 The Advent Candle: Waiting and WatchingI've been reading two Advent books this year: Good News of Great Joy by John Piper, and The Art of Living in Advent by Sylvie Vanhoozer. The first, reminds us simply why God sent His son as a baby over 2,000 years ago. He is a gift! But a gift needs to be received and opened before enjoying it. Have you received God’s precious gift of a relationship with God’s Son Jesus? The second, by Vanhoozer, relates the coming of the Christ Child as anticipated in her home in Provence, France, where they prepare the crèche with local foliage, and add each day of Advent, a santon or little saint in everyday dress representing a variety of townspeople and their humble professions. Each one of us, no matter who we are, can celebrate the coming of the baby who will someday become King. But first, Jesus needed to grow up as a perfect man, yet God, to be sacrificed in our place so we could live in freedom from the penalty of sin. What an honor to be a part of God’s family, and someday, live in Heaven with the King of Kings.  So What Are We Waiting For?Years ago, Jewish men and women, who knew the prophecy, waited for the Messiah. Most thought he would be born a King, so they missed him. The Messiah, born as a baby of a poor family? Growing up to die on a cross? A man who claimed to be the son of God? Yes! They didn't realize the first time he came, it would be to save the world from the penalty of sin. He will someday, come back as King to bring his children, who have received his precious gift, home to Heaven. That comes back to the five Advent candles labeled as the image above: Hope, Love, Joy, Peace and Christ, the Reason we celebrate Christmas. We often forget that His name is in the holiday. What are we waiting for—in our lives and in the world? HOPE for Children who are safe and happy Enough money to pay the bills Healthy Body & Minds Because Jesus was raised from the dead and conquered death, we, His children have hope that we will live forever with Him in Heaven. LOVE for My labradoodle A soulmate The perfect job Jesus gave His life so we can live—the ultimate act of love. JOY in A vacation to refresh us Appreciative and obedient children A dress that lifts my spirits It's not dependent on our circumstances, but knowing God works all things together for our good. PEACE in Our homes Our jobs Our hearts Jesus is the ultimate Prince of Peace who will one day return to destroy death and the devil and bring peace to the world. CHRIST Our Good Shepherd Son of God and Savior Light of the World He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest longings.  What Gift Can We Bring to Jesus?Jesus has given us so much: eternal life and peace for those who have accepted His gift of salvation. What can we give Him in return? Does Jesus have a wish list? If He did, He would want our hearts—our undivided attention and love. A famous poet penned these words which were made into a carol, In the Bleak Mid-winter. The last stanza says:
“What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man I would do my part, Yet what I can I give Him, Give my heart.” -Christina Rossetti Does Jesus have your heart?
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 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 Joseph and Mary began their long journey to Bethlehem with an old donkey, a basket of bread, and a flask of water. And, yes, a small bag of coins. Joseph hoped there would be enough to pay the taxes Rome required, with a small amount remaining for necessities along the way. The journey was long and arduous, extending over hills and across the river Jordan. Being close to delivering her baby, Mary found travel difficult as she bounced and joggled along on a scrawny, aging donkey. But walking would have been out of the question.
I can't even imagine what that would have been like. Creature comforts are usually taken for granted. But not for Mary and Joseph. It was a way of life. So, on with the story. . .  What to do when you want to safely break away from your Covid routine before the holidays, but have few options? Well, Galena, of course! I love this historic town. It's our go-to getaway in a pinch. This year, due to the coronavirus, things look different - masks worn everywhere, 6 foot spacing encouraged, and limited dining options. But true to form, the town is beautifully adorned for Christmas. Yay!  Does History Inspire You?We drove around the hilly neighborhood, enjoying the decked out historic homes. Galena dates back to 1826, and the buildings reflect the Civil War era - not surprising because this was General Grant’s home.  Who Doesn't Love a Hearty Breakfast?One treat I particularly enjoyed was wandering in and out of Main Street shops, also delightfully decorated for the holidays. Lots of eye candy here! Not to mention this is one of my favorite boutiques - Carlotta’s Studio. I make sure to visit each time we are in Galena.  Dan’s favorite pastime is eating out - especially for breakfast. Below our cozy Airbnb was the owner’s restaurant, Big Bill’s. Their food was scrumptious and the double expresso strong and rich - just the way I like it!!  Historic Homes Become RestaurantsOur warm and inviting studio was perfect for our needs - a few minutes walking distance from the center of town, a big screen TV and electric fireplace for movie watching and a complete kitchen for cooking dinner. The above photo shows the red Galena brick walls so prevalent in this area. The images are of the flooding this town experienced in 2017, artfully snapped by our young landlord’s mother, Michelle. You can find her photos at Michelle Deiter Photography.  As I've mentioned, dining options were limited, but the De Soto House and it's three restaurants (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) were open! So, after taking pics of their stunning decor, we settled into a lovely meal, COVID precautions in force. Below is a slideshow of other interior images . . . The Reason for the SeasonI trust you are able, even in this season of lockdowns and political unrest, to find peace and joy - and hope. Immanuel - God is with us - in His Son, Jesus Christ. We need never fear, for He sees the past, the present AND the future. He is in control, and has a purpose for everything that comes into our lives. And someday, He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  May you and yours have a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy, Joy-filled New Year!!
 Statue in a Buenos Aires cemetery. Oh. I must catch my breath! Did I truly see such a magnificent creature and live? I paled. My heart pounded as the mighty angel, dressed in a flowing white robe with searing eyes that pierced my soul.
 https://freebibleimages.org/photos/shepherds-angels/ Have you been floundering in the dark lately? Or maybe you're not aware your light has dimmed. Maybe, you are just living life as it comes, but underneath, are realizing there is something more.
I believe that's the way the shepherds felt over 2,000 years ago on the night Jesus was born. Since this is the Christmas season, I want to share a portion of my Christmas Musings written in 2012. For another character sketch in this series, here is the link for the Magi's story. I hope you are blessed by my interpretation of what happened many centuries ago and many miles away. How would you have responded that night?  Our family had the opportunity last Saturday to watch A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks, who, by the way, did a fabulous job portraying Mr. Rogers. It would not surprise me if he won an Oscar. It helped me understand the heart behind the man so dearly loved by his young viewers.
 “Words mean things” reminds my husband, when I’ve not clearly explained something, or use the wrong words in my conveyance of a concept. Since I’m an author, I know just how powerful words can be. And surprisingly, so are mere letters.
How many times do we let our minds wander, for no good purpose? Unfortunately, it commonly occurs while we are listening to a sermon. Or a lecture. Times when we need to be paying attention. Last Sunday, I was guilty of that very habit. But it lead me to a treasure to ponder. My mind went from wandering to pondering. And then, it ended in wonder. A perfect state to be caught in during the Christmas Season. From wandering to wondering. The letter “O” made all the difference. . . |
Good News!My MG Biblical fiction "The Heart Changer" debuted in 2019 with Ambassador International. Categories
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