Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Happy New Year!

I sit here at the breakfast table enjoying still the glow of my Advent candles lit in the dark of morning.  I sit reflecting on this past year of my life - 365 days of my life gone - lived well???


It's the traditional time of year when most people reflect back, look ahead and make resolutions to change their future.  We can only reflect, regret or enjoy the memories of the past - we can't change them - it's a done deal; that ship has sailed.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Expectations!

There are so many wishes, hopes, dreams, and expectations we have that center around our holiday times with friends and family; many I'm sure we are not even aware of.


Friday, December 26, 2014

What a Difference a Day Makes!

"The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ.  The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal.  The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural.  The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person.  That makes all the difference in the world."
Stuart Briscoe

And what a difference that is!



The spirit of Christmas is temporal, for sure.
Most people are back to "business as usual" today, the day after Christmas.


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Into Our Darkness Comes Light

During the recent 4-day snowstorm our region experienced, I lost electrical power twice.  The first time it was about 5:30 in the evening and I was preparing a salad for my dinner.  The lights flickered, remained on for about 10 more minutes, at which point, I thought we had dodged the bullet.  Then they flickered again and went out - and stayed out.

About 10-15 minutes into this enforced darkness, my daughter called and said they had called the electrical company and had been told our power would probably be back on by 8pm.  Okay, I can handle another 2 hours of this, I think!

I got out my flashlights, gathered candles from the other rooms and lit them in the den, where I sat and ate dinner by candlelight.  Nice, but it gets old fast, trust me!


Sunday, December 21, 2014

4th Sunday of Advent - Love

On the 4th Sunday of Advent we light the 4th and last candle which represents love.


"For God so loved.....that He gave......."
John 3:16

God so loved you.  God so loved me.  He gave.....His only Son became God incarnate.  He became man and experienced all that man can experience as man.....because of love.


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Let The Stable Still Astonish

I want to feature a fellow blog-writer today; one whose writing has consistently blessed me. 


Her name is Leslie Leyland Fields and she posted this today on her blog:


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

He's Readying Gifts

"God comes through mangers.  The mundance holds miracles.  Every little thing is going to be okay - you have a Kinsman-Redeemer who takes you and is redeeming everything.  The miracle of gifts is always unfolding under the impossibles.

The miracle of gifts. . .is never not coming.

When your Father's hand isn't readily apparent, it's only because He's readying gifts.  Gifts always come out of the unseen and hidden places."

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp


God is readying gifts for us.


Sunday, December 14, 2014

3rd Sunday of Advent - Joy

On the 3rd Sunday of Advent we light the pink candle that represents joy!

What greater joy than to receive the promise of the Savior!


"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."  John 15:11


Thursday, December 11, 2014

Held Captive

For the past 3 days, we've been captive to a snow event that has hovered over our area seemingly with no intention of leaving!  We've had rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, power outages, and all kinds of accidents on the highways and byways.  It promises to hang around still, in a weakened state, but very much in evidence, for at least the next couple of days.


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The Manna of Relationship

"And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.  And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.  And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.  But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.  And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said."    Luke 9:28-33

Have you ever been in a place like Peter was - where you wanted to build a tabernacle and "camp" in the moment, or you at least wanted to be able to re-live it or even re-create it at a later date?

Sunday, December 7, 2014

2nd Sunday of Advent - Peace

The 2nd Sunday of Advent we light the candle of Peace.  This represents the peace that enters into our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Come Looking for Me, Lord

"I don't deserve your love
But you give it to me anyway.
Can't get enough;
You're everything I need.
And when I walk away,
you take off running
and come right after me -
It's what you do...and
I don't deserve you!"
I Don't Deserve You by Plumb

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

My Weakness, His Strength

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9, 10



This scripture makes no sense to the natural man, does it?  In the natural, we want to hide our weaknesses.  We want to cover them up, pretend they don't exist, pretend we are strong when we are really quaking in our boots.  In the flesh (natural), we don't want to even admit that we could have weaknesses.