Setting up a profile page is kind of fun! Since starting it yesterday, I've enjoyed the challenge of considering/choosing my favorite music, movies, books, etc. Then today I had to drive for awhile and had time to reflect and dwell on yesterday's choices, remembering a few old favorites I'd forgotten.
One thing the profile doesn't ask for (maybe because we live in a country where everyone's right to believe ANYTHING is protected) is my favorite Bible verse. My favorite verse is Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
One thing I like about this verse is that it highlights my very favorite thing: Truth. Sometimes truth seems so abstract and elusive, like light trying to shine through a dirty window (for you bookworms, I'm just finishing an excellent example in the form of an action/mystery novel, The Parsifal Mosaic by Robert Ludlum!). But then there are those times when we have the courage to be transparent with each other (also illustrated in Ludlum's novel), or God reveals His truth in a way that we KNOW that we KNOW (often--but not limited to--illustration through His Word), and it's pure golden light shining through a window that is clear as crystal! What a blessing, to dwell on such things!
So then, I was blessed to receive two gifts today. One was a piece of truth, and the other a gift of praise. They were not from Ludlum's novel or the Bible, but they were blessings nonetheless. The truth was bittersweet--a doctor's report I could have lived without; however, I knew something was wrong, and it's a relief to know what it is and bring it before the Lord forthrightly and begin treatment as soon as possible.
The second gift was more uplifting, and in God's perfect, graceful timing, it was waiting to uplift me when I arrived home from the doctor's office! It was a letter of encouragement from a friend, who was comparing me to her 4yo grandson! She wrote, "Little kids are so honest! Until they learn differently, they tell it like it is. How our Heavenly Father wants HIS children to be honest with Him... And something else: A little child knows his parents will protect him. God is our Father. Is He any different? ...I LOVE how open you are!"
What lovely praise, and what encouragement as I contemplate the stumbling block to transparency that I mentioned in yesterday's post.
May your day be full of gifts to dwell on--things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy! And just to think about for fun, what are a few of YOUR favorite things?!
