by

Our Daily Thread 12-23-14

Good Morning!

2 Days!!! 😆

 Today’s header photo is from Kim.

______________________________________________

On this day in 1783 George Washington returned home to Mount Vernon, after the disbanding of his army at the end of the Revolutionary War. 

In 1823 the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement C. Moore (” ‘Twas the night before Christmas…”) was published. 

In 1948 former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese war leaders were executed in Tokyo. They had been found guilty of crimes against humanity. 

And in 1954 the Walt Disney movie “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was released. 

______________________________________________

Quote of the Day

“Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.”

Thomas S. Monson

______________________________________________

 First up, some Jars of Clay.

And then some Johnny and June.

______________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD?

86 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 12-23-14”

  2. That June Carter surely has long hair.
    Probably a religious conviction. My mother never cut her hair after she started going back to church.
    Becky used to have hair that went to her waist. She did that because it was a beautiful red. She later cut it.

    Like

    Reply

  3. I believe it was a religious conviction Chas. It seems I read that somewhere. I know that Roseanne Cash has written that June made a commitment when she married Johnny to never let her career ruin her family and if asked how many children she had the answer was 7.
    My father grew up Assembly of God, but my grandmother and all of my aunts have had shorter hair.

    Like

    Reply

  4. Hi Kim, I was wondering if anyone else was around.

    Some of you were discussing Bible reading plans last night. I have told you before that I have a plan that reads the Bible through chronologically. It is a good plan to gain perspective on the sequence of things. e.g. The relationship of Daniel’s prophecy during the times of the captivity. It has it’s problems, though, from my standpoint. We read Job through in 19 days. We read Acts and Romans through once. Same attention. Job doesn’t, in my opinion, disserve the same attention as Romans. Also, there is one lesson in Esther, Ruth, Jonah, etc. They should be read in one sitting for a good understanding.
    I don’t know what system I will use next year, but I will spend more time in the NT this year.

    Like

    Reply

  5. My Bible reading “plan” is to read 2-4 chapters a day. I am finishing up the OT in a week or two, then I’ll go on to the NT. Once per year I read through the Psalms and Proverbs along with the other reading.

    Like

    Reply

  7. Chas, I read the Bible through chronologically last year. This year I decided to focus on the Gospels . . . but I didn’t read them through as many times as I planned to. And I’d planned for one read-through of each to be “in one sitting,” but they’re simply too long unless you put aside a big time block, so I ended up settling on three-sitting readings, which was probably better for focus anyway. Right now I’m ending the year by reading through Hebrews (which we’re studying in Sunday school).

    For me, I find it hard to find any one time of day that works consistently, and I’m not a morning person, so the daily-reading plan was good because it forced me to make time . . . and when I got behind (as I did several times), then I’d look for a chance to catch back up, and I did finish the year caught up.

    Like

    Reply

  8. I have my Bible reading and prayer time in the mornings now. After I have had breakfast and read the paper, and checked the blog. I want to get everything else taken care of so I won’t think about it.
    When I was at Carolina, I belonged to Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). j They emphasized a “quiet time” first thing in the morning. e.g. getting up at 5 or 6 a.m. for devotions. I soon learned that not even the Lord wants to associate with me at that time of day.
    When I was working, it was in the evenings, after everything else was done.
    I never watched TV. The set was in another room and I had to deliberately go there to watch it. I saw very few programs.
    Now my TV set is just five feet away, and is on. (though muted). That’s not all good.

    Like

    Reply

  9. Kim,

    Love the photo. 🙂

    I know you’re in real estate and all, but if you ever consider a career change, you might want to look into event planning. You seem to have a knack for it, especially with all your prepping, designing, cooking, and decorating. 🙂

    I guess everyone is either sleeping in because they’ve been up late hanging with the other night owls here, or they are the procrastinators amongst us, and are out shopping last minute. 🙂

    I’m going to Sam’s, but only for food. You won’t catch me at the mall today or tomorrow. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  11. The Bible in a year plan I was talking abut is the “Victory Bible Reading Plan”. I highly recommend it. It is an ambitious plan and takes some time. e.g.
    Jan. 1 is Psalm 1, Matt. 1 and Gen. 1 & 2.
    You can get the plan from Omega Publications, P.O. Box 4130, Medford, Or. 97501

    My problems with it are stated above. That would be true of any Through-the-Bible plan.

    Like

    Reply

  14. Beautiful holiday table. It looks nothing like mine right now. 😉

    My indoor decorating this year pretty much fell by the wayside I’m afraid. Outdoor lights, which have been up since December 2013, look cute now that the right season has rolled around again and I can actually turn them on. They will come down after New Year’s this year, though. I’ve promised myself.

    Ah, reading through the Bible — it’s always a challenge for me, which I’ve shared here before. But the one I always am working on is the M’Cheyne version:

    Click to access rp.one.year.tract.pdf

    Crossway has actually now published a daily reading Bible that is organized in the order (with dates) of that system, making it very handy, but it’s also available in digital formats that you can put onto your phone, tablet or kindle, making it portable.

    If you keep up (which is the hard part for me!), it takes you through the OT once, NT & Psalms twice, which works out to about 4 chapters a day.

    Like

    Reply

  15. I “liked” Aj’s 10:27 and concur entirely. But I don’t know how a person would get started in such a business.
    The company of a loving woman is more important then of an intelligent woman.

    A real smart woman would never have connected with me. 😆

    i.e. She would have dumped me the first year.

    Like

    Reply

  16. Our church gives out a yearly planner with the bible readings in a year listed. Our Daily Bread has that, too, in their daily devotional. I don’t use either, though. I go to a room and read however long seems to make sense. I mostly read chronologically now. I just finished Numbers today. I will do some NT reading, though, for Christmas. I have been reading a Christmas devotional with thoughts by CS Lewis and the Daily Bread. Then I spend some time in prayer.

    I am able to do this now that we are empty nesters. Different seasons of life call for different strategies, as does one’s learning style etc. I always get something out of reading. It causes me to think differently. We are to renew our minds and I do believe you are really cheating yourself, if you do not take some time to read the bible and pray.

    Baby steps is a good way to start. It is how I started over forty years ago now.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. AJ (10:27), good suggestion for Kim, she definitely has a flare. Some million/billionaire can hire her to throw parties. 🙂 Then she can hire me to publicize them. It’s perfect.

    The next couple weeks are tough in the news business, everything slows down and we’re all scrambling to fill papers. I have 2 stories lined up for this week only — one of a pet food shortage at area animal shelters & the other on Zamperini’s 28-year-old grandson taking over his Victory Boys Camp nonprofit, which seems to have been dormant for the past few years. Someone’s setting me up with the grandson for a phone interview today, I hope.

    We’re also compiling the top 10 year-end stories, on which I’ll have a couple slots to write, but those are short & easy.

    I need to line up something I can work on Friday, the day after Christmas, though.

    Like

    Reply

  18. That is a tough question Michelle. I think it really depends on the personalities and upbringing. Some cultures don’t allow women to be educated, but a lady can still have good common sense to advise a man if he will listen. Also, I think that a woman’s perspective can soothe a man’s anger and perhaps counter the “gang mentality” that often precedes violence.

    Like

    Reply

  20. AJ- Here are some plans: http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/biblerea.html. I did the Robert Murray McCheyne plan a few years ago, but found it hard to keep up sometimes. When that happened, I was so concerned with getting back on schedule that I missed the joy of reading. Basically, though, if you start at Genesis and Mathew, and read two OT chapters and one NT chapter per day, you’ll get through in a year. If I follow that, I get the NT twice and the OT once in a year.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. I have been using the Scripture Union Devotional “Discovery” for my morning quiet time. It has prayer prompts, a Bible reading for the day and a devotion related to the reading. At the end of each page is a Bible reference notation for those wanting to read the Bible through in a year. I remember seeing a video on the Scripture Union website where Tony Dungey recommends Scripture Union so it is for men as well as women. It is based in Valley Forge, PA here in the states but originated in England.

    Like

    Reply

  22. Peter, good point, the m’cheyne plan is ambitious — which can be self-defeating for some of us!

    Meanwhile, there’s a new book out, “Extravagant Grace: God’s Glory Displayed in Our Weakness” (Duguid) that reminded me of a question asked here on the blog some time ago about whether there’s anything “good” or positive about sin.

    http://www.barbaraduguid.com/q28pu0l7fabxpacet7an8tb3p11tvx

    http://www.barbaraduguid.com/why-would-god-allow-us-to-keep-on-sinning

    The answer would seem to be (a) God accomplishes his purpose in the world even through acts of evil and (b) on a personal level, our ongoing battle with our own indwelling sin enables us to see and appreciate anew God’s riches and grace in our poverty and weakness.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. I am reading the chronological Bible by copying the table of contents and reading it in the NASB. In Hebrews now and then will finish with Revelation.
    So strange to be on the same day with you all.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  25. Intelligence comes in many forms. Haven’t you ever been around someone really “book smart” but didn’t have “walkin’ around sense”? My nephew on the other hand, barely made it out of high school but within 10 minutes of talking to someone can size them up and know just exactly what kind of person they are. If he says he doesn’t like someone, we’ve all learned to pay attention.
    Perhaps in this instance Tolstoy is not only talking about well educated, but interpersonal intelligence, a woman who can manage money, a woman who can effortlessly run a household?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  28. Musical Advent Calendar – Day 23: The Somerset carol is the second English county carol collected by Cecil Sharp and used in Vaughan Williams “Fantasia on Christmas Carols”.

    Come all you worthy gentlemen
    That may be standing by.
    Christ our blessed Saviour
    Was born on Christmas day.
    The blessed virgin Mary
    Unto the Lord did say,
    O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy!

    Christ our blessed Saviour
    Now in the manger lay;
    He’s lying in the manger,
    While the oxen fed on hay.
    The blessed Virgin Mary
    Unto the Lord did pray.
    O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy!

    God bless the ruler of this house,
    And long on may he reign;
    Many happy Christmases
    He live to see again!
    God bless our generation
    Who live both far and near;
    O we wish you the comfort and tidings of joy!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  29. Hello all! So Cheryl got 100 last night — same day as a photo of hers was featured in the header. Pretty neat!

    Can I just share another praise to God related to something I remarked on yesterday? I had another night of excellent sleep! Two nights in a row now, and last night was even more than the 7 3/4 hours of uninterrupted sleep of the night before.

    I went to bed earlier than usual last night — a little after 10:00, which is a good hour before my regular time — as I had a headache and just a hint of queasiness and slight dizzy spells.

    I woke up this morning at 6:25, headache and sick feeling gone! My stomach growled in hunger before I even got out of bed, so I went right to the kitchen and had a bowl of cereal.

    Then I sat on the couch, started thinking about my day, and got tired.

    So I crawled back in bed, fell asleep, and didn’t wake up again until after 9:00! Eleven hours since I’d gone to bed, with only that brief time I was awake to eat breakfast!

    I feel a lot better, and am hoping that if I was starting to get sick with something, that amount of rest helped to head it off.

    Nothing like a good night’s sleep, and when it happens two nights in a row…wow, such a blessing! God is good.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

  31. My daughter-in-law reports she is dealing with a major 3-year old tantrum this morning. One of the Adorable granddaughters has learned she has to share her initial, S, with other people in the world . . .

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  32. Nothing quite like a good, restorative night of sleep ….

    Well, I just was given the perfect story assignment for me — Why can’t we keep our new year’s resolutions?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  35. Michelle’s QoD: I would say that in Tolstoy’s quote, “Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the company of intelligent women.”, the “company of intelligent women” part would be better replaced with “the company of women of character.”

    We can learn from intelligent people, but intelligence isn’t a character issue. Speaking as a Christian, I would say It is more important to surround ourselves (all of us, not just young men) with people of character and integrity.

    Proverbs 13:20 comes to mind. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (‘Wise’ not being a reference to innate intelligence, of course.)

    Like

    Reply

  36. “Why can’t we keep our new year’s resolutions?”

    My guess is that our hearts are not really in it, since it’s so common to make new year’s resolutions, and we just jump on the bandwagon with everyone else who does so.

    Probably the most significant changes I’ve made and stuck to didn’t begin on a January 1. They began when I was fully committed to making a change that was needed right at the time I realized it.

    Like

    Reply

  37. Another good plan to read the Bible is to use The One Year Bible by Tyndale in your preferred version. I like the large print NLT and want to get back to reading it and riding my exercise bike. I gave up both when I was having leg/hip problems. I want to see if my leg can tolerate that this year.

    Like

    Reply

  38. The Daily Walk Bible from Walk Thru the Bible and Tyndale is great, too. It solidified everything for me and brought me to salvation. I know that men like that, too, since I heard a deacon say he reads it every year.

    Like

    Reply

  39. My pastor has his own plan that he obtained somewhere and makes available to members. I used it once, but prefer a Devotional approach although the One Year Bible is not devotional. It works well for bike riding because you are not having to flip around looking for sections as happens when using the pastor’ plan.

    Like

    Reply

  40. Maybe resolutions need to be more finely tuned so they seem more doable. It takes planning to make a plan to stick to for a year. Also, the influences around a person can make a tremendous difference. For instance, no one that my husband is around daily is a smoker. Several coworkers are former smokers. He has no one encouraging him to have a cigarette. So that can be a major factor in sticking to something. Having a good support system can not be underestimated.

    Like

    Reply

  43. Janice (3:41), you’re right, having a good support system is so important.

    Peter, Happy Birthday to your granddaughter #1. 🙂

    In other news, there now appears to be a tot running around in the secret room…

    😛

    Like

    Reply

  45. My take on why resolutions are so hard:

    1/ they are sometimes too sweeping, ambitious — or non-specific;

    2/ in my experience, I tend to battle the same human weaknesses year in and year out. My list of resolutions looks strikingly the same every year. So maybe these are what are called our besetting sings, areas that commonly snag us specifically (but maybe not things our neighbors or fellow Christians struggle with).

    We may never gain complete victory over them in this life. But I believe we can see improvements, especially if we break the overall goal down into smaller bite-sized changes, focusing on smaller, very concrete steps.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  48. Behind again, but tossing this in here before I catch up…

    As I’ve previously mentioned, due to Emily’s work & class schedule, R is supposed to have Forrest every Wednesday night through Thursday morning (until 1:00pm), & also Friday night through Saturday (until 5pm), but he rarely takes him anymore, & his mom (he’s living with his mom & step-dad now) won’t allow him to have Forrest overnight. When he does take Forrest, it is usually for much less time than he is supposed to have him. (That’s probably best for Forrest anyway.) The custody agreement also gives him three hours of time with Forrest in the afternoon of every holiday.

    So we were expecting Ryan would have Forrest for those three hours Christmas afternoon, & we’d enjoy having him with us for Christmas Eve & Christmas morning.

    But Ryan has decided to have Forrest Wednesday evening (Christmas Eve) through Thursday (Christmas) morning. The thing is, his family doesn’t even celebrate Christmas. They’ll probably have gifts for Forrest, but they don’t “do Christmas”. The only reason Ryan is taking him for those times is to spite us.

    Well, we are disappointed, but have decided to make the best of it. Leon & I were agreeing that a quiet Christmas Eve & Christmas morning with our girls will be quite nice in its own way. And we’ll get Forrest back on Christmas afternoon, so that’ll be nice, too.

    Unfortunately, Chrissy will be getting picked up by the McKs sometime before 4pm, to go with them up to the mom’s sister’s house in Massachusetts for their family Christmas get-together. (It bothers me a bit that it is so important for Chrissy to be a part of their family celebration, too. I feel like she prefers them to us.)

    Like

    Reply

  49. Very sorry, Karen, and disappointing but at least you won’t be awakened early . . .

    Here’s a podcast about goal setting I listened to yesterday that I thought was very helpful. At some point in here they discuss why New Year’s resolutions are so hard to keep:

    http://goinswriter.com/setting-goals-podcast/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GoinsWriter+%28Goins%2C+Writer%3A+On+Writing%2C+Ideas%2C+and+Making+a+Difference%29

    I’m thinking my husband and I need to start discussing what our “rest of our lives” goals should be.

    Interesting. Any of you had that conversation and have some tips for me? 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  51. Thanks, michelle, I’ll check out that link.

    Sorry Karen. 😦 At least you’ll get him in the afternoon. Maybe you can all just sleep in and do a Christmas Afternoon celebration.

    Like

    Reply

  56. Donna (4:09) — yes, that was me saying something along those lines (getting tired reading print copies, but being more alert due to screen time). I don’t have a tablet or Kindle or other handheld electronic device, but my desktop computer seems to be enough to cause that stimulant effect.

    Good article at your link. I read the original article (linked at that link), too. I’ve thought about trying to get a half-hour of screen-free time before bedtime, but don’t always get that, and, from reading those articles, it sounds like using screens even within one full hour of bedtime causes problems, too.

    Could be one of the reasons I often don’t sleep that well.

    Hmmm…I may have just stumbled on a new year’s resolution for myself… Or a goal. 😉

    Like

    Reply

  57. It shall be hereby noted that I am holding in my hands (or actually, was holding before I started typing) a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

    [Raucous applause] *hint hint*

    And now a question for all you Narnia experts. I looked up “The Chronicles of Narnia” on Wikipedia or somewhere yesterday to see the order of the books in the series. The above-mentioned title was listed as the first book in the series, so it is the one I requested from the library.

    I see now, on the last page of the book, all the titles of the series are mentioned, but are preceded by the note, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, in suggested reading order…

    with the first suggested book being The Magician’s Nephew, then followed by The Lion…

    So my question is, in which order did those of you who read the books read them?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  59. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first one to read. The Magician’s Nephew is sort of like a prequel, but is not needed at all to thoroughly understand and enjoy The Lion…

    Happy reading!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  64. I’ve been trying to post this since mid-afternoon . . . Karen, a word of advice from someone whose mother was at times jealous of my friends and also of my relationship with my sister: Nip those feelings in the bud. They can only hurt your relationship.

    If she were choosing to have Christmas with them instead of Christmas with you, then I can understand being hurt. But wanting to do both? It isn’t personal. (Or if it IS “personal,” think of it as an immaturity thing, and not an insult.) Choose to be happy that she has other people in her life who love her too. It’s probably hard if you don’t feel like their influence is the best, but she is an adult and it is her choice to make. And it’s natural for her to be spreading her wings a bit. Don’t make her feel that from your perspective she has to “choose between you.” (Maybe you can see it as practice for when she marries and will be juggling time between you and her in-laws!)

    6 Arrows, I tried to post here and then e-mailed you my answer. I agree to read LWW first, but I gave more detail in the question of what order after that.

    Like

    Reply

  65. Cheryl, thanks, I just saw the two emails you sent now. The order you listed, and the reasons you gave for it, make sense. The order listed in the back of the book we have checked out (a HarperCollins hardback) is the same as yours, other than that The Magician’s Nephew was moved to the top of the list. I’m going to start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe just as you and Kare recommended, and continue in the order you suggested for the rest of the series, Cheryl.

    Thank you for your responses, ladies. 😉

    Like

    Reply

  66. Yes, Nephew is the first chronologically, but I read them in published order, not knowing that. Also, The Horse and his Boy comes right after Lion chronologically. Actually, it would come in before the end of Lion, since it takes place while the children are in Narnia the first time. But I hope that is not a spoiler.

    Like

    Reply

  67. It seems the first set I bought had the Lion and the Witch and the Wardrobe first and that is where we generally start with newbies. But since everybody here has been through them at least a couple of times, starting at the revised beginning works too.

    Like

    Reply

  71. Cheryl – Thanks. I don’t let on to Chrissy how I feel, because I don’t want it to be a source of tension between us. And I do try to not take it personally, but it’s hard.

    It does bother me that she lives with them, & they have some dysfunctional habits that I’m afraid she is adopting. Plus, the two “girls” (A is 20, C – aka YF or Young Friend – is 27) she shares a room with, & is greatly influenced by, have very ungodly, unbiblical views.

    You may remember I’ve written that after years of reading up on it, & input from others, I strongly believe Chrissy has Asperger’s Syndrome. One of the traits, which I have seen in her, is to adopt some or many of the habits of those close to them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  72. YF has recently shared on Facebook another thing that has me shaking my head & wondering if she really is saved at all. She shared a poster with a quote, supposedly from Pope Francis (but it turns out he didn’t say it). The dubious quote…

    “It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way, the tradition notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money – for many, nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, while some of the worst deeds were done in His name.”

    My comment: “If he really did say this, then he is going against the Bible. Jesus instituted the church as His Body, & much, if not most, of the New Testament is about establishing the church, & about what should or shouldn’t happen in church.

    “The fact that churches are not perfect is not an excuse to totally reject the church. ”

    Then I shared a link from Snopes.com, which explained that Pope Francis had not said those words.

    YF: “That may be true, and even if the pope didn’t say it … I’m going to leave it up because it should be true. Maybe sometime later I’ll edit his name out but it seems in line with Jesus’s message to me.”

    Me: “Jesus Himself said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ And He was the One who instituted the church, as His Body.”

    It so saddens me that a young woman who claims to know & love Jesus, & writes about what a huge part of her life He is (although she doesn’t go to church), can be effectively making up her own version of Jesus. And it further saddens & bothers me that my younger daughter is under her influence.

    I pray for God to loosen the grip of influence that YF & A have on Chrissy, & for Him to deliver YF & A, too, from the lies they have embraced.

    Like

    Reply

  73. Karen, I can imagine it’s hard. Just cautioning you in one area. I suspect over time she may well see the difference in their home and yours, but it’s something she’ll need to see for herself. In the meantime, she still loves you, and that’s good.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  77. You can always hug a tree to warm it up, but cats don’t take to hugging much. Unless they want it. Then they scratch you until you do and scratch again when they’ve had enough.

    Like

    Reply

  81. Quiet walk through the neighborhood with the dogs tonight, the lights are so pretty on all the houses.

    The cat is curled up on the back of the sofa, the dogs are hanging out in the backyard.

    Like

    Reply

  84. OK, weird. The last comment that shows up on here is one from Mumsee at 10:38 a.m. I’m posting this to see what happens, since I know that was nowhere near the most recent comment.

    Like

    Reply

  86. Is Cheryl trying to secretly run this thread to 100? Kind of like Mumsee grabbed 300 in a different secret room?

    Some mighty sneaky people around this place.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment