Status Report: December

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Eating…a pear for my bedtime snack. 

Waiting…to turn in for the night. The phone woke me this morning at 5:20AM. It was a long distance number I didn’t recognize. My youngest son left yesterday, traveling the Alaska highway with friends, and they planned to drive through the night last night, so I answered, afraid of bad news, only to hear the click of someone hanging up. I got up and searched online for info on the phone number. Turns out it was the famous fake Microsoft phone scam. Yes, I was actually relieved to learn I’d been awakened at 5:20AM by a scammer. 

I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn’t, so I’ve been fighting sleep all evening. My goal is to stay awake until 10pm. Only 30 minutes to go. Yawn.

Feeling…happy to finally receive a text from my son telling me he’d arrived in Prince George. (Cell phone coverage is mostly non-existent on the Alaska highway, so it can be 900 miles or more of no-contact when a loved one travels it.)

Anticipating…the arrival of my fourth grandchild on Friday.

Not liking…cold weather, and it’s not been really cold yet. And it’s only the first of December. When did I become such a weather wimp?

Wishing…we had more snow. Because if it’s going to be cold, there might as well be enough snow to tromp through.

Not planning...to put up the Christmas tree until the 14th or 15th of December. I like love the decorated tree … for about a week. If I put it up in early December, I’d be taking it down before the big day.

Thanking…God for new opportunities for my youngest son.

Taking…the dog out for his before bed potty trip. Putting on a big, long parka that makes me look like Mole from The Wind in the Willows.  

Wishing…you a December full of worship and fellowship.

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 65. Since it is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his benefits, where does this faith come from?

Answer: From the Holy Spirit, (a) who produces faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and strengthens it by the use of the sacraments. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

Click to read more ...

Sunday's Hymn: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Saviour of the world is here.

 
Life and salvation he doth bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise thee, Father, now,
Creator, wise art thou!

A Helper just he comes to thee,
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.

The end of all our woe he brings;
Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise thee, Saviour, now,
Mighty in deed art thou!

O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!

The cloudless sun of joy he is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss.
We praise thee, Spirit, now,
Our Comforter art thou!

— Georg Weissel, translated by Catherine Winkworth

Sufjan Stevens

(Just listen to this one. No need to watch unless you’re hankering for a headache.)

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• Love Divine, All Loves Excelling at Graces Daily
• O Son of God, We Wait for Thee at The Happy Wonderer
• First Sunday in Advent at The Upward Call
• Come Son and Savior, to Embrace from Trevin Wax
• Let us stick to truth and righteousness at Tried With Fire
• When Heaven Kissed Earth at Theology for Girls
• Lord’s Day 48, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• The only man who truly comes to Christ at Blogging Theologically
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: “A fountain sealed” at Pyromaniacs

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.