Advent

Emily Dickinson's poem is about hope. I had this poem in its entirety published in the prison library. I had it made into a mobile that gently swayed with the breeze. Hope is often like that. A gentle breeze that offers a kiss of coolness to a dry and parched soul. Sunday heralds advent. Something long waited. Something greatly anticipated. Advent gives us a glimmer of hope.

I love the advent song O Come, O Come Emmanuel. It was composed in a minor key and has the haunting familiarity of loss and of pain and that of the eventual arrival of hope! The words of the hymn state that God comes for everyone – the joyous and the grieving, those who celebrate and those who mourn.

The song addresses our need of a Savior. It addresses our various stages of life. In that haunting minor key, it tells us that Emmanuel — God-with-Us — comes to comfort the grieving, the mourning, the sad, and the lonely.

This promise, this hope awaits us and all those who mourn — and we rejoice. “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

This advent season may you prepare your hearts for the inclusion of Emmanuel. May you rejoice in anticipation of the coming season.

Simply yours,

Tamara

P.S.  Isaiah 61:1-3 (TLB) 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. ² He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. ³ To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

THE BIG 6-0

¸.•°˚ˆ*♥∗¸¸.• N::I::F::T::Y •♥• N::I::F::T::Y •♥•  A::L::M::O::S::T •♥•  S::I::X::T::Y •¸¸.∗♥*ˆ˚°•.¸

I recall the funk and depression I went through on my 30th birthday. I don’t know why. Some preconceived and misguided conception on my part, I’m sure. Recently I began feeling that way again on this, the advent of my 60th birthday.

So, I started thinking, “What do I want to do, specifically, to herald this milestone?”

1. Go on a cruise?
2. Rent a Limo and take friends on a tour of the local vineyards?
3. Shop until I drop?
4. Make reservations at a fine restaurant?
5. Make a trip to Ohio to visit my beautiful daughter?

All of the above (with exception to visiting my daughter) left me rather… well, unsettled.

Although I’d love to visit my daughter - not Ohio in the dead of winter! Sorry, Baby Cakes, I just can’t do the extreme winters anymore!

So again the question – what to do? How do I want to celebrate my BIG 6-0? I began to think about mortality and how would I like to be eventually be remembered. That’s when the idea began to form. Who says birthdays have to be about us?

I recalled reading a story about a little boy’s birthday party that was a bit different. He asked all his invited guests to bring items to fill a shoebox for the Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan’s Purse. He provided plastic containers for all the guests and the party goers assembled the shoe boxes. Then he and his family delivered the items to a local distribution center.

“…and a child shall lead them”

So, for my birthday week, I created a public event on Facebook asking persons to honor my 60th birthday by donating a canned good (or similar item) to be delivered to My Neighbor’s Panty (my church’s food bank). It can be dropped off at my house or take it yourself. If you are not from the area, then your local food bank would be wonderful. Truly, I believe no child in this country should go to bed hungry.

A number of friends from Ohio are donating to their local food banks. One dear friend told me of her church’s daycare where a single mom and her daughter are just barely making it. Every Thursday she anonymously provides her with enough groceries and snacks for them for over the weekend. You know who you are, and you have touched my heart so deeply!

A former classmate and dear friend who resides in Pennsylvania is donating food to a central food bank where her son serves in their day program. Hugs to you, my friend!

So very many comments and a number have said they will be doing something similar for their birthday! How wonderful is that?

I think there maybe the potential for this type of event to catch on for others. Even those of you reading this blog, if you’re so inclined – donate to a local food bank. It is after the holidays and this is a difficult time for them after having provided for so many during the holiday season.

Again I say, no child in this country should ever have to go to bed hungry.

Matthew 25:35-40

New American Standard Bible

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

Tamara

Free Fall...

Well, it is Autumn!  And it is free! 

There is just something about this time of year.  The chill, the scent, and the promise of winter and then the rebirth of spring. 

Many areas of the country are having their annual county fairs.  Even though I'm not the person who likes the amusement park rides, I do love a good spin on a carousel! 

Community & Church

I previously posted one of my favorite quotations by Mahatma Gandhi regarding faith, community and politics:

"A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion."

And so I ask:

What is the church doing for those in need inside their own walls?
What is the church doing in and for the local community? 
What is the church doing for the world community?

We can and often do reach out to fill the spiritual needs of people, but what about the physical needs of food, clothing, housing?  Or merely spending time with persons who have begun attending our church or who have moved into our community or neighborhood?

Next, I need to take it to a more personal level and ask myself the above questions:

What am I doing for those in need at the church?
What am I doing for my local community?
What am I doing for the world community?

Oh, I may piously sit back and say, "well, I support ministry XYZ with a monthly financial contribution..." but is that enough?  Is that enough to quell the Spirit in my soul that begs for more?  And not necessarily money, but that of time and actually of getting my hands dirty?

In Luke 6, right after the Beatitudes, we are commanded to 'love our enemies'.  It is hard enough to love those who are like-minded, but our enemies?  Really?

Beginning in Luke 6 verse 27:

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Now wait a minute? Does this mean the woman who seeks an abortion?  Does this mean the homosexual?  Does this mean the Muslim?  Yes, it does.  Does this mean we turn our back to sin?  Of course not.  What it means is that we respond as Christ did. In and with love.  Even though the end of this reference speaks of reward, that is not the motivation to perform such acts. We do these acts, these charities because all persons are created in the image of God - not just the Christian.  Being a Christian, proclaiming to be a Christian is not an elitist club or membership.

Today's post is meant for me.  For me to be able to sort through all the religious acts of piety and become a 'verb' - an action word.  It is one thing to know this and quite another to live it.

There are certain things I know quite well about myself.  I have a creative streak, a gift, if you will.  I can conceive some wonderful ideas and plans, but in carrying them out?  Not so good.  Am I able to convey this vision to others and perhaps they can carry them out?  That remains to be seen.

So this I pray:

Abba, Father... help me to see all mankind as created in Your image.  ~Amen!

because we're His,

Tamara

ps... in accordance with verse 30... to the Christian woman who borrowed my book Zipporah and then sold it in her yard sale.  Consider it yours.  I release you and my feeling of shock, awe, hurt and disappointment!  Note to self:  Don't go to yard sales of persons you know or have lent something to. Then don't be angry with yourself for not saying something.  In the scope of eternity, is it worth it?

Today's Devotional Scripture

Today's Verse

The Lord is good to those who hope in Him, to those who seek Him.
~Lamentations 3:25 NCV

Thoughts on today's verse...

The thesaurus provides the following synonyms for the word hope:
expect
trust
anticipate
wish
look forward to

I enjoy word studies and find them helpful in trying to understand the full impact of a particular word. And I like the word hope! It gives the impression of something a little further down the road, something just around the bend. You know, Christmas morning and children opening packages.

What hope isn't is a positive mental attitude. I have hope, but sometimes my attitude is less than positive, in fact it can be down right cynical. There is no way to conquer despair with "happy thoughts". Hope has strength, but not strength of its own. The power of hope comes from the truth it hopes in, no matter what the outcome.

When I had my heart attack and was flown via medical helicopter to Tucson, Arizona I can tell you most assuredly that I have never wanted to fly by helicopter anywhere at all! My anxiety level (and blood pressure) rose substantially, I'm sure. Now, although I was fearful of the trip and the mode thereof, I had hope. The hope was not merely that we would successfully complete the trip, but the hope that if anything happened, I would eventually be in the arms of my loving Savior. That's it, bottom line. But for now, since I am still here, as the last portion of our verse shows, I will continue to seek Him!

My prayer...

Lord God, Heavenly Father - thank you for the word hope! Thank you for its meaning and for what it can do in our lives. My hope and my trust are in You alone. Even so - Amen!

Yours, because we're His,
Tamara