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.