to the parents.  Or at least I've heard this rumor more than once!  Rest assured, little nephew, there will be no spoiling here--only cookies, presents, toys, and lots of "quality" time.

Oh, great aunts, uncles and the to-be's, take heed!

Tip 1:   Don't do anything over the top.  Simple sophistication with a thoughtful touch is sure to win over the little niece or nephew, and their parents.  While those fuzzy pink, matching hats might be cute in the store, it just looks far to cheesy once you actually put them on.

Tip 2: Food--especially desserts--speaks to Daddy; extra time to sleep, speaks to Mommy.

Tip 3: Don't worry about the competition.  Yes, you may have to fight popularity with grandmas, grandpas and zealous uncles, but it will all come out in the end.  Besides, who can resist an aunt who really takes time to listen and just be there when she needs to be.  Also, the one who plays fair might get a slow start, but they will be rewarded in the end.


Oh, the irony, I really don't know a whole lot about being an aunt.  I'm sure that I'll learn a lot over the years to have more tips and tidbits for other eager aunts and uncles.  But till then...







Tip 4: The Best Aunts are Humble.

P52: Valentine's thoughts

There is one day in February that is filled with pink, red, hearts, chocolate, and teddy bears.  Some laugh at Valentine's Day for it's commercialism--like every other "American" holiday, while others glow in the light of the love flowing on February 14.  I noticed anticipation and excitement as well as fear and loneliness.  What's the big deal about Valentine's Day?  Does this holiday really matter?

Valentine's Day for the those who know God should be a reminder of true love.  Love of and from God shows us what to celebrate.

God is Love.  

Love is patient. 

Love is kind. 

Love does not boast; it praises and glorifies God.

Love is not envious; it is thankful and rejoices with others

Love is not arrogant; it thinks of others more highly than itself.

Love is not rude; it evaluates what it does to honor the other 

Love does not insist on it's own way; it gives freely and lays down it's own rights.

Love is not irritable; it is filled with grace and truth.

Love is not resentful; it willingly forgives as it has been forgiven.

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things. 

Love believes all things. 

Love hopes all things. 

Love endures all things.  

P52: Music Monday

Recent Fascination: 

I've been a little overwhelmed recently by a fascination with lyrics, story, and music.  It all started on Friday night after some friends and I attended a small concert of a new-to-me folk-pop husband and wife duo, The Gray Havens.  Their music was fun and whimsical, combining deep and clever lyrics with sweet and unusual melodies.  During the concert, they shared the goal of writing story in music to share deep truths and make realities easier to understand.  

Which, by the way, if you've never heard or checked out music by The Gray Havens, do it today!  

With this recent fascination, I've been playing many primitive lines and phrases through my head and singing them in my own way.  It's been a fun exercise; although I have a lot of work to do to create a "good" song!  One of the challenges comes from my need to expand my vocabulary with words that express thoughts and colors and sounds and feelings and pictures.  Another comes from reading and learning new, and re-learning old, ways of communicating truth presented in books, especially Scripture.  And maybe one of these weeks, I'll publish an "original"; but for the moment, I will spare you all!     

The Power of Song:

I remember having long conversations growing up and while Bible college about the significance of music and rhythm and harmony.  Does music have power?  Is it amoral?  Is there an absolute standard of musical style in Scripture?  What should we be listening too?  Does it matter?  Can you listen to music simply to enjoy it or will it subconsciously effect you?  How quickly can music affect you?  And so on... 

Though it is an interesting conversation, as I've been growing in my walk with the Lord, it isn't as much of a question.  I've realized that music does indeed effect the things I think about or contemplate.  If I am struggling with something, some genres of music actually do more to stimulate lies in my brain.  Or when I'm discouraged, other music is like a balm to my weary soul.  

I was actually laughing to myself this weekend as I was traveling by myself to visit some friends.  I grabbed a bunch of CD's to help the trip go faster (a.k.a. keep me awake).  One of them was labeled, "It's a Sunny Day", and since it was a sunny day, I popped it into the player.  Of the 19 songs on the CD, at least 80% of them were melancholy love/break-up/sappy songs.  Yes, I laughed too; so much for sunshine!  However, I did smile at the memories that came flooding back with each "sunny" song; those were almost enough to make the label accurate!  

Knowing my own sinful heart--prone to wander, Lord I feel it--I'm noticing how much care needs to be taken with what I feed my mind.  Call this an elementary, Christian-living principle, but taken at the ground-level-practical-life stage it looks like making choices to listen to things that glorify God and reflect the beauty of His character and creation.  

Jesus explained this in Mark 7, as He was talking to a group of people and Pharisees. 

He said, "And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:  There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.  And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)  And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

P52: reminiscing

C.S. Lewis once said, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too?  I thought I was the only one!'"

I'm cheating a little in this blog post, by only adding a smattering of pictures of dear friends instead of a story about them.  But each picture tells a story.  It's a story of friendship, different, unique relationships with others.  Friendships are a gift from God because they are one way to show the Gospel in our everyday life.  

Please comment below, and let me know about the memories that flooded into your mind once you saw these pictures. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

P52: the battlefield

They stood unwavering.  The flat ground in front of them stretched out far beyond the black, armor-crusted wall to the mountains beyond.  Enemies were pouring forth, bent on death and destruction, but still they stood.  Some hearts may have felt faint with the thought of impending doom, but still they stood.  There was no hope of victory for this rabble group of men, but still they stood.  They were the last defense of freedom on earth, but still they stood.  

One man stood before them, with the strength of a king and courage of a bear. He was speaking to the group.  Loud and clear, his words rang above the din, cutting to the hearts of the fainthearted.  The words were simple and strong.  He spoke of certain death and doom, and yet the fear of that fate did not cause him to stop.  He was asking them to stand with him and fight.  

What sort of thoughts were filling the minds of these men, the last hope for earth?  What sort of loyalty and commitment would help them stand?  What kept them from running away from the fight?  Why did they go to war in the first place? 

If you’ve ever read or watched the Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King, then this scene might seem a little familiar.  Of course, it is the last battle for Middle Earth.  The king is going be battle to draw the enemy away from those who are trying to destroy the ring.  It’s a suicide mission; they knew if from the start, but that didn’t deter them from the battle.  Aragon makes a final speech for valor and bravery and making a last stand, the words still give me chills even though I’ve read the book and have seen the movie a dozen times. 

As I watched this familiar movie again, I was suddenly struck with the brevity of the story.  Imagine a world that is being threatened out of existence.  Those who still want peace and safety are driven to put their lives on the line for such a hope.  They do not think of themselves, but rather the generations after them that will take up their stead in the world.  They are committed to the cause and loyal to the king.  Nothing, not even the surety of death, will cause them to waver from the goal of a better world. 

And yet, I look at these men and women—even though just a story—and wonder at the waste.  How many people in our society today are hoping for the same things as the people of Middle Earth?  It is worthless really.  It is the waste of a life on the hope of a better world, without the hope of Christ. 

We fight battles too.  Our foe, not like the orcs of Mordor, is sin and death.  Greater than physical enemies, they are the spiritual forces of wickedness.  Once, we were children, bound under them like the rest of mankind, but God was gracious to send His Son to defeat that foe.  Those saved in Christ, are saved from the wrath of God by faith in Jesus Christ, who is the satisfaction of God. (Ephesians 2)  What a hope to live in: the knowledge of God our Savior who defeated the sting of death and the power, presence, and penalty of sin! (1 Corinthians 15)  What a great salvation, because of our great Savior!  We have more reason to stand against the flesh that fights us everyday because of our Savior.  We do not fear the end, since He has been there.  He conquered those foes; we have nothing to fear.  

This morning, my pastor was preaching, in his series on Hebrews, from chapter two.  The author of Hebrews is giving a warning and a promise to his readers about the temptation to drift away from the truth of salvation by following impulses, emotions, and in our society, the fast-paced information age.  He reminds them of the great salvation that they have in Jesus Christ who is superior to everything else.  He is a sure foundation; nothing will waver that has been grounded in Him!   

In Christ, we stand.  

"Be steadfast, immovable; 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that in the Lord 

your labor is not in vain." 

~ 1 Corinthians 15:58

P52: words that inspire

A list is a good way to stimulate brain function.  Whether you're working on a large to-do list for the week, monthly menu planning, or dreams for the future, lists help you think.  This week, I wrote a list of words.  These words are ones that inspire (in the normal sense of the word) the generation of thoughts and words and actions.  They also tend to read your mind, revealing other thoughts, dreams, and hopes.

Grace, Redeemed, Loved, Child, Creator, Mercy, Joy, Hope, Peace, Healed, Bought, Grow, Saved, Rest, Refuge, Shelter, Praise, Rejoice, Shepherd, Guide, Fortress, Satisfied, Contentment, Renew, New, Adopted, Righteousness, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Unchanging, Sacrifice, Servant, Beauty, Planned, Known, Wisdom, Mighty, Strong, Deliverer, Good, Truth, Justice, Friends, Family, Quality, Colorful, Sunset, Art, Music, Voices, Singing, Laughter, Smile, Heart, Delicious, Crisp, Calm, Sweet, Savor, Drink, Enjoy, Free, Quench, Taste, Behold, Canvas, Overflowing, Bounty, Rich, Live, Warm, Comfortable, Worn, Words, Hospitality, Generosity, Humility, Kindness, Patience, Tenderhearted, Eager, Forgive, Earnest, Remove, Paid, Gentleness, Meekness, Favor, Learn, Teach, Listen, Share, Give, Thanks, Excite, Bubbles, Delight, Appreciate, Time, Watch, Sunny, Flow, Clear, Refresh, Gift, Offering, Eyes, Mind, Soul, Seek, Value, Treasure, Worth, Prize, Vast, Wonder, Worship, Yield, Open, Spent, Valley, Springs, Travel, Explore, Spontaneous, Splendid, Create, Design, Perfect, Glory, Expectation, Story, Write, Character, Rhythm, Measure, Full, Soaked, Honest, Vulnerable, Bright, Soft...

And these are just a few words from a small amount of exercised brain power.  God has created us with minds to comprehend things and words.  Most of all, we have been given thinking power so that we can know Him through His Word, His Son, and His creation.

What are your words?    

Project 52: new beginnings

I'm quite convinced that New Years resolutions are cheesy and old fashioned.  Maybe it's because everyone asks about them or they tend to revolve around silly habits.  Or maybe it's because a resolution is easily broken, which is why the gym is always packed for about a month after New Years.  I've come to realize, however, that the beginning of a year is a wonderful time for new ideas, goals, and projects.  Hence, Project 52 and beginning right now.

One of my goals for 2015 (see, it's a goal, not a resolution!) is to form better habits for writing.  I really enjoy the practice, but have not been good about taking the time to chronicle thoughts here.  Therefore, each week this year, I will be taking a topic and writing about it.  I don't know yet what some of the topics will be or what form each post will take--that's the exciting part--and I'll leave that till later.

So, new beginnings.

There's something exciting about the beginning.  We read books and soak in the first few chapters to grasp the beginning of the story.  We like being the first one to dig our knife into the freshly opened peanut butter jar.  We rejoice to see new leaves sprouting on the trees after a long winter.  These things have a beginning.

When I look at a year, I usually picture a calendar, but in the shape of a very large mountain.  We start at the top in January, reach a lovely middle valley by July, then the bottom with much to reflect on in December.  Starting out at the top of the year brings challenges with anticipation.  This year, no doubt, comes with the same feelings.

As a believer, I  have more reason to hope at the beginning of the year and all through.  Hope--what a lovely word!  My hope is found in Christ and what He has done for me on the cross.  The gospel gives me hope for this year and the future.  I'm excited to see what He has for me in the ordinary and not-so-ordinary days to come!

Beginnings:

1. Reading through the Bible in one year - grab a friend (or more) and make time each week to spend reading the Bible together.

2. Learning Wisdom: the book of Proverbs is full of wisdom from God with practical thoughts for living.  Because it has 31 chapters, it's easy to read a chapter each day for a month, and then do it all year!

3. Project 52, crafty things, music...music...music...

4. Take advantage of the things God has put before you today!  Live for Him!