Advent

“The Lord, the Eternal, comes with power, with unstoppable might; He will take control without question or delay. He will see to it that wages are paid, repairs are made, and all is set right again.” (Isaiah 40:10 VOICE)

Advent ushers in the new liturgical year.  It is a season of darkness and light, of waiting and expectation. It is a time for music, purple ribbons, candles, and wassail. We prepare our hearts for new beginnings. As we commemorate the birth of Christ, I would like to share some Advent resources with all of you:

1. Advent Scripture: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/lections.php?year=B&season=Advent

2. Advent Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHPHY-Htdgq-X6B2zgQCVZdxv2YoCGS9Q

3. Advent Quotes: http://www.appleseeds.org/christmas-quotes.htm

4. Advent Poetry: https://theadventusproject.wordpress.com/resources/poetry/

5. Advent Paintings: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/top-10-christams-artworks-393582

6. Advent Prayers: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/12-advent-prayers.html

7. Advent Outreach ideas: donate to a food pantry, donate coats, socks, gloves, toiletries to the local homeless shelter, call or write to someone who is alone this Christmas, drop off some homemade food to a neighbor or a frontline worker, donate money to an international charity, send any of the above Advent online resources to friends and family. 

 

Loyal Friend

“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3 NLT)

Dogs are known for their loyalty. They are known to be loving, devoted, and faithful to those who feed and take care of them.  Most dogs are protective of their human family. Psychologist James Anderson did a study where he allowed dogs to witness strangers being rude to the dogs’ owners. When these dogs were later given the opportunity to get a treat from these strangers, they actively snubbed those who were mean to their human companions. This is why dogs are considered to be such good friends. 

What would it look like if you were as loyal a friend to yourself as your dog was to you? 

You would take the time to know and nourish your soul. You would be supportive, caring, faithful, honest, generous, sincere, respectful, and dependable. You would never lie to yourself, indulge in delusional thinking, or speak of yourself in belittling terms. You would stand up for who you are, trust your instincts, be available, and treat yourself honorably. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you. Commit to nurturing your body, mind, and spirit. Be a devoted friend to yourself. 

Happy Thanksgiving

"Be thankful in all circumstances..." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

2020 has been a tough year. Even during these difficult circumstances, there are many blessings for which I am  grateful. Here are a few of them:

Health

Family

Friends

Love

Home

Faith

Security

Food

Mental Stability

Internet

Dog

Purpose

Books

Peace

Acceptance

Wisdom

Self-restraint

Clean Water

Electricity

Privacy

Nature

I hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Snipping Flowers

“The earth produced vegetation—seed-bearing plants of all varieties and fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good.” (Genesis 1:12 VOICE)

Early morning reveries, when the waves of the subconscious mind are spilling over onto your consciousness, can be revelatory. Recently, I woke up in the morning feeling convicted about snipping flowers from my yard. Before this moment, I had never given it a second thought. If I wanted to enjoy fresh flowers indoors, I would go cut a few sprigs off the plants in my garden and put them in a vase with some water. In a few days, when the flowers wilted, I would throw them away. My behavior was colored by certain assumptions: The flowers were mine, from my yard, planted by me, for my pleasure. Didn’t God create everything, including beauty, for human consumption? I ignored the fact that flowers had a purpose beyond my delight. They were part of the plant’s reproductive system. They provided nectar for bees and seeds for birds. Yet, here I was, thoughtlessly cutting flowers as if they were only made for me. 

One of my goals is to do more good than harm during my time on earth. I may not be able to change the world, but I can at least do less damage. I can recognize God’s Spirit in every living thing. I can use what I need to survive, but leave the rest undisturbed. I can be considerate of nature. I can appreciate beauty and goodness without destroying it. In this way, I can honor God and His creation.  

Recharge

“Revive us again, O God!” (Psalm 85:6 TPT)

Every night, I charge my phone. The battery is at 100% when I wake up.  Most days, my phone charge will last until late evening which is when I will plug it in again. As I monitor my battery draining, I tend to conserve my usage--choosing to only use my phone when absolutely necessary. My husband has a completely different approach. He charges his phone throughout the day, whenever he has the opportunity to do so. Even at the end of the day, his phone has enough battery power to do whatever he needs it to do. 

Taking the time to recharge during the day is a habit I have yet to develop. Whether it is my phone, my body, or my mind--I tend to go on a maximum level until I am completely drained. Even though I recognize the inefficiency of this method, it has been difficult to change. I am trying to learn new ways of recharging physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually. It has been a process of trial and error. Some things that I imagined would be energizing have sapped my reserves further. Recognizing how much I have left within me has also been challenging. 

Unlike a phone battery, humans do not come with precise measurements and gauges that notify us when we are depleted. We have to carefully monitor our bodies, minds, relationships, and souls. This involves pausing at regular intervals, even before we sense ourselves weakening. Take every opportunity to rest and connect with God. Ask the Lord to revive you. Thank Him. Praise Him. Listen to His input on everything. Follow His nudges. Invite God to manage your physical, mental, relational, and spiritual reserves. Submit all that you are and all that you do to the Lord every hour of every day. 

Owned

“If you borrow money with interest, you’ll end up serving the interests of your creditors.” (Proverbs 22:7 TPT)

The majority of ‘homeowners’ in the United States actually owe money to a lender. In reality, the bank ‘owns’ their home. The borrower makes payments, mostly interest on the principal, for decades.  Many people refinance their debt or buy more expensive homes--binding themselves into longer terms of bondage. A mortgaged lifestyle is equivalent to indentured servitude. Those who are in debt are not free. Their choices are controlled by their creditors. 

In a similar vein, the majority of humans are dependent on the opinions of others for their sense of self-worth. Our identities and our values are borrowed. We serve the interest of our creditors. We have mortgaged our souls to social validation, making regular payments to establish equity in our own dignity. We are controlled by our addiction to validation. We try to buy ourselves back with incremental installments. We imagine we are in command of our choices, but in actuality we are indentured to the affirmations of others.  

 

Emancipation

“It’s true that our freedom allows us to do anything, but that doesn’t mean that everything we do is good for us. I’m free to do as I choose, but I choose to never be enslaved to anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12 TPT)

The Emancipation Proclamation officially outlawed slavery in 1863. However, many states continued the practice of enslavement for several more years until the Union troops advanced and enforced this new way of life. Slaves in Texas did not even know that they had freedom until General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, 1865. 

Have you heard the news that you are no longer in bondage? You are free to do anything, but that doesn’t mean that everything you do is good for you. You are free to do as you choose, but do not choose enslavement to anything. Think carefully about your decisions, thoughts, habits, words, attitudes, and actions. Do they reflect Christ’s teachings? Are they beneficial to you and others? Are they draining or empowering?  Or are your attachments pulling you and others down? 

 

Gaining Back Weight

“To truly know him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap.” (Philippians 3:8 TPT)

Losing weight is hard, but keeping the weight off is even harder. Most of us can manage to diet and exercise for a period of time and shed some pounds. We look good, feel great, and swear to never go back to our previous ways of doing things. However, our resolve weakens when we are stressed, tired, or bored. Depriving ourselves while everyone else seems to be enjoying whatever they want seems unfair. We slowly drift back to old habits, seeking comfort, acceptance, and pleasure. 

Over the past few months, I have shed some excess fat from my mind. Layers of pride, desire, ambition, thoughtlessness, and indulgence have fallen off. This period of unlearning and reevaluation has been transformative. I have let go of much of what I imagined to be important in the past.  However, I am afraid that these changes will not last. I worry that I will go back to my previous habits and gain back all the weight I have lost, repeating old patterns. 

Lord, you have done such good work in me. Please don’t let me backslide to my previous mindset. When I am stressed, tired, or bored--nourish me with Your Spirit. Teach me to continually offer myself into your care. 

 

Oblation

“Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.” (Hebrews 9:14 MSG)

As the seasons change, I rotate the clothes hanging in my closet. In the spring, I put away the heavy coats and thick long pants and bring out the summer dresses and shorts. In the autumn, I do the reverse. During this biannual ritual, I routinely toss anything that does not fit or is out of style in a donation bag. This year, I noticed that most of the clothes I brought out in March never got used. I suddenly realized I have more clothes than I need. There was a flaw in the criteria that I had been using to sort through my stuff. I was getting rid of some old clothes to make room for new purchases. I kept things I still liked and donated things I had outgrown. I decided I wanted to be more thoughtful when giving things away.  

I acknowledged that I had accumulated a lot of stuff. At the time of purchase, these things gave me pleasure and made me feel relevant. I realized that this was facetious. My dead-end efforts to make myself respectable led nowhere. I felt a sense of contrition about my lifestyle of consumption. Thus, I went through my possessions as an act of self-oblation. Along with my unnecessary clothing, I surrendered my values, desires, motives, and attitudes to God. I divested many of my attachments and distractions. In the subsequent emptiness, I listened. Here is what I heard: Self-abandonment is a precursor to experiencing the abundance of God.   

Containing Time

“When I placed shores around its limits and put up the doors and the bars; And I said to the sea, ‘Here you may come, but no farther. And here is the shore where your grand waves will crash.’” (Job 38:10-11 VOICE)

Have you ever tried eating soup from a flat plate? The liquid just spreads out, making it difficult to scoop up with a spoon. Bowls with high edges are better for fluids. Containment can feel restrictive, but it is practical in some instances. Fences keep our dogs from running into our neighbor’s yard. Speed limits keep drivers safe. Breaches in natural boundaries, as in the case of floods or tsunamis, can be catastrophic. Limits are useful. 

Over the last several months, many of us have experienced a disruption in our schedules. Some of us now work and learn remotely from home. Many of our plans for the near future are uncertain. We have more unstructured time in our days than we did before. The lack of time limits for tasks can feel relaxing, but it is often unproductive. 

Time, like most things that are fluid, is most useful when contained. Without limits, it dribbles and scatters. Creating corrals for time can give your day structure and rhythm. Think of your time like soup that is poured into different size bowls: a few hours for focused work, an hour for personal hygiene, short breaks for diversions, etc. These arbitrary limits can feel random and restrictive at first. Since there is no one to enforce these regulations but yourself, it can also be tempting to quit. Yet, if you stick to this method of self-imposed time boundaries, your days will be much more fruitful and fulfilling. 

 

 

Invest in Good Soil

“But some people hear the message and let it take root deeply in receptive hearts made fertile by honesty and goodness. With patient dependability, they bear good fruit.” (Luke 8:15 VOICE)

When buying most real estate, investors consider location, school districts, resale value, etc. None of these things are relevant when you are buying farm ground. The primary concern for farmers is the quality of soil. In Iowa, where corn is the most common crop, each parcel of land is given a ‘corn suitability rating’ (CSR). This is calculated based on yields from previous years. Smart investors know to check the quality of the soil before purchasing a tract of farm ground. 

I am finally at a stage in life where I can invest in other people. Now, if I were a business owner who was hiring employees, I would look for past work experience, education, communication skills, etc. However, these standards have no significance in my current selection process. The quality of the soul is the only thing that matters.  Like a smart farmer, I am looking for good ground.  I am looking for people who are receptive, honest, and compassionate at the core of their being. I am not looking to gain anything from them, but to pour myself into their growth. My hope is that someday they will bear good fruit, sow seeds, and feed multitudes.

Lord, enable me to recognize good ground and invest generously, without expectations of personal gain or admiration. I pray that the cycle continues with each generation pouring themselves into spreading goodness and love. 

 

Course Correction

“The rest of humanity, those not killed by these plagues, did not rethink their course and turn away from the devices of their own making.” (Revelation 9:20 VOICE)

A pandemic is an infectious disease that has spread across continents affecting people worldwide. Global pandemics like the Black Plague, Spanish Flu, and HIV/Aids reshaped the trajectory of cultures. The COVID-19 pandemic is currently raging through humanity. The aftereffects will be felt in many ways for decades to come. 

The world we inhabit, the attitudes we hold, and the motives that drive us are shaped by our ancestral biases as well as by the culture we live in. This is not the first pandemic. Others who came before us have faced similar crises and made course corrections. It is up to us to learn the useful lessons and avoid the mistakes. 

Some of us will rethink our lifestyles--reconsider what is truly important, essential, and purposeful. Others will refuse to change their course and to turn away from the devices of their own making. They will continue to occupy themselves in the pursuit of money, pleasure, novelty, power, and prestige. The choices we make at this pivotal moment in history will have long-lasting ramifications. Generations yet to be born will be influenced by whether or not we change. 

 

Condensation of the Spirit

“Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed.” (Revelation 3:2-3 MSG) 

When warm, humid air hits a cold surface, the invisible vapor becomes visible condensation. If my reading glasses have smudges, I breathe on the lenses and wipe them with my shirt. The moisture from my exhalation is the quickest way to clean my glasses and restore clarity. 

The Spirit within us remains invisible as long as we are engaged in busy work. We inhale, exhale, and go about our own agenda--while God’s work remains incomplete. Rouse yourself. Stay alert. Call to mind the lessons you have learned. Invigorate and strengthen your resolve to live according to God’s purpose. Remember that the Holy Spirit resides within us. When we express the Spirit of God onto cold, hardened hearts, we are able to manifest what was dormant in us all along. This expression is more than telling people about our faith. It is living out the sacrificial love of Christ. 

 

Deep Worship

“I was caught up at once in deep worship...” (Revelation 4:2 MSG)

Have you noticed the songs they play before a sporting event or political speech? They are geared to prepare the audience for the main act. Some have inspirational lyrics; others energize the crowd. There seems to be a similar formula for ‘worship music’ in some churches. Like a pregame show, it is often performative, repetitive, and meant to appeal to the audience. 

What is deep worship? 

It is more than church songs that pump up the crowd. 

It is more than words of inspiration, praise, and gratitude.

It is more than physical gestures of raising our arms, kneeling, or genuflecting. 

Deep worship is intimate, personal, and private. It is the waiting in reverence for God. In hushed silence, we are able to hear the wordless whispers of the Spirit. The mind perceives what the eye is unable to see. The soul stretches, expanding to understand beyond reason. True worship is transformative. There is a ‘before’ and ‘after’ shift.  Sincere devotion to Christ leads to changes in thoughts and priorities. We cannot help but respond to God by honoring Him with our life. 

 

Desperate Times

“O True God, You are my God, the One whom I trust.  I seek You with every fiber of my being.” (Psalm 63:1 VOICE)

Sometimes when I run, I get vocal cord spasms which inhibit my breathing. It comes on suddenly. My throat closes up, and I can’t get enough air into my lungs. These episodes are scary. It’s hard to explain how desperate I feel during those moments. I have learned to slow down until my vocal folds open up and I can breathe normally. When everything is working, I rarely think about the abundance of oxygen or my ability to inhale and exhale. Dealing with this issue has taught me to appreciate my respiratory system and the air that surrounds me. 

Similarly, on good days, I take God’s presence for granted. I seem to be able to connect with Him easily when everything in my life is going well. I pray, sing, praise, study, write, and seek guidance effortlessly. However, when darkness tightens around me, parts of me that were previously open suddenly shut down.  I become desperate for God. I know He still surrounds me, but I can’t get enough of His Spirit within me.  After having dealt with these periods of disconnection recurrently, I have learned some ways to manage these desperate times. I acknowledge the urgency of the situation. I slow down. I remind myself of what I know to be true: This constriction that I am feeling is due to my internal response to stressful stimuli. I may not be able to change my circumstances, but I can regulate my reaction. God is still near and His Spirit is abundant. He is the air I breathe. He is my strength. He is what sustains my life. 

Turn from Indifference

“But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:16 NLT)

Have you ever ordered a ‘hot and spicy’ dish at a restaurant and ended up with something lukewarm and bland? It’s disappointing! Why would they call it one thing and serve something completely different? Why would the restaurant make false claims? Do most customers who order spicy food prefer bland food instead? 

A tepid attitude is similarly unappealing. People who are apathetic rarely admit to it. They make false claims of being loving, caring, passionate, empathetic, and humane. However, their actions reveal that they are uncaring and oblivious to anything that does not directly affect them. Indifference to injustice can be marketed as neutrality, individualism, and noninterference--making it seem innocuous. But it is harmful. Callousness dulls our senses, hardening our hearts. It makes us insensitive to the Spirit of God.

“Be diligent and turn from your indifference.” (Revelation 3:19 NLT)

We believe in a Christ who was willing to sacrifice himself for humanity. As followers of Christ, we are taught to love God and others--regardless of their ethnicity, socioeconomic class, religious beliefs, political affiliation, or nationality. When we make false claims about our attitudes, speaking words of fairness and grace while practicing apathy, we misrepresent ourselves and Christ. God wants us to care passionately, be sensitive to His guidance, and be diligent in pursuing His purpose.  There is no place for indifference.

Spiritual Anointing

“Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie.” (1 John 2:26-27 MSG)

A few years ago, my home internet stopped working for a week. I could use my data plan through my phone to do some work online, but it was limited. We live in a rural area, so there are no public wifi spots where I could go to use my laptop. My neighbor told me I was welcome to use her wifi, and she gave me her password. For a week, I would go over to her home and use my laptop for an hour to do any work that was data intensive. First thing I noticed was how much faster her internet was compared to mine. And, unlike public Wi-Fi, this was a secure network. I didn’t have to worry about hackers getting access to my information or about malicious programs slipping into my devices. I also had unlimited access with no restrictions or bandwidth congestion. As an added plus, all my devices still remember her password years later. I notice that my phone automatically connects to her network whenever I am visiting her home. 

The anointing of the Holy Spirit allows us to have access to God’s sphere of influence. Christ’s anointing confers His sanctifying presence unto those who are receptive. He pours His Spirit over you, setting you apart for His purposes. As long as you are in Christ’s presence, you remain connected. When your mind starts drifting out of range, when you get distracted by worldly agendas instead of God’s purposes, you fall back into limitations. When your mind is permeated by the Divine, it is secure from contaminating delusions. You are taught the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and God. You no longer have to operate under human influence or limitations. You have unhindered access to supernatural power, insights, and wisdom. 

Listen to the Wind

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing...” (Revelation 2:7 MSG) 

In the pre-dawn hours, I stepped out into the front yard with the dog. The sky was still gray, but there was just the slightest hint of the light yet to come. I heard the fluttering of wings before I saw the shadowy figure of a dove flying from the oak tree to the blue spruce. My eyes were drawn to the quivering leaves of the poplar across the street. That’s when I noticed the breeze. I turned slightly and allowed it to anoint my face. I sensed God’s presence.

“We must be open to the possibility of God’s addressing us in whatever way he chooses, or else we may walk right past a burning bush instead of saying, as Moses did, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up’ (Exodus 3:3). I say in all seriousness that we may mistake the voice of God for the sound of someone’s radio turned up too loudly, for some accidental noise or — more likely still — for just another one of our own thoughts.” (Dallas Willard, Hearing God)

The mind can hear whispers that are inaudible to ears. Yet, not everything we sense is of divine origin. It takes spiritual discernment to distinguish truth from half-truths. If you are set in your ways and desire to be in control, you can desensitize yourself to the Spirit. It is tempting to envelop yourself in the cacophony of the world and whatever confirms your own biases. 

Learn to filter out the noise and hone in on frequencies that are beyond your auditory perception. Listen to the stillness. Pray for wisdom and guidance. Keep your inner and outer ears open. Pay attention. Remain attuned to the voice of God.  Feel the Spirit moving. 

Knowing Passwords

“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me.” (Matthew 7:21 MSG)

Using the same passwords for all our online accounts can be a security risk. However, since it can be cumbersome to remember different passwords, many of us have a few default words that we use repeatedly to access our accounts. We know this is flawed, but we do it anyway. Why? Because it is convenient to maintain the status quo.

Christian denominations have a similar affinity for passwords and catchphrases. Each tradition has its own initiation rituals, essential prayers, and pet issues. Although we all speak the language of faith, we use different dialects of christianese. We insist that the words we use are the most accurate. If only everyone else would imitate us, then all would be right with this world!

“Verbal orthodoxy has been Christianity’s preoccupation, at times even allowing us to burn people at the stake for not “saying it right.” We ended up spreading national cultures under the rubric of Jesus, instead of a universally liberating message under the name of Christ.” (Richard Rohr)

Verbal orthodoxy, or words that convey our conformity to an approved set of beliefs and conduct, can be the passwords that give us acceptance within our social groups. Even though we sense this is a flawed system, we follow the prescribed patterns because it is convenient; plus, we want to fit in. Unfortunately, we don’t stop there. Conformists want others to join them, because their sense of security and identity depend on maintaining uniformity. Whenever we use the name of Christ to coerce others to fall in line with our political, social, or moral norms--we misrepresent Jesus. We follow a Messiah who was a rebel in His time. He continually bucked the status quo. Imitating other Christians won’t get us anywhere. Imitating Christ will.