ATTITUDE OF GLADITUDE

Remembering the First Noel and waiting to celebrate 2020 "Noel" as only a "twosome" for first time ever!

A reminder....gladness is a choice. Sip a cuppa glad-TEA-tude this Christmas and continue to "serve the Lord with gladness! (Psalm 100:2)

Each day, "is the day the Lord hath made"---so we will choose "to rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24, emphasis mine)

elemen-TEA-ry

He has told you, O man, what is good;

    and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

    and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8, ESV)

Hubby and I are both Sherlock Holmes fans. We don't belong to the Baker Street Irregulars nor do we don deerstalker hats to celebrate His possible birthday of January 6. After all he is a fictional character. But....we appreciates both the written and television works based on his detection skills. BBC/PBS is filmed in London. The locale is familiar. The acting incredible. Even the CBS contemporary update, set primarily in NYC is enjoyable. Plus, Watson is a female. A novel approach.
Film and TV productions have used the Holmes line, which he uttered to Watson, that is recognized by anyone over 60. "Elementary, my dear Watson." 

Elementary. The obvious. The basics. Simple truths. Recognizable by those truly seeking. Foundational for deduction and spiritual understanding.

All this to say, that in the Christian faith, there are some elementary truths that all denominations hang their hats on.

My favorite "BASIC" verses (emphasis, mine):

• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
• Serve the Lord with gladness. (Psalm 100:2)
• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and (love) your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)
• Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (John 6:47)
• Serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:3)
• Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• In everything give thanks....(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
• All scripture is given by inspiration of God...(2 Timothy 3:16)

Just the basics---elementary truths. A cuppa elemen-TEA-ry sweetened with God's truths which Christians should sip every day.

KNITTING IT FORWARD...a strand of service

 

1/25/12 Service has been popping up everywhere on my spiritual radar. The student ministry strategy at church this year is Seek God---Share Life---Serve Others. Hubby read last night's Allen Bible Church's NT2012 reading from John 13 and the example of Jesus "washing his disciples feet" 

was such an example of service over self. 

 

Last week I saw it up close and personal as a group gathered at Drenda's to knit dolls for the children who come to the Church Health Center. Spurred on by an article in the Commercial Appeal, they decided to use their talents to meet that need. Knitting for others is not foreign to this compassionate bunch. From preemie hats for a hospital and knit hats for needy school children along, with prayer shawls for folks like me, they just keep knitting it forward---in service to others.

It's had me asking myself, "What am I doing to serve others?" Can I do more? I want to serve the Lord with gladness. (Psalm 100:2) He's given the answer. I just need to pay it forward, even if my serving (knitting) is still in the "remedial" category.