Advent 2017-- Week 2 (December 10-16) photos and reflections

Has week two of Advent gone by quickly for you?  It has for me.  I guess it's the ebb and flow of life.  Some weeks go by more quickly than others.

What has sustained you during this second week of Advent as far as devotions and practices?  Have you tried anything different?  I have seen some neat Advent coloring sheets, but I haven't had the time to explore obtaining them, much less coloring them.  I have used coloring in the past as a way to slow down, to reflect, to be still, so I think that would be a helpful practice during Advent.

I have continued the Advent Photo-A-Day as a practice.  Here is the entire list of words for the season as a reminder:

Since last week, I did another search on social media for "adventphoto" and found several groups besides #rethinkchurch with Advent Photo-A-Day opportunities.  I was glad to see them, but wish I had seen them sooner, although it was a good practice for me to create something to use.

Here are the words from December 10-16, along with the narrative:

December 10

Today's word is peace. What is peace to you? Where do you see peace reflected? Where do you need peace?

December 11

Today's word is justice. What does justice mean to you? What does it look like? Where is justice lacking? How does justice fit into your Advent?

December 12

Today's word is gift. What is the most memorable (or meaningful) gift you have ever received? What is the most memorable (or meaningful) gift you have given? What is the most meaningful gift to you this Advent?

December 13

Today's word is reflection. What does this word bring to mind? What are your reflections today?

December 14

Today's word is free. What comes to mind when you consider the word? How are you free or how are you not free this Advent?

December 15

Today's word is faith. How do you describe your faith? What role does your faith play in your life? How would you relate the concept of faith to someone who asked you about it?

December 16

Today's Advent word is wonder. What does the word "wonder" bring up for you? What causes you to wonder? What aspects of the word are relevant to you in this Advent season?

Here are my entries for each day:

December 10

Today's Advent word is peace. I went outdoors today for some silence and solitude. I listened to the roar of the creek, the crunch of the gravel. I skipped stones. I listened to the trickle of the waterfall. It is well with my soul. #peace #Adventphoto #holstongap

December 11

Today's Advent word is justice. There are several meaningful verses on justice, but this one combines nature, so it is a favorite. To do justice is to do what is right. #justice #adventphoto #holstongap

December 12

Today's Advent word is gift. This is the morning sky from today. Each day is a gift for which I am grateful, as I am able to enjoy the beauty of creation and time with family, friends, and the Creator. #gift #adventphoto #holstongap

December 13

Today's Advent word is reflection. I posted this heart rock the other day from my Sunday afternoon walk. A friend commented that it is amazing how I have been seeing hearts everywhere. That caused me to stop and reflect. How long has it been that hearts have been a sign, a symbol for me? I can go back at least 5 years. It might be one or two more. I noticed one. Then more. I remember a heart leaf in the driveway one day and my reaction to it-- I needed that reminder. Hearts remind me that the Creator is love, that I am loved, that I can keep on loving others. God IS love. Love is of God. Hearts remind me to keep living a life of love, and to keep leading a life of love. 1 John 4:7--"Let us love one another for love comes from God." #seeaheartshareaheart #reflection #adventphoto #holstongap

December 14

Today's Advent word is free. I am most free when I live as the authentic self I was created to be. One of the spiritual practices that helps me be that person is contemplative photography. This photo is from last spring, a dogwood tree at Flintstone UMC. The pink of this flower reminds me of the pink candle for Advent 3, the joy candle. #free #adventphoto #holstongap

December 15

Today's Advent word is faith. This stone expresses my faith. I continue to trust, to seek to grow in a deeper relationship in this faith journey, step by step. Some days are smooth; others are rocky. I learn and grow through all. If I were to come up with an acronym for faith, it might be "following as I trust him" (Jesus). #faith #Adventphoto #holstongap

December 16

Today's Advent word is wonder. I don't often get to see this building lit up at night. When I do, I take time to observe and admire the beauty of the cross, the window, the building. The story behind the cross on top and the Ripley's believe-it-or not rock church are additional aspects of wonder. #littlerockchurch #FlintstoneGa #wonder #Adventphoto #holstongap

Blessings on your journey to the manger this Advent season,

Debra

Study Break... sharing life's lessons from the comic strips

I don't get to read the daily paper thoroughly as often as I'd like.  I want to know what is going on locally, nationally, and internationally.  I also enjoy reading the editorials, the various columns, and the comic strips.  I get lots of life's lessons from the newspaper.  Often, many of them come from the comic strips.  Sometimes there are just some chuckles as I read "Baby Blues" or "Zits" and can relate to the life situations and challenges.  At other times there are things that make me stop and think, those "cause for a pause" moments.

There was a comic strip in the Sunday paper a couple of weeks ago that caught me attention.   It was February 22, 2015.  The comic strip was "Jump Start".  Take a look:

 

http://www.gocomics.com/jumpstart/2015/02/22

Wow!  That last block left me paused, sitting there in silence, waiting.  Waiting for the next frame to miraculously appear and begin to tell me a story of desegregation in the church, but nothing appeared.  It could be that the author did intend to share with us that the young man's church was also desegregated, but the lesson here felt rather like, 'we have learned to live out desegregation in the community, yet we haven't done so well in the church.'  

That's the message I took away from the comic strip.  I don't know if it was the intended message or not.

I am a proponent for multicultural worship.  Add multigenerational to that.  You can add multidenominational (ecumenical) and multilingual if you'd like.  We can learn much from one another when we come together in worship.   Worship for people of different cultures and languages has components of worshiping with heart, mind, soul, and body.  People worship differently.  People tend to worship within their comfort zones, on many levels. 

I also know that for some folks it is important to worship in within one's community, to share the deep and rich traditions, to be able to express oneself freely without feeling out of place.

It's not an either/or situation for me, but rather a both/and. 

An example.  I am Caucasian.  Or white if you prefer that term.  Or non-hispanic as it is listed on some forms.  Most of my life I have worshiped in primarily white congregations.  That is mainly because of where I have lived.   However, take me to to an African American church, a Spanish speaking church,a Native American worship gathering or to Jamaica or Costa Rica and my spirit finds its home in worship there.  I can easily and freely worship within those contexts.  I may look out of place, but my spirit is at home.  

I love the spirituals from the African-American culture.  I enjoy the songs from the African culture that have life in them.  There is a Zulu song, "Walking in the Light of God" (Upper Room Worship Book #433) [similar to "We are Marching"] that I cannot stand still when I hear.  I have to walk.  At our 2 year Academy we would walk around the worship space when we sang that song.  At Soulfeast this past summer, when that song was sung, I couldn't remain still, I started walking.  

If I hear the gospel song "I'll Fly Away", I'm likely to fly.  Yep.  It's true.  I don't always "fly" when I hear that gospel song. In fact, since I felt spirit-led to "fly" a couple of months back in my home church and did..... and later realized the District Superintendent was worshiping with us that morning (GULP!), I am sometimes more hesitant to fly. ☺  However, having said that, if it truly is spirit-led, then my worship is not about me or others, it is about God.  So if you see me skipping, flying, walking, or marching, you can guarantee the Holy Spirit has "ahold" of me.

Worship for me is a time and place to surrender it all to God.  For me to be in community with others who are open to the moving of the Spirit is truly a joyful thing.

Spanish is my 2nd language and I am able to engage in worship in that language.  Another language, silence, has become a powerful language of worship for me over the past several years, teaching me that as I listen and wait in the presence of God I am transformed.

The comic strip "Jump Start" makes a point.  I think the point is that we are a little too segregated still in our worship.  I think we can do more to bring together the kingdom for worship and learn from one another aspects of worship.

The purpose of coming together at church for worship is not about us or our comfort, but rather about God.  Maybe if we were able to keep that perspective, we would be able to be more open to worshiping with others that look, speak, and worship different than ourselves.

Maybe, just maybe, we could get to the point where our churches are desegregated. 

I realize that some churches are doing it well and others are growing in their desegregation, little by little.  I also realize that some folks are happy where they are, regardless of race or language.  

My point in sharing is that this comic strip got me thinking.  Not only did it get me to thinking about how we don't share with one another in worship often enough and therefore miss out on some significant kingdom sharing, but it also got me to reflect on how the Spirit has worked and moved in my own spirit to allow me to worship among God's people.

What about you?  As you read the comic strip, what strikes you?  What reflections does it bring to your mind?

Blessings on your journey!

Debra

P.S.  I thought I would share the Zulu song with you.  I found a version of it.  ☺

The Power of Saying Yes-- "Say Yes to Spiritual Gifts"

The Power of Saying Yes is the current sermon series preached by Rev. Rowland Buck at Burks UMC.  Today's sermon was "Say Yes to Spiritual Gifts". 

I don't have lots of notes, but I did want to share today's sermon with you.  Spiritual gifts are an important tool on the journey, but I really appreciated what the pastor said today about the focus.

The Scripture passage for today was 1 Corinthians 12:1-7.

My notes from today:

• When you say "yes!" to God, you help change the world.
• Discover your place of ministry in God's world.
• Spiritual gifts express the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Three main points:

1. Your spiritual gift in not about what you do... but whose you are.  (The answer is not found in doing more, but in surrendering yourself to Christ.)
2. Your spiritual gift is not about what fits you... but you being shaped for him. (God continues to shape and mold each one of us into what we are becoming.)
3. Your spiritual gift will become most clear in the place you are surrendered.  (Be free to abandon all to God's purpose.)

The main question to ask oneself concerning spiritual gifts is this one:

                                        Not, "what is my spiritual gift, but.... am I fully His?"

You can also ask yourself these questions, which are similar:  am I fully surrendered to Christ?  How am I surrendered to Christ?  Where am I not surrendered to Christ?

Today's message is very timely for me.  You see, I'm at that place on my journey where I meet once again with the District Board on Ordained Ministry.  Tomorrow.  And tomorrow's meeting is when they determine whether or not I'm ready to move forward in the process toward becoming a Provisional Elder. 

Talk about surrendering to God!

At the retreat in MN two weeks ago, I knew inside my spirit that God was working on my soul as a leader.  And since that time I have stepped up and stepped in to that role in several ways.  Yet, there is still hesitancy and a little bit of anxiety as God continues to mold and shape me into what I am becoming.  Though surrendered, it is that unknowing at times that can become a tad daunting. 

Yet, I know that as I continue to allow God to mold me, to shape me, to work in me..... and that as I continue to be free to abandon all to God's purpose, then I will be able to live into the calling that will express the Lordship of Jesus Christ through the gifts and graces bestowed upon me.

Living in and with abandon to God is truly a freeing thing.  It is living in freedom.  It is the running through the water sprinklers at the FUMSDRL retreat.  It is flying after the service when most folks had left the sanctuary to "I'll Fly Away" and then later learning that your D.S. was there.

Today, it was feeling led to join in with the children for the children's J.A.M.worship time to sing and dance and love Jesus!  So, I did.  And it was also the feeling led to skip around the sanctuary as the worship band jammed up their last song at the end of the service.  I can't explain the freedom in my soul.  But it was there and it said skip.  I have skipped up to the altar in the first service before.  Once.  Today, I skipped down one aisle, across the front, and toward the back of another.  Then, the band went into "I'll Fly Away"... so I got to fly!  I flew down the next aisle and back up to where I was sitting. 

My spirit was soaring.  I realize that it must be odd to see an almost 50 year old skipping and flying in church.  But, I am a child of God.  Above all, I took today's message seriously... I will abandon all to God's purpose and surrender all of me. 

So, I live into being that child of God, full of play and joy.  I also live into those areas of calling that require the soul of my leadership to step up and move forward.  Whether God will use the different gifts and graces God has bestowed on me in certain arenas or whether God chooses to lay me aside and not use me in certain ways... I'm okay. 

It I about being surrendered to God, recognizing whose I am, and living fully... fully alive and abandoned... into that relationship for God's purpose.

This is the power of saying Yes!

Blessings on your journey,

Debra


To watch today's video of the service:
Yes, part 2.