Advent Day 14

Shalom means peace in Hebrew

Shalom is more than the absence of conflict.  It's the peace that surpasses understanding; the peace that only God can give.

And this is the last day of the second week of Advent, the week that celebrates peace.

Shalom.

(It also means hello and good-bye.)

Advent Day 13

Friday the 13th has some roots in Christianity.  Friday is unlucky because that was the day Christ was crucified.  13 is unlucky because there were 13 at the last supper, the 13th member was Judas who betrayed Christ.

Whatever, Friday the 13th is not unlucky during Advent when the holiness of the season makes every day sacred and therefore not unlucky.

I want to walk peacefully on earth, kissing the earth with my feet. ~ Thich Nhat Nanh

How wonderful to kiss the earth with each step that we take.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings news of peace, who announces good things, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" ~ Isaiah 52:7 (International Standard Version)

What's up with all the talk about feet?  Spread peace wherever you go and you will have beautiful feet.

Lord, give me beautiful feet and remind me to kiss the earth with them.

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Advent Day 12

True lovers of peace are those who, in all their sufferings upon earth, remain at peace in mind and body for the love of Jesus Christ.

~ Francis of Assisi

I fell in love with St. Francis when I listened to a Great Courses lecture series about him on CDs. His personality was so much more robust than is shown in most paintings and stained glass of him. A few things that stand out in my memory. When Francis made a vow of poverty, he did so my giving away everything he owed, including his clothes.  He stood in the town square, bare naked, praising God, and humiliating his wealthy businessman father. It amuses me that Francis enjoyed having animals in his worship services.  A lot of his pictures have him surrounded by animals; the artists got that right about him.  Another great story is  about how Francis wanted to be like Jesus in every way.  He felt he should be martyred, but how does one accomplish that? Francis devised a plan. Since the Crusades were going on, he thought that if he took a trip to the Muslim world to spread the good news about Christ, that he would surely be tortured and killed. But when the Muslim ruler, I think his name was Saladin, had Francis brought to his home, they became great friends. Apparently people couldn't help but like the man. Instead of having Francis killed, Saladin had an armed guard escort Francis safely back home.

St. Francis was a true lover of peace. We can all follow in his footsteps and be peace lovers in our own walk and our own ways.

I found this picture of St. Francis at wikimedia.org free to use and share.

It's called Saint Francis of Assisi and scenes of his life painted by Bonaventura Berlinghieri in 1235, according to wikimedia.

Advent Day 10

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
     righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
    and righteousness will look down form the sky.

~ Psalm 85: 10-11

How's that for beautiful imagery?

The theme today is peace on earth.  How does one bring peace on earth?

I experienced peace throughout this day.  It was brought to me by the lady in Walgreen's who laughed and joked with me while she looked for my collage. It was brought to me again by the cashier in Hobby Lobby who smiled and said she'd be glad to check me out too, even though she meant to take her lunch break after the customer in front of me. And more peace checking out in Ross. Sales people are not always friendly and peaceful, especially at this busy time of year.  But my girl was a gem, taking care of my items, talking like friends, being pleasant and smiling the whole time. Lunch at Atlanta Bread was perfect. The food was delicious, the latte even more so. It was 3:00 pm and not so busy. Friends enjoying a meal or a coffee or a snack together, the busboy wishing everyone happy holidays, the workers tending to business while tending to the customers all created an ambiance of peace.

Next stop was work at the public library and the peace wrapped up in joy continued.  I work with great people, fun and funny, thoughtful and quirky, quiet and interesting. I had an envelope in my mailbox from Beth. Oh my gosh, she is so creative. I will add a picture to this post of all the items. Not only creative but clever, the thing I love the most is a book mark made out of a sample paint strip. When I saw it, I laughed and then I smiled and then I hunted down Beth and hugged her.

It was slow at the library due to the ice, snow and cold but there were people there who needed my help.  It's good to be on the other side of giving peace.  I'm constantly amazed at how appreciative people are and how they don't keep it to themselves. It was a calm and easy night, pure peace.

So how does one bring peace on earth? One small act at a time.

Advent Day 9

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:7 (Revised Standard Version)

"God, I surrender to you all my cluttered thoughts."  These are THE UNCLUTTERED HEART words to carry with you for today. 

Is it just my imagination, or is it really easier to surrender cluttered thoughts to God than to hand over an entire cluttered existence?

My favorite people in the whole world are coming to visit soon. With Advent-like anticipation I look forward to their arrival. But I'm also nervous because there is no way I can de-clutter my house before they get here. Not to mention the front porch needs painting in addition to a plethora of other home repairs.

There's a strange balance between the anxiety of presenting oneself as a slovenly slob and the desire to do anything but clean up. Checking my email, wrapping and sending packages, morning Advent devotion, getting out Christmas decorations, watching favorite TV shows and crocheting, texting, blogging...they all call me to take a break.

In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ~ Philippians 4:6  (American Standard Version)

I like this much better.  Talk to God. Ask for help humbly and earnestly. Thank God for making things right, or perhaps for shedding a new light on things that puts those things in the right light.

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. ~ Philippians 4:8  (Good News Translation)

And the scriptures about God's peace all put together say:

In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

May you be filled with God's peace during Advent, Christmas and into the new year.

Advent Day 8

Week 2 - Today we light the candle of Peace.

Or we would be lighting it if we were having church.  Another snow storm blew through our area on Thursday. The problem isn't really the snow but the snow melting a bit during the day and then freezing at night becoming a sheet of ice instead of soft, lovely snow.


It got down to 1 degree on Friday night which is very cold to those of us in Southwest Oklahoma. A congregant from North Dakota commented, "Y'all never would go to church if you lived in North Dakota."

So today I've read my first day of the second week of advent devotion and am drinking my coffee out of my Peace coffee cup.

The scripture in today's devotion comes from Isaiah and includes these verses:

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
     the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together
     and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

I am very literal minded and have always read this scripture literally. It paints a beautiful picture of natural enemies in the animal world living in peace together.  But today my concrete mind cracked a bit, moved outside the box and wondered, could these animals be symbolic?  Be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing.  Some people are bold as lions while others are timid as kids.  People as different as these animals can live in peace together when they are led by the Christ child.

One of my favorite hymns is the peace song:

Let There Be Peace on Earth.

Click on the title to view a sing-along version on YouTube.

Things that make you go "Hmmmm..."

(Luke 12:51) - "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division."  (New American Standard Bible, 1995)

(John 16:33) - "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace..."  (New American Standard Bible, 1995)

So did Jesus come to bring peace or not?  I'd say He brings peace to those who want it.  Sometimes you've got to shake things up first.  Get people to decide what is important and what is truth. And finally, the peace Jesus brings is not of this world.

John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."  (American Standard Bible, 1995)

Advent Day 3

I love today's scripture verse.

Last night at Bible Study, Beth Moore (on DVD) taught about taking up the shield of faith and wielding the sword of God's word. A war is coming, the church will be tested and refined. Oh boy! I can hardly wait!

I found these words comforting:

Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
   to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
   and that we may walk in his paths.
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
   and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
   and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
   and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
   neither shall they learn war any more.

Isaiah 2:3-4

This is a time of peace; a quiet time to be still and know that He is God. A God who can transform into a human being and live with us.  Anticipating the arrival of God as a baby, I enjoy the quiet, the peace, and the joy. Amen.