Cleaning Day

Another beautiful November day--in the 70s; who would believe it??!!

With the weather so beautiful, I was hit with the urge to clean. While my mother always says that when that happens one should sit down and wait for it to pass, I thought I would take advantage of the day. I washed a few windows, washed the curtains in the kitchen, ironed them and hung them back up, washed the throw rugs, did a load of regular laundry and hung it all out, cut the grass around the house and enjoyed some reading in the sun.

I did my usual devos outside today (Tabletalk). I read a bit of "Respectable Sins" and got out a book I purchased not long ago, "The Mortification of Sin", by John Owen. As you can see, I follow Dan's blog and he is doing a study on this book. Today, I saw that he mentions it as one of his "Three Books", and seeing that it was a great day, I pulled it out and read the first chapter. It really goes along with my "Respectable Sins" class and I need all the 'mortification' I can get. I need to go back over his study notes, too. Thanks, again, Dan!

Tonight is our small group. We have not met in months and I am anxious to spend time and get caught up. We see each other on Sundays, but never long enough to really talk. I'm afraid I've worn myself out, though and there is a great deal of night left today...I hope that made sense :-).

Tomorrow I get my hair cut--not soon enough. I look overgown. There will be a visit to the chiropractor to repair the damage done from moving and all the other stuff I do and a visit to my brother's family in McCandless Twp., for an evening visit.

With the election still fresh in my mind, I am reminded of a study in Daniel our small group did with a sermon series by Tim Keller. The study begins with the letter to the exiles in Jeremiah 29:4 with instructions from God on how to live in Babylon. Keller goes on to explain how we live in a similar situation. We are in a similar situation where we are no longer in cultural power. God called them to become deeply engaged in the life of the "city", but still protect their spiritual heritage. Their dispersion among the pagan people was for the well being of the city and culture. Love the city of man for the sake of the city of God. Christians will need to be salt and light in a culture that may make it difficult for us. How will we live faithfully before God in an unbelieving culture that is hostile to God?

I highly recommend Tim Keller's series. You can check out his website and purchase tapes and CDs at : http://www.redeemer.com/.

"I am guilty, but pardoned,
lost, but saved,
wandering, but found,
sinning, but cleansed.
give me perpetual broken-heartedness,...
Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,
sparkling like crystal,
flowing clear and unsullied
through my wilderness of life." Valley of Vision excerpts from The Broken Heart