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 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.

MONDAY MEDITATION

Monday prayers include (along with Wynellen) many of my "M" friends & my "M" family. Family girls include "my" Molly, MJ, Megan, Maeve, Marion (Lucy) & most recent addition, Marigold. Praying and meditating on Psalm 78:4, 6-7 and Proverbs 20:24 My phone "dinged"----so glad I checked the messages. What I saw blessed my heart and enhanced my meditation.

I often look at pictures from my prayer journal when I pray for youngsters in my life.

Here's my newest "M" youngster!

INFINITE HOPE

Sitting in the examining room waiting on the pulmonary specialist, I was re-reading my most recent letter from dear, dear, friend Ashley Bryan.
He was welcoming our #9 grandchild, girl #2! "I know you are all having a GRAND TIME Loving her as she Loves you! (Ashley's words)

Between his plan to travel to visit family in Texas and return to "his" island and resuming his painting in his neighbors gardens, he was awaiting his WWII story, Infinite Hope! --mid October '19. He and I have both been so excited to see beyond the F & Gs.

Before the doc entered, Hubby sent me a text . "Today" show Favorite FALL BOOKS w/ Savannah & a team of readers announced their fave books by categories.

Ashley's newest book, Infinite Hope, was chosen as the best in Love & Romance category by one of the panelist.

The panelist explained that this book needed to win awards and he thought "love" was an appropriate category as Ashley, who is 96 years old, shares how his love for art sustained him as a 19 year old draftee during WWII.

One reviewer stated that Infinite Hope is "both a lesson in history and a testament to hope." (S & S)
Having talked with Ashley through the years, even about his time during the war and seeing some of his sketches I knew that it had been a difficult time for him. Needless to say, I'm anxious to  receive my copy!

He has chosen to share his love for the stories of his people and his desire to preserve Black American Spiritual as his life's work. "The spirituals touch me deeply and inspire my heart's soulwork." (Ashley Bryan, I'm Going to Sing -Black American Spirituals vol. 2)

His art, which has its own "voice" and his words, have spread hope to many.

Ashley is one of the kindest people I have ever known.

A man of faith. An encourager. My friend.
A man of "infinite hope" himself who pours out love & hope to others.

How a treasure this picture with him at his home on Isleford/Little Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine. He was sharing his F & Gs (folded and gathered pages) of his book, Infinite Hope. 

A man who signed and gave me the book & a bit of his heart and hopes as we talked.

WITH GOD

With---a four letter preposition "with" a BIG life in scripture. A "function" word. Accompanied by. Possessing as a feature of accompaniment. On the side of. 

Together comes to my mind.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, emphasis mine)

With-ness is key---if that's even a word. Lately, I have been "with God" early in my day praying from Psalm 143:8. Setting my agenda before Him asking his direction in the way I should go. You see, I want to go with Him. I want Him with me as I face the "tyranny" of the urgent along with fears that haunt me and minutiae that distracts me.

I need to quit "straining at a gnat." (Matthew 23:24) My focus is on the small things, which blind me from seeing the big picture of God's faithfulness. His word reminds me, "it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, emphasis mine)

I need Emmanuel---"God with us", with me all the time.

QUOTES AND QUIPS

Addictions come in all sizes. One of my al anon prayer partners confesses she is addicted to quotes.

Comparatively speaking, that's not a bad addiction.

Yesterday, alongside my collection of her quotes, "Suggestions are control coming through the back door", I added her latest one, "Expectations are pre-meditated resentments."

Seriously. Those are worth pondering, for many of us, I'd say.

At church Sunday, teacher, Rad, who is full of quips, shared two quips---"lunch on the grounds" in the south is *deviled eggs up to your eyeballs" (Mother called them dressed eggs. Maybe, she felt the devil's name should have no access to a church event.) His second quip reminded us that too often folks go home,

after church, to feast on "roast preacher." 

Son, Buddy, recently quipped, with serious undertones of truth, that parenting is difficult in this generation of "eye rolls and earbuds." He also quipped that he too often had "IDS"--irritable dad syndrome.

Humor's purpose in the midst of a sermon is often a way of facing the realities of our day to day lives in an accepting way. 

Together. Fellowship on the same side of "suffering" whether it's addiction or parenting difficulties. Knowing earth is not our final home does in no way negate that it is our home today. Humor can help make the best of what life offers us in the moment.

The quotes are helping remind me to leave my "control" tendencies in God's hands and the quips are helping to lighten my load/burden with humor as I stumble.

Quips that bring laughter can be therapeutic.

According to scripture, "He who has a merry heart has a continual feast," (Proverbs 15:15) even when one, with an egg allergy, attends his church's fall dinner on the grounds".

GAL PAL GETAWAYS!

What does a "Gal Pal Getaway" look like......

I already know that a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. (Proverbs 27:9)
For T-cups--it's a mystery trip known only to one who plans the trip. Destination usually revealed at start of trip but not this time. New jaunts were explained upon arrival. Those in back seat felt as if we were somewhere beyond our state---California, maybe.

A Full Circle of "Tennessee Treks, Trail and Back Roads"included.............Walking Tall Trail, Civil War Trail, w/ catfish at Hagy's, Amish wagon rides,

RR crossings,

Hoopee Rides....

and lots of cuisine from old timey boardinghouse to mealhouse....

.....dips from Capt'n Rodneys (REAL Capt'n Rodney joined our Pic.)

not to mention fried pie sundies at Soda Pop Junction

and hominy casserole & collards-- plus baked apples with a little of the Lynchburg"product" stirred in and a touch of the "product was tasted in the REAL whipped cream on the buttermilk pie at Miss Mary BoBo's......

to RH Cafe with lobster  rolls. Champagne was also available.

.....Even met Bubba at 9 Back St. (backroad address) Mulberry, TN lavender farm.

Banana pudding for the Banana Pudding festival.

BREAKFAST! BREAKFAST! BREAKFAST!

1 Banana w/ 1 Egg--Delish! we had to try it to believe it.

Feasting and feeding on God's Word after breakfast!

"New" Long Island friends at Marcy Jo's Mealhouse community table

So grateful we ended each day for Triple R---Rest & Relaxation at the Ranch--filled with cows, horses, chickens + 1 rooster, a baby doll sheep, a mini horse, a mule named Duke, bee hives,

an amazing "she shed" 

& LOTS OF PORCHES.

"Full Circle" Ranch, no less.......

...a place to refresh one's soul! **

**Trip Addendum---A few hours after we returned Saturday one of the gals had a stroke. Tuesday another gal had gallbladder surgery. Life Lesson learned----enjoy  the  moments God gives---because our days are gifts from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)
We could be of good cheer knowing that God was in the plan (Mattie Dear) Even in those scares & struggles, there was fullness of joy in His presence as we prayed together for each other! (Psalm 16:11)