Since I have, on several occasions, remarked that everything I do and write about comes from a spiritual foundation, it occurs to me that it might be useful to make that spiritual foundation clear. Many months ago, I posted my statement of faith, What Do I Believe?, with Scripture references and lengthy (for me) explanations. It is unfinished in places and, even with that, a bit long. It might be easier to understand in smaller “bites.” (Not to mention that this way the unfinished bits are more likely to get finished. )

          This series also serves as another introduction, a “getting on the same page” so to speak. While anyone is welcome to visit and comment on this site, my specific target audience are those of similar culture and faith. This blog, and any other venues that grow from it, are meant to be an encouragement and inspiration to those who consider Jesus their Savior and Lord and seek to follow the teachings of the Bible within the culture of contemporary United States of America. (Ancillary to that, of course, is the desire that my ramblings and musings will make the gospel’s message of hope clearer to all.)

          Even within that precise a mission, there is room for many, many variations and differences of opinion. As a guide, and as a help for readers trying to determine if they even want to read what I have to say, I think it will be useful and prudent to lay out for scrutiny the minimal foundations of my worldview, that set of beliefs from which all my opinions and life experiences grow. Hence this series of posts, one each Sunday. Once posted, this series will be compiled into one page for easy access to all who visit this blog.

          Back in late March, in the blog post “ANOTHER New Start?” I wrote I was now going post more often. I said it would most likely be a hodgepodge of different topics, but I would at least consistently post something each weak. I meant it. I really did. And I did post at least once a week for . . . not long enough. I’m here to start over yet again. And I will keep starting over as long as it takes.

          One of my favorite quotes is from Teddy Roosevelt, “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

          That said, even though I may fail miserably, I will continue to strive valiantly to give you something worth reading. Let the hodgepodge begin! (Again. )

          If you are reading through the Bible using my Bible Reading plan, you recently finished reading Leviticus and are now reading Hebrews. You might be wondering why I jumped from Leviticus to Hebrews (yes, I organized the schedule according to my own preferences). Granted, I wanted to alternate between the Old and New Testaments. This makes reading through the Bible more interesting. There is a much more immediate reason, though, that makes Hebrews the logical next book after Leviticus (it also is serendipitous that Hebrews begins right after Easter).

          These two books are intimately related. Leviticus is a detailed account of duties and expectations of the priests in Israel. Hebrews is the detailed, precise explanation of how and why Jesus is the fulfillment of Leviticus. This book is rife with verses that reveal and illustrate this truth, such as

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

and Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

          Easter marks the day Jesus’ work was completed and validated, when he began His new work, as outlined in Hebrews, as our High Priest. As you read through Hebrews this month, I hope you see Him and His work, in the world and most particularly in your life, in a vibrant new way.

I have no idea who Percy H. Johnston is, but this quote is powerful.

It is the height of absurdity to sow little but weeds in the first half of one’s lifetime and expect to harvest a valuable crop in the second half. Percy H. Johnston

I wonder if he knows the Bible teaches the same thing?

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

What are you sowing in ‘the garden of your life’?

          If you are following my plan for reading through the Bible in a year, you have just started reading Leviticus. I wonder if your reaction is the same as mine the first time I came to Leviticus? Probably not.

          I grew up in an occasionally religious, but mostly not, household. Sometime in my mid-teens, I started attending a nearby church and accepted the truth of the Gospel. Even so, it was not until many years later that I established a consistent lifestyle that reflected that Truth. One of the decisions I made as I was developing that consistency was to read through the Bible in a year.

          When I came to Leviticus, I was amazed. This was a boring book? Not to me! It was fascinating. Full of instruction straight from God to the Israelites. Specific directions on what sacrifices to bring to Him; the exact requirements and how they could be varied, or not; complete instructions on when to bring them, which ones were mandatory, which voluntary. Just as Exodus had given instructions about living life, Leviticus revealed even more of what God expected.

          I guess what fascinated me most was that it was all there, written down, unchanging. God said, “This is what pleases me. Do this and you please me.” That stability, that assurance, that knowledge was so welcome to me. It’s not that I had a terrible childhood. I had a mom and dad who loved me, cared for me, did the best they could for me. They gave me a good, safe, happy childhood. But sometimes there had been a disconnect between what they said they wanted from me and how the responded to me and my actions. A disconnect that often left me confused, unsure, doubting myself or resenting them. Not so with God! He had laid it all out, exactly what He wanted. It was all there in Leviticus!

          I’m glad I came to Leviticus after I knew about Jesus, after I knew how He satisfied the Old Covenant, revealed in Exodus and Leviticus; after I knew his life and death had ushered in a New Covenant. Otherwise I might have fallen into legalism, based on unnecessary adherence to Old Testament covenant laws. I was that fascinated.

          But I’d already learned, at least partially, that those laws and sacrifices were meant to foreshadow the Fulfillment, not be the Fulfillment. Years before I’d read and memorized Romans 6-8, Scripture that teaches the Law came to show where we displeased God, but that was all it could do. Jesus lived the Law, every aspect of it, even becoming the sacrifice required in Leviticus. He did that so he could then bring me to the Father, atone for my failure, my sin with His perfect life, death and resurection.

          Reading Leviticus, that first time and every time since, provides a greater depth of understanding and appreciation for the work He’s done in my life by writing His law in my heart and mind, just as He said He would do. (Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:3; Ezekiel 11:19)

          What about you? Are you living the truth revealed in Leviticus? Or do you even understand it?

          I’m a big fan of putting routines into place that make accomplishing your goals and desires as automatic as possible. I’ve been doing that for years, since about the time I realized that my children would absorb more about life and values and priorities from the day to day minutiae than from all the lectures, object lessons and rants my husband and I would give them. I purposefully set in place routines and established norms to help them (and me!) maintain order, learn discipline and live out our faith.

          This wasn’t an easy lessen for me. I’m a spontaneous, let’s have fun as often as we can type of person. It took me a long time, well into my adulthood, to realize that establishing routines would actually create an atmosphere where spontaneity could thrive. Example: Every morning, within twenty minutes of getting out of bet, I am dressed and ready for my day. That ensures I’m ready for whatever unexpected event occurs. I also fold clean clothes while watching tv in the evening with my family, combining a mindless chore with some (mindless?) relaxation and family time. These routines simplify my life, revealing time and opportunity for planned and unexpected activities.

          When my children were small, I endeavored to structure our days so that they learned spiritual values and principles even as they went about their daily playtime and chores. I placed Scripture verses in strategic places, we prayed before meals, read from the Bible at the start of every day. Even our ways of disciplining expressed our values. A part of every punishment, every reprimand included a time to apologize to God. This emphasized the truth that all wrongdoing is first an act of rebellion against Him.

          This time of year marks an important foundation of our faith, something I wanted my children to know and understand. I wanted them to know the facts surrounding the birth of Christ, just as I wanted them to know and experience the reality of Him in their lives. True to form, I established a tradition to accomplish that. Each year, we read the Christmas story . . . with a twist. Each evening for many days leading up to Christmas, we would read a small portion of the story, starting with the angel appearing to Zechariah. As we read, the children acted it out and placed the appropriate figures in place. (When I set out Christmas decorations, I arranged areas for Bethlehem, Nazareth, Judea hill country, Jerusalem and the East, ready for the nativity figures.) In the early years the story might have seemed lost as the boys were more engrossed in dive-bombing the angels in place than in hearing and contemplating their messages, but in reality those antics made the story come alive for them, becoming a true part of their lives.

          That is what I want to do for you this Christmas season. (Minus the dive-bombing angels. ) Between now and New Year’s Eve, I will be posting a portion of the Christmas story. I might add a thought or two of my own, but most likely I will just share the story from Scripture. Beginning the 8th, something will be posted each Tuesday and Thursday until Christmas Day, when the posts will increase to daily, (No post on Sunday.) I hope you enjoy experiencing the events in this way, one at a time each in its own spotlight.

          May you know peace and joy this season!

          My daughter is in college on the other side of the country. She’s coming home for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure who is more excited, me or her. We are a silly pair, squealing over im messages about the number of days left til she comes, planning what we will do together when she gets here, generally giving those around us cause to roll their eyes. I’m loving all the anticipation. It makes me realize just how blessed I am.

          I love every one of my children and I would love them no matter what they did or how they turned out. But I am especially glad that I like them, too. They are turning into such interesting adults. What is even better is that they like me!

          She says she wants to do the things we’ve done together for years. Like watching romantic comedies late at night cos the guys in the house aren’t interested. (Or at least some of the guys; my youngest son likes them almost as much as we do. He’s going to make some lucky woman a great husband. LOL) Or going shopping at the mall. Or just hanging out together. Yes, she has plans to hang with friends. I don’t for a minute think I’m going to get all her time while she’s here. I will get some, though. She’s made it clear that she’s as excited about the time she’ll spend with me as with any of her other friends.

          When I look around me and hear things like, “I’ll be glad when she’s out of the house,” or “I can’t be in the same room with my mother for more than an hour,” I am reminded just how blessed I am. All three of my children go out of their way to spend time with me. Of course, they are building their own lives, lives I only experience incidentally. That is as it should be. It is time for them to leave mother and father, experience life as an adult. But I am so grateful they value me and my company enough to pull me into their worlds occasionally. Or come back to visit mine.

          So I today I am thankful my children want me as their friend!

          My oldest son has to make some choices that may cost him some freedom, options or money. These issues are things he has been thinking and praying about for many weeks. As he nears his final decisions, the practical consequences of the choice he feels he must make are looming dark and threatening. At the very least, some of his options for the future will be limited. He most assuredly will be dismissed, perhaps suffer a damaged reputation and fines. Yet he is resolved to do what he has discerned is right.

          The mom in me hates to see him suffer. I want his trek through this life to be easy and smooth and devoid of problems. Deep down, though, on a level that really matters I am thrilled. He is studying the Word, he is growing in knowledge and wisdom, and he is seeking the Lord with all his heart. The discussions we’ve had, the soul-searching he has done and these final decisions reveal that his relationship with the Lord is a vital part of who he is. That has always been my heart’s prayer. And so I rejoice.

          All the years of his childhood he accepted our values. Of course, we had some typical teenage struggles, but no wild or immoral behavior, no wholesale rejection of our values. I’ve never had any indication that he would reject them. I just know that it is normal for young adults to jettison some of the teachings and opinions of their parents. This is normal. It is right that they find their own way, that they determine what they really believe, that they lay their own foundation and live their own life. But it can be a scary time for a parent. It is a comfort to see evidence that his faith is his own, not merely a reflection of mine or his dad’s.

          So I today I am especially thankful for adult children who share my faith.

          This past July some of my extended family moved in with us. Well sort of. We actually have a house with separate living areas so it’s more like living next door in an apartment complex rather than in the same house. This is a new experience for me after years of living in various places far from family.

          My cousin and I grew up together. She lived with us a few times and I lived with her family once. Our moms (both deceased) were close. In fact, when my aunt moved four states away, my mom convinced my dad he really did want to live there, too. Our families we spent lots of holidays, vacations and regular days together. One winter when a blizzard was expected, we went to visit them just in time to be stranded there for several days. So while technically we’re cousins, we think of ourselves as sisters.

          Having her so close now, after years of living as much as a half a world away, is great. We have our own spaces and sometimes a couple of days can actually go by and we not even see each other, but most days we at least have a brief visit on the porch. (I’ve never sat out on my front porch as much as I have this year.) And when one of us needs a cup of milk or an onion or anything else, we have a neighbor to ask.

          So I today I am thankful for family living nearby.

          The stumbler is back on her feet. This blog is about to become active. Yes, I know I keep saying I’m going to post regularly and then I disappear for weeks at a time. This time I have a plan. . . . I do! Really.

          Several months ago I was in the throes of lethargy. I had too much time on my hands and no clear direction of how to spend it. During several of my prayer times, I reminisced about how life had been years earlier. Full to overflowing with the daily activity of raising and homeschooling three active children. Instead of relishing the lack of demands on my time and doing some of those things I had put aside during those busy years, I was floundering in uncertainty and apathy. I wondered to God if maybe my personality demanded a certain level of busy-ness in order to stay on track.

          Then I did it. I prayed one of those prayers you know as you speak them are going to be answered in ways that will try and test you. And yet I prayed it several times. (Will I never learn?) “Lord, bring some structure and busy-ness into my life that will hone my focus onto what really matters.”

          Hoo-boy! Did He ever add some busy into my life! Family moved here, we helped them start a new business, planted a huge garden. Canning and jelly-making (all new activities for me) took over my summer days. About the only thing He didn’t do was give me another pregnancy. (At almost 50, that is NOT something I’m asking for. On second thought . . . No!) And, just as it was meant to do, I’m re-learning where my time needs to be spent. (I’m also really enjoying those precious minutes of rest when they arrive.)

          One of those things that the Lord keeps reminding me needs to have my attention is this blog. Once again, I’ve resolved to post regularly. This time I have a plan. A plan that echoes the season.

          I have a series of December posts planned that will chronicle the Christmas story. More on that in a couple of weeks.

          In honor of Thanksgiving and in obedience to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the rest of November’s posts will be short testimonies of thanksgiving. Feel free to share your own.

          Today I am thankful for busy days.

1Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.