Peace | This Blessed Christmas

'Prayer for Peace' by Valerie Hart

Peace on Earth
This phrase has been repeating in my mind all day. Today, I don't feel peace. This whole year has not felt peaceful. And sometimes I wonder if full peace is possible.

There is a song I heard yesterday for the first time that declared "there is no peace in quiet." It's a song about missing someone and how silence reminds you of absence.

Yesterday, a dear elderly man at my church passed away. A person with a ready smile, supportive word, and sweet humor. He touched so many lives. Our status as a church for the misfits of society comes much from the hospitality and love that oozed from this man and his wife.

People loved him. Because he loved them, and they felt that. We saw Jesus in him and his ways. He was a quiet, lovely person. Peaceful in manner and deed.

His legacy reminds me of a passage in Romans 12 about being a living sacrifice:

Love should be shown without pretending. Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. Don't hesitate to be enthusiastic -- be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Contribute to the needs of God's people, and welcome strangers into your home. Be happy with those who are happy and cry with those who are crying. Consider as everyone as equal, and don't think that you're better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Don't be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.

Maybe peace on Earth so far as the whole world standing side by side in harmony isn't possible. Maybe it won't happen. But that doesn't mean I will stop, so far as it depends on me, living peaceably. I am a peacemaker. I am helping to raise up a generation of peacemakers. I go forward in peace because peacemaking is part of my identity in Christ.

If I have anything to do with it, there will be peace.

Beginning this blessed Christmas

On the first day of Advent, I don't feel like being intentional.
I don't feel like looking for the blessing.

I feel like a headache with a twinge of sadness.

And this is all the more reason I'm forcing myself at 10:00pm at night to think about the blessings of the day.

I woke up in a warm bed.
Protected by a sweet dog who loves me.
There was food for me to eat whenever I wanted it.
I had medicine immediately accessible for my pain.
There were many options for entertainment to distract myself from not feeling good.
I had clean water to drink to re-hydrate.
I had hot, running water for my shower.
My parents readily took my calls when I needed a chat.
I had the day off from a job that I love so I did not miss out on work.
I was able to enjoy experimenting with food in the kitchen for supper.
I am able to read for enjoyment.
And now, I'm using the computer I own to shout into the void of the Internet.

And beyond all of these temporary blessings, I have peace with God through Jesus, and I can testify to the hope of glory!

So, yes. This day was not how I had planned to begin my self appointed 'blessed Christmas.'

But it was full of blessings whether I feel like looking for them or not.

Blessed Christmas. Day one.

This blessed Christmas

We are SO close to December. Which also means that we are getting close to Advent.

Advent has got to be one of my favorite times of the year. There is such expectancy and warmth.

I was trying to ask myself why I like Christmas so much. Every answer I could come up always came back to hope.

This is the season of hope. And expectant hope.

Jesus has already come. We expect to celebrate.
He is going to come again. We are expectantly waiting.

I have to confess. I have been dreading the Christmas season.

It is busy at church.
At home.
Out shopping.

And to a woman who has fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, that sounds terrible.

This is my fourth Christmas having a chronic illness. By now, I have been around the block to know what the holidays will mean for my emotions, body, disease, etc.

As I was relaxing into this feeling of disappointment and dread, I realized that just wasn't acceptable to me.

Ergo. I've been trying to catch myself each time the stress and dread starts to take over and remind myself.

This is a joyful thing. I don't have to dread it.
This is one of my favorite things. I don't have to put a ton of energy into it.
This is a blessed Christmas.
Because.
Jesus has already come. I expect to celebrate that.
He is going to come again. I am expectantly waiting.

I invite you to join me for a blessed Christmas this year. My plan is to blog throughout the Advent season as I explore it in a new way. Tune in back here starting December 1. Let's go through this season in hope together.

The Four Calls of Advent: Preparing for Christ

Today is the beginning of the new liturgical calendar. We begin again to tell the story of Jesus beginning with the anticipation of the Messiah's birth: Advent. We are reminded of the past -- Israel waiting for Christ -- and we look forward toward Christ's future coming.

These are the four calls of Advent:

A Call to Hope
   We remember God's promises of a Savior. God always keeps his promises; he is faithful. We remember the hope of a Messiah for the Israelites. We rekindle and reignite our expectancy of Christ's second coming. There is hope in Christ. He is like a light in the darkness that shows us where to go. Christ Jesus, you are our hope.

A Call to Peace
    Christ's birth and death made it possible for there to be peace between God and man. Christ has restored our relationship and made a way for us to spend eternity with him. We are ambassadors of God's peaceful kingdom on earth now. We daily establish peace in our hearts which flows into our lives. Christ Jesus, you are our peace.

A Call to Joy
     Great joy was sent to us! The people walking in darkness have seen a great light! Where there was darkness -- there is now light! Where there was death -- there is now life! The angels announced the message of joy available for all people -- salvation through Christ. We renew our joy this season of Advent. Christ Jesus, you are our joy.

A Call to Love
    We remember Love incarnate. The ultimate example of Love was born as a baby. His life was filled with love. He loved us so much that he died a horrible death for us! Jesus, established a way for us to live with God forever. We now spread his love to the world. Our prime objective is love! Love of God and love of others. We act in the way that only people who have known love can love. And how fortunate we are to have a record of Christ's actions on earth! Jesus told us that his followers will be known by their love. Christ Jesus, is our love.

Practice living in hope, peace, joy, and love this Advent season!

Gaudete performed by the King Singers

Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria virgine, gaudete! Tempus adest gratiæ hoc quod optabamus, Carmina lætitiæ devote reddamus. Deus homo factus est natura mirante, Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante. Ezechielis porta clausa pertransitur, Unde lux est orta salus invenitur. Ergo nostra concio psallat iam in lustro; Benedicat Domino: Salus Regi nostro.

Rejoice, rejoice! Christ has born of the Virgin Mary -- rejoice! The time of grace has come -- what we have wished for, songs of joy. Let us give back faithfully. God has become man, with nature marvelling. The world has been renewed by Christ who is reigning. The closed gate of Ezekiel is passed through, whence the light is raised, salvation is found. Therefore, let our preaching now sing in brightness. Let it give praise to the Lord: Greeting to our King.

Christmas begins now

On Friday night, we had the Advent Labyrinth at church. Leading up to the fact, I think I had a flu bug. I was feeling awful, and I wasn't sure if I would even make it through setup. But I did. And the event. Although setup was awful, my brain was working about as well as the scarecrow's, and I felt like I had eaten bad eggs... the Labyrinth was beautiful. It was exactly everything I had hoped and prayed it would be when I envisioned it months ago. The soft candlelight, the carols played on violin and piano... A hush falling over the crowd of around thirty people of varied ages all mesmerized by the glow. So peaceful. For a taste... Just put on this music and look at these photos.

In the Bleak Midwinter

   

^Enjoying a cup of coffee Saturday morning after a successful event the night before