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3 Ways to Observe Stir Up Sunday

November 20, 2020 by Lauren 38 Comments

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash

‘’Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of Thee be plenteously rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord’’.

 

Have you heard of Stir Up Sunday?  It’s not something we celebrate in America, but my blogger friend April introduced me to it here.  I couldn’t find any information about how long this day has been observed in the UK, but it comes from the beginning collect from the Book of Common Prayer, which dates back to 1549 (quoted above).  Stir Up Sunday occurs every year on the last Sunday before Advent, which puts it on November 22 this year.

 

Some time during the 1700’s, this day became synonymous with the day British households make their Christma puddings.  According to April and the powers that be at Wikipedia, a Christmas pudding needs time to age to flavor perfection.  And four weeks is just about the right amount of time.  Now I have some soup recipes that are better on the second day after all the spices and flavors meld, but I cannot imagine making anything that I would eat four weeks later.  No offense to the English.  I love a good tradition, but I will pass on the Christmas pudding.

 

I do, however, appreciate the original intent of Stir Up Sunday – to prepare our hearts for Advent and allow God to “stir our hearts” to focus on the season and all it entails.  So I’m starting a new tradition and adopting the practice of Stir Up Sunday.  But without the pudding.

 

3 Ways to Observe Stir Up Sunday

 

  1.  Remember Jesus.  And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  2 Peter 1:13 ASV  If you aren’t already, get in the Word.  Read through the gospels.  Pick an Advent Bible reading plan.  The gals at shereadstruth.com have a great one every year.  There are multiple free ones on the YouVersion app, or kick it old-school and browse a bookstore.  Listen to praise music, start a new prayer journaling practice, anything that will “stir up” and shake up your normal routine and make you more mindful of our Savior.
  2. Love Others with Words and Actions. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV  In Jesus, we have the hope the world needs.  Brainstorm ways you can share that hope this season.  Help provide a Thanksgiving dinner to a family in need.  Serve at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.  Invite your neighbors to church.  Donate toys to an organization that serves the underprivileged at Christmas.  Invite the new girl at work to lunch.  These are just a jumping off point.  Come up with your own creative and thoughtful ways to throw love around with abandon and encourage another to do the same!  You will feel God’s pleasure in the process.  
  3. Make Disciples. And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. Acts 19:23 ASV  The early verses of Acts 19 give us background on this verse.  For two years Jesus’ followers had been preaching and prophesying, baptizing, healing and performing miracles.  Because of their faithful work, many confessed, believed and professed Jesus as Lord.  And verse 20 says,  So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.  Who in your circle of influence needs to hear about Jesus?

What ideas do you have for observing Stir Up Sunday?  I would love you to share in the comments.  And get out there and stir it up, mix it up and shake it up!  You can even make a pudding if you want.

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

I was so encouraged and personally motivated by A Thread of Unity by Nylse of lifenotesencouragement.com.  I love how she looked to her history (and honored her mother) for direction for her future.  And I want to answer, “yes”!  I can you be strong as thread, weaving hope and unity wherever I go? 

 

 

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Thanksgiving Notes and Quotes

November 13, 2020 by Lauren 27 Comments

I know for most of us 2020 has been a doozy.  Surprises, challenges and hardships leading to mental and emotional issues no longer surprise us.  For my family, physical and spiritual crisis, job issues, and a cancer scare have compounded the communal stress and anxiety of an unprecedented (anyone tired of that word yet?) year.  I know many of you could add your own hard stuff to this list.

 

I have found joy – the command to rejoice always – particularly challenging.  So I am very intentionally searching for inspiration toward gratitude and a cheerful heart.  When King David was fleeing his son, who was trying to kill him (I’m not sure it gets tougher than that!), David called out to God, But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. Psalm 3:3 NIV  If David could recognize all God does for Him in that situation, I can allow Him to pick my chin up in all this.  

 

Maybe you could use a little help in this area too?  I collected some scripture and quotes that help me put things in perspective and feel joy – thankfulness, even.  So for your reading and meditating pleasure:

 

Scripture

(from the NIV unless otherwise noted)

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:8-9

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart triumphs,  And with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:7 NASB

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, Psalm 50:14

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

 

Quotes

(not Holy scripture, but still good!)

 

“Gratitude is the heart’s memory”.  – French Proverb

“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity.”  – Elie Wiesel (concentration camp survivor)

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.”  Russell H. Conwell

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing:  It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”  Voltaire

“Gratitude is riches.  Complaint is poverty.”  Doris Day

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”  Melody Beattie

“We would worry less if we praised more.  Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.”  H A Ironside

 

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

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Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

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Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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