Perfect love. Is there really such a thing? This is the fourth Sunday in Advent. If you follow the tradition of lighting a candle each Sunday in Advent, you will be lighting the candle of love. Love. What can I say about love that hasn't already been said? Nothing. So, this morning as I was lying in bed, quiet, I asked God to speak the verse into my heart that he wanted me to consider here with you. After some silence... it came: "perfect love casts out fear" I did not expect this verse for Christmas time. But, as I reflect and consider it with you, let's look at the whole verse in its … [Read more...]
Do you clean your house for Christmas? I usually do a whole house cleaning in early November. Generally I will have already done some cleaning in early fall, but in November I whip through the whole house, dusting the walls and ceilings, washing the windows, making my house sparkle in anticipation of Christmas. One thing I always did in my old house was to put candles in my windows... and my windows had to be perfectly shined for the lights of Christmas. This week I had a little bit of an "ah ha" moment. You know that I'm all about observing Advent... doing Advent readings, … [Read more...]
Today is the first day of Advent. It seems impossible for Christmas to be upon us, doesn't it? The year has gone way too fast. Do you observe Advent? I know many with younger children click off the days' march towards Christmas with candies or gifts. Others may light candles each night and read verses. And still others decorate a Jesse Tree. Advent is a time of preparation. A time when we prepare our hearts for our Savior. A time when we await his second coming. And a time when we rejoice in his first coming Typically I don't follow … [Read more...]
Manger Scene Memories I am happy to join Diane for Creating Christmas Memories with Vignettes. She asked if I would create a vignette and tell a story and the first thing that came to me was to share this manger scene. This was the manger scene of my childhood. I happened to inherit it last Christmas. The thing I remember most about this was how crazy I was about Baby Jesus. I used to sit and look at this manger and stare and play with Baby Jesus; I was maybe four, it is one of my earliest memories. I have always been enamored with babies. I went … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas!! I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark. John 12:46 Today we light the Christ candle and celebrate Jesus, the Light, who came into the world to free us from the oppression of darkness. I've been contemplating this concept of Jesus being the light of the world lately. And wouldn't you know, last night I attended a Christmas Eve service and the theme of the service was about Jesus being the light. Isn't that just like God? The time when Jesus entered this world as a babe was … [Read more...]
Love. On this Fourth Sunday in Advent we Light the Candle of Love. The first week, we lit the candle of Hope. The second week, we lit the candle of Peace. And last week we lit the candle of JOY. My heart is full of gratitude. I cannot even begin to comprehend this love the Father has for us. To think that he so much wanted us to "get it" that he orchestrated an amazing turn of events to not only demonstrate this love he has for you and me, but to make a way to be a part of his forever family. At Christmas, we imagine a sweet bucolic scene of a mother tending to her … [Read more...]
Today, on this third Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of JOY. The first week, we lit the candle of Hope. The second week, we lit the candle of Peace. Today, we rejoice with Mary at this amazing thing God has done. Oh JOY! Though we know that Mary was a very young woman about 13 years old, she had an amazing understanding of scripture and the times in which she lived. She was carrying the Messiah, the one who to bring freedom to the captives. No doubt she was a little scared. Yet, she was filled with great joy. I enjoy reading a translation of the Bible called … [Read more...]
Do you feel like you are already on the quickly spinning hamster wheel? For many of us, the holidays are so busy we hardly have time to breathe. I don't think that is how Thanksgiving and Christmas are supposed to be. Do you? Hespe Have you ever thought about observing Advent? I'm not talking about the little calendar where you open the door each day in December as you countdown to Christmas. or even the very fun games and gifts and random acts of kindness that families can do together for Advent. No, I'm thinking about observing Advent in a more quiet … [Read more...]
