"DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?" A REPRISE

For me, once I start looking for the Lord, I see His hand all over the place.

This week, I've focused on Listening for the Lord and I have "heard" his "song" everywhere!

My Sunday morning cuppa included time scanning the "funnies"which many households refer to as the comics.

Then, I "heard" an affirmation from the Lord---loud & clear. I just love "Family Circus". So real and it always makes me laugh. This morning's Sunday School lesson, quoted Ann Voskamp. 

"Oxygenated grace is laughter." Something most of us need more of. 

As I began typing this entry, the melody of "Do You Hear What I hear" drifted in from the den.

Hubby was watching Tennessee Crossroads on PBS featuring a visit to "Sunny Side Lights" in Brentwood, TN. 

He was watching......

I was listening to the melody but the lyrics spoke inside my head..........

Do you hear what I hear

A song, a song

High above the trees

With a voice as big as the sea.

.....and I heard my "spiritual" song as my week ended. (James 4:8) A song from the Lord.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?"

Last Tuesday's In Touch devotional gave a great analogy of one's response, in today's culture, to God's inspired, inerrant word compared with the response of the Israelites as they heard God's Word for the first time since their exile. (Nehemiah 8:1-9)

• WITH EAGER ATTENTIVENESS--as Ezra read scripture from "daybreak till noon". (Neh. 8:3) 
• WITH REVERENCE AND WORSHIP ----all stood in reverence and then bowed down to worship the Lord (Neh. 8:5-6) 
• WITH UNDERSTANDING--they helped others understand what they heard, (Neh. 8:7-8)
•  WITH REPENTANCE--after hearing God's word they were convicted of sin and repented with mourning and weeping. (Nehemiah 8:9)

The entry has been in the forefront of my mind. 

I started today listening to Him as I meditated on His word. Throughout the day, I thought of hearing God in many ways these last five days. 

• Rain splashing against the window as I fell asleep last night. For one who struggles with insomnia, that was  music to my ears.
• Hubby "duck-talking" to Lucy. A song, a song, through the air waves of FaceTime.
• A nervous Owen's solo of the 3rd verse of Silent Night at "Winter Celebration" at school. 
  
  Radiant beams for sure with baby Jack's infectious smile as he saw his big brother.
• Radio" voice of "The Old Coach" waiting for him to mention, "Liles splits left."
  

Awareness of God in the daily.....had me "hearing" in a spiritual way.  

"Do you hear what I hear" throughout your day. 

Awareness is key to "hearing.

NATIVITY SCENES: REVISITED

The elegant nativity in the hallway of the fellowship area is a constant reminder of the "reason for the season." The display never changes but it has lots of "lookers" enjoying its beauty.

Turn the corner and head to the children's area and another eye catching nativity appears. A display of change. A nativity that has yet to be the same any time I have passed it. It provides joy every time I pass it .

Today, the sheep appeared for the first time and one of the wise men has given up tumbling and appears to be talking to and angel. Another wise man is either napping or "lost" the battle. Regardless, the rearrangement reminds me that children are enjoying the nativity in their own, using their hands as part of the experience. Such a thought warms my heart and makes me smile!

NATIVITY SCENES FOR ALL AGES

Nothing says Christmas at our house like nativity scenes---whether terra cotta figures, snow globes, ornaments or a wall hangings of a simple "Babe in a manger".

At First Evangelical Church beautiful nativities adorn the hallways and even at off campus functions. 

This year the one that has brought me unique joy has been the cloth one in the children's area. Every time I walk by the characters seem to be in a different positions.

Once it looked like the Wise Men had been practicing their somersaults! Today the 3 Wise Men appear to be in a huddle.I'm not sure where the shepherds were or why the angel found repose on a near-by pillow. I just know I like the ideas of "little hands" finding joy there.

A NATION HONORS A PRESIDENT & PATRIOT

George H. W. Bush, the 41st US President, who died Friday, November 30, 2018,  is lying in state at the US Capitol. Though our nation is in mourning for the loss of this exemplary man, it is also extolling his moral character and service to his country. 

All the pageantry due a US President, who served in the military during wartime, was breaking news on TV this afternoon. How grateful I am for that interruption. How encouraging to see the respect and gratitude poured out on the Bush family.

Not only was President Bush's legacy honored but his faith was front and center also. As the casket proceeded to the steps of the Capitol two hymns of faith were played. "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" and "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Hooray to the Bush family for not worrying about political correctness but only about honoring their "Pop" and his faith.

How fitting was the glorious sunset provided by the Creator God of the universe as one of His beloved's casket entered the rotunda of the US Capitol. 

Thank you Lord for a godly man who passed on His faith to the next generation. (Psalm 71:18, Psalm 145:5)

ADVENT 2018

Candle lighting to follow....beginning the time of preparation.

 FIRST ADVENT DECEMBER 2, 2018!

AND SO IT BEGINS..............

AND SO IT BEGINS...............Christmas Season 2018.

Lunch with friends. Christmas music and message....

,,,,my favorite Christmas carol, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" 

sung by choir carolers at "Miss Ann's" table.

"Glory to the New Born King!"

Here's a Great Christmas..

From Beginning to end,

I got a terrific "beginning" present--

----lunch with Ann, my sweet friend!* (Proverbs 27:9)

What a great jumpstart for this special season. 

*Thanks to Judy B. for making it possible.

NAMESAKES

Davenport is my mother's maiden name.

Cousin Carl (William Carl) is the remaining bearer of the surname Davenport. He also bears the middle name of his grandfather, Robert William Davenport, as his first name.
Mother named her youngest child (Robert Davenport Adams) for her dad, Robert William Davenport. 

ROBERT DAVENPORT ADAMS---polite even when he was too weak to lift his arms after his recent quadruple bypass.

Two of her grandchildren included their "Gigi's" nee in the name of their sons, her great grandsons, Caleb Davenport Liles and Owen Davenport Kennedy. What a tribute! I'm sure she would have been honored to have two namesakes. Mother died in 2001 and never knew any of her great grandsons.

CALEB DAVENPORT LILES--turns 13 today and is entering  young adulthood wearing the  Davenport name proudly

OWEN DAVENPORT KENNEDY--carrying the name into the Kennedy family with grace

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1, KJV)

DESIRES OR YEARNINGS

For Wordsmith Wednesday, I was drawn to the connotation evoked by similar words.
Desires & yearnings---nouns with similar definitions. Both words can be used as nouns in function but delete the plural and both easily become verbs in their usage.

How does scripture use these terms? As synonyms?

Still musing or mulling it over...going deeper than I ever imagined..........Check out the references listed in the labels.

At this point, I'm seeing yearning, at least in the biblical sense, as going hand in hand with seeking with ones' heart and so far have found it used more often in the Old Testament of the Bible (8) than the New Testament.   (1) Yearning has a depth connotation to me. Deep as stated in Genesis 43:30---Joseph's yearning from his bowels with weeping for his brother and he found sanctuary in his chamber as he wept.

Desire - A heart's desire.
Yearn - A desire that is taken to the depths of one's soul.

Seek the Lord and His strength and yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually. (1 Chronicles 16:11)

TUESDAY TRUTHS

Showing up in the lives of children is everything. 
Kindness is the only strength there is.
Those two truths were quotes from Bob Goff's, Everybody Always.

Goff also states......

• If there is a fundamental challenge in theses stories, it is to change these lurking suspicions that some lives matter less than other lives.
• “Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it.” 

Forgiveness is needed if one exercises "sanctimonious" service to others....as if we are the only one with something to give! One must allow others to share & give to you---it's two-way!
It helps them retain their dignity. (Gregory J. Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion)

Treat everyone you meet with dignity. (1Peter 2:17. MSG)