W.A.I.T.

Question to self,  "Is waiting hard because of lack of practice?"

W.A.I.T.---A perfect acronym for one trying to "listen" well. 

W. Why
A.  Am
I.    I
T.   Talking      (Carolyn Winn, Source)

When I do speak, I need to ask myself 3 questions.

Is it true?

Is it kind?

Does it need to be said?

If not,  you might need to wait a little longer before "opening your mouth".

Question to self, "If waiting seems long when conversation lags, is it necessary for me to jump in just to fill the silent void?

CHRISTMAS DAY : HOLYDAY

Auto-correct doesn't want to accept holyday! Probably because it is not "politically correct".

Earlier this month I came across the term in a Carol Mead devotional. Her reference was to the "gift of peace" from Psalm 122:6-8. The passage resonated with me as I often pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

But God....in His love and mercy showed me how easily it is for the holidays to become crazy busy with worries about perfection....aka all about me. Will others appreciate my gifts or see them as hokey? Will my food at the Sunday School party be a hit? Will it look festive? Will no one even taste it? 

Conviction---the holidays are not about me. God showed me in a very clear way. 

In order to "de-sensitive" (a Mead word) transitory things, I need to take the I out of holiday.

H o l I d a y. My focus has been on myself. A substitution is needed.

If one exchanges the I for a Y, the focus changes & the substitution is worthy.

H o l Y d a y

Y is the Hebrew word for Yeshua or Jesus the One whose death was our substitutionary atonement and whose birth Christians celebrate at Christmas! My Jewish friends might substitute their Y as for Yahweh but they would not say it aloud.

One of my greatest joys is to see family, friends & others seek God's perfect 's gift of Jesus......

and to rejoice when they find Him. I know no greater joy! (3 John 1:4)

Today to my family friends and blog readers, I pray that there will be peace within you---a deep, abiding peace from Jehovah, the One True God.

Happy Holyday!

SMALL THINGS & SMALL STEPS/ BIG IN GOD'S EYES

Small things can make a BIG difference. (Zechariah 4:8-10) God treasures the acts of mercy we make in His name rather than the ostentatious sacrifices and offerings just for the world to see. (Hosea 6:6)

During this season of giving, I want to honor Him. For me that requires.......

......silencing the  other noise in my life and allowing His leading during my "Advent" focused times.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD. And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
         And Your faithfulness by night, (Psalm 92:1-2)

Refocus. Think of others first.  
It seems like a small thing but......as I seek to bless others God blesses me.

GRAMMARIANS GUIDE TO ADVENT VOCAB

I plan to keep on keeping focused. Scaling back. Paring down. 

Gerunds, infinitives, nouns, verbs, (both transitive and intransitives) are all forms of speech I have been using as I continue to "Hark" during my Advent Quiet Times this year!

HARK!---normally an intransitive verb has become for me an exclamation in all CAPS---

an interjection for listen up and pay attention!

This Advent season I'm harking. (present participle of the verb hark) I'm paying attention to God's word and joyfully expectant of all He has for me.

BEHOLD---another interjection for this time of expectant waiting for a coming of the king.

No matter how Christian grammarians say it or what part of speech they use.....

.....to hark and behold Jesus is perfect for this Advent!

BEHOLD: ONE WORD LOUD & CLEAR IN SCRIPTURE

BEHOLD---used 1,298 times in the Bible, KJV version. A word that shows up from Genesis to Revelation.....in Genesis with creation, (Genesis 1:29) with the prophets, "Behold, this is our God, "(Isaiah 25:9) through the New Testament (2 Corinthians 5:17) to  Revelation "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)

To behold music that will lift you up....

CLICK HERE https://www.facebook.com/FirstEvan/videos/578071259669891/ 

.....if you want to Fast forward to my favorite, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" at 47:13 or to 43 if you want an upbeat intro w/ soloist Effie Johnson) 

You will beholden to me if you do so.

HARK!!

How many ways can one say "HARK" ? 

That question is one I hope to explore during my quiet times this advent season.

I received a great start yesterday during Sunday services at Allen Bible Church. From the lighting of the first candle on the advent wreath.........

.........to singing my favorite Christmas hymn, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing",  I began harkening back to our family traditions of advent at 1152. Time with family and friends, even one year in the dark, because our electricity went out as our friends began to arrive. What a fun time to remember.

To "hark back" was Mama Davenport's way of "recollecting"---Just sitting by her as she would start "to recollect" was always a special time to get a glimpse of her Christmases in the "olden days" as we we called it.

To leave the service with a HARK! Devotional Guide * was a great resource to start my "HARK" word study. 

*Thanks to Jim and Grant for writing this and providing a printable copy online.

https://allenbible.org/harkadvent-devo-guides

THANKSforGIVING!

Thank you, God.
My heart is so full of gratitude. Only You could bring us all together during these busy times.

Thanks for giving so abundantly to all 17 of us these last 2 days!

I've been sippin' a cuppa gra-TEA-tude daily.

Thank you, LORD for giving me a loving family!!!

MOMENT BY MOMENT

One of the great challenges of life is just the simple task of living in the moment, this very moment. Living a “present tense life". Why is this so hard for me. I can teach it.......but when it comes to living it out, I really struggle!

Jack (17 months) in the moment---enthralled with bubbles. Ah-h-h-h...to experience that.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6:33, KJV)

Not concerned with earthly treasures---I just want to fully relish momentary pleasures.

"Moment by Moment, O Lord I am Thine."

WDW 6 FOR 5

The clue is in the title. Let me know if you figure it out!

WHERE IN THE WORD IS BABY JACK??? 

Are we ALL having fun yet????

Jack's wide awake smile says it all!

HARVESTTIME

Fall harvest is here---from the Pacific Northwest to the mountains of North Carolina. New varieties seem to appear every year. Growing up in Kentucky I don't remember having such choices. At our "2211" kitchen table were the elongated shape Red Delicious for snacking (too mealy, but who knew) and Rome for pies. Occasionally there would be a Granny Smith (TART) or a Winesap.

In the past I've "found" an abundance of Galas, Fuji, Honeycrisp, as well as "new to me"--Jazz, Pink Lady & Braeburn.

For me it's about choice. Tasty and Crisp! NOT mushy!

Front-Sugar Bee, Autumn Glory, Lucy Rose (whole & cut to show insides)

Back--Pacific Rose and Honey Crisp. All new to me except the Honey Crisp)

Why so much "to-do" over an apple---other than the fact that it's the fruit that got mankind kicked out  of paradise? BANISHMENT! Think Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3: 23-24)

I've learned, apples, as with people, look one way on the outside, but the inside is a different story. (1 Samuel 16:7)......I will have to finish that "story" when I finish my tasting.
Note to self---Lucy is a fave, chosen because of the name and intrigued by the inside.