Advent is about to begin...

ADVENT 

Await my soul in glad anticipation--

the Savior is coming! Be still my heart!

Dance and sing in wild jubilation! 

The King is coming, His grace to impart.

Veiled in wonder, God incarnate, 

Mystery to ponder, wisdom and love.

Echo the angels, sing Hallelujah! 

Peace on earth, sent from above!

Night of darkness banished forever, 

Son of God, Love's pure Light!

Tell the nations, spread the glad tidings. 

Joy came down to earth that night!

I wrote this poem 10+ years ago, but always think of it when Advent begins. Advent is the time of waiting. A time to anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ.

 I discovered a wonderful book several years ago, called simply "The Advent Book" by Jack and Kathy Stockman. This book was their family's way to 'journey to Bethlehem'. For each day in December there is a door to be opened and part of the story from scripture told for that day.

 I thought it was not only a beautiful book to look at, but a wonderful way to pass the time waiting for the Christ Child. So that year I sat down and each night as I opened the doors, I wrote my own meditations for the scriptures, as a way to travel towards Bethlehem and Jesus. It was a meaningful time for me, and last year I shared these writings with a few friends and relatives. 

This year, I thought I would put them in a Blog and add some suitable pictures (since you can't see the doors as I open them) and let whoever wants to read my insights, to do so. This is my journey, my waiting time. It may be different for you. Each one of us has to make the journey on our own, reading the scriptures, and seeing what God says to us in them. I hope you will make your own journey and not just rely on mine. 

I will start the story when "The Advent Book" starts, on December 1st and continue through until the end. I always write my meditations in the form of prayers, so keep in mind that I'm addressing God throughout. These are my thoughts and insights and you might not agree with all of them. Any poetry is mine and not to be copied or used elsewhere without my permission.

The light of thankfulness...

"Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts.  You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective.".... from a devotional by Sarah Young


Heavenly Father,
I like this idea of thankfulness as a light switch that allows us to illuminate our circumstances and attitudes with your light.  Thankfulness brings us into your presence and we move our focus to your past and present faithfulness.

What may have seemed hopeless or disheartening instead becomes full of your Light and your love.  We search for the positive and set aside the negatives.  We feel a peace that comes from the knowledge that you are with us and won't leave us.  We are thankful for what you've done, not what we wish you would do.

 Hope begins to permeate our darkness, because hope is full of expectation of a bright future outcome.  Hope comes from Christ and our knowledge of him.  Hope shines with the Light of Life found in Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for shining your Light into our circumstances, whatever they might be.  Help me to always focus on you and seek your presence no matter what is happening in my life.  Your Light of Life, found in Jesus Christ, will make every day better and every circumstance more easy to bear. amen.

Planted by streams of water...

Psalm 1:2-3  "But his delight is in the law of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."  (NIV)

The man in this image is one who loves to meditate and take delight in God's law (his word).  The comparison is to a tree that has been planted in the right place---a place of abundance where it will be well fed and watered and thrive.  God's word, his righteous law, feeds our souls. 

 When the time is right fruit will be produced.  We tend to see "fruit" production as good works that we do in Jesus' name.  But there are other fruitful by-products produced in the one who meditates and delights in Gods words.  When hard times come the fruit of faith will be stronger.  When trials beat at the door the fruit of trust and hope will still carry us through.  When circumstances are beyond our control the fruit of peace will still support us and keep us at rest in God's shadow.

This fruitful tree, planted by the abundant water is an abiding tree---well -rooted, lodged in place, strong and viable---full of life.  The life of Christ is the fruit we bear from being rooted in God's word. 

Thank you, LORD for your abundant food and water that makes us grow strong in faith, hope, love. Your Word is our life!  Amen.

Col. 3:2  "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."  (NIV)

Phil. 4:8-9  "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy---think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me---put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  (NIV)

These are the things to meditate on day and night that they might nourish us and give us the fruit of God's peace.