Advent
A short meditation on the theme of Advent with bible readings from the King James Version of the Bible.
Summary. Waiting, preparing, proclaiming the good news, incarnation and renewal.
Text Is.40:31 "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength".
Waiting Isaiah 40:28-31
Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
Wait? We hate to wait. And so we have made an instant world . . . instant credit. . . instant coffee . . . fast foods . . . microwave ovens . . . computers that perform hundreds of thousands of functions in a microsecond. We get angry at the driver ahead of us for only driving the speed limit. We are always in a hurry. But God is wiser than we are. He is not in a hurry. God waits. Instead of giving us what we need immediately, God waits for the right time . . . because He loves us. God will not settle for the wrong time. The right time, God's time, is worth waiting for.
The children of Israel had been in captivity and bondage to foreign powers. They yearned for a deliverer, a messiah, one who would liberate them. The prophets of old had foretold his coming, but for some 400 years the prophetic voice fell silent. The world, at least the Jewish world, held its breath and waited. God will not settle for the wrong time. The right time, God's time, is worth waiting for.
Preparing Mark 1:1-8 The Baptist proclaims Jesus
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Jim could have been a world class athlete. He had the potential. He had the opportunity. He had the coach who was ready to help. But he didn't prepare himself. He didn't show up for the workouts. He skipped practices. He thought he was strong enough and good enough already. So when the time was right, he was not ready, and he missed his chance. God's gifts are given only to those who are prepared to receive them.
The scribes and Pharisees weren't ready. They knew it all. The scriptures were complete, a closed book. But the simple folk waited and yearned for their deliverer. They were ready, and they received. God's gifts are given only to those who are prepared to receive them.
Proclaiming the good News Luke 4:16-21 Jesus reads in the synagogue
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".
The bible Society distributes millions of copies of the bible each year. The Gideons place bibles in libraries, hospitals and hotels. The Good NEWS of the fulfillment of scripture is available for all to read. Yet the most important messengers of this Good News are the millions of Christians walking about the world. Each one can and should tell out the Good News and not leave it to someone else.
The word gospel means GOOD NEWS! If only everyone knew! The Bible, which sits on so many shelves in so many homes collecting dust, contains the story of Jesus Christ. And we call it GOOD NEWS! In a world filled with bad news, people need to know this story. It is the story of God who became human to teach us the truth, to show us His love, and to give us a chance to start over. It's the BEST NEWS! An extraordinary event. The creator became a part of his creation. God became like us, so that we could become like Him.
Incarnation John 1:1-14 In the beginning
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
The most common misconception about Jesus comes from the most common title the Bible gives Him: Son of God. It sounds like Jesus is God's offspring, separate from the Father. But the Gospel of John is clear. Jesus is God-Who-Became-Human, the Word of God who became flesh. Jesus is God expressing Himself in human form. Why is this so important? Because we need to realize who that was in the manger, and who that was on the cross. God did not send someone else, but came Himself. Doesn't that tell us how much He loves us?
A man provided money to set up a Leprosy colony in Africa. The doctors and nurses told the patients about the man whose generosity had provided help in treating their disease. Soon the patients felt they knew all about him. But how much better it would have been if the man himself had gone to Africa and shown himself in person and met the patients face to face. Then they really would have known him.
God came into his creation and showed himself in person to the world in the person of Jesus.
Renewal 2 Corinthians 5:17
If any man be in Christ they are a new creation. The old things are passed away, all things are become new.
Some people have a very hard time with change, with new ideas, with new ways of doing things. Old is much more comfortable than new. We know old. We've done old. We've been old. New is risky. What if we don't like new? What if new is too hard for us to do, to be? Maybe we ought to just stick with old. But sticking with old means having trouble with Christ. You see, Christ makes things new. Christ makes people new. In fact, in Christ all things become new. So if you prefer old, and avoid new, you might just be avoiding Christ's renewed presence in your life.
G. Tatler
Food For Thought
Psalms 50:23 (NLT)
23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
Ramblings
The devil is causing all kinds of chaos, right now. Instead of giving him the time of day I am going to praise God, because I know God will turn all things around for his good.
In other news, Kaela was excited this morning because she got to perform with the choir at church this morning. So I decided to post this instead of an ugly rant.
A Simple Breakfast
Cinnamon Toast
Bread, Butter, Sugar, Cinnamon
Spread butter on bread. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar on top of buttered bread. Place in 425 degree oven for appox. 10 minutes.
Weekly Menu
Due to the holidays I am keeping my menu this week simple.
- grits and biscuits
- Oatmeal with Cinnamon Toast
- Muffins and Fruit
- Smothered Potatoes and Fried Hot dogs
Lunch
- Bean Burritos
- Grilled Cheese and Veggies
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Toast
- Chili Fries
- Turkey Sandwiches
Dinner
- Enchiladas (chicken and beef, making use of precooked meat in deep freezer)
- Chili and Cornbread
- Crockpot Chicken w/Potatoes and Carrots
- Beef Vegetable Soup (using ground beef instead of stew meat)
- Thanksgiving Dinner
Quick Notes
Spent the day scrubbing down walls and shampooing the carpets, the kids did the baseboards and their bedroom doors. All that needs to be done now is shampooing the sofa, waxing the floors (tile)and washing the windows. Hopefully I will be able to get that done tomorrow. I am exhausted, bread is going in the bread machine, chicken in the Crockpot and cookies in the oven. When the cookies are done I am crawling into bed, the chicken and bread will be done in the morning, aren't small appliances handy?
turkey pot pie
I know Thanksgiving isn't quite here yet, but I am already planning ahead for upcoming menus. One dish I make every year is Turkey Pot Pie
- 2 frozen deep dish pie shells, thawed (or homemade pastry for a double crust pie, or 1 box Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts)
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 small onion, minced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper
- 2 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 2-3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose-flour
- 1/2 cup milk
Directions
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Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
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Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onion, celery, carrots, parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper.
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Cook and stir until the vegetables are soft.
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Stir in the broth.
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Bring mixture to a boil.
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Stir in the potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm.
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In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
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Stir in the turkey and flour.
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Add the milk, and heat through.
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Stir the turkey mixture into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened.
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Cool slightly, then pour mixture into 1 unbaked pie shell.
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Cover with remaining crust.
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Flute edges, and make 4 slits in the top crust to let out steam.
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Place on a cookie sheet.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
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Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C), and continue baking for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Note- Cooling the filling before putting in pie shell is EXTREMELY important, if it is too hot it will make the crust mushy.
A Relaxing Day
Today I decide to just kick back, so we all stayed in the bed with hubs and watched Walker, Texas Ranger. I dragged myself away from everyone so I could head out for Women's Bible study and DHC meeting. It started to rain after I returned home, what is it about the rain that make me lazy? Due to my laziness not much got done beyond the basics. I felt somewhat guilty, but I got over it quickly. I am going to crawl into bed a scribble down what needs to be done tomorrow, do a little bible studying and read a chapter or two of Shepherds Abiding.
Wordless Wednesdays
The Journey
I am still discerning where I am suppose to go in this journey of mine. As I wait I am not sitting still, I did as the Father(Catholic) suggested and enrolled my kids in Religious Ed. and I myself am still attending RCIA. My Hubs agreed to have our marriage blessed by the church, if that time shall come. Two remaining obstacles for me are purgatory and trying to adapt to the liturgy of the Catholic Mass, I hate to say it but it seems so blah compared to the liturgy of an Anglican mass. In a perfect world Mass would look like this:
