Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday.
Day 103. I am thankful for biblical/spiritual conversations with Justin.
On Tuesday morning, Justin and I spent some time texting back and forth about a variety of topics, including the fruit of the Spirit, abiding in the vine (Jesus), holding others accountable, seeking wisdom from God, and God doing a new thing in our lives. Here are the corresponding verses:
* But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23
* "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:4-5
* Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2
* If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. - James 1:5
* Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. - Isaiah 43:19
Day 104. I am grateful for a day of productivity with Angie.
On Monday, Angie and I had decided that we were going to take one day a week (Wednesday) to help the other be productive with a particular task or project. This week, she and her two younger children, came over right after morning school drop off (about 8). I made puffy oven pancake and coffee for breakfast, and we sat and chatted for a bit first. Then we cleaned up the kitchen and dining room together.
A little later, I started working on my project - pelmet boxes for the windows in our bedroom. For those who don't know, a pelment box is a simple window treatment. The way I make them is I cut and tape foam board together to the measurements I want first. Then I cover with batting and fabric, and staple. I still need Justin to hang them up for me, and when he does, I'll make sure to take a picture and post here.
While I was doing my window treatment project, Angie helped to tidy up the second floor, and started vacuuming! It was such a blessing to be able to focus on a project that I'd been putting off for months and months, and then not have a huge mess to clean up elsewhere. I hope she puts me to work at her house next week so I can be a blessing to her!
We all had lunch, then the girls (Margo, Piper and Savannah) had quiet time on the kindle until it was time to leave for school pickup. Margo and Piper fell asleep on the way to school, since they didn't get a nap at home.
Day 105. I'm thankful for the weekly opportunity to fellowship with our new church family.
After work, Justin and David met for coffee. They ended up hanging out for a good two hours, and I'm guessing had a good conversation. Meanwhile, I made potato soup for the church fellowship meal. The theme of the night was soup, salad and sandwiches.
So anyway, we went to church. We ate dinner and chatted with those around us, and the kids sat with their friends. Then, we sang a song together, and right before the Eucharist, we confessed our sins to one another. I talked with a young lady named Jessica who has been very friendly to us since the first day we came. She is an MPS teacher. It's important to make sure we are in right standing with God (and each other) before participating in the Communion.
We celebrate Communion differently at the Upper Room than anywhere else I've been, and I really enjoy it. David talks a little about the tradition and meaning of breaking bread. He says a prayer, breaks the bread (Matza), and passes it around. Then he does the same with one cup of wine that we all share. This approach is more biblical than other traditions that use multiple miniature cups of grape juice and little precut pieces of unleavened bread. I understand that the condition of the heart is the most important thing, so I don't think it's necessarily wrong to do it a different way. But I do appreciate the symbolism of sharing one piece of bread and one cup of wine.
Normally after Communion we move, and David speaks from the stage, but this time we stayed around the table and had our bible study and discussion there. We talked about being blessed and being a blessing to others. We looked in the book of Amos, in chapters 4 and 5, and talked about how wealthy and blessed we are, while so many others are poor and oppressed. Later in chapter 5, God says how much He hates the rituals of feasts and sacrifices (when hearts are wrong), but requests justice and righteousness. It was good!
On Tuesday morning, Justin and I spent some time texting back and forth about a variety of topics, including the fruit of the Spirit, abiding in the vine (Jesus), holding others accountable, seeking wisdom from God, and God doing a new thing in our lives. Here are the corresponding verses:
* But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23
* "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:4-5
* Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2
* If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. - James 1:5
* Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. - Isaiah 43:19
Day 104. I am grateful for a day of productivity with Angie.
On Monday, Angie and I had decided that we were going to take one day a week (Wednesday) to help the other be productive with a particular task or project. This week, she and her two younger children, came over right after morning school drop off (about 8). I made puffy oven pancake and coffee for breakfast, and we sat and chatted for a bit first. Then we cleaned up the kitchen and dining room together.
A little later, I started working on my project - pelmet boxes for the windows in our bedroom. For those who don't know, a pelment box is a simple window treatment. The way I make them is I cut and tape foam board together to the measurements I want first. Then I cover with batting and fabric, and staple. I still need Justin to hang them up for me, and when he does, I'll make sure to take a picture and post here.
While I was doing my window treatment project, Angie helped to tidy up the second floor, and started vacuuming! It was such a blessing to be able to focus on a project that I'd been putting off for months and months, and then not have a huge mess to clean up elsewhere. I hope she puts me to work at her house next week so I can be a blessing to her!
We all had lunch, then the girls (Margo, Piper and Savannah) had quiet time on the kindle until it was time to leave for school pickup. Margo and Piper fell asleep on the way to school, since they didn't get a nap at home.
Day 105. I'm thankful for the weekly opportunity to fellowship with our new church family.
After work, Justin and David met for coffee. They ended up hanging out for a good two hours, and I'm guessing had a good conversation. Meanwhile, I made potato soup for the church fellowship meal. The theme of the night was soup, salad and sandwiches.
So anyway, we went to church. We ate dinner and chatted with those around us, and the kids sat with their friends. Then, we sang a song together, and right before the Eucharist, we confessed our sins to one another. I talked with a young lady named Jessica who has been very friendly to us since the first day we came. She is an MPS teacher. It's important to make sure we are in right standing with God (and each other) before participating in the Communion.
We celebrate Communion differently at the Upper Room than anywhere else I've been, and I really enjoy it. David talks a little about the tradition and meaning of breaking bread. He says a prayer, breaks the bread (Matza), and passes it around. Then he does the same with one cup of wine that we all share. This approach is more biblical than other traditions that use multiple miniature cups of grape juice and little precut pieces of unleavened bread. I understand that the condition of the heart is the most important thing, so I don't think it's necessarily wrong to do it a different way. But I do appreciate the symbolism of sharing one piece of bread and one cup of wine.
Normally after Communion we move, and David speaks from the stage, but this time we stayed around the table and had our bible study and discussion there. We talked about being blessed and being a blessing to others. We looked in the book of Amos, in chapters 4 and 5, and talked about how wealthy and blessed we are, while so many others are poor and oppressed. Later in chapter 5, God says how much He hates the rituals of feasts and sacrifices (when hearts are wrong), but requests justice and righteousness. It was good!
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