adventure

Oh Come Let us Adore Him.

Come and See.

Advent and Adventure are derived from the same Latin root word, adventus, which is “to come, to see, to reach.”

Mary was awakened to her role in bearing of the Child.

Joseph obeyed and re-arranged his life to father the Son.

The shepherds were harkened.

The wise men were magnetized to engage for the journey towards the Son.

Oh come Let us Adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Christ came as a child to rescue others that they might be called Abba’s child.

John 1:12

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

Hebrews 2:14-15

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Grateful praise, an Advent Meditation

James 1:17

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

For The Beauty Of The Earth

For the beauty of the earth,


For the glory of the skies;


For the love which from our birth,


Over and around us lies;


Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour,


Of the day and of the night;


Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,


Sun and moon, and stars of light;


Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight;


For the mystic harmony,
Linking sense to sound and sight;


Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;


Friends on Earth and friends above,


For all gentle thoughts and mild;


Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise

James 3:17-18

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Jesus left the beauty of Heaven to bring the heavenlies into the crooked creation. The babe child was the fruit of righteousness. Christ brought joy and harmony, light and truth, grace and peace; For this we lift up grateful praise. 

Advent Hope

The Coming of Christ instills a bit of whimsy, hope, and awareness in me, this year.

Advent is a time of anticipation and of “coming, arrival.” But I cannot help spending time in reflection, considering what has occurred.

Luke 1:37

^“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Remember

Though a foggy image, I remember who I once was. I know I have been rescued from myself and from the woes of angst. Miracle of miracles.

I don’t know about you, but for many years, my own thoughts and my own considerations have been the enemy of myself. It’s been a strategic battle from the enemy that has paralyzed me from action, away from relationships, and from being free. The swirling, the doubt, momentary confidence, the curiosity, the yearning for clarity and purity of mind; Oh yes, I know that battle.

I remember that once was dead to life, but I am reminded that a little bitty baby was born with the heartbeat of heaven, the craving of a Savior, and the triumph as the Lord of Lords.

This baby is more handsome than any other baby born. This babe made angels sing choruses, made stars shine round about, and he has made his home in my heart.

Luke 2:14

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:19

^“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Anticipate

I love the unveiling and glory in the mire, the muck, and the journey to the heart of Christ. It’s messy, it’s hard, it’s GOOD.

I love the unveiling and the groaning as we wait for that which we long for (But TRUST ME, I don’t always behave or feel as if I really do love these things. I get frustrated, vocal, and even weepy often). I really do believe God’s word though, when he invites us to pour out our hearts like water (Lamentations 2:19) and that He will set our feet upon a high rock (Psalm 18:33).

I love the unveiling, the anticipation, of Hope. Christ the baby born, He IS hope. He delivered Hope. For hundreds of years the Israelites were anticipating the Messiah, the savior, a Hope for their nation.

 

Joel 3:16

^"The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”

The more seasons of advent I encounter, the more days that pass; I grow more and more aware of my need of a Savior minute by minute. I grow in more anticipation in friendship with Christ. I desire the salve of a Savior to sink into new layers of my soul. I desire that the intimacy of friendship with Christ be continuing to inform my views, actions, and how I love. 

 

Luke 1:46-55

The Magnificat

^“And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
  “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
  “And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
  “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
  “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
“He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
“He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Advent begins

Advent is here!

It’s a season of anticipation!

AD'VENT, n. [L. adventus, from advenio, of ad and venio, to come. See Find.]

A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior…. It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and his second coming to judge the world.

ANTICIPA'TION, n.

1. The act of taking up, placing, or considering something before the proper time, in natural order; prevention.

2. Foretaste; previous view or impression of what is to happen afterward; as, the anticipation of the joys of heaven.

Christ the babe is coming!

Imagine the anticipation of the baby, Jesus! Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem for the register decreed by Cesaer Augustus.

Mary was great with child traveling on the back of a clunky donkey.

Joseph was likely protective and aware of his bride’s condition and perhaps a bit anxious about the difficulty of the trek.

The world was waiting, the prophesies were ripe in anticipation for fulfillment, and the heavenly angels were preparing their songs.

See, the Messiah was prophesied for years and years by men commissioned of God, prophets, to tell of the One who would Come. In fact, there are 191 mentions of the coming of Christ in the Old Testament! Hundreds of years later Christ fulfilled all of those 191 prophesies. The likelihood of Christ fulfilling even just 8 of these prophesies is one in one-hundred-million-billion. The miracle of the Christ Child is supernatural. The miracle of the Christ child is intimate and personal.

As I go into this Christmas season, I want to be in a place of devotion and loyal reflection about the meaning this little newborn brings to my life. 

I want to revel in the whimsy of the days, the joy of remembering, and even the glee in anticipating the promises of Christ. 

John 1:1-2, 14 (NIV)

“[The Word Became Flesh] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

according to Isaiah

One of the things I love about the Names of God is that they can exhibit aspects of His character and illustrate His Nature, while also giving us a reference point for how to address and call on Him.

Isaiah used the richest vocabulary of the Old Testament while conveying the nature, person, character, and intimacy of God. Isaiah write panoramically of the breadth, depth, goodness, and goodness of God. 

Isaiah 1:24 (NASB)

“Therefore the Lord God of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares...."

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 17:7

“In that day man will have regard for his Maker And his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.”

Isaiah 17:10 (NASB)

“For you have forgotten the God of your salvation And have not remembered the rock of your refuge.”

Isaiah 19:20

“It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.”

Isaiah 28:16

“therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Isaiah 37:16 (ESV)

 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 41:4 (ESV)

“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.”

Isaiah 54:5

“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”

Isaiah 60:20

“Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.”

Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Isaiah 12:1-6 (NASB)

Thanksgiving Expressed

“Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord;
For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation. And in that day you will say,
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.
Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.” Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things;
Let this be known throughout the earth. Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

simple things and stolen moments

simple things like morning coffee, with coffee cake. 

egg bake and college football. 

fall walks, brisk talks. 

a college campus bustling with potential, Truth, conversation, art, history, opportunity.

a small prayer chapel tucked in a corner, the eternal flame bolstered at the front gate. 

Special God-winks.

the city. 

oh the city. 

Chicago, you are a tottling town. 

special God-winks.

Metra, what a simple connection you bring. 

The Museum of Science and Industry with simple adventures like playing with bouncy balls, measuring velocity, whispering amazement, building and crafting new inventions. Locomotives-a shout out to progress, science and biology an obvious, to me, attribute  to the Creator and the Ancient of Days.

Chinatown, culture, diversity, peoples all under the story of One God. 

Chinatown a place that offered me a fabulous chicken parmesan italian sub sandwich.

An adventure around town - words shared, hearts brightened, detours, mysteries, songs sung, stories told, memories made. shenanigans.

But the simple things like friendship, community, listening, conversations, laughter upon laughter, history and nostalgia, stories built together over time. 

I am stealing a moment, alone here in the apartment of an assistant RD and her husband the special teams football coach, to honor the simple things... the small moments of joy that remind me of the threadline of the adventure: abundant life. 

John 15:5 (NIV)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

1 Samuel 20:42(NIV)

"Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town."

John 8:36 (NIV)

^"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:32 (NIV)

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

^{Ephesians 3:20}

^{The Message (MSG)}

^{"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.}

^{Glory to God in the church!}

^{Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!}

^{Glory down all the generations!}

^{Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"}

Hope and Inheritance

Receive the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 1:18-21.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given..."

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)  Spiritual Blessings in Christ

^“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”

Hebrews 1:3 (AMP)

^“He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,”

You have the blessings of hope and inheritance and access to the sole expression of God’s glory. You are seated in heavenly realms in hope, in the name of your glorious Father.  

Amen. So Be It.