Tagged: thrple

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Advent / Comfort and Hope

ADVENT PEACE

ADVENT DEFINED The Advent season is a four week period before Christmas that celebrates the anticipation and coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The origin of “advent” is from the Latin word adventus which simply translates “coming” or “arrival”. Not only is the Christian meaning for preparation and celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ, his birth at Christmas, but also to celebrate the new life when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, and lastly, the anticipation of Jesus returning again.  From Crosswalk.com “The Beautiful and Meaningful Purpose of Advent” peace noun 1: a state of tranquility or quiet: such as a: freedom...

ADVENT HOPE 0

Comfort and Hope

ADVENT HOPE

ADVENT DEFINED AD’VENT, noun [Latin adventus, from advenio, of ad and venio, to come. See Find.] A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning of St. Andrew’s Day, or on the sabbath next before or after it. Webster’s Dictionary 1828 ADVENT HOPE THROUGH PRAYER The Valley of Vision – “The spring of my hope” Glorious Jehovah, my Covenant God, All Thy promises in Christ Jesus are yea and amen,and all shall be fulfilled.Thou hast spoken them, and they shall be done,commanded, and they shall come to pass. Yet I have...

Take note 8

Encouragement / Teaching

TAKE NOTE

It was spring. I cannot recall the specifics, only the spectacular nature of the event. Whatever happened seemed worthy of recording—a definite ‘take note’ moment. Grabbing a 3×5 note card, I recorded the incident, including the date in the corner of the card. The thought of documenting miraculous moments seemed like one of those ‘gotta do it’ situations. I looked around my home, considering where I might stash this, and future notes. The enamel bread box corralling the antique rolling pins was perfect. Easily accessible on the kitchen counter and large enough to hold months of memorable moments. Happy, I...

While you were sleeping 0

Encouragement

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

Working quietly in the twilight, I considered my parents—sound asleep about fifteen feet away. An exterior wall and an unconscious world separated us. Early Morning Several years ago, my brother and I constructed a new handrail by our parent’s back porch. With my father’s declining health and my mother as his full-time caregiver having a sturdy railing was crucial. We formulated a plan, gathered tools and supplies, then showed up early evening to make magic happen. My little daddy supervised construction from a folding chair on the porch. The ‘energizer bunny’ (my 90-year-old mother) weighed in on the process by...

substance and evidence 2

Comfort and Hope / Encouragement

SUBSTANCE AND EVIDENCE

You know the feeling—when life careens off the predicable rails or the bottom drops out leaving you grasping at air. Those moments you never imagined—startling like the sinister jack-in-the-box jester. All is well, turning the crank while sprightly music tinkles from within the metal box. Then in an instant—unexpected mayhem erupts. Perhaps that is a bit dramatic but you get the point. Life has a way of catching us off guard.  Surprises, and not always delightful ones, come. I have been thinking a lot about those unsuspected surprises lately. MAKING MEANING From what I have seen, humans like to understand....

luck of the draw 8

Encouragement / Prayer

LUCK OF THE DRAW—NOT

The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God. God is working out His purposes. OSWALD CHAMBERS NOTHING HAPPENS BY ACCIDENT This past weekend a group of friends, old and new, pushed the pause button on life. We fled to our favorite fall retreat spot–a tranquil location we have visited for the last fifteen years. Every retreat is different in theme, message, and the silly antics of our annual Friday night game. But one thing is constant–God’s presence. What I never imagined was God surprising me with a special gift. Several months...

Calm collected faith 0

Poetry

CALM COLLECTED FAITH

ASSURANCE Not one “Oops!”, “Uh-oh”, or “Sorry!” but perfection in all His ways No mistakes, sovereign ruling throughout our fleeting days What seems mistake or worse, an “accident” of chance Is well within His grasp, not dicey happenstance. But evil and injustice—how can these things occur Without Him moving quickly and justice to secure? Higher, more profound, far beyond our grasp The Master works His wonders, and one day we will gasp When dimly becomes clearly, and all is fully seen Worship, adoration, repentance in between Humbled, staggered knowing—wise beyond belief Beholding Sovereign Wisdom, the fullness of relief When Cross...

Letter to an unknown human 2

Teaching

LETTER TO AN UNKNOWN HUMAN

A Surprising Opportunity My friend contacted the prayer group to ask for a favor. A young man she is exceedingly close to will be attending a special retreat. At some point during the week he will be given letters and notes of encouragement from friends and family. My friend asked if we would consider writing a note or some encouraging Scriptures for him. While we may not be related we have been praying for him. Close enough. The Letter Alan, You, Alan Moore, are seen by God. And not only seen but loved by Him. Yep, despite what we have...

When faith becomes sight 0

Comfort and Hope / Poetry

WHEN FAITH BECOMES SIGHT

Considerations—A Poem and Several Quotes CONSTERNATION, noun [Latin , to throw or strike down.] Astonishment; amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates a person for consultation and execution; excessive terror, wonder or surprise. Webster’s Dictionary 1828 You can find a few more poems here.

gibson writes, the roost, thrple, the roost, prayer, praying, nasa, space, 5

Prayer

STOP THE WORLD AND TRANSCEND TIME

A MERE FORMALITY Growing up, my family recited the same prayer over every meal.  When we visited relatives, I discovered the identical rote prayer was a family tradition. The only variation concerned the words, These or Thy, which ignited a passionate debate over the grammatically correct wording. Unregenerate—reciting creeds and the Lord’s Prayer at church, the blessing over meals, and the disturbing if I die before I wake, nighttime utterance were mere forms of godliness.   But God. After delivering me from death to life, everything shifted. God took what I had known as prayer and graciously peeled it off like a thin veneer....