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Bye Bye 2012!

Wow, I jumped up this morning, spent a moment watching a fiery red and orange sunrise and got right to work on some stuff in the empty house, and forgot all about writing a post!  That’s not a great way to end the year, but I have been really productive in my most favorite time of the day- the early morning.

That sort of reminds me of this quote I stumble upon recently

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive-to breathe, to think, to enjoy to love” Marcus Aurelius

Yep, today the sunsets on the year we called 2012, and all of those hopes, dreams, and memories will go down over the horizon.  Tomorrow, is a new day, and a new year starts!  Yeah!

But really, we should remember that each day is a new start and a new chance to live this one life we have.  Tomorrow may be a new year, but today, today is a new day.  Let’s us treasure it, and use it for his glory!

15… so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 New International Version (NIV)

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Arky Arky, Gophey Barky

I woke up singing a good old spiritual/children’s song this morning.  Join in if you know it.

Rise and shine and give God the glory glory,

Rise and shine and give God the glory glory,

Rise! and Shine and Give God the glory glory,

Children of the Lord.

If you don’t remember this song, maybe this little clip from the old movie Green Pastures will remind you.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ESV 1 Corinthians 10:31

I hope this song stays in your mind all day, and you live it out.

 

There’s going to be a floody floody…

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It’s Candlemas

What, you say?  Candlemas – I thought today was Groundhog Day?

Yeah, it is.  It’s a pretty fascinating day.  I have started it with so much energy that I am actually surprising myself.  So between wrestling Andrew all morning, and constantly singing ‘The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota”, I did some research on Groundhog’s Day.

Why?  Yeah I know!

But really what a fascinating day.  Besides being 2-2-2012, which I am sure has some mathematical significance, it is also the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  So that means Winter is halfway over, or there’s still half of it left – depending how you look at it.   This day has been celebrated with small mammals like groundhogs and badgers for century’s.  In fact I found some interesting old poems over at EarthSky, like

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.

or this one

Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.

What’s this Candlemas?  Well since Christmas is around 40 days ago ( can you believe it, and I still have some decorations up!!!), this would be right around the time the baby Jesus was brought to the temple for consecration. And there we see some two amazing people waiting for him, Simeon and Anna, and here is what Simeon said when he held that little boy

28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 22:28-32

And here we sit, at Mid Winter, enjoying some great mild weather, but wondering if the light will reveal that little Groundhog’s shadow, and pondering will it be spring or more Winter. – do we need wood or hay?  I hope you also spend a moment or two today full of wonder at the light that revealed salvation and glory for all people!

 

 

 

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This is the Day

Yesterday in our Sunday morning worship we sang Zoe Group’s A New Anointing, which Andrew has been singing as he has transversed the house since that time.  He created such an ear worm that all of us (minus the sleeping teenager) sung this song during the morning while preparing for the day.  The part of the song he seems stuck on was this verse:

 

Let Your glory fill the earth!

As we declare
This is the day, this is the day
This is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice, I will rejoice
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day, this is the day
This is the day that the Lord has made

That’s a pretty good way to get started, even on a rainy cool Monday morning.  Today, remember this is the day the Lord has made, and he made it for you.  It’s another empty canvas waiting for you to paint!  Paint something that will bring him glory!

 

24 This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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And We’re Off

The gun fired and the year has started.  We are already into the second day!  I am sure you have a list of things that you are going to straighten up, change and do differently, as all of us do.

So let’s get this year going.  Let’s see some risk taking.  Let’s see some transformation.  and most importantly, let’s take advantage of every opportunity that we are given to bring glory to Him!

 “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NASB