Christmas Time Is Near: Advent Day 11

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear.

My mind went so many places with this particular verse today.  First there is the very advent reading itself which describes what a fearful time the original first Christmas was.  Mary's fear of giving birth for the first time.  Joseph's fear that he was being a foolish man even though he spoke with an angel.  Herod's fear of the King to come.  The wise men's fear as they traveled across deserts and mountains and followed a star that led to who knew where.  Shepherds who quaked at the sight of angels.

And then there are all our human fears.  Diane asked about my mixed bowl of faith with Jewish and Christian elements tossed in together.  Her question reminded me of how I literally shook with fear when we began to explore this added depth of our Christian faith.  When we left our church to begin attending a synagogue, I had no idea what to expect.  I was uncertain and scared as I was the day I got down on my knees to give my life to Christ.  

The Second Week of December Looks Like This

This week Christmas looks like this:

The tree has not fallen over again.  My obsessive need to rearrange ornaments and fill in that spot right there seems to be quieted at last.  Third time decorating, apparently, is the charm.  It leaves room for gazing at the glowing tree in the early mornings and at night.  I contemplate leaving it up longer, past January 1, but I won't.  I want to enjoy the seasonality of it, anticipate it again next year, savor it because I know it's not lasting.

Thanks to a comment by Brenda at Coffee, Tea, Books and Me, I remembered I have an Amazon Prime membership, and unlimited data and hey there's free music to listen to.  I sat here one cold evening all bundled up cozy and warm and gazed at the Christmas tree lights.  Per her recommendations I listened to On A Cold Winter Day.  The lovely old English traditional songs suited the dark room and glowing tree and the snug cocoon I'd made myself.  I enjoyed it so much I repeated one dark morning with a cup of coffee before John came in from work.   Some things are truly worth repeating.

Christmas Time Is Near: Advent Day 10

1 John 4:9-10  This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Today's writings were about first love.  Do you remember your first love?  Can I tell you a secret?  My first crush was in first grade and I think every thing that followed was a mere crush or lust but my first love?  John.

Not 'in love' but  true love, the lasting sort of love.  Hard to tell the difference if you've never experienced it but it's amazing.  I have fallen in and out of love with him many times over.  I always LOVE him though, a love based on like, respect, admiration, trust and desire.  Love is very complex.

Christmas Time Is Near: Day 9

James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  

Shifting shadows...That jumped out at me today because not too long ago I was working here at home and suddenly I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.  My heart pounded, I screeched, I moved away from where I was standing in a leap.  And what caused all the havoc?  A shift of shadow.  An illusion.  Something that was not real.

Christmas Time Is Near: The Week of Love: Advent Day 8

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave His only son...

This week's focus is love.  One of the questions asked in the follow up was 'How does your relationship with your parents affect your relationship with God?"

This one I've given a lot of thought to over the years.  I told John a long time ago that I couldn't see God as Father.  My own dad's input in my life left a lot to be desired, or so I felt at the time.  A lot more water under the bridge since those long ago early days of being a baby Christian.  At the time, however, I just couldn't grasp what a good father was like.  So I pretty much rejected God but accepted Christ if that makes any sense to you at all.

Christmas Time is Near: Day 7

Romans 8:25 Rejoice in hope, be patient in trouble, be constant in prayer.

Rejoice...In the midst of the storm.

Rejoice...In the day of trouble.

Rejoice...and believe.  

A savior was born.  Emmanuel.

This Week In My Home: Jingle Bells, Ho Ho Ho!

This week in my home:

....I have been busy and behind all at the same time.  Anybody else feel the same?  At this moment it is just after Shabat and here I am finishing up this post and trying to write a few words while we wait on supper which is about to come out of the oven at any moment.   There are more things I didn't do these past two days than things I did.  "Tis the season!

On top of all that, after lots of time and prayer and thinking, I decided to become a consultant with Jamberry.  I still haven't finished up that paperwork either but it will happen shortly.  I'm supposed to have a launch party, but I've decided that can wait until January when things calm down a bit.

Well, now to finish up this post and get dinner on the table.  Short and sweet tonight aren't I?