I find it ironic that today, a Sunday, is "Peculiar People Day." After all, what better place to find some pretty peculiar people than in church on a Sunday morning. We Christians certainly are a peculiar bunch -- especially in the eyes of the world! But then again it makes sense when you consider that we serve a pretty peculiar God.
Now it may sound blasphemous to call God peculiar, but think about it for a second. The Almighty God chose to leave Heaven, and all the comforts afforded Him as God of the universe, to come down to the earth and take on human form. To live among us, as one of us. I don't know about you, but in my own humanness I can't fathom doing such a peculiar thing! But He did it, and He did it for the most peculiar of all reasons -- because He loved us. He loved despite our inability to understand Him or truly love Him in return the way He deserves. Sounds pretty peculiar to me, especially when I know I don't deserve His love.
So here's to a peculiar God, and the peculiar way He chose to express His love for humanity. I may be peculiar for accepting that love, but I will never, ever, regret it.
What did you do to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: "Step in a Puddle and Spalsh Your Friends" Day
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
"Playing God"
I was extremely skeptical about today's "holiday" -- "Playing God" day. After all, as my fav Christian artist puts it, "God is God and I am not." But the Holiday Insights people put a different spin on how to celebrate this day that I found helpful. So instead of trying to be God (or "play" God), I chose to instead consider how I see God working through the people around me.
So today I celebrate my husband. Through God's work in him, I see God's love for me... in the unconditional way he loves and accepts me just as I am; in the faithful love and gentle care he has for our child; in his patience; in his servant-heart as he let me sleep today, making breakfast for the babe and even in bringing home pizza so I could rest today. He may not be playing God, but he's allowing God work through him to remind me of how he and HE cares for me.
Thank you Lord for my husband - my lover, my friend.
What did you do to celebrate life today?
Tomorrow: Peculiar People Day
So today I celebrate my husband. Through God's work in him, I see God's love for me... in the unconditional way he loves and accepts me just as I am; in the faithful love and gentle care he has for our child; in his patience; in his servant-heart as he let me sleep today, making breakfast for the babe and even in bringing home pizza so I could rest today. He may not be playing God, but he's allowing God work through him to remind me of how he and HE cares for me.
Thank you Lord for my husband - my lover, my friend.
What did you do to celebrate life today?
Tomorrow: Peculiar People Day
Friday, January 08, 2010
Tiny Bubbles
Is it a coincidence that bubble bath day follows bean day? LOL!
In honour of sudsy baths, a soak in the bath will be just what the doctor ordered for me now that hubby and baby have lovingly shared their germs. As for how the rest of the family will celebrate... check out the current fav video link in our house from our friends at Seasme Street.
How did you celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Play God Day
In honour of sudsy baths, a soak in the bath will be just what the doctor ordered for me now that hubby and baby have lovingly shared their germs. As for how the rest of the family will celebrate... check out the current fav video link in our house from our friends at Seasme Street.
How did you celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Play God Day
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Let's Rock!
So our day of celebrating "Old Rocks" was supposed to include a family outing to the Othello Tunnels in Hope. But alas poor hubby has contracted the nasty cold that our toddler has been battling, so instead he has spent the day in bed while the babe and I have played quietly. We've put our adventure in the tunnels on hold, and instead I cued up a video on Seasme Street's website about rocks.
The celebration of old rocks today did get me thinking about the sure foundation I stand on Christ though. It's good to know that, in the storms of life, my faith is built on the Solid Rock of Jesus. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." "He's my Rock and my Redeemer; He's the reason that I sing. I desire to be a blessing in His eyes."
What did you do to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Bubble Bath Day!
The celebration of old rocks today did get me thinking about the sure foundation I stand on Christ though. It's good to know that, in the storms of life, my faith is built on the Solid Rock of Jesus. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." "He's my Rock and my Redeemer; He's the reason that I sing. I desire to be a blessing in His eyes."
What did you do to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Bubble Bath Day!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Full of Beans
We are full of beans today - literally and figuratively - as we celebrate Bean Day!
We started out our day with the Christian's drug of choice, coffee, which of course is extracted from a bean. We then did some grocery shopping where we purchased several cans of beans - black beans, chick peas (which are also known as garbanzo beans), pork n' beans, etc. And followed up at lunch with some leftover green beans.
As we wind down our day we will also read of the classic children's story, "Jack and the Beanstalk," after a meal of pork n' beans on rice. Top all that off with some jelly belly beans for dessert, and some silliness since we are all "full of beans," and it's safe to say we will have had our fill of beans today!
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Old Rock Day!
We started out our day with the Christian's drug of choice, coffee, which of course is extracted from a bean. We then did some grocery shopping where we purchased several cans of beans - black beans, chick peas (which are also known as garbanzo beans), pork n' beans, etc. And followed up at lunch with some leftover green beans.
As we wind down our day we will also read of the classic children's story, "Jack and the Beanstalk," after a meal of pork n' beans on rice. Top all that off with some jelly belly beans for dessert, and some silliness since we are all "full of beans," and it's safe to say we will have had our fill of beans today!
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Old Rock Day!
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Have a Bird
We had big plans for how we'd celebrate National Bird Day today. Creative plans! But alas, whatever my daughter has been fighting she has lovingly passed on to me. So instead of a trip to a local conservatory to bird watch, followed by a video rental of Hitchcock's "The Birds", I have napped the day away while I listen to the joyful sounds of my husband playing with his little girl.
All has not been lost in our day of "bird celebration" however. We started the morning with "bird's nests" for breakfast (some people call them "toad in a hole"), and followed that up with videos of Big Bird on Sesame Street's website. A few birds have been had too in some momentary toddler-style meltdowns, but alas... not real birds.
Giving thought to our feathered friends today, not to mention my own chance to spend some unexpected time just resting, has led me to remember a familiar passage in The Word. It's a timely reminder given the uncertainty of the months before us as we wait on the Lord to lead us to a new ministry opportunity. Man these words encourage you today as you celebrate birds with your family:
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Bean Day! "Beans, beans the magical fruit..."
All has not been lost in our day of "bird celebration" however. We started the morning with "bird's nests" for breakfast (some people call them "toad in a hole"), and followed that up with videos of Big Bird on Sesame Street's website. A few birds have been had too in some momentary toddler-style meltdowns, but alas... not real birds.
Giving thought to our feathered friends today, not to mention my own chance to spend some unexpected time just resting, has led me to remember a familiar passage in The Word. It's a timely reminder given the uncertainty of the months before us as we wait on the Lord to lead us to a new ministry opportunity. Man these words encourage you today as you celebrate birds with your family:
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Tomorrow: Bean Day! "Beans, beans the magical fruit..."
Monday, January 04, 2010
Trivia Day!
What's the deepest land gorge?
What film features Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau trying to pull off an insurance fraud?
Where were the cancelled 1940 Summer Olympics to have been held?
How many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh?
How many times a day does the typical person go to the bathroom?
What day is today?
It's Trivia Day!
In honour of a day my husband loves (I call him my fountain of useless (oops, I mean useful) knowledge), it's Trivia Day! Time to annoy (err... impress?) those around you with how much you know about random things. Or, in my case, time to show your family just how little you know! ;-) In honour of Trivia Day today, we are dusting off our old Trivial Pursuit game and having some fun.
But as I was thinking about how to celebrate this day, it occurred to me that there was another way to look at this. While focusing on trivia can be fun and even entertaining, focusin on the trivial can lead to heartache. Trust me, I'm a pro.
So in the spirit of finding purpose in each day of celebration, I'm spending today focusing less on the trivial. Here's to a day when I enjoy each moment, savour the time with my family, and count my blessings in the midst of the storm.
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Tomorrow -- National Bird Day! ;-)
What film features Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau trying to pull off an insurance fraud?
Where were the cancelled 1940 Summer Olympics to have been held?
How many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh?
How many times a day does the typical person go to the bathroom?
What day is today?
It's Trivia Day!
In honour of a day my husband loves (I call him my fountain of useless (oops, I mean useful) knowledge), it's Trivia Day! Time to annoy (err... impress?) those around you with how much you know about random things. Or, in my case, time to show your family just how little you know! ;-) In honour of Trivia Day today, we are dusting off our old Trivial Pursuit game and having some fun.
But as I was thinking about how to celebrate this day, it occurred to me that there was another way to look at this. While focusing on trivia can be fun and even entertaining, focusin on the trivial can lead to heartache. Trust me, I'm a pro.
So in the spirit of finding purpose in each day of celebration, I'm spending today focusing less on the trivial. Here's to a day when I enjoy each moment, savour the time with my family, and count my blessings in the midst of the storm.
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Tomorrow -- National Bird Day! ;-)
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Festivious Sleeping
Ahhhhh, sleep. It's a good thing.
In honour of the "Festival of Sleep Day," not to mention just a plain good idea for our family as we struggle through caring for a very sick toddler, we are all about the sleep today. The timing of this day of celebration couldn't come at a better moment for us either. Today marks our first Sunday with absolutely no obligations, no place we need to be, no responsibilities of any kind, and the ability to choose to do anything we want in quite a while. After 3+ years of early, frantic, "rush out the door and grab breakfast on the way" Sunday mornings, it felt good to cuddle up in our PJs and enjoy several extra hours of sleep.
Yes, we skipped church today -- shocking to some I know. But it felt good, and it was good to remember that Jesus took time to rest too.
So how did you celebrate today's festival of sleep?
In honour of the "Festival of Sleep Day," not to mention just a plain good idea for our family as we struggle through caring for a very sick toddler, we are all about the sleep today. The timing of this day of celebration couldn't come at a better moment for us either. Today marks our first Sunday with absolutely no obligations, no place we need to be, no responsibilities of any kind, and the ability to choose to do anything we want in quite a while. After 3+ years of early, frantic, "rush out the door and grab breakfast on the way" Sunday mornings, it felt good to cuddle up in our PJs and enjoy several extra hours of sleep.
Yes, we skipped church today -- shocking to some I know. But it felt good, and it was good to remember that Jesus took time to rest too.
So how did you celebrate today's festival of sleep?
Saturday, January 02, 2010
"Run Up the Flagpole and See If Anyone Salutes" Day
I'll be honest, when I read the name of this "holiday" I was baffled. How and why on earth would you do such a thing as a way to celebrate a day? And who in their right mind thought that would be a good "holiday"?!?!
However it turns out that this day is more easily celebrated than you might think. According to Holiday Insights, "run up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes" is an expression used by those in the advertising and print media world. It means to "float an idea to see what people think or if they even notice." Their advice is to be creative. "Use this day to try and test new ideas and concepts. Don't limit the ideas to business applications. In your personal life, try out a new dress or clothing style, perhaps a different haircut. Or, maybe buy a new houseflag and run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes...or even notices."
So, since this blog concept is still so new, and frankly because I'm too exhausted from being up all night with a sick toddler, I'm using my overall concept of this "365 Celebrations" blog as my "new idea" that I'm "floating out there" to see if anyone notices! If you are reading this, I'd love your feedback on the overall concept of this blog, the idea of finding things to celebrate everyday, and the intent to put meaning and purpose into even the most mundane of days. Here I am, "running up my flagpole." Has anyone noticed?
What will you do to celebrate today?
However it turns out that this day is more easily celebrated than you might think. According to Holiday Insights, "run up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes" is an expression used by those in the advertising and print media world. It means to "float an idea to see what people think or if they even notice." Their advice is to be creative. "Use this day to try and test new ideas and concepts. Don't limit the ideas to business applications. In your personal life, try out a new dress or clothing style, perhaps a different haircut. Or, maybe buy a new houseflag and run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes...or even notices."
So, since this blog concept is still so new, and frankly because I'm too exhausted from being up all night with a sick toddler, I'm using my overall concept of this "365 Celebrations" blog as my "new idea" that I'm "floating out there" to see if anyone notices! If you are reading this, I'd love your feedback on the overall concept of this blog, the idea of finding things to celebrate everyday, and the intent to put meaning and purpose into even the most mundane of days. Here I am, "running up my flagpole." Has anyone noticed?
What will you do to celebrate today?
Friday, January 01, 2010
January 1st - New Year's Day
It's day one in my "365 Celebrations" blog and I'm already struggling in knowing how to proceed. Should be an interesting challenge when I am finding day one hard! LOL!
The new year brings a new set of uncertainties for our family, as my husband's ministry at our church ended with 2009. Facing 2010 with no idea what will be next on the "job" horizon for us leaves us feeling anxious. It makes starting this daily celebration blog hard, but also emphasizes for me the need we have right now to focus on something - anything - right now.
So in the spirit of the new year, the new (hopefully) adventure awaiting us, and the prospects of new things to celebrate each day, I'm focusing this first day of celebrations on all things new. New clothes to wear thanks to wonderful Christmas gifts. New toys for us all to play with (new Wii games for mom and dad, and new toys for the toddler). New recipes to try for our New Year's Day meal (peach glaze for the ham, etc.). New plans for our day to day routine now that daddy is home 24/7 for the forseeable future. A new calendar of celebrations to plan out. And a new day and year in which to praise HIM and go deeper in our walks with Him.
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Happy New Year everyone!
The new year brings a new set of uncertainties for our family, as my husband's ministry at our church ended with 2009. Facing 2010 with no idea what will be next on the "job" horizon for us leaves us feeling anxious. It makes starting this daily celebration blog hard, but also emphasizes for me the need we have right now to focus on something - anything - right now.
So in the spirit of the new year, the new (hopefully) adventure awaiting us, and the prospects of new things to celebrate each day, I'm focusing this first day of celebrations on all things new. New clothes to wear thanks to wonderful Christmas gifts. New toys for us all to play with (new Wii games for mom and dad, and new toys for the toddler). New recipes to try for our New Year's Day meal (peach glaze for the ham, etc.). New plans for our day to day routine now that daddy is home 24/7 for the forseeable future. A new calendar of celebrations to plan out. And a new day and year in which to praise HIM and go deeper in our walks with Him.
What are you doing to celebrate today?
Happy New Year everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)