Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Advent, Books, and Cheer: A + B = C

 Summer morning 2012

Kathleen to Joe in You've Got Mail, "I started helping my mother after school here when I was six years old. And I used to watch her. And it wasn't that she was just selling books, it was that she was helping people become whoever it was (that) they were going to turn out to be. Because when you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does...."

Books belong under the tree. We share our love of the world and of story with those we most love. In part, we learn how to form our story by reading great stories. Books under our tree this year:

The Story of Doctor Doolittle
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
A Life of Faith Series - because she loves all things old!
Twig by Elizabeth Orton Jones
The Fables of La Fontaine
A Young Scientist's Guide to Defying Disasters with Skill and Daring by Doyle
Makezine: For Dad
For Girls Only: Devotions
The Story of Shell by Repp
Pibben the Small by Repp
Reading to Learn: Book One by MacMillan 1935 - list price was .84 cents
Hans Brinkers on the Silver Skates
How to Build Treehouses, Huts and Forts
A Pink Bible
The Ordinary Princess by Kaye
The Christmas Story by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to be read on Christmas Eve

Shh....don't tell. 

Most all of these books were thrifted finds for a dollar or less.  Yes, a dollar or less. Books do not have to cost a lot. Secreted away during the year, they now patiently wait to delight children. What will be under your tree this year? 

Advent + Books = Cheer

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Advent Illumination

Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

Monday, December 3, 2012

Advent Walking

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
John 1:5

We gather under the big oak. The light of lanterns hangs low. By day, we walk in the world, and boy it's been a day. Coming from pageant practice, we race in the rain with little rest and life feeling like a test. One angel has momentarily lost her song of happiness. The pressure to perform weighing heavy on wings that were made for soaring. We bicker in the car and I'm asking why are we here under this oak? We have come to walk words.

The walkway is wet. The heavens let loose water today, but thankfully this moment is dry. We begin walking and we follow the light. Soon, walkers fall silent, and the line of light slowly advances in the darkness. Voices hush and still, and even the wind is silent. I see what I'm sure is the North Star, but really is probably Saturn. One can wish. We walk on and the wind decides to gust, snuffing out our light. Several attempts later, it is re-lit, soon to be re-extinguished. We give up and follow the light in front of us. Surely, as we march in the darkness of the world, we also walk towards the light. Words call out from the darkness and meet pondering souls on the walkway.

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

A angelic sphere of black slate opens up above us, and starlight twinkles through. Every so often, divine words interrupt the darkness and our thoughts. Little boy begins to flag. He is not grumpy, but slowing. I am tugging on a tired body. We walk around the dark abyss of a pond. He is intrigued. Mom, I just saw a head pop up. And I believe him. In the darkness, who knows what can happen? Silence comes again, and we walk and walk. His boots go, thud, thud, scuffle. Thud, thud, scuffle. Mom, is this how long they walked? To be small is to understand the value of great distances. He fathoms, what I can only try to feel. He asks, How long until the manger? I realize, isn't that what we all want? We just want to get there and see the manger. He's sure he's walking the same great distance Mary and Joseph walked and through his walk, I really do see the manger. The words come alive and I get it

He marched resolutely into the darkness, that you and I might walk in the light. He did not waiver, He walked. 

The heavens open up and wash us. A down pour of watery words released to revive the weary. The washing of the world by the Word. Soon, the clubhouse looms large with an other worldly light. We march into the world. Walking by lighted windows, diners seated by candle light dangle crystal wine glasses. A diamond commercial is on the big screen screaming bling. And it doesn't mean anything. 

John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Tonight we participated in an Advent Walk. 
Find one near you, or create one! 
Walk the Word in the woods.

 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Advent Within Us

Hannah, The Courage to Believe
Hannah is my focus on this first Sunday of Advent. She, like Mary, had the courage to believe. The courage to believe that God had blessings waiting in the wings for her. How she must have battled the day to day thirst for soul blessings in a desert of barrenness. She had no fruit of the womb, nor fruit of the world. She had nothing to show for her life, nor even her existence. Yet, in the face of barrenness, she believed her life held a purpose and God had a perfect plan.

Peninah's critical voice did not detour Hannah's faith in God's good plan for her. Nor, did Hannah settle for worshiping Elkanah, a mortal man. She did not believe the words of condemnation Eli spoke over her. Hannah was able to press beyond the voice of criticism.* Hannah persevered and prevailed in prayer. Hannah held on to her God given vision.

What vision of Himself and of your own self has God given you? Are you holding to your vision in the face of criticism and condemnation? Let us prevail, through prayer, to bring the presence of the Lord into our lives this Advent season.

Pondering Hannah's Prayer became Praise
My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the
Lord will be broken.

 The world most often condemns us or asks us to conform.
The church may ask us to perform.
Jesus asks us to pray.
The Holy Spirit asks us to prevail.
God says prepare, for my presence.

 Powerful words. Powerful women. The presence of a powerful God.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Advent Upon Us

25 Days of Pondering and Praise

Waiting for Advent. Always waiting.
Trying to come by contentment. Finding stability in the stable.
Eyes to see. Reality.
Reminded to turn towards the Lord.
Fall has pulled me in every direction but home.
I stop for a few hours and sweep the place clean.
In order to be filled with Him, I must make space for him.

A few times a year, when the weight of the stuff becomes a burden instead of a blessing, the urge to unload takes hold. A local Seventh Day Adventist Church graciously takes our hand me downs, and shares them in the community without cost. They are only hand me downs, but I'd rather give them away than donate them for a tax return slip. I am reminded that the greatest gift I'll receive this season is offered to me without cost. And so our season of Advent waiting begins with a cleaning out. A sifting of sorts. By making space for the Savior.

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, 
or believe to be beautiful.

~ William Morris
  Six winters ago. They grow up fast. Savouring the moments this season.
  
 Advent Waiting and Wishing List

Hang some mistletoe in your home today. 
Give lots of kisses and hugs!

Begin an Advent Calender. 
Give one away in your neighbourhood, church or community. 
Spread a little cheer. 

Reserve advent books at the library. 
Our children became voracious readers during the Christmas season. 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Bookends: A Child in Winter

Thinking about Advent. Preparing. Praying. Reading. Sharing.

 The one thing she (Mary) did and does is the one thing that we all have to do, namely, to bear Christ into the world. 

~ Caryll Houselander


We will be pondering, A Child in Winter, as we prepare for Advent. I'm still getting to know this author, and I find it interesting that she is identified as a mystic. Certainly, she's had interesting experiences, but then if we are seeking the Lord, we should expect a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

While, I know the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, I still have a lot of work to do! (Galatians 5).

Also enjoying:

Stained Glass Coloring Book by Dover

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Home for the Holidays

"Our" 700' sq foot cabin in the woods last winter.

"O come let us adore Him...." The girl child sings and plays keys slow. Slowed down, the notes hang long and low. The rain hums alongside the notes. I'm reading Cabin by Lou Ureneck and thinking of home. What is a home? "...Christ, Christ, the Lord," is home.

Boy cuts out snowflakes, arctic crystals.  They will grace windows that glisten with rain. Why does what is good seem to melt away some days? I long to slow the notes of the season. To capture precious notes hanging in the air, before they melt like snow.

Make a home in the moments. Make a home in Christ.