So here we are on December 29th and I am wondering...where are all the Christmas songs on the radio? All the cars in the mall parking lot? The poinsettas in the sanctuary? The Christmas cookies? (Ok, they are still there, just getting a little stale) It's as if Christmas has disappeared and all the craziness that was December is now but a quiet echo.
Christmas has a huge build up to it. So huge that the day itself can almost feel like a let-down. After all the presents are opened and dinner is eaten, what's next?
In the relative quietness of these days in between Christmas and New Years, maybe this is the time to reflect. To think about what our year has been like and to look forward to a new year of possibilities. The hype has passed, the songs have been sung. Now it's time to let the quiet wash over us and reflect on all the blessings of the newborn Savior.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Mary's Song
I love this translation of Mary's song, the Magnificat. May we all learn to dance in the mystery of God...
"My soul sings in gratitude.
I'm dancing in the mystery of God.
The Light of the Holy One is within me and I am blessed, so truly blessed.
This goes deeper than human thinking.
I am filled with awe at Love whose only condition is to be received.
The gift is not for the proud, for they have no room for it.
The strong and self-sufficient ones don't have this awareness.
But those who know their emptiness can rejoice in Love's fullness.
It's the Love that we are made for, the reason for our being.
It fills our inmost heart space and brings to birth in us, the Holy One."
by Joy Cowley, Auckland, New Zealand (Translation of Luke 1:46--55)
"My soul sings in gratitude.
I'm dancing in the mystery of God.
The Light of the Holy One is within me and I am blessed, so truly blessed.
This goes deeper than human thinking.
I am filled with awe at Love whose only condition is to be received.
The gift is not for the proud, for they have no room for it.
The strong and self-sufficient ones don't have this awareness.
But those who know their emptiness can rejoice in Love's fullness.
It's the Love that we are made for, the reason for our being.
It fills our inmost heart space and brings to birth in us, the Holy One."
by Joy Cowley, Auckland, New Zealand (Translation of Luke 1:46--55)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Glimpses of God
In my last post, I talked about seeing glimpses of God this Advent season. I decided to make a list, and I hope you'll join me in adding to the list!
Glimpses of God...
In the generosity of our conregation in sponsoring our youth to purchase gifts for 53 children from Cameron Elementary
In the voices of the children who sang at the Aging with Grace luncheon
In the first snowfall!
In the laughter God blessed us with one day at the office
At the Chris Tomlin Glory in the Highest concert, where I was able to worship him through beautiful Christmas songs
In my porcelain manger scene
In the ringing of the bells and the sound of voices during our church Christmas concert
In our study of Beth Moore's Esther series on Wednesday mornings
In the support of our congregation during James' training academy
In the generosity of our church members--when they hear of someone who needs a coat, they go out and buy one!
In the presents for needy children stacking up in the office
The blessing (or curse!) of Christmas cookies!
In James helping me get the printer working again for the last of my Christmas letters from miles away
In the youth, who crack me up sometimes!
In the "I miss you's from friends"
In the Christmas photos
In the beautiful poinsettas that decorate our church
Oh come, oh come Immanuel...
Glimpses of God...
In the generosity of our conregation in sponsoring our youth to purchase gifts for 53 children from Cameron Elementary
In the voices of the children who sang at the Aging with Grace luncheon
In the first snowfall!
In the laughter God blessed us with one day at the office
At the Chris Tomlin Glory in the Highest concert, where I was able to worship him through beautiful Christmas songs
In my porcelain manger scene
In the ringing of the bells and the sound of voices during our church Christmas concert
In our study of Beth Moore's Esther series on Wednesday mornings
In the support of our congregation during James' training academy
In the generosity of our church members--when they hear of someone who needs a coat, they go out and buy one!
In the presents for needy children stacking up in the office
The blessing (or curse!) of Christmas cookies!
In James helping me get the printer working again for the last of my Christmas letters from miles away
In the youth, who crack me up sometimes!
In the "I miss you's from friends"
In the Christmas photos
In the beautiful poinsettas that decorate our church
Oh come, oh come Immanuel...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Little Yellow Notebook
December...whew! The Advent of our King and yet the craziest time of year. These days I have taken to carrying around a little yellow notebook everywhere I go. You see, I have the worst short-term memory. I need to write everything down in order to remember it. These last few weeks, I've had more and more things to remember. Call the 456ers about the Christmas Pageant, get snacks for the meeting, print the pictures for our Christmas cards, get milk, order tickets...and on and on. For most people these days, this list would be kept technologically but for some reason I insist on going Old School with my to-do list.
Sadly our to-do-lists seem to get longer and longer as the holidays approach. We try to do so much to commemorate the day that we forget about Jesus himself.
And I just realized that I am writing what I hate to hear every year. The tired line of "We are too busy at Christmas," "We should focus more on the real meaning of the Season." We hear this over and over again, and I write about it or talk about it in some form each December, but I'm wondering when we will really get it. What will it take for us to really let this truth sink in.
What I thought about the other day was that maybe it's not some large-scale thing but just the moments where we catch a glimpse of God. I had one last week as I was decorating my house for Christmas. I was listening to some Christmas music and just as I was putting the finishing touches on my manger scene, the words "Christ the Savior is born" filled the air. Beautiful. I also watched our youth and Club 456ers buying gifts for fifty-three under-privileged children and I thought it again. Beautiful.
Maybe thinking of Christmas differently isn't really some large-scale change. I don't think we'll ever get away from all the Christmas parties, gift exchanges, Christmas cards and cookies. I'll still be carrying around a version of my little yellow notebook until I'm 70. But I think the key is just to look for the beautiful moments where Jesus breaks through. Moments such as falling snow or a glance at a manger scene or the wiggly Christmas Eve pageant. Let's look for glimpses of God this Advent season.
Where have you seen Him?
Sadly our to-do-lists seem to get longer and longer as the holidays approach. We try to do so much to commemorate the day that we forget about Jesus himself.
And I just realized that I am writing what I hate to hear every year. The tired line of "We are too busy at Christmas," "We should focus more on the real meaning of the Season." We hear this over and over again, and I write about it or talk about it in some form each December, but I'm wondering when we will really get it. What will it take for us to really let this truth sink in.
What I thought about the other day was that maybe it's not some large-scale thing but just the moments where we catch a glimpse of God. I had one last week as I was decorating my house for Christmas. I was listening to some Christmas music and just as I was putting the finishing touches on my manger scene, the words "Christ the Savior is born" filled the air. Beautiful. I also watched our youth and Club 456ers buying gifts for fifty-three under-privileged children and I thought it again. Beautiful.
Maybe thinking of Christmas differently isn't really some large-scale change. I don't think we'll ever get away from all the Christmas parties, gift exchanges, Christmas cards and cookies. I'll still be carrying around a version of my little yellow notebook until I'm 70. But I think the key is just to look for the beautiful moments where Jesus breaks through. Moments such as falling snow or a glance at a manger scene or the wiggly Christmas Eve pageant. Let's look for glimpses of God this Advent season.
Where have you seen Him?
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