5 Friday Favorites: November 22, 2024

   

It's time for my Friday link up with  A Little Bit of Everything and Momfessionals. 

On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.

Hello and Happy Friday! My dad arrives from Texas today and the boys will all show up at different times in the next several days for Thanksgiving which means I'm crazy giddy with excitement and I gotta get to the kitchen. Here are some favorite things from the week.

1. Calm Candle from Wal-Mart

I had to run into Wal-Mart the other day to re-order my contacts and spotted this huge 4 wick candle for only $10. The packaging is simple and it smells great. It comes in four colors. Score.

2. Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish Kit

I very rarely do my own nails mainly because I can't sit still at home long enough to let them dry properly. I always, always mess them up, but getting them done at the salon all the time does get stupid expensive. My sister texted me about this Essie Gel Nail Polish Kit and promises me that it lasts forever. Even better, it removes easily with regular nail polish remover so it won't ruin your nails. It seems too good to be true, but she says it's great. The set of polish and top coat is only $16ish today. 

3. Colorblock Cardigan

It seems like every single year about this time I see this cute long colorblock sweater and think it'll be perfect for Thanksgiving. I finally ordered it last week and it should arrive today. There are some other really cute color options. 

4. Orolay Thickened Down Jacket

Y'all. I know I've mentioned this coat 7 million times, but it is on BIG TIME sale - 50% off. If you are like me and hate cold weather, I promise you this is the coat you've been dreaming about. I'm talking to all the sports moms out there. This coat will save your life and you might even be able to enjoy the game without whispering profanities into your scarf when not one kid on the dang team can figure out how to get the last out so you can get the heck outta there. I promise you will love it. I have the black because I'm boring, but I like this red, too.

5. On Colossians 12:3

I delivered a sermon a few weeks ago on Colossians 12:3: "As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

I'm going to say something that just sounds awful. Is awful. I'm awful. But it's the truth. When I was assigned this verse to speak on by our pastors, I realized something. I realized that I had been sick to death of the amount of times I saw memes and images and tshirts and bumper stickers and social media posts by people yelling at me to "BE KIND".

Listen. I know. I'm terrible and the Lord is quite aware of it. Let me try to explain.

Every time I saw something like that I felt like I was being shamed, talked down to, preached at. Like Suzie Stranger had decided that I must have gotten up today and needed to see her post so that I would have a revelation: "Well, gee, Suzie. what a novel idea. I guess I won't be a jackass today."

I told y'all. I'm terrible. It's clear I'm going through something and God decided to send me His own words on the subject to push me to take a good, long look in the mirror. What a jerk.

I know it's not a widely held belief right now, but I honestly don't think many people wake up with the intent to be ugly toward each other. I really don't. I also don't think the remedy is a poster or a tshirt or a bumpersticker. At least it isn't for me.

The solution for me comes when I remember that this is a command of Scripture and what the Scripture contains is the key to the whole command for me. It's the first part of the verse. These words are not to be skipped. This is not a throwaway phrase. 

Paul says "As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself . . ." Because Paul knew from his own experence and God knows that this command to be compassionate, kind, humble and gentle is not something I can sustain on my own. When I forget who I am, who I belong to, who has loved me and forgiven me I might clothe myself in judgment, annoyance, and frustration. Exhibit A: I rolled my eyes at a "Be Kind" bumper sticker. What in the world?

The One who calls me to compassion, kindness, humility and gentleness is calling me to it out of love, not shame. It makes all the difference to me. He makes all the difference to me. 

So this week with all the chaos and family and to do lists, I'll remember this first: I am chosen, holy and dearly loved and it is because of that and only because of that that I will have the ability to clothe myself the way He has called me to. 

So today I will not close by telling you to "Be Kind". I will encourage you to remember who you are and whose you are. If you do, I think He'll take it from there. Happy Thanksgiving, Friends.

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