Deck the Halls

You've heard the expression, "His eyes are bigger than his stomach," when it comes to someone taking more food than they can eat. Well, when it comes to Christmas decorating, I have more "want to" than "can do" it seems. It's a common problem for many people. Part of my frustration, also like many, is that the "can do" is a smaller amount than in years past. 

It seems that I need to sit back and take some of my own advice. This weekend, I came across something I wrote many years ago, back when I had kids at home and was working full-time, but it rang true for me today. It's from my book, "As We Wait," an Advent book that shares about the symbols and customs of Advent, while at the same time, reminding the reader of the real reason for the season.

DECK THE HALLS

There are many decorating traditions.  One of my absolute “must-do” traditions is the official “Hanging of the Greens” at church, marking the beginning of the Advent season for me as long as I can remember.

My mother’s rule was that decorations could not go up until December.  The boxes of decorations lined the downstairs hallway after Thanksgiving, but they were just waiting.  She was just as picky that it be put away by New Year’s Eve in order to start the year “fresh.”

She must have worked nonstop on December 1^st.  When we got home from school, the house would be totally transformed.  There would be wreaths on the front door, candles in the windows, the crèche was set up, stockings were hung, and Christmas music would be playing.  She even changed the curtains in the kitchen.  We had red curtains used only at Christmastime.

Some families decorate their houses to look like magical fairylands.  Others have a calmer approach.  I liked putting up garland and red bows on our picket fence and a wreath on the door because most of my decorating was inside.  (It looked wonderful when it snowed!)

On Christmas Night, my mom would say, “Let’s go look at Christmas lights,” as if it were a new idea.  Since we did this every year, it was hardly a surprise.  My dad drove us around downtown Nashville to see the store windows with animated decorations.  I loved seeing the tall office buildings with messages spelled out with the darkened rooms.  Then we always drove around looking at decorated houses.  I tried doing this with my own children but it was harder to find as many decorated houses during the years people cut back on energy so we never developed that tradition.  More people do it now.

The process of decorating is sometimes a part of the joy.  Others may dread that part but enjoy the result.  I have always enjoyed relaxing in a room lit only by the lights of the Christmas tree.  It is so pretty and peaceful.

In the centuries before Christ was born, it was common to decorate houses with evergreens, holly, and wreaths as a symbol of life.  To the ancient Romans, evergreens such as holly and fir trees represented peace and joy.  These were adopted by the early Christians to symbolize eternal life.  We still use these things today.

It does not matter what you do or do not do when it comes to decorating.  It may suit your lifestyle best to put a wreath on your door or lights on an existing ficus tree if anything.  Perhaps you know of someone that would like decorations but cannot put them up.  You would probably enjoy it as much as the other person would if you offered to help put them up.  (Return to put them away when the season ends.)

My parents had a real tree but only for a week.  My lifestyle is different.  I work full time, run all the errands, we traveled after Christmas, and we prefer to enjoy the decorations for a longer time.  For me, artificial trees are used and they may be up until Epiphany.  I wait until after December 1, but it may be days later.

The important thing is not to follow a tradition for the sake of following it.  Traditions offer a certain sense of order and stability, but if they are followed only because you always have and they have become a burden, it is time to consider alternatives and find your best fit.

A prayer for today

Lord, be in my heart this season in all that I see and do.  Help me remember that it is the spirit of the season that matters.  Thank you for Jesus who brings us such joy.

This is  from my book, "As We Wait," 

an Advent book that shares personal 

stories while it teaches about the symbols 

and customs of Advent. At the same time, 

we are reminded of the of the real reason

 for the season. It's been recently updated.

Beauty from Scraps

Sometimes, it seems that things just aren't working out the way we want, or that maybe, our prayers are being ignored. But we don't always know what is going to happen, and sometimes our prayers are answered in ways we'd never imagine.  God can take the bad and sad moments of our lives, our scraps of failures, and turn them into something remarkable. This selection is from my advent book, A Candle is Burning.

Beauty from Scraps

 Quilts are wonderful. You can use them to sit on for a picnic on a warm summer day or take them to football games to ward off the chill. Snuggling under a warm quilt on a cold, stormy night brings peace as you are warm and safe under it.

Now, we often make quilts using brand new fabrics chosen just for that quilt. But back in pioneer days, quilts were made of scraps of fabric salvaged from worn out clothing. Women sometimes made them using interesting patterns, creating a beautiful new blanket from the old fabrics.

God takes our broken moments, our failures and shortcomings, and makes them into beautiful moments of joy. Our scraps become masterpieces with His touch. He took the barren couple, Elizabeth and Zacharias, and in them, created John, who would bring others to the glory of God.

  

Luke 1:14-16

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

Remember today, to take heart, that even as you struggle, God is using your problems in ways you may not even notice to create goodness. Praise Him and look for the glory in all things.

from the book,

A Candle is Burning, 

an Advent book

for the whole family

that uses the Nativity story

to share the themes of Advent.

The Hanukkah Miracle

It's Hanukkah, a holiday celebration I've always liked. Since so few of my students had an understanding of the holiday, I taught them about it every year. Guess you could consider it my little contribution to the understanding of Kentuckians for someone else, a group different from themselves.

Yet a few days ago, I heard a national newscaster say, "It's almost Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday about the dedication of a temple." That was ALL she said. Well, yes, it is, but it's SO MUCH MORE than that! It's about the MIRACLE that happened! It's people standing up for their faith. It's the little guy's victory over the big government, and a story about people that did the best they could with what they had. Above all, it's a reminder that God is with us.... ALL of us.

Way back, around  150-200 years before Jesus Christ was born, life was hard if you were Jewish in many areas, as we know from reading the history in the Torah and the Old Testament. In Jerusalem, the Syrian Army had taken over the city, the Jewish temple was turned into a temple honoring Zeus. (Unlike the Jews, the Syrians were Pagans, meaning they were polytheistic, believing in more than one god. Most believed in the Greek gods you read about today as mythology.)  The Jews were forced into slavery and their religion was forbidden. For many years, they kept their faith alive underground.

Finally, in 165 B.C.the a group led by the Maccabee family, went to war against them. This small group managed to drive the Syrian army out of Jerusalem and reclaim their temple. But it'd been defiled and they wanted to re-rededicate it to God. The temple had a menorah, an "eternal" flame, which of course, had been extinguished by the pagans. As it turned out, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to light the flame for one day. It took eight days to get more oil, but they did it anyway.

The Jewish temples had gold menorahs, a candlestick with 7 lamps. Only the center one that was kept burning. The other 6, 3 on each side, were only burned at night or during holy times. This was a design given to Moses by God. (You can read about it in Exodus 25) Most of these golden menorahs, found only in temples, were taken by invading Armies because they're valuable.

But that one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days! It was a miracle! This is why Jewish families today celebrate Hanukkah, a word meaning dedication, to remember the miracle that happened, and to encourage them to remain faithful. A Hanukkah menorah has nine candles... one for each night, plus one in the middle that is simply used to light the others. (The traditional menorah was only allowed inside the temple, so they had to create a different one for use at home.) During Hanukkah, families light a menorah, for the 8 days of Hanukkah. The center candle is lit, then readings are shared as they light one candle the first night, two the second night, etc. It is a time for family celebrations, holiday foods, and gift giving, as they remember the miracle.

The date of Hanukkah is based on the Jewish calendar, so the date fluctuates between late November through December.  It's NOT a "Jewish Christmas" as some would say, but a noble remembrance that dates back long before the birth of Christ. Indeed, Jesus Christ himself, a Jewish boy, probably lit the Menorah, played the dreidel games, ate special foods, and participated in readings reminding him of his Jewish heritage.

While not Jewish, I've loved the story of Hanukkah for many years, ever since I found out what it was about. I have an appreciation for the God of the Jews, MY God as well, and am inspired by these faithful people that stood up for God, and the right to worship Him. The miracle of the light is a part of the Jewish heritage, but a miracle we can all appreciate.

Expectations

As we near the end of the first week of Advent, the week of HOPE, I thought I'd share something from the first week of one of my favorite Advent books, He Shall Be Called Jesus.

Expectations

Matthew 1:22-23

“Hey! Something really awesome is coming soon. Get ready!” What would you think?  How would you prepare? You may believe it, but you might be cynical and say, “Oh sure, whatever.” Chances are, this has happened and it was different than expected. Maybe worse, maybe better, but different.

Yesterday, we talked about the prophecies. How would this Messiah save them? Where and when would this powerful King be born? Many speculated about him. Would he come with a big Army to overcome their oppressors? How would he overcome the wrongs? When? Somehow, a little baby born in an animal’s feed trough in an obscure little town just wasn’t quite what many wanted, or even imagined.

God works in mysterious ways. You have heard this many times. He provides in ways we can’t imagine at times. We might even argue! Yet we discover something, perhaps insight, or a new direction. He may inspire you to action. This change may be for your benefit or God could be using you for someone else. The challenge for you today is to be open to what God has in store for you, even things you never expected.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel" which means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:22-23

What is Advent? 

from the book  

He Shall Be Called Jesus,  
which looks at the entire

 life of Jesus Christ, 
through the Advent lenses 
of hope, peace, joy, and love.

newly updated in 2012

Blue, the Color of Mary's Cloak

This is from my book, Shades of Glory. In this Advent devotional, different parts of the Nativity Story were discussed, using the themes of colors, such as yellow straw and white sheep.

Blue, the Color of Mary’s Cloak

          In the majority of the sculptures and paintings of Mary, she is shown wearing blue. Early artists showed her in blue covered by a red hood. Blue symbolizes the earth and the sky while red often symbolizes Divinity.

          Later artists dropped the red, but kept her in blue. Blue is also the color for loyalty and faith. She was a faithful woman or would not have been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ.

          In the Torah, the scriptures of the Israelites, they were instructed to put blue on the edge of their garments to remind them of the sky and heaven. They also used blue to cover holy items, so it was a special color. Whatever the reason, blue is the color associated with Mary.

          Some churches now use blue Advent candles rather than purple.  They claim this is to distinguish it from Lent that also uses purple. Just as Advent is the time before Christmas, Lent is the time before Easter, both a time of reflection. .

Mary did you know?

That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know? That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.

 

Thoughts on Advent

What is Advent? Click here to find out.

 It's Advent... to some, that really doesn't mean much, but it means a lot to me. Thinking of the calendar, Advent is the time before we celebrate the birth of Christ, the 4 weeks before Christmas. It's the beginning of the Christian Church Year.  To others, it's just "the time before Christmas" which seems to concentrate more on the craziness of the season than anything.

Don't get  me wrong - both of these are true. The time before Christmas is a magical, though somewhat stressful, period of time, especially when you have children. You're dealing with excitement surrounding Christmas, as well as the dozens of extra activities from concerts, to church events, to parties, and holiday travel.

But when I think of Advent, I think of more mystical thoughts I guess. I've always loved the season - perhaps because it appeals to my optimistic side - knowing that "it'll all be wonderful" while at the same time focusing on hope, peace, joy, and love... what's not to like? To me, the time preparing for Christmas, looking forward to seeing the kids open gifts, is better than Christmas Day itself. I love Christmas Day - I just like the whole "Adventish" aspect of preparing for it more.

Beginning with the Hanging of the Greens, the yearly renewal begins - it's the kick-off of the season for me. The idea of ancient people hearing the prophecies of Isaiah, looking forward to the birth of a Savior... and the angel sharing the news with Mary and Joseph... the scripture of the nativity....it's all very special to me.

It's possible, perhaps... some might even say definitely, that I got a little too carried away during Advent. Decorating a different tree in each room seemed a tad extreme to some. But while reality has forced me to cut back on a few things - primarily due to lack in independence mixed with reluctance to ask for help - I still love this time of year. I can put out dozens of nativities... and as I look at Mary cradling her newborn son, and see Joseph standing there protectively, I think of the scriptures and imagine what it must have been like.

My favorite songs of the season are "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "O Holy Night," but there are so many others I love as well. I've been listening to them for several weeks... yes, before Advent. Perhaps we could say the music was "the Advent of Advent?" No? Guess I'll just admit that I love the imagery of Advent and just wanted to enjoy it early!  :)

I've written several Advent devotional books, on various themes, so it's a topic I've thought about at great length. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of the things from these books. I haven't decided whether to share all from one book, from different books each week, how often to share, or to be completely mixed up. Who knows? Guess I'll figure it out as I go. Stay tuned.

My Soul Magnifies the Lord... on it's own?

While the majority of my blog posts are somewhat planned, this one certainly wasn't. But I just had a moment of insight, not quite an epiphany, as it's not new, but a reminder of something I knew... but had ceased appreciating.  No, it's not amazing or anything but it managed to hit me - it was a message I needed right then.

I recently started a series about FALL and the next post is about leaves. I've actually been intending to write it for two weeks, but it hasn't happened. Mentally it's been written half a dozen times as I've been rejoicing in the beautiful leaves we have this year, but technology has not quite caught up to the posting our thoughts automatically... which is probably a really good thing.

"My soul magnifies the Lord," said Mary as she spoke to Elizabeth. Mary had gone to visit her after the angel's message that Mary would have a child, and that Elizabeth, would also. They were both rejoicing, and when Mary spoke, Elizabeth's baby moved. (That always makes me cry.)

"What on earth does this have to do with writing, or not writing, a blog about fall leaves?" you wonder. Everything.  As I've passed the beautiful leaves, marveling at the sparkling colors against the bright blue sky, I've felt awe and contentment. One day, struck by the beauty, that line of scripture came to mind and it's been planned as part of that post ever since.

The Lord is complete. He is mighty, all knowing and all powerful.... so how could we possibly magnify, or increase Him? When your heart is full of joy, you have an almost physical boost from it. Your soul magnifies that joy and it permeates throughout your whole being. When the soul magnifies the Lord, it isn't increasing Him physically, but making YOU more aware... does this make sense at all? It's one of those "I know and understand" concepts that isn't possible to explain.

As I looked out the window at the large 100+ year old oak tree, I noticed the layers of colors and how the sun was hitting them in a way that reminded me of little spotlights. This inspired me to write that overdue post on Leaves in my Fall series.  But I just sat there, and the words Mary spoke again hit me.

This morning, I am unbelieveably weary, both physically, and mentally. I'm so tired of the joint pain and shortness of breath that have been my constant companions recently as fluid fills in the spaces around my heart and lungs. As I sat with my hands on the keyboard, nothing happened. Nothing physical that is, as in, no words were written. Yet, as I looked at the tree, and considered what it meant to magnify the Lord, I realized that inwardly, I had been lifted up. A feeling of peace came over me, a sense of completeness.... after a few minutes, I wanted to share, but see now, that it isn't really possible. My soul had magnified the Lord within me, as I had glorified God in the beauty of nature.

Before, I related to Mary's words as a mother, remembering how it felt carrying a baby, full of awe at the miracle of the life within. But recently I can understand the words in other circumstances, as I praise God for the blessings He has given me, even the simple joy of appreciating the autumn leaves.

And the other blog post? the one about "Memories of Leaves?" It's in my head... and soon I'll get it into words. Until then, peace be with you. Enjoy this glorious fall day.

The Foods of Fall

The Foods of Fall

 Part Two of the Six Part series, "Happy Fall, Y'all!" is about the FOODS of Fall. YUM!!!! You'll definitely want to try the recipe shared, too.

click here:   Part Two: The Foods of Fall
Did you miss the earlier post? Follow the  link on the left side.