PEACE

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:5-7

Hoping you find PEACE in the Advent waiting ... 

In this busy season, take time for seeking peace, slip away for a few quiet moments, 

have a cup of tea, read a few lines of a favorite book, go for a walk and take in the beauty of nature, listen for that still small voice that whispers 'My Peace I give to you'.

Where do you find peace this season?

HOPE

It's a cold and frozen day, with ice on the roses and wind playing the frozen leaves of the pecan tree like chimes.
As we wait to see if there will be snow or only cold, my daughter practices a song for Sunday-  Winter Snow .
And I think of how He comes when we seek Him-
His Spirit comes, soft and slow, and fills our hearts with HOPE.

And in this first week of Advent, I search for hope and find it- in the hard and hurting moments, in the joy and the pain.  My HOPE is found in the Word, in Jesus, Immanuel- God with Us.

This God, who comes to earth as a babe, walks with us in our mess and our madness.
This God with Us who takes our sin and our shame upon his sinless Self, and dies for us.
He now LIVES, now LOVES, now ABIDES with us, and brings us HOPE.

HOPE even in the pain of losing a beloved friend this week.
HOPE even when lungs harden and breath doesn't come, and the doctors say there is nothing they can do.
HOPE when I stand in a hospital room holding my grieving friend, praying silently for mercy.
HOPE as we wait, and her husband breathes his last, and he is gone.
HOPE in the dark days following death, when the calendar marked with cruise, is replaced with a casket.
HOPE when even though we know this is real, it still isn't yet on so many levels.




Yes, even in death there is HOPE.
Because heartbroken as we are right now,
we know, without a shadow of a doubt,
we have all confidence in our HOPE in HIM-
that one day, some day, we will see our loved one again;
and we shall see JESUS, He who is our only HOPE,
face to face.

And so, as we gather to sing and pray, laugh and cry,
and say goodbye for now-
we HOPE.















And on this wintry day, when my heart hurts,
I search for gifts of HOPE from World Vision, Harvest of Hope, IJM-
gifts of animals, seeds, medicine, Bibles.
Help and hope for those who can't help themselves.
And I smile, knowing that along with these small gifts
will come a greater gift-
hearing the story of JESUS, our HOPE and HELP.  

And I smile as I remember last Sunday,
when I gave the teens a sheet with
I HOPE
I HOPE
I HOPE
I HOPE
I HOPE
scribbled on it and asked them to share their hopes with us.
And there, amidst the hopes for passing grades, college, and family were these:
"I HOPE to go to Africa"
"I HOPE to go on many mission trips"
3 friends, all desiring to take HOPE in JESUS into this world.
And that my friends, brings me great HOPE and tremendous Joy this season.


 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

What are you hoping for this season?
What gives you hope these days?
Who are you hoping in?

Peace Be Unto You

Wishing you PEACE this Christmas season ...

 

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Advent- Join the Conspiracy

[AC] Promo 2011 - International Justice Mission from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

Yes.  :) 

Counting and Waiting

It is that time of year ... a time of waiting and counting down the days. 

"How long until Christmas?", is usually one of the first sounds heard in my home during the weeks before His birthday.     

And so we mark the weeks with our Advent wreath (One from another year pictured below, this year's photo coming soon.). 

And we count the days with an Advent calendar.  Little bags filled with a treat for each day (last year's calender photo below.) ...

And we prepare our hearts for His coming as we count and wait with what has become my personal favorite (though candy is certainly a tasty way to number the days)- the Jesse Tree .  Ann Voskamp, has made her Jesse Tree Devotional book available for Free, beautiful, generous soul that she is.  Visit Holy Experience to download this wonderful Advent book for your family. 

We read each day's devotion and then hang the ornament on the tree.  Last year my children requested we hang the ornaments along the Advent calendar line so they could watch the story unfold (a great idea if I do say so myself).  We had  had several opportunities to share His Story with our guests during the Christmas season when they asked about our "Story line" ... an unexpected blessing for us all!  

How do you count the days until Christmas? 

These are a few of my family's Christmas Practices, more coming next week. 
To join in the conversation or read other thoughts on The Practice of Christmas, visit Holy Experience today.

A Living Sign

For you, who encourage, challenge, and bless me with the stories of your radical giving, your Christmas Change...




A Living Sign

I know not always how God comes,
but that God comes- this I know.
in an obscure stable,
in splashing waters,
in the breaking of bread
and often, my friend,
incarnate in you,
for God, I believe, still comes in the flesh, in
people.

Now and always
may the Christ in you
keep you
a sign of living love
and love living among us.
-Bonnie B. Belasic


And now, I must get into the kitchen and begin the baking marathon. We've promised our friends at the shelter cookies and hot chocolate tomorrow, and I really don't want to show up with 400 Buckeyes, so I must get to it.

Blessed Christmas to you and yours!