I just love that November is right between October & December--two ridiculously busy months. October was full of soccer practices/games & cross-country practices/ meets, Halloween activities and parties, plus all of normal busyness. Of course December will be crazy-busy with all of the festivities of Christmas. It promises to be a full and joyful month, for sure, but I am already trying to scale back my plans and expectations for the season ...because there is such a thing as too much Christmas for a young family ;)
November is a month for giving Thanks & for us, a time to pause just a little bit as we have finished up with Fall sports and haven't yet started basketball for Winter. I recently came across Psalm 100 in The Message and it unofficially became my theme for the month. You will see why.
psalm 100
On your feet now—applaud God ! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
Know this: God is God, and God, God . He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
On your feet now—applaud God ! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
Know this: God is God, and God, God . He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
I just love that password part! Sometimes I have no direction, no idea how to approach worship. But this psalm makes it very clear! How appropriate to give thanks as our password into God's presence during this cold and blustery month of November & to prepare room in our hearts for Jesus during the month of Advent.
my shiner ;)
I have felt a bit beat up lately-- both literally and figuratively;) My middle darling smacked me in the eye with a matchbox car while he was playing ninja yesterday. It was an accident, and he felt terrible, but I had to laugh at the fact that my face now matched how I've been feeling in my heart. Nothing has really felt easy lately--parenting, relationships, health--it all has been hard work and I feel slightly defeated and beat up. Nothing horrible, I have just grown weary of the hard work. So it is perfect that this month is full of Thanksgiving and the reminders are all around me. Even on Facebook, I see daily thankful status updates. How simple: I can turn my heart away from myself and towards God just by thanking Him for His good gifts. Simplicity is so refreshing right now.
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