New Year's Eve Reflection

Take me into a New Year, Gracious God. Help me to continue looking for meaning, seeking peace, praying for light, dancing for joy, working for justice, and singing your praise. I go into the new year filled with expectations, a touch of worry, and a bundle of hope. I do not journey into the new year alone but with you as my guide, with a commitment to my disciplines, with a community of family, friends, and faith. Take me into the new year, Creator of beauty and wonder. Bless me with the companionship of Jesus, and gift me with the guidance and power of the Spirit. Amen.

- Larry James Peacock

Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms, and Prayer


From page 398 of Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms, and Prayer by Larry James Peacock. Copyright © 2003 by Larry James Peacock.

Mr. Peacock is so blessed with his way with words.  He has penned so well what I wish to convey to all of you for the New Year. 
 
May your faith be steadfast, your friendships and relationships cherished, and may you dance the dance of joy!
 
~blessings upon you and yours,
Tamara

First Sunday after Christmas

Luke 2:15 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Into our world, where we usually stay busy and frequently feel tired, God comes. God comes to us where we are, somewhere between darkness and light. God comes to us as we are, anxious and worried, hopeful and blessed. God comes to us as wonderful and surprising as angels singing to shepherds on a hill. God comes to us now as a small baby in a manger.

Let us marvel at the Holy Child, worship on bended knee, and sing with the angels. Let us be blessed by the gaze of the Christ child. God looks at us with love and great joy that spreads to all people.

~ Larry James Peacock
Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms, and Prayer

From page 392 of Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms, and Prayer by Larry James Peacock. Copyright & copy; 2003 by Larry James Peacock. All rights reserved.

Today’s Question

Think of a way God has come to you.

I can't speak for you, but God usually comes to me in the form of a person. Sometimes it's a grandchild who wants to be held and loved on. I have to stop what I'm doing, sit down and allow that child access and my total attention, and probably my lap, too. That's how it is with the Lord.  I have to 'stop', 'be still' and allow Him to have the entire moment or piece of time.  All too often it does feel like merely a 'moment' that I've given to him.

This time of year, it is so easy to remember and even to share about the 'child in a manger' but to forget or ignore the fact that approximately 33 years later He was the Savior on the Cross.  When we read or recall John 3:16, let us not forget to also read John 3:17.

yours, because we're His,

Tamara

Christmas Blessings

Christmas blessings from our house to your house.  May Christ be the center of your day. 

Keep it simple and keep it sane.



Lighting Candles

Psalm 119:105 (King James Version)
105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

John 1:5 (New International Version, ©2010)
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Lighting candles at this time of year seems especially meaningful. Many Christians light candles on an Advent wreath to mark the four weeks until Christmas. Often they include a white candle in the center of the wreath to symbolize Christ, the Light of the world. Tonight gather family or friends around a table on which you have placed a large candle, and provide a candle for each person. Sit in darkness for a moment; then as someone lights the central candle, say, “You [Jesus] are the Light of the world, and we take our light from you.” After each person lights a candle from the central candle, invite everyone to name places in the world or situations where light is needed. After each place or situation is named, all may raise their candles and say, “Light of the world, chase away the darkness.”

- Larry Peacock
Openings

From p. 380 of Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms, and Prayer by Larry James Peacock. Copyright © 2003 by Larry James Peacock. All rights reserved.

I love the play of flickering light from a candle upon the walls and reflected from mirrors. Sometimes when I have difficulty sleeping I like to sit at the dining table and light a candle and meditate and pray. It seems to help me focus. There is no particular religious significance to it, only that of helping me to calm down, focus and simply ‘be still’. I can literally feel my blood pressure lowering when I do this.

I think too, that when I snuff the candle out and the smoke rises, that it represents my prayers – rising from my lips to the realms of heaven. I love the references in the Bible that describe our prayers as being incense that rises up to the throne of heaven.

May our prayers, the incense we offer be holy and pure. May they not contain the stench of hatred and evil, but seek for the good of others. May we, especially at this time of year, remember to exemplify peace on earth and goodwill to and for all. ~Amen!

~Tamara