Tuesday Thoughts - September 8, 2015

Welcome to my new weekly feature, Tuesday Thoughts, where I will be sharing a short daybook reflection which will actually entail thoughts from a collaboration of days during the last week.  I guess I could call it a "weekbook" reflection.  ;-)

September in New England is my favorite month of the year!  The warmth of the summer lingers with beautiful balmy days to enjoy, and the comforting sound of crickets outside my bedroom window as I fall asleep.   Intermingled with the warm days, occasional hints of cool, crisp Autumn days with brilliant blue skies, and the noticeable change in the sun, lower in the sky now, casting beautiful streams of light through the windows of my kitchen, setting earlier and earlier.  

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows it's time for setting.  Psalm 104:19.

What simple pleasures have I lingered over?

• Mountains of New Hampshire.  (A rarity for us flatlanders.)  ;-)
• A house to myself - reading Pride and Prejudice.
• New dish rack filled with clean dishes.  (Yes, you read that right.  Our dishwasher broke and we had to buy a dish rack and hand wash our dishes, but to me, there is just something so homey about dishes in a dish rack.)
• Listening to nursery rhyme songs with my precious six month old granddaughter
• New butterfly bush that has suddenly sprung up in the sand where our pool once stood.
• Sweet, gentle sparrows searching in the grass.
• Sunset at our favorite park
• Gaggle of baby turkeys
• White puffy clouds on the first refreshing day after a long humid stretch

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.  

Genesis 1:31

What have I pondered?

While on vacation we visited the Canterbury Shaker Village.  (The picture right above is the beautiful pond that was part of the property.)  My husband and I have visited several of the Shaker Villages and I have heard the tenets of their religion explained numerous times which was to create a "heaven on earth" by doing everything perfect.  We as believers know that the only perfect person was Christ Jesus, the perfect sinless lamb who died for the imperfect sinner.  When we make Jesus Lord of our lives,  our desire shifts to one of obedience to the will of God.  

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  

Colossians 3:17

However, it is not our "striving for perfection" that saves us.  It is only the sacrificial death on the cross of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

But what I found myself struck by for the first time was another aspect of how they sought to "create a heaven on earth" and that was the way they lived relationally.   If a family unit was to join the Shakers, they would no longer be a family as husband, wife, mother or father, but would live communally, no longer with a special attachment to their intimate family, but now all part of one big family.  This was always something that bothered me and I couldn't comprehend how anyone could join something and their children or their husband would no longer belong to them.   God did not intend a man and woman who while in their earthly bodies vowed before God to become one in marriage, to break that vow for a religion and live no longer married.  I understand that and don't condone it, but it did give me pause to ponder...

It made me realize how tightly I hold onto my husband, children and grandchild, yet they belong to God.  The One I should be holding onto the tightest is my Heavenly Father. Too often I place my family above my love for God.   My life on earth should be one of worshiping and honoring my Lord and Savior in all that I do and say in preparation for Heaven where I will no longer be married or be a parent, but will have great fellowship with all the other children of God in the bright shining light of Jesus singing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!

What am I relying on the Lord for?

My upcoming annual physical.  Yes, this usually strikes fear in me, and more so this year because I am going to a new doctor.  The Lord has blessed me with incredibly good health, and I have no current concerns.  This is just a "well visit".   But I still can get myself so worked up when I go to the doctor which is why I have been told I have "white coat syndrome" where my blood pressure goes sky high.  Unfortunately, at my age now, they would be more inclined to put me on medication, especially being a new doctor who doesn't know my history.  But I am relying on the Lord to:

...accomplish what concerns me.  

Psalm 138:8

...do 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

...go ahead of me; He will be with me.  He will not fail me or forsake me.  

Do not fear or be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 31:8

What I am waiting on God for?

Discerning the will of God concerning a possible full-time ministry opportunity for my husband.

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.  Isaiah 55:6

A healing touch on someone I love.

Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not His benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.  

Psalm 103:2-4

I offer these thoughts to my God and Savior in praise of His creation, moments enjoyed, and His great promises, and to the Holy Spirit who brought to my remembrance all that God has done for me this past week.

"May the mind of Christ my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow'r controlling

All I do and say."

Kate B. Wilkinson

You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & Truth Link-up, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Growing in Grace Link-up, 3DLessonsLif4e, Livefree Thursday,Everyday Jesus, SDG Gathering, Inspire Me Monday Titus 2 Tuesday, A Wise Women Builds Her Home, A Look at the Book,  Sunday Stillness, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Give Me Grace, A Little R&R, Testimony Tuesday, Women with Intention Wednesdays, Still Saturday, Good Morning Mondays, Tell His Story, Blessings Counter Link-up Party,Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, Be Salty, Monday's Musings, The Art of Home-Making Monday, Tuesday Talk, Waiting on Wednesday,Dance with Jesus,Looking Up Link-Up, Reflect His Love and Glory Friend Sharpens Friend Link-Up, Words of Comfort Link-up, Wholehearted Wednesdays. Tell it to Me Tuesday, Faithful at Home Fridays, So Much At Home Link-Up, Literacy Musing Mondays