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Classic Christianity:A Year of Timeless Devotions

#CountYourBlessingsChallenge - Day 7

11/26/2016

This is the final day of the #CountYourBlessingsChallege - but hopefuly just the beginning of retraining our minds to the "gratitude" setting.

Have you ever read William Bradford's journal? Every time I reread it, I am struck by the fact that the pilgrims "Thanksgiving" - our first National day of Thanks - was a day of big thanks for everyday blessings. They called their neighbors (the Native Americans who had helped them figure out corn planting, fishing, and other things) in for a big thanks to God. A big thanks for a frugal harvest amid manifold dangers and multiplied privations.

What a great reminder. Do I think to give thanks for the everyday presence of God, for the ordinary miracle of life, for the common blessings of love, and light, and joy?

In the after-glow of Thanksgiving weekend, much of the "thanks" has already been left behind in the rush of Black Friday, Christmas decorations, and frantic planning for the next big thing.

We want to leave you with this challenge from Thanksgiving, 2016: As life plunges ahead, don't let go of Thanksgiving. Purpose to express gratitude to God, whose love, goodness, and mercy are eternal fixtures in our lives. We are so thankful for who He is, not just what He does. Let that be our Thanks-giving each and every day.

Blessings,
Cara & Patti

Classic Christianity

#CountYourBlessingsChallenge - Day 6

11/24/2016

This Thanksgiving, and this thanks-giving challenge, find me thankful today for the opportunity and the honor of serving in Jesus' name.

   Over the past few days, we have talked about being grateful for the blessings we enjoy from God. But today, I am thinking about the
amazing opportunity we have to share from our abounding, overflowing, cup of blessing.

   Christians rightly meet to worship, to pray, to enjoy fellowship, and to dig deeply into God's Word to refresh our souls with the nourishment they crave. But if we come in, are blessed, are filled, are warmed...and never go OUT with that mesage of joy & hope - we become stagnant. It is the pond that gets constant circulation, with new water flowing in, and a stream of blessing flowing out as well, that is healthy.

A good steward of God’s grace does not waste His gifts. He or she uses them to meet the needs of the world. That steward does not spend them only upon himself; he serves those in want.

   It was by that principle that Jesus lived. He became the servant of all. And there you have the greatness of Jesus. He never lost His compassion. He cared what happened to the sheep that were lost and the sparrow that fell.

Dear friend, what are you doing with the gifts the Father has entrusted to you? Are you using the wisdom He gave you to lighten the burden of the world? Are you using your great capacity for friendship for selfish end or to increase the spirit of good will among men? Won’t you go to bended knee today and consecrate all you have to Him?

  Genuine thanksgiving will always show itself in wholehearted service.

Our Loving Heavenly Father, On this Thanksgiving, I remember that You have freely given to me. Today, I ask You to change my heart. May I always freely, generously and lovingly give to others as You care for me. Amen.


Blessings,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity

#CountYourBlessingsChallenge - Day 5

11/23/2016

As Thanksgiving arrives in 16 hours (as I write), we are almost done with our #CountYourBlessingsChallenge. But notice our seven-day challenge will extend beyond the actual day of Thanksgiving. Hopefully, our attitude of thanksgiving can extend beyond this one special day as well.

   Shouldn't every day be a day of conscious gratitude and purposeful Thanks-giving? Being in relationship with the Creator and King is enough. Yet, there is so much more.

   The theme for today's thanks-giving is "Home." I am so thankful for my homes - all of them. For country, for community, for my church home, for my family origin home, and for "my" home - all of them blessings from His hand.

     This country I call home -with all its flaws and all its potential- is an amazing institution with great flexibility and resilency and I feel both priviledged and undeserving of the great responsibility of having been born here. Born in a place of great resources, physical & spiritual, my mission in life must be not to acquire only, but to steward.

   For this town in which I live, the familiar streets and spirit of belonging it extends to all who come to dwell here.

   For my specific church home, one part of the Body of Christ, but such a warm, welcoming place to worship and to serve Christ here. I love being a part of a body that sees itself as a conduit, not a resevoir.

And, yes, I am also thankful for the dwelling place we call home. Most of my life has been spent in a series of little houses, 800 sq. ft, 600 sq ft., 732 sq ft...mostly with 5 or 6 people. You know, it truly isn't the size or the beauty of the house that makes a home. My kids' favorite memories are of a home we rented out on an old dairy farm. the house was 732 sq. feet, the back yard was 600 acres. We lived across from the tractor barn, and their after-school hours were often spent hanging on the fence talking with the workers, or riding their bikes through rows upon rows of brocolli, strawberries, or just newly turned dirt.

     After a long trip away, as we head home down the Conejo Grade, I can always spot "my" home (Well, I think. There are more lights these days. I used to be able to do it for SURE!) My heart swells, my eyes mist, and I think how very, very good it is to be home.

   And, finally - eternally - I am thankful for my permanent home. I have the word of no less than my Lord & Savior that he is making a place for me. I think about it now and again, mostly wondering, sometimes with suggestions (!), but always reveling in that same feeling I get when coming down the grade after a long time away. I know that - someday - it will be very, very good to be home. And I am so thankful!

Blessings,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity

#CountYourBlessingsChallenge: Day 4

11/22/2016

Here we are, on Day 4 of our challenge. We hope that purposing to stop and be thankful has helped you refocus this week. Life rockets along like a roller coaster most days, and gratitude is too often thrown overboard to make room for more pressing cargo in our lives.

Yet, at base, gratitude in and for our lives colors everything else in them. In fact, the theme for Day 4 is: Be thankful for the journey of your life. Does that sound odd? Are you thinking, "Not MY life - not this year (day, decade...)?"

But if we believe that we walk through life in the presence of God, if we believe He can make even the most difficult and ugly situations into something beautiful through His grace and His patience love, then it is only right to stop and thank Him for the journey.

As I look back, some years have been difficult, some have been filled to the brim with joy and giggles, laughter and love. A few years crept by with each day lasting a painful eternity. Thirty years ago, my life's path looked like a smooth ribbon ahead, with a lightening-bright career leading the way. If anyone had told the 24-year old me how the next thirty years would pass, I would not have believed it. I might have laughed. I would certainly not have wanted to sign up to walk that path. Yet, oh, how glad I am that I have passed this way.

As I grow older, I see life more as a patchwork quilt than a ribbon of highway. The way isn't straight, the pattern isn't always obvious, and I STILL don't know what it will look like when it is finished! I think most of us feel the same way. Life doesn't turn out as we had planned, but if we let God lead, we don't regret the dance. Letting go of a dream or dear desire - if that is required - is painful, even traumatic. Yet if we stubbornly cling to that which cannot come, our hands are full and cannot accept the blessing God extends to us.

Have you notice that life seems to come in blocks - of time, of purpose- and when one block ends, another begins? My time as a C.F.O. came to an end. Then, I spent years trying to figure out how to spend days with my babies, throwing papers, cleaning churches, doing whatever work I could do around their days, scrambling to keep my priorities in front of me. For over ten years, I cared for elderly relatives - first one, then another. The 24-year old me would have jumped off the potter's wheel; but the 44-year-old me knew that the pain and frustration I was experiencing were the palpable signs of God at work in me, burning away the flesh of sin and self.

Whenever one block in my life's quilt comes to an end, I'm always eager to see what material the Lord lays before me to work with next. I'm in a transition time now, and I wonder what will come of the bits and pieces I am sewing together with my time. What will God bring? What will He winnow; what will He transplant into a bigger part of my life and heart?

As we finish one part of our life's journey, often we can look back in thankfulness, seeing that there is purpose and plan in the way we have come, and trusting that the way ahead will be the same. We can be thankful that each new "block" in our quilt brings unexpected blessing, unexpected - sometimes painful but always precious - growth, and unexpected challenges.

So, for today, let's be thankful that we can always exult in the joy and privilege of knowing that God is in control, that He is the impetus of our journey, and the purpose of its pattern. He leads on, and we should delight to follow.

We are thankful, Lord, that You walk with us in the way. May we walk faithfully, bringing glory to You. Amen.

Blessings,

Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity

#CountYourBlessingsChallenge: Day 3

11/20/2016

Today is Day 3 of the #CountYourBlessigsChallenge! It is a good reminder, in this Thanksgiving season, to turn our eyes from the temporal to the eternal.

   When we purpose to guard our hearts and minds in truth, we live in hope. When we pull our eyes off of the temporal or material and instead focus them on the eternal, we live in joy.

The theme for today finds us surrounded by our brothers and sisters in Christ, thankful for the fellowship of believers that make up the Bride of Christ.

Have you ever been on vacation, and decided to stop and find a church on Sunday? The feeling of being greeted and welcomed, of singing familiar - and unfamiliar! - songs of praise in another place... it is hard to explain how we can simply step into a church we have never been to before, and somehow feel at home. This is family.

   Oh, our churches aren't perfect. Actually, as soon as one human being gets involved, we can pretty much guarantee that. Admittedly, God chose imperfect instruments for His work in the church. But we are bound to Him. We are a part of a body, but we don't follow each other. We look to the Head of the body; we follow only Him, only our Lord Jesus Christ.

"...Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her." Eph 5:25. Yes, and we should revel in the sense of purpose, of support, and of one-ness we can find only within the bonds of fellowship with those who share the name Christian.

   We are so thankful for the local bodies of Christ that we call our church homes! We are so thankful for the larger body of Christ which includes those of all nations, languages, culture, and race. We look forward to the day when we all worship our Lord face-to-face, together! Meanwhile, we are His body, His hands, His feet, and His voice in this world. Let's be about the business of the One who called us!

Blessings,

Patti & Cara
Classic Christianity

#CountYourBlessingsChallenge:Day 2

11/19/2016

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and it is the perfect time to shake off the doldrums, guard our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ, and fix our eyes on Him.

By turning from fear and worry purposefully, and setting our collective sights on the amazing array of blessings we enjoy, we can enjoy a true season of gratitude and thanks-giving.

  Today's Thanksgiving theme finds us at the foot of the cross. Isn't that where any spiritual journey must begin? Yet, it is too easy to forget where we all started. Why is the cross such a beloved symbol for the Church?

     It began as an instrument of torture, a symbol of shame, a punishment for criminals. Yet, now, we hang tiny gold crosses as jewelry around our necks; sculpt, paint, display, and light them up in our churches; and sing songs about them in worship. Why? Because the transformative power of Jesus Christ has transformed this symbol of death into a symbol of life everlasting, so that the sacrifice made there can transform us all into a new creation in the family of God.

The cross is an anchor for our faith. If you are anchored to the cross, you are anchored to God's saving grace.

   The cross is a bridge, spanning the gap between our sin and God's holiness.

   The cross is a constant presence, allowing the power of Christ to stream in and through us, and out to the world around us as we minister in His name.

   The cross is a promise, reminding us that our future is assured, our eternity is set, our purpose is firm. Its promise stands open to all who would come.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Dear Jesus, How can we possibly thank You for the sacrifice you made on our behalf? For our sin, for our eterity, in our stead, You went. We are so grateful and so humbled. For the sake of Your Glory, in Christ's name, amen.

For His Sake,
Cara & Patti

Classic Christianity

Count Your Blessings: Day One

11/18/2016

With Thanksgiving approaching, it seems we need to collectively shake our heads and refocus our vision.

It is tempting to focus our hearts, our desires - our dearest hopes for love and success, comfort and pleasure, joy and acceptance - on the here and now, the material. We get sidetracked from the eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ.

If you are feeling pulled, tugged by the world's woes, perhaps you will join us. We propose a seven-day fast, and a seven-day feast: a seven-day fast from worry, and a seven-day feast of thankfulness.

For the next seven days, will you join us in purposefully replacing worry with gratitude? Will you band with us to set aside our earthly concerns for a concert of joy & thanks?

Each day for seven days, we will suggest a theme of Thanksgiving. Today's Thanksgiving revolves around God's Word. In it we find hope, we find purpose, we find the history of our faith, and the path for our future.

Scripture is alive. It pierces our souls with truth. It comforts our hearts with remembrance of the care and compassion of our Father-God. It encourages us, and lifts our heads to focus on the eternal truth of Jesus Christ and the power of forgiveness in our lives.

We are so thankful for the power of truth, found in God's Word!

Dear Lord, thank You for the treasure of Your Word. In its pages we find a revelation of Your heart, how You think and feel about mankind, about sin, about righteousness, about life. We see Your provision for us in so many ways. It is our source for truth. Thank You, Lord, for meeting us in Your Word. You are faithful! For the sake of Your Glory, in Christ's name, amen.

For His Sake,
Cara & Patti

Classic Christianity

Election Challenge

11/7/2016

What a contentious election season! Even the political junkies among us are thrilled to see the finish line approach. Few think that there is a great choice; many feel despair.

While many will line up to vote tomorrow, and many already have, those of us who are called by the name of Christ have an even bigger job to do November 8th. We are called to pray.

Whatever your political stripe, whoever is getting your vote tomorrow, whether you are one, or the other, or a 3rd altogether, will you join us in prayer and fasting for our country? The fingers of America's policies and influence reach to the ends of the earth, so wherever you live, undoubtedly this election will in some way affect you as well.

The truth: more important than any single individual being elected, our nation needs to turn to God. More than a growing economy, we need Jesus. More than a recovering manufacturing sector, we need Jesus. More even than peace in the Middle East, we need Jesus.

Remember that old saying, "Know Jesus, know peace; No Jesus, no peace"? Our peace, our joy, our position in Christ is not affected by the outcome of this election if we have our hope rooted in Him and our eyes firmly fixed on Him.

We have had many express their worst fears to us in the past week. They are afraid there may be turmoil, or that the financial markets may react out of fear. People are afraid that we are losing our way, that our country is turning away from God at a frantic pace. People are afraid that the USA is just not going to be the same.

Well, there may be turmoil. But we know peace.

There may be upheaval in the financial markets. But our joy is not found on Wall Street.

Dear ones, it may well be that we see a turning away from all that is taught and held as right in Scripture.

God still reigns. This election, and its results, have not caught Him by surprise.

Don’t get us wrong, we have voted -that is a privilege and responsibility we both take very seriously. But none of the candidates is the savior of the USA, the world, or even one individual soul. People need Jesus. None of the candidates can save our land, our democracy, or make our lives "right." Only God holds that sort of sway over the future!

We are going to fast and pray November 8th:

For repentance
For revival
For the leadership of this land
For mercy for our country
For God's protection.

Will you join us as we go before the throne of grace? If so, please carve out special times of prayer in your day to pray particularly for our country. Pray for our leaders - federal, state, and local. Pray for God to move to change hearts in our nation to bring peace, love, and compassion to the forefront of national interactions. Pray for healing and understanding in our national conversation. Pray that truth will hold sway over lies.

II Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

I Timothy 2:1-2, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

As we go before the Lord, let's not forget to praise Him. He has blessed us beyond measure. He is faithful.

For His Glory,

Patti & Cara
Classic Christianity