Image via WikipediaAdvent is the four weeks preceding Christmas and is a time of waiting and preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child. More and more church traditions are celebrating this special time of year. The next few weeks I will be posting information and reflections about the colors and meaning of Advent.The word Advent means coming or arrival. This season calls us to focus on Jesus’ coming as a baby in Bethlehem and His second coming when He returns.Our noisy culture that values busyness demands we turn our attention to the glint and glitter and not the true Light of Advent. Advent means to be aware. To pay attention. To be awaken like the shepherds.To be alert like the Wise Men. To anticipate something special that deep down we know will be a life changing wonder.The birth of the Messiah, the son of God. Advent is a season of looking forward, anticipating something Greater. I love this prayer by Henri Nouwen:Lord Jesus,Master of both the light and the darkness,Send … [Read more...]
The Colors of Advent – Pink
Image by Lawrence OP via FlickrPinkAdvent is the four weeks preceding Christmas and is a time of waiting and preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child. More and more church traditions are celebrating this special time of year. The next few weeks I will be posting information and reflections about the colors and meaning of Advent.Newborns bring to mind the color of pink and blue. I would have never thought of these colors for the season of Advent before until I began this blog series.Last week I featured blue – the color of hope and anticipation. Today is PINK.Yes pink. Pink symbolizes joy and happiness. In various churches it is used either for the third or fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy at the impending birth of Jesus.Yesterday at church we lit the third candle of the Advent wreath and it was pink. The pink candle marks a shift from the more solemn tone of the first two Sundays of Advent that focus on Preparation and Hope, to a more joyous atmosphere of anticipation … [Read more...]
Come, Lord Jesus
Image by doug88888 via FlickrHe who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 Come, Lord Jesus.Yes Come, Lord, Jesus.In this time of year as we approach the celebration of Your birth – we know you have come once before and will come once again.Come Lord Jesus.Draw closer so we can see You clearer.Cross the thresholds of our hearts so we love you more.Reach for our hands so we serve You better.May our steps match Yours and follow only in Your paths.May we only see Your face as we face the difficulties in life.Come Lord Jesus.Help me to see You as You are – Savior, King, Master, LoverSlow me down so I don’t miss You. Hush the noise in my heart – I want to hear You.Come Lord Jesus.I know I really don’t have to summon You – You are already here.You wait, though, for my open hand and my obedient heart to turn to receive all Your love.I know You are already present whether I sense You or not. Bidden or unbidden You arrive to save us. … [Read more...]
Advent Prelude – Quote of the Week
“The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop chattering as they wait in darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton. In the silence of a midwinter dusk, there is far off in the deeps of it somewhere a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to listen. You walk up the steps to the front door. The empty windows at either side of it tell you nothing, or almost nothing. For a second you catch a whiff of some fragrance that reminds you of a place you’ve never been and a time you have no words for. You are aware of the beating of your heart…The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.” Frederick Buechner … [Read more...]
Themes of Advent – Prepare
Image by Calsidyrose via FlickrAdvent is the four weeks preceding Christmas and is a time of waiting and preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child. More and more church traditions are celebrating this special time of year. The next few weeks I will be posting information and reflections about the colors and meaning of Advent.PrepareHow do you prepare for Christmas? I make lists – lists of gifts to buy, cards to send, goodies to make to share with neighbors and friends. I double-check the calendar when we will see the kids. With adult children there are multiple schedules to coordinate – not a simple as it once was.But I stop now and ponder: how do I really prepare myself spiritually for Christmas?I have an advent devotional that to be honest, lies unopened on my nightstand. We have been traveling so I haven’t attended the Advent services on Wednesday night held at my church. I don’t feel prepared for Advent at all. Too often we miss Advent's power … [Read more...]
The Colors of Advent – Blue
Image by hiromy via FlickrBlueAdvent is the four weeks preceding Christmas and is a time of waiting and preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child. More and more church traditions are celebrating this special time of year. The next few weeks I will be posting information and reflections about the colors and meaning of Advent.Last Tuesday I shared about the color purple and Advent. But many churches are no longer using purple as much during this season. Even my own church’s vestments are now blue instead of purple. Purple represents the concept of repentance similar to the Lenten season. Blue symbolizes the expectant nature of the season as in the early blue skies each morning. In the predawn moments while it is still dark, we anticipate the coming King’s arrival.I have also read the blue signifies the water in first chapter of Genesis - the beginning of a new creation.As a color blue is symbolic of hope, expectation, and heaven. It is also the color associated with the Virgin … [Read more...]
Where Love and Faithfulness meet – Lectio Divina
Image via WikipediaLove and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. Psalm 85:10-13Love and faithfulness meet togetherLord I love the idea of love and faithfulness meeting.Faithfulness coming from the earth, from the heart of Your people.Leaping upward where we are grasped by Your arms of love.You look down upon us with fairness and guide us home to You.You give us all that is good and prepare us as Your harvest.All these godly virtues – love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace embracing in an intimate kiss – show us that one leads to another and we are to follow.When I face hate, I am to show love.When I am filled with doubt, I still reach upward with what little faith I find.When I see injustice, I fight for the truth.When I find … [Read more...]
The Fire of Advent Quote – Edward Hays
"Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent.If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time."Edward Hays … [Read more...]