chiming in the new year

Now that we've lived in this house for a few months, we've begun to figure out what systems are working and which ones are not. By "systems" I mean all the little organizational systems that I try to institute to make this home run smoothly. So, we've been making a few changes. We're still trying to figure out the snowy boot/wet snow stuff system. But thankfully, because of all this rearranging God has given us a really fun idea. Our sun-room had become the collection area for our wind chimes. But they're no longer all going to hang in the sun room. They are going to be spread throughout the house. Our hope is to have a set of chimes in each room of the house. Wind chimes are beautiful only when the wind moves them. Our prayer is that the wind chimes will serve as a reminder that it is His Spirit that empowers us to do all that we do - whether doing dishes or cleaning toilets. I'm really thankful for this idea because I need strategically placed reminders to keep me abiding in the daily moments.

wows

We're reading a fascinating fictional account of Jesus' birth. It's one of those books that's been shelved for years. Just before we left for Florida, I scanned our books to find something for airport reading. I guess because of the time of year it was I chose The Birth by Gene Edwards. Wow. What a fresh perspective.

And one other quick note, we sat under the teaching of Stewart and Jill Briscoe at the camping comference. Jill Briscoe sat under the teaching of C.S. Lewis in England. He was actually one of the main influences that brought her to Christ. Wow. What a privilege for me.

Cleaning up after pigs

What's moved into the temple? The mystery of the gospel is Christ in us and that we are now the temple of the one true God. So, what's moved into my temple? In the Jewish temple, Antiochus had seized and trashed it. Finally a revolt arose! The Syrians were pushed out and the temple was cleansed because unholy and abominable things had been brought into the Holy of Holies: Pigs.

What's moved into my temple?

Pigs?

Yeah, I think so.

Lord, please clean out whatever isn't You and light the lampstand in my heart.

Which is why I love Hanukkah. Hanukkah was a revolt against Pigs and a miracle of restoration.

Runnin' on E

Why has the blogging well run dry? Perhaps because I haven't been feeding myself with His word. It is my daily bread and lately I've been operating on bread tasted a few weeks ago. What excuse is there? Many. I've been reading other books, hosting Thanksgiving, playing in the snow, visiting newborn babies, etc. These are all good things, even wonderful things, but my soul is hungry for spiritual food. I think I convinced myself that reading other people's ideas about Truth would be sufficient, but though it's thought provoking and rather convicting, it's not the same as pure nourishment directly from the Word. The Word is alive and active and it is what gives me life. We read more about Abraham this morning. He is truly one of my biblical heroes. He's the first one to inspire me to "now obedience". (We're still working through the idea that delayed obedience is actually disobedience.) So, thank you, Lord for putting a hunger for your Word in me and thank you that You continue to pursue us.