GOODBYE NOVEMBER
It is already time to say goodbye to the month of November; which I’ll admit, is something that tares at my heartstrings. I LOVE the season of fall and find it so beautiful and uplifting. I never seem to want to let it go.
I know December is going to be just as wonderful in its own unique way; but I’m feeling the beginning of winter starting to replace all the loveliness of fall and it makes me a bit nostalgic. The older I get the more trouble I have moving from one season to another; though I always appreciate the beauty of each new season when I finally do arrive.
As this all takes place in a world where I realize moment by moment that nothing is mine to control; I just keep reminding myself that each season contains it’s own special set of joy. The things I constantly desire and plan for myself fade into the background against the things that God has in store for all of us.
I never cease to be amazed!
This November was so special!
We came into it after a very blessed Feast of Tabernacles from October and everything started off and ended up on a high note at our house.
I’ve heard many people state that the leaves were not as pretty in their part of the country this year; but I think the leaves in Alabama were more beautiful in the area where I live than ever before.
Now the maples are the only trees left with leaves. Their colors are so bright and they are still filling our hillsides with vivid reds and yellows and oranges. Their neighboring trees who have mostly stark empty branches now seem to be looking on with envy as these fabulous maple trees steal the show with the best and last acts of fall.
November started out with the celebration of Veteran’s Day. I had several thoughts which I put down in the SEASONS section of the blog. You may read them here if you missed them: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/veteran-day/.
By the way; the grandson in the photo above who discovered a sword in a stone with us while we were at the Feast of Tabernacles back in October got to hear the story of King Author and how he drew the sword out of the stone for the first time at our house this Thanksgiving. He loved the story! We got into some really fun discussions afterward.
Thanksgiving could not have been more amazing this year! I’m so happy that we settled on having a theme of Thanksgiving by the Sea at our house. It was a refreshing change of pace with just enough traditional food to make everyone happy. This is the article where I first came up with the idea for Thanksgiving By The Sea and shared it in THE HOUSE DOCTOR section of the blog: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/thanksgiving-by-the-sea/ I think it turned out so pretty!
Don’t worry; the emphasis REALLY was on being Thankful and not the food and the decor; but they were the icing on the cake that God blessed us with and we still had a lot of fun in the sharing. One more thing to give thanks for!
The recipes I used for our sea-side feast received great reviews from my family of expert taste testers. You may find them here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/thanksgiving-by-the-sea-recipes/
All of this was a change from our usual traditionally-decorated Thanksgiving home, where we usually share all of the old favorite Thanksgiving classic recipes. Just for the sake of contrast; I shared some of these traditional memories too.
You can find THE HOUSE DOCTOR article showing a Classic Fall Home here: CREATING A FALL HOME SERIES- THE WARM AND COZY SEASONAL LOOK – THE HOUSE DOCTOR.
My favorite “go-to” Thanksgiving traditional recipes were also published in the MONDAY NIGHT MENUS section of the blog. You may check them out there: CREATING A FALL HOME SERIES – MY EASY THANKSGIVING MEAL MENU AND RECIPES.
The COME AS A CHILD Thursday Bible study articles seemed to fit right in with the theme of Thanksgiving; especially the first article I posted in November. If you missed any of these articles for the month; you can catch them here: BREAKING DOWN ALTARS – LESSON 188 – COME AS A CHILD; SALT, LIGHT AND OBEDIENCE – COME AS A CHILD – LESSON 187; GIVING THANKS FOR A COVENANT KEEPING GOD – COME AS A CHILD – LESSON 186; IF YOU LOVE ME; KEEP MY COVENANT – COME AS A CHILD; LESSON 185.
We ended the month of November on a healthy note with a new article from the AN APPLE A DAY section of the blog that spoke of the importance of music in our daily lives. You can read that article here: GOOD MUSIC CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE – AN APPLE A DAY – DAY SIX OF 365 WAYS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.
Another thing that happened in November was the addition of some exciting new products sponsored by The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog.
I covered the first share of our The IN SEASON Lifestyle FAMILY TREE in this article; ANNOUNCING THE FIRST PRODUCT FOR THE IN SEASON LIFESTYLE COLLECTION. If you wish to order your own tree; simply click on the link that will take you directly to the Amazon.com page to order.
Please don’t forget to be aware of The IN SEASON Lifestyle’s policies for always keeping your personal information safe and secure, and remember that we will never be sharing your e-mail or any other personal information with anyone. See the policies that pertain to this here: DISCLOSURE AND PRIVACY POLICY.
Keep reading in December for more exciting ideas for using The IN SEASON Lifestyle’s FAMILY TREE.
We also shared our pick for the book of the month in an article here in the PEN ART section of the blog: ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS FOR FALL – PEN ART. I hope you decide to order this wonderful book about the biblical character of Ruth. The reading does not disappoint! Just use the link provided inside this article and order straight from the blog site. What could be easier? I’m always excited to be getting a great new book in the mail; especially in the winter when reading is my favorite hobby.
THOUGHTS ON TRANSFORMATIONS AS WE BEGIN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
This month I request your prayers and all the grace and mercy you can find. I’m really pondering how to make this December transition in the blog.
I fear losing some of my most faithful Hebraic-thinking readers; because I take a slight detour and a partial turn from the usual route followed by such groups in order to pursue my constant search of the whole truth of God.
Most people who are Hebrew at heart tend to keep the 7th day Sabbath (as I do) and they usually keep God’s Holy Days (as I do.) So far we all have become very kindred spirits during the Fall Holy Day season and in the times we have shared about our joy in Sabbath keeping.
Then every December brings forth those traditional, man-made dates called Advent, Hanukkah, and Christmas. Almost everyone I know has some different type of opinion on how or why we should or should not keep these days in our homes and our hearts.
Most Hebraic-minded people DO NOT keep Christmas or Advent. Some keep Hanukkah.
After years and years of study and prayer; I have some very different thoughts on these particular subjects which I wish to share with you. I hope you will keep reading with an open mind long enough to hear me out. Some of you will leave at first glance and never give me a fighting chance. That is your option. I STILL cherish your readership.
Most Hebraic-minded people (which I truly appreciate and usually agree with) also have some very strong opinions about how evil it is to have a Christmas tree, or use certain traditional elements of Christmas décor inside your home.
There again; I think I may have some very different approaches than the ones you are used to hearing. My logic is not canned or copied from other sources. I came by it the hard way – I spent years of my life discerning what God wanted me to do. You won’t find any of my ideas being published by the popular media or churches because no one organization has enlightened my thoughts; I gained them all by reading the scriptures and studying while praying for God to point out the truth of each subject.
I do know that many will not be open-minded enough to consider many of my thoughts on this month’s seasonal festivities. That is okay; and I totally understand because I was in the same place for several years. Everyone should do whatever God is leading them to do. Period. End of sentence. I’ll never argue with what you feel God is telling your heart. I’ll only encourage you to follow.
For me however; because I have prayed my way through both sides of every issue; I hope you will at least listen and realize the difference of what I present here. Ask God for guidance as you read and keep in mind that He is always still working on me; I am no expert at all. I am simply a humble servant of God wanting to share the good news of the truth of The Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who God leads to listen.
Like you; I must follow what God has put on my heart to do. It may be different than what He has put on your heart. Until God convinces one of us to change our minds; we must still show love and concern for one another. I cherish your prayers and you definitely have mine. Pray that God will make our understanding true and clear.
My prayer at the moment is for God to guide the writing that I do on these very sensitive and timely subjects that always come up in December.
HELLO DECEMBER
There is so much new about December; though it comes at the end of our secular calendar year!
Event after event is taking place in the world during this month; and I wish to honestly discuss them all.
Here are a few of the topics that you can anticipate in the SEASONS column for December:
Advent; what is it and why would we keep it?
Advent Meditations
Hanukkah; what is it? Why do the Jewish people celebrate it?
Did Jesus keep Hanukkah; and why would Christians keep it?
Should Christians celebrate Hanukkah too?
What is the whole truth about Christmas?
Should Christians keep Christmas?
Are Christmas trees pagan? Should they be forbidden in a Christian home?
Should Christians be teaching their children about Santa Clause?
On top of all these VERY weighty and slightly dangerous subjects; we will be discussing paganism and idol worship in the COME AS A CHILD bible study. How do we avoid such things? What are our idols today? What is the proper definition of paganism and how is it working out in today’s culture? Are things pagan today that were pagan years ago; or have the changes of the culture brought changes in the practices? How can we measure these things accurately?
Close to the end of this month which is so full of things to carefully consider; I want to discuss how our homes play into it all.
Just what is the nature of a Christian home anyway?
As usual, I will have some seasonal décor to present in THE HOUSE DOCTOR; but I will also be sharing some articles about family life and all ages growing and learning together, and discussing how we should be making homes for everyone on this earth if we are truly following God. Most of these articles will appear in the GROW OLD WITH ME column, and the PIECES OF THE PUZZLE columns. I don’t publish a lot of PIECES OF THE PUZZLE articles; but when I do they are full of “unsystematic theological concepts.” That is a term I borrowed from a fellow free-thinker who only seeks God’s truth in all things.
As an added and much more light-hearted treat, I also want to introduce you to my new children’s story. It is seasonal and I think you will love this one. It will be featured in the PRODUCTS section and the PEN ART section of the blog along with some exciting new uses for The IN SEASON Lifestyle’s FAMILY TREE for December.
If I haven’t lost you already; hold on. December is going to be exciting, eye-opening and full of worship!
Wave a temporary good-bye to the beauty of fall and come experience the exileration and breath-taking excitement of winter.
On December 21st we will ease our way into the Winter season with a bit of poetry from our PEN ART column.
There will be a million other little extra treats along the way all through the month of December. Hopefully, reading the blog will be like opening a present a day all month long.
So come enjoy December with us!
It would never be the same without you!