I know that with downsizing, reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, dried up venture capital, etc. it may appear to be a bleak holiday season.  We continue to hear from people who have been on the receiving end of “Axed, canned, decruited, deselected, destaffed, negotiated departure, personnel surplus reduction, redundancy elimination,  selectively separated, and workforce imbalance correction.”

But we are also hearing from many people who realize they have been given freedom to pursue their dreams – to find or create meaningful, fulfilling and profitable work.  One lady said she had been given the “grace of interruption” in her work life.  Others are describing these unexpected changes as “reinvention, graduation, repurposed, unencumbered by employment, released to fly free, transitioning from caterpillar to butterfly, and prompted to success.” 

Whatever your situation, this is a great time to be anticipating the beginning of a new year.  In 1937, Napoleon Hill wrote this in the original edition of “Think and Grow Rich:”  “The ‘depression’ was a blessing in disguise.  It reduced the whole world to a new starting point that gives every one a new opportunity.” 

Now I doubt that people going through the depression saw it a blessing.  But it did give rise to thousands of new ventures and fresh career direction for many people.  Maybe now is your time to simply give thanks for being given a new opportunity.

Today I’m thankful for the far too seldom days that my boyfriend and I get to spend together with nothing on either of our agendas. People often assume that because we live in the same house and sleep in the same bed, that we must get plenty of QT… but the unfortunate reality is that because both of us are so busy, we rarely even get to spend a lazy weekend sleeping in or lounging around together. This weekend, however, we both had a few days off, and after the family holiday activities died down, we were finally able to just chill and enjoy each other. While I always appreciate a good date night or evening out, there is nothing I love more than snuggling up in my little nook and just relaxing with my man. I’m so thankful that the holidays gave us the time to spend together, but even more thankful that I have found someone so wonderful to share them with.

Has your kitchen recovered from the Thanksgiving festivities?

I had a wonderful season of thanks and am challenging everyone I know to keep the spirit going all year-long.  I was honored to speak on the topic of gratitude during a community service on Thanksgiving Eve.  I was humbled with the opportunity and the setting.  I have always considered it an awesome job to share a vision with others.  When you are in a place of influence it is an awesome responsibility.  It reminds me of parenting.  There is no greater influence – than the parent – child influence.  This holds true even in religion and the relationship between God and Jesus.  Isn’t this the cornerstone of the bible?

When we think about gratitude and the impact available to us, gratitude can be the most powerful tool in your leadership toolbox.  Gratitude can turn around the most dire of situations and attitudes.  It can take doubt and turn it in to optimism, it can take a downtrodden heart and reveal sunlight and hope.  

Gratitude is more than an annual ritual performed before diving into the Thanksgiving meal. It’s more than a holiday decorations, more than a clever saying that rhymes with “attitude.” Of all the human emotions, gratitude is the most powerful. So powerful is gratitude, it can obliterate fear, hopelessness and doubt. Gratitude can heal a broken heart, slow the aging process and restore broken relationships. Gratitude creates hope and hope brings joy. It is in joy, not fear, that we find strength.

If I could bottle this and put it on a shelf, can you imagine the elixir I would create?  It would make a fortune.

I am grateful for the time, energy and ability to share my passion for gratitude. 

Lastly, I am grateful for my family.  My parents came to my home for turkey and it was so much fun to have them in the house.  They were a huge help and I realized just how very much I have missed them.  I felt a great circle of love between my parents, my husband and children.  I can’t leave out my puppy too.  I am hopeful that we will all march in to each day and be a blessing to everyone we meet.

Go in Gratitude!

after saying thanks, it’s also okay to say no.

feel free to use this as you wish.

http://www.thanksno.com/

(thanks to Khara for the RT on this.)

I know. I was a bad blogger, but I have a personal policy of not blogging on vacation. I spend most of my time on the computer, so I really  like that I didn’t even check my email every day over the holiday.

I did, however, intend to post this list, and didn’t. So I’m extending Thanksgiving a little.

This weekend was a blur and I’ll recap later. For now, I think it’ll do me good to talk about what I’m thankful for, since it’s that one tradition my family has that I really really like (well, that and my mom’s cheese sauce):

1. My husband. If I had nothing else in the world but still had him, I’d be okay. He’s absolutely the best thing in the entire universe, and I am not exaggerating.

2. My mom. I don’t like to think about what it will be like when she’s not around any more. I am thankful for each and every day I have with her (even if she is 800 miles away).

3. The time I had with Tigger. This is the younger of the two kitties we had growing up. He’s 17 or so, and I heard last night that he might not make it much longer. He’s pretty ancient, for a cat. I’m so grateful that I was able to enjoy him when he was lively and healthy. He was a good cat.

4. My own two kitties. They are young and healthy, and loving and wonderful. Thank goodness for non-neurotic felines.

5. A job. I have one, and that’s awesome. I hope to keep it as long as possible.

6. A good education. As much as it hasn’t really paid for itself, it’s still a good thing to have and something that many people haven’t had access to. So I am happy to have had it, student loans notwithstanding.

7. America. I am really pessimistic about this country right now, but honestly, it’s a great place to be. I am a woman and I can do what I want, when I want. I have a job (or three). I am the primary breadwinner. My husband is okay with that (I think). I can vote, I married who I wanted to marry. I enjoy a high standard of living, as much as I whine about it. I have had an excellent education and good food my whole life. This place is great.

8. Rockin’ friends. I live far away from my actual family, so the family I’ve adopted is awesome. Thanks to the CG & husband, Jennie and boy and Lea & husband for being wonderful local “family” and for Marmadyth and Baobh for being those far away “family” members. (And for all you I didn’t call out by name, I am thankful for you as well; I just didn’t want this post to become any more of a list than it is. You guys are numerous and awesome.)

9. The 35 or so regular readers of this blog. It used to bother me that I didn’t have more, but I have come to be really thankful that there are 35 people out there who find me interesting enough that they keep visiting (I have no idea why, but I’m not going to spend too much time obsessing over that).

So that’s pretty much it. I had a lot to be thankful for this year, and much of it is small stuff that I have been learning to appreciate more.

Tomorrow I’ll tell all about the trip to Baltimore. There are some good stories there.

Hi,

hope you all had a happy thanksgiving!  I have a lot to be thankul for–especially the people who are important to me in my life.  i hope you take a second and reach out to those important in your life.  We have more to appreciate and less to covet.

have  a great week!  Christmas is almost here!

Tyde

So I’m doing the “I’m thankful” blog entry a few days late.  But I think it’s good, because after this weekend I felt like I was going to go jump off a cliff until last night.  Let me back up a little bit.

Thanksgiving weekend was okay, I got to see my family (my dad was in town) and a lot of old friends from high school and even elementary school.  I am of course very thankful for my family and friends who have stood by me the past few months.  But a part of me, however grateful I am to be around them, can’t help but look at everyone hitting the milestones.  Getting married, getting engaged, having kids… and I’m…..not sure what I’m doing.  I went to my sister’s for a brunch on Sunday, she shares a townhouse with her boyfriend with all the walls painted a warm color and pictures decorating all the walls.  It’s a grown up house.  And at one point I realized that I was watching spongebob on the couch while she was cooking and entertaining the family.  How old am I again?

I finished up brunch and went to church with my dad.  I drove home to attempt to be productive and change my horrible mood.  I walked into my shoebox apartment (aka the “White Ghetto Apartment”) and just burst into tears.  I couldn’t stop thinking about where my life was last year at this time, in my beautiful new home with my dog and ex.  I wasn’t alone and I had someone to count on.  I cleaned the apartment but that only made things worse as I continued to beat myself up and point out every flaw in the place, every stain on the carpet, every crack in the wall.  I left behind such a beautiful life and this is what I got. 

I packed up my laundry and headed to my mom’s house, that’s right, I now have to go home to my mom’s to do laundry because I live in the WG and don’t have a washer and dryer.  “What 24-year-old still goes home to do laundry?” I said to myself.  Luckily my mom’s house was empty and I was able to sit there and just stew in my depressive mood.  I have no clue what I’m doing in my life, I’m completely lost and I missed that stability and predictability I got from being with B.  The same stability and predictability that caused me to feel caged, I was now yearning for it.

And then it happened, right as I was folding an old ratty t-shirt, I had one of those moments.  It’s the same kind of moment that happened when I knew that I had to end my engagement.  That moment where you feel like you just want to crawl into a fetal position and bawl your eyes out and lay there until the world just changes and everything is perfect, and then all of sudden you feel calm.  It was just like I let out a big sigh and all those negative feelings, those fears exhaled out of my body along with the air in my lungs.  I realized that I am still happier, right there in that moment folding clothes on my mom’s living room floor with no direction in my life, than I was five months ago when I was engaged.  The agony of trying to make myself happy in my engagement, of trying to fit my square-shaped life into the round peg hole of B’s life, of putting on a happy face everyday and on the inside knowing that I was lying to myself and everyone around me.  To walk away from an amazing man who I loved for seven years because in my gut I didn’t think it was right.  That was one of the hardest times of my life and in hindsight I don’t know how I found the strength to reach the point where I actually did walk away.  That decision, ultimately was the right one.

So this weekend I am thankful for the strength that gave me the courage to make that very difficult decision.  I am thankful that I have trusted my instincts and that I have stuck to them.  I am thankful for following my heart and for settling for nothing less than “the one”.  I hope that my decision ultimately make B a happier person and find someone who is perfect for him, and I hope one day he is thankful for my decision too. 

So at the end of the day I am thankful for breaking off my engagement and for the opportunity to direct my life down a path that will more closely resemble what I want and need to get out of it…

Prayer, by Arthur Roy Mitchell (c.1889-1977), A.R. Mitchell Museum, Trinidad, Colorado

thank you for every morsel bittersweet
for every fleeting foray into unimaginable bliss
every lifetime of incalculable pain
for the searing darkness and the blinding light –
thank you

for your rabid inability to create your own boundaries
giving me a reason to establish my ramparts soundly
and master the raising and lowering of my own castle gates –
thank you

for triggering my insecurities with your comings and goings
dragging your nails over toughened scar tissue
busting open wounds that I smugly believed were
once and for all time healed and whole –
thank you for giving me no choice
 but to redress and heal anew

in exasperating fashion you loved when i was barely lovable
remained close by when i begged you to disappear
evaporated into the ethers at the very times i wanted simply
to stroke the skin round your weary countenance,
hoisted me onto the meat hook and left me in the netherworld
for days (nay, months!) on end
and for this most of all,
i thank you

you ignored my pleas to show up as i wanted
refused to succumb to the machinations of a restless and uprooted mind
imperceptibly inched along the road to a soul revealed,
pushed back when fear and unworthiness sought desperately to push you away
trampled my tidy, evanescent order into a liminal chaos
invited me to stew in my own juices until they rendered savory and sweet
(oh, did i remember to thank you?)

when i was certain that the elusive butterfly called love had left the room
you proved me wrong and i thank you
when i was steeped in weighty self-reflection and nagging indecision
you forced me none too gently toward an unchanging truth
gave me space to wallow and wonder (damn you!)
skipped merrily on your way without a glance in your rearview mirror
and while i hated your every stroke of bold absence,
i forgot, perhaps, to thank you

for the untold gifts you offered
(though i wanted something more!)
thank you
for the all-too-rare appearance of tender footprints in the snow
the sparse moments peeking out from beneath a pall of igneous complication,
for not forsaking for the sake of contrivance and a measured peace
and for showing up at my doorstep every time i surrendered my tumsecent heart
to the whim of a ridiculously ironic god –
thank you

for this and for that
for tears of laughter and lamentation
for your utterly excruciating tirades of silence
and leaps into the abyss of unbound emotion,
for all that has died to the past and poises at the edge of the now –
while you still listen and wait and want and more
here i am, eyes wide open
remembering
to thank you

 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”  Corinthians 9:15

We continue to give thanks to God as we celebrate this season of giving.  Let us remember that it is God Who instituted the giving process.  He gave us the greatest gift ever given to mankind, the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.  There are not enough words to describe the gift we have all been given in Christ Jesus.  The gift of Jesus is truly a gift that keeps giving in our lives daily.

Each of us has been given the ability to give.  God gives to mankind daily through His love, provision, protection, and forgiveness.  Because God is such a giver of gifts, we too are able to give to others in various ways.  God is our example of giving.  And He desires His children to be givers.

God has blessed each of us to not only think of ourselves, but to think of others.  We have been given so we can give.  Giving is a privilege that reaps more than we could ever comprehend.  God encourages giving because of the powerful effect it has on our lives and those to whom we give.  Its benefits are endless!

ENCOURAGEMENT:  God gave His indescribable gift to us!  Giving produces blessings!  When we give to others, we are giving to God and He is pleased!  Giving to others gives glory, honor, and praise to God!

God loves a cheerful giver.  Take the time to give and make a difference in the life of someone else!

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend. I had a perfectly relaxing time spending my four-day holiday weekend with family. Lots of food, knitting, conversation, and sleep. Just what I needed. I’m rejuvenated and ready to head back to work and craftiness. I’m so excited it’s the holiday season and I’m starting to come alive with creativity again.

As I wind down from this lovely weekend I’ve been reflecting a lot on the things that make me so very happy and that I am grateful for…

~You!  Thank you for visiting here and leaving words of kindness, encouragement, and friendship. These things mean a lot to me and I’m so very thankful for you!

~My family whom I love dearly and am so very lucky to live close to and be close to. My little brother is back from Iraq and out of the military. He will be home for Christmas this year for the first time in 3 years!

~Having a job. It’s not my dream-job by any stretch of the imagination, but when I get sullen about it I remind myself how fortunate I am to be employed.

~Music and books. Where would I be without them?

~Daydreams…

Someday I will have my gypsy wagon, but until that day I am content and happy to have Gypsea Tree!

Thank you.

{images via Life Image Archive}

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving Day. Most of us celebrated with turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and stuffing. But some may have chosen a different fare. Whatever you ate, I hope you took a moment to give thanks before your meal—thanks for your family, for your home, for your friends, and especially for eternal life.

Your first question might be: Why do I need to give thanks?

The short list: Creation, salvation, eternity.

So the question is: How do you give thanks? Since we all “give thanks” by eating a big dinner on the fourth Thursday of November, I thought I would provide a few other ideas from God’s example to show how we can give thanks the rest of the year.

I can show thanks by following God’s example: Giving. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God gave what he had, Jesus, so I could be forgiven for my sins and be made a part of God’s family. If I am thankful for God’s gift of redemption, I can follow God’s example by giving of myself, my possessions, those things I value most, to help others find peace and hope. I can show my thankfulness by supporting my church and missionaries who are spreading God’s Word to others.

I can show thanks by following God’s example: Loving. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Most often we love someone because of something they did for us, but God’s love is without a prior cause, not because of anything we have done, or can do, or will do. This love we have received from God, providing a sacrifice for our sins when we could not redeem ourselves, demands a response from us. John continued, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (4:11). Jesus said, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44,45). We can show our thanks by extending the love of God to others as we have received it, without reservation or condition.

I can show thanks by following God’s example: Serving God. In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus by offering the world’s riches and power in return for his worship. Jesus responded, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” (Luke 4:8). The world provides many enticements to turn our attention from God. It could be the continual acquisition of possessions and money. Other enticements include popularity, fame, and power. Jesus understood the seductive power of these things, and so He warned his listeners, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13). When I follow God’s example, I serve God and place my relationship to God first, trusting God for the rest.

I can show thanks by following God’s example: Serving others. As my example, Jesus served those around Him. He used His power to minister to others—healing, comforting, restoring. People came to Jesus because they knew He was willing and able to help them. I follow God’s example by serving others, as well. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). When I use my gifts, whether hospitality (which includes cooking, by the way), encouragement, teaching, and administration, among other gifts, to bless those around me, I am being faithful and following God’s example.

How do you give thanks? I know how you can! Recognize God’s gift to you, then respond by following God’s example and giving, loving, serving God, and serving others. The world will be a much better place because of your response to God’s gift.

Just a note: Thanks to Jack and Pat McKinley for the gift of the new nativity set on our front lawn. Drive by some evening and see the beauty.

On Sunday afternoon we celebrated the life of our good friend Beverley Crowell. It was wonderful to have so many people join together with us to remember her. Since I came to Ebenezer Presbyterian, Beverley has been an encouragement and a source of laughter. We all will miss her greatly.

One reason I enjoyed her so much is that she reminded me of my own mother, another person who loved to laugh, entertain, and make people happy. As a special tribute to Beverly and to her family, I am reprinting here a poem I wrote for my mother. Once again, our loss is heaven’s gain.

Many people say to me
“Your laugh’s so bright and full of glee.”
I tell them, “It’s not mine, you see.
My precious mom gave it to me.”

Oh, please don’t think her life sublime
with fun and laughter all the time.
She made ends meet, but there were times
she had to count out every dime.

Though everything was not the best,
with my mother we were blessed.
She made sure we were fed and dressed
And spread her cheer to every guest.

How did she smile and seem so glad
even when she felt so bad,
when it seemed she would explode,
struggling under life’s hard load?

Even so my mother laughed
and danced and sometimes acted daft.
For us she took her hurt and pain
and gave it back with joy again.

Ready smile and hopeful dreams,
laughing till I burst my seams,
love of music, love of dance,
These are my inheritance.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28

Never lose your faith in God. Be steadfast, never lose sight of the real importance in your life. God is by your side, be faithful to Him and always know that even though you may not understand it, somehow God is helping you.

Prayer

Please Lord build the faith of all Your followers and instill new faith into those who have not made a choice. Show them Your power and guide their faith. Keep us, Your children, strong and let us live a  faithful life. Amen  

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. I am thankful for those of you who read my blog! (Thanks!)

Today’s blog is brought to you by the word: thanks. It seems to be the word on everyone’s mind this week.

***

My Thanksgiving was pretty normal: football game in the morning, big meal of turkey, stuffing, etc… with the family in the afternoon.

My Black Friday, however, is NEVER normal. A long time ago we came up with the tradition of watching Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Friday after Thanksgiving with Ann, Don, Caroline, Evan, LaLa, and of course, all the doggies. Each year someone else hosts, and by now we each own a copy of the movie.

(Top from left to right) Ann, Amanda, Rachel, Beccy (Bottom) Caroline and Abby

From there, our tradition has morphed into a costume party. Actually, it’s more of a contest– a battle for who can come up with the wackiest, most accurate, prettiest, or in the other night’s case, the “tappiest” costume (kudos to Ann for pulling that one off.) And then, there are always those who prefer to keep it simple and wear the ever-favorite Santa hat. Awards range from the Golden Tap Shoes, to a plunger, to The Pajama Game on DVD, found at the Dollar Store.

After we reveal our true selves in 1950s fashion, we settle down to watch the movie, reciting our favorite lines, and  throwing around the ones we still don’t understand, like: “Well how do you like that? Not so much as a kiss my foot or haaaaaaave an apple!” We poke fun at Vera Ellen for her abnormally petite figure, and Rosemary Clooney for the abnormally large figure she fills out in her later years.

***

So among these semi-awkward yet  totally fun traditions is an underlying question: What on Earth am I thankful for? Every year in church, at the dinner table, in school, I’m asked the same question. The obvious answer would be: my family, my friends, my health, etc… They’re all very important things in life and by no means do I want to take them for granted, but I feel like a broken record; it should go deeper than that. “Friends” and  ”family” just can’t describe how grateful I am for the people in my life that seem to make the world turn. We all have those people, so here’s a shout out to some of them below:

• all of you who are taking time out of your day to read this now, and all of you who go the extra mile to comment
• my extended family, even if our visits happen to be as often as a solar eclipse
• you who entertain my craziest thoughts, sit first row in the movie theater and scream during New Moon, and sing Christmas carols at the top of your lungs with me– not to mock me, but because we can…you know who you are

To all of you, and I mean ALL of you– as the song goes: “You build me up Buttercup…I need you…You know that I have from the start…”<—(include wah wah wahs right here)  Thanks for being there.

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

Lord, we give you thanks for the many blessings in our lives, even when times are hard. We thank you for babies born healthy and for the legacies of lives that were lived with wisdom. We thank you for opportunities to work and opportunities to learn. We thank you for the strength and love of our families and the support of our friends.  We thank you for teachers and mentors. We thank you for those who protect us both at home and abroad.  We thank you for the technology that connects us to a broader world and the crafts that connect us to our past.  We thank you for the music and art which enhance our lives.  We thank you for the natural world that renews and inspires.  We thank you for sleep and for food.  We thank you for forgiveness and new beginnings.  We thank you for your constant presence among us.

As we enter the Advent season, help us to be ever aware of your presence throughout our lives, and to share your message of hope, love, joy, and peace.  We thank you, O Lord.

Amen

Most bloggers wish their readers well before holidays….well I would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving after the fact because that’s how I roll.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had too much food and wine and spent it with good people! Thanksgiving happens to be my fave holiday. Per usual, it was spent at my parents house and this was the first time I was close enough to make the pies at my own house rather than getting in my Mom’s hair.

Some of the highlights were: 1. the bomb gravy my uncle and I made 2. saying “that’s what she said” at a very inappropriate time and place while family was carving the turkey 3. leftovers

Another highlight was my ‘fakesgiving’party attended by friends. We created faux holiday dishes (i.e. sweet potato fries instead of sweet potatoes) and I put on my pilgrim costume (obvi).

Wishing you well  and thanks to you and all of my loyal readers (ha!) this holiday season (well I should just say my mom since I know she’ll be reading!)!

Cheers!

our politically incorrect fakesgiving apparel

I am exited to explore in depth the doctrine of Charity, which is the pure love of Christ or the way Christ loves us.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Verses 1-3 tell me how important Charity (Love) is. If we spoke with the tongue of angels or had the gift of prophecy or understood all mysteries, if we don’t have charity then we are as nothing. We need to have charity more than all knowledge or all faith. We can give away everything we have to feed the poor or sacrifice our bodies to be burned but if we don’t live with charity then it is for nothing. If we have all kinds of great gifts bestowed upon us or do any number of great things we are “nothing without charity”. We can’t base our salvation on just one or two things we have to include Charity or it is all in vain.

What is charity? Charity in verse four is broken down in specific attributes so that we may fully understand what charity is.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Verses 8-13 further illustrate how important Charity is in our lives by comparing it to other important aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 10:46-47

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail — 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.This additional Christian Scripture passage adds to the importance of charity and teaches us more about Charity. All things must fail but Charity will never fail. This would indicate to me that we should invest much effort and prayer into obtaining the gift of charity so that it fills our sould and heart to overflowing. Verse 47 tells us that we must pray with all the energy of hear to be filled with this love.

This passage also teaches us that Charity is the pure love of Christ and when He comes again the second time if we are filled with Charity we shall be like Him. Charity is a purifying force as well.

So what exactly is Charity that it is so important? Charity is the “Pure Love Of Christ”. So when you read the word “Charity” substitute the phrase “pure love of Christ”.

Suffereth Long
The “pure love of Christ” suffereth long.

What does “Suffereth long” mean? In short “suffereth long” means patience. Consider the verse 1 Peter 3:20 In part that verse says “when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” We also know that mankind was extraordinarily wicked in the days of Noah. God was very patient having Noah call them to repentance before the destruction of the flood. One of the online dictionaries defines “long-suffering” as: “patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship”. There again is the word “patience”. Part of the pure love of Christ (Charity) is patience.

This means that we need to have patience. Patience toward who? We are told to have Charity like Christ does and Christ is patient towards all mankind so that implies that we should also have patience towards all mankind and especially those close to us in our own life like our spouse and children and those people we interact with on a daily basis but not to exclude all others.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord exerts all the patience He can toward us so that we may have as much time possible to repent and turn to Him.

Is Kind

“The pure love of Christ” is kind.

The one of the online dictionaries suggest that “Kind” means: Affectionate, loving. Of a sympathetic or helpful nature. Of a forbearing nature. Gentle. Arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance (a kind act). To give pleasure or relief.

A good or benevolent nature or disposition. A loving person. Having, showing or proceeding from benevolence. Considerate, helpful, humane, mild, gentle, loving or affectionate.

Forbearance means “To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.” An abstaining from the enforcement of a right. “A creditor’s giving of indulgence after the day originally fixed for payment.” This descriptions of the word “Kind” certainly sound Christ-like. This kind of kindess is what we should be striving for, even praying for.

Envieth Not

“The pure love of Christ” envieth not.

Envy means a painful or resentful awareness of something enjoyed by someone else as well as a desire to possess the same thing the other person has. So if Charity Envieth not then we should not be resentful toward others but rather we should be happy for the things others possess and share their joy. We cannot envy someone if we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts. We need to have joy in others successes and achievements. If everyone “envieth not” think of the drop in the crime rates.

Vaunteth Not Itself

“The pure love of Christ” vaunteth not itself.

“Vaunt” means to brag or to make a vain display of one self? We should not draw undue attention to ourselves. When we brag about ourselves we are setting ourselves up to appear to be better than others. God loves us all the same. He doesn’t love whatever sin or misdeed we may be involved in but He loves us all the same. We should not seek to make ourselves appear to be better than each other.

Is Not Puffed Up

“The pure love of Christ” is not puffed up.

Puffed up means to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner. We should just be ourselves or we should be the person we are trying to be as we seek for Charity in our lives. We need to be humble (teachable) and sincere. If we are locked into Charity as a way of life then we would have no insecurities and have no need to be conceited.

Doth Not Behave Itself Unseemly

“The pure love of Christ” doth not behave itself unseemly.

Unseemly means not according with established standards of good form or taste. In other words we should be vulgar or crude.

Seeketh Not Her Own

“The pure love of Christ” seeketh not her own.
To “seek not her own” means being selfish. Anyone who has Charity or seeking Charity is not selfish. We should repent for any selfish behavior and strive to not be selfish.

Is Not Easily Provoked

“The pure love of Christ” is not easily provoked.

Is not easily made mad or one who is slow to anger. Not resentful. If we considered the life of Christ he was very slow to wrath. The only time he showed wrath was when the money changers we disrespecting the Temple. Even when Christ was be unjustly tried for made up crimes he was not provoked. When He hung from the cross, rather than be mad he ask Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who were torturing Him.

Thinketh No Evil

“The pure love of Christ” thinketh no evil.

Evil is the opposite of righteousness. Charity does not think of things contrary to righteousness. Ask yourself what is evil and think the opposite. Think of virtuous thoughts. Ask yourself what would Jesus think about and think likewise.

Rejoiceth Not In Iniquity But Rejoiceth In The Truth

“The pure love of Christ” rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth.

Iniquity is both sin and behavior directly in opposition to righteousness. Charity finds happiness in the truth or rejoices in the truth. Thinketh no evil and Rejoiceth Not in iniquity go hand in hand or are companion virtues. Don’t think evil thoughts and do not rejoice in inquity. Do we watch movies or read books where we find ourselves rooting for the bad guy? Is that Charity?

Beareth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” beareth all things.

What does it mean to “Bear”? Looking up the word “bear” on several online dictionaries came to the following conclusions:

To make one’s way steadily especially against resistance. Continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

To put up with something trying or painful.

The terms Suffereth (Suffer) and Beareth (Bear) are synonyms in parts of their meanings but they also have some differences in their definitions. From what I can ascertain The phrase “Suffereth Long” is more to do with patience. The phrase “Beareth All Things” deals mainly with faithfully overcoming trials and adversity.

Believeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” believeth all things

This phrase “believeth all things” has to do with faith. Charity, the pure love of Christ wouldn’t teach to believe all things regardless. For instance. Do we believe the God created the earth or do we believe in junk science that the earth was created from a big bang?

Do we believe God created Man in His own image or than man evolved from apes? We don’t believe all things spiritual and worldly but rather “believeth all things” is to have firm religious faith. To accept the gospel as true, genuine or real. Furthermore it means to have assurance or faith in righteousness. Trust in God. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something. If that thing doesn’t have goodness of efficacy then it is evil and not to be trifled with.

Other definitions of “Believeth all things”: To have confidence in the truth,

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Hopeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” hopeth all things.

To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. For instance, to look to Christ for ones salvation. To place trust in or rely in. We need to trust in Christ that He will do what He says he will do. To look to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with confidence.

Endureth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” endureth all things. Here is what some online dictionaries defined Endure as.

To undergo a hardship without giving in. To suffer or endure a great pain. To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. To bear without resistance or with patience.

To support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently. The life of Christ is a perfect example of enduring all things.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

I can’t believe we’re heading into the final month of 2009.  This year will be one that stays with me for a long time to come.  It was an exciting year, a year full of change, and a year that made me think differently about things.  As we celebrated Thanksgiving this year, I compiled a list of all the things I’m thankful for this year.  So, here goes:

1. For my master’s degree from Georgetown.  Praise God for helping me persevere right through the end.  And I’m thankful for all the encouragement my friends gave me for all those times I wanted to pack up and quit.
2. For God’ work in the New People Ministry at Frontline.  For my awesome co-coach, a wonderful team of volunteers, and all the wins we’ve seen God accomplish through the ministry.
3. For all the new friends I’ve made this year and how they bless me in so many ways.  For all my longtime friends and all their support, encouragement and wisdom.
4. For new opportunities in my job and the chance to use some of the skills I learned at Georgetown.  And, I’m thankful for such job stability, knowing I didn’t have to ever worry about not having a job to go to. (Yes, being thankful for my job might surprise some of you, but I’m trying to be positive!)
5. For new experiences this yer: London, Paris, Savannah, Charleston, post-season Yankee baseball (yes, had to throw that in there!).
6. For the many ways that God has worked in my heart this year.  For opening my eyes to things I hadn’t seen before, for new truth revealed and for all the love that comes with it as He restores and heals.

So, there you have it.  If you haven’t already, I hope you take a chance to reflect on what you are thankful for.  If you’d care to share in the comments, I’d love to hear what you’re giving thanks for.

Let’s bring on 2010!