Companion reading is chapter 4, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”

– Isaiah 55:2a

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

In the book, we have now met Lucy’s brother Edmund and he is now in Narnia after following Lucy through the wardrobe. Edmund quickly finds himself alone, cold and hungry. He is quickly seen by the White Witch and she takes keen advantage of the situation.

This passage reminds me of a saying I heard a lot when I was a kid, “If it seems too good to be real or true; it most likely is!”

The White Witch, gave Edmund what he wished for, Turkish Delight! Not just any Turkish Delight either, this was by far the best he had ever tasted and he loved it, loved it so much he could never get his full of it. But, the White Witch having her own agenda tricked Edmund by giving him something that was enchanted and caused an unhealthy and destructive sensation for Edmund. He ate and was never satisfied, the more he ate, the more he craved it. Edmund got to the point that Edmund did not want or desire any other foods.

From the surface, we might look at Edmund and pass some judgment upon him or offer some aged advise about a number of things from tunnel vision, selfishness, even addiction. It’s always seems easier to find the faults in others than in ourselves.

“Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” ~Matthew 7:3-5

Are there things in your world trying to convince you of certain expectations during this season of Advent? Things telling you that in order to have a happy Christmas you must do this or that? Family traditions and making beautiful memories are indeed part of the Advent season, a note of cautionary advise: traditions can be modified and time together is always memorable, breathe and allow the Holy Spirit to awaken your yearnings and desires for HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE! Feed your soul and your body for eternal life. We can all learn from Edmund.

Questions for Reflection:

• Is there a Christmas food that you are craving this season, does it offer an illusion of fun, fantasy, happiness or joy?

• What truly sustains you during the Advent season. Perhaps make a list and then from that list look deeper, does it increase your stress level or decrease it? What might you change on your list? From your list, is God the focal point or just background?

• Things to consider that can increase your joy during this Christmas season. Let go of expectations; let go of grudges, choose joy in all your preparations. Fill your thoughts with “God is Love” or “Come, Lord Jesus,” instead of “Hurry! Hurry!” Or “Just, Get It Done!”

~Peace~

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.inliterature.net/

https://goodnewsshared.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/daily-bible-verse-matthew-73-5/amp/

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Reading: Isaiah 11

“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. he cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. On that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, the hostility of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim. But they shall swoop down on the backs of the Philistines in the west, together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them. And the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the sea of Egypt; and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching wind; and will split it into seven channels, and make a way to cross on foot; so there shall be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that is left of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.”

This week the word we use during Advent is HOPE! We are in HOPE for the Christ child to be born and the Second coming of Christ to take His children home, home to the Kingdom He has prepared for all believers. My prayer for all of us journeying this Advent season is that in the midst of waiting in anticipation for the baby to be born fulfilling the prophecies and promised foretold in the Old Testament but yo also not lose sight of the Second coming of Christ also promised in the Old Testament and preached by the Disciples of the New Testament. What a glorious coming to all believers. Keep your HOPE active and alive in the present along with seeking it in the future. My the HOPE of Jesus shine in you, through you and around you this beautiful season.

Prayer:

Prince of Peace, we await your return. In our waiting, let our preparations for your return be favorable in your eyes. May our witness to your love and grace invite others to join the kigdom-building work you have invited us to be a part of. ~Amen.

~ Peace & Hope~

References:

https://artandtheology.org/tag/isaiah-11/

https://www.biblegateway.com/

Advent: A Calendar of Devotions 2019

By: Teer Hardy

Monday, December 2, 2019

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side —let Israel now say— if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,  then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.  Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.  We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.  Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” ~Psalm 124

This first week of Advent, churches light the first candle symbolizing HOPE! Our hope in is nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Advent is an opportunity for us to reconnect with with God, to focus ourselves towards our spiritual relationship with Jesus and reminds us of the Incarnation, we see in flesh and blood that God has not and will not abandon us. We are reminded of God’s promises to all creation as we journey through this Advent season.

This week seek HOPE, look for HOPE, create HOPE, give HOPE and accept HOPE!

Prayer:

O God, you promised to never abandon Israel.  In this season of hope, remind us that our hope is in you and not in our own hands.  As we anticipate the hope that is to come in the manger, we remember the hope that you, O God, extend to us. ~Amen.

~Peace & Hope~

References:

Advent: A Calendar of Devotions 2019

By: Teer Hardy

Publisher: Abington Press

Matthew 3:1-6, “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

Companion reading is Chapter 2 of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

On the one hand Mr. Tumnus has been waiting in anticipation of meeting a human and was prepared, he thought to kidnap and turn over them over to the White Witch, but quickly realizes in his heart to do so, would be wrong. Doing what’s right is sometimes the bravest act we can do. On the other hand, what relief Mr. Tumnus must have felt when he told Lucy the truth, it must have been very freeing. Repenting of our mistakes and sins to God is freeing, this is also true when we seek forgiveness from individuals we have wronged. I have experienced the freeing feeling of forgiveness and it is as if a weight had been literally lifted right off my shoulders. When we carry unnecessary burdens, guilt and shame it causes much pain. That pain goes beyond just ourselves, it has a cascading effect on all of our relationships and often we try to push God away. When I have been in the midst of these experiences I know God is still with me but my guilt distracts me and I feel like I need to keep God at a distance. Selfishly thinking I can fix or hide whatever “it” is from God. How very foolish of me, I am hurting myself and God with my stubbornness.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines REPENTANCE as:

• to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.

Advent is a season of preparation, anticipation and waiting. We learn from the story that Mr. Tumnus had previously made an agreement with the White Witch that if he ever encountered a human child, he would hand them over to her. As the story progresses, we learn that Mr. Tumnus decides to place himself in danger by not reporting Lucy and seeks forgiveness from Lucy for wanting to cause her harm.

Today, the Christian Church celebrates and recognized the First Sunday of Advent. Over the next four weeks we will prepare our hearts for Jesus’ birth through Hope-Peace-Joy-Love.

Some interesting correlations between John the Baptist and Mr. Tumnus: they were both hairy, wild men who lived on or near the borders of two kingdoms. Mr. Tumnus met Lucy at the border between Narnia and the Wardrobe. The people of Judea traveled to meet John at the Jordan River. John, too stood at the border between what has been/what is and the kingdom to come through Jesus. People come to the Jordan to confess their sins and to be baptized by John. This was their preparation and anticipation of the coming of Jesus, though at the time they did not fully know what that meant.

Advent is a “borderland” season, a new year is coming, we are waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day and His coming again, The Second Coming of Christ!

Questions for Reflection:

• Does Advent feel like a strange time of the year to ask for forgiveness? Why or why not?

• What ways might you pursue repentance and forgiveness in your life? A few suggestions offered are to write a letter to God; reach out to someone you have been estranged with; talk with a spiritual leader; or perhaps consider a rite of reconciliation.

Tomorrow’s companion reading is chapter 4 of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

~Peace & Hope~

References:

orthodoxyforeveryone.com

https://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/content/lion-witch-and-wardrobe

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://www.shmoop.com/lion-witch-wardrobe/

Happy December 1st, 2019! Today is the beginning of Advent and I hope you will join me as I journey through the scriptures and remember the birth of Jesus! I will be using a pamphlet published by Abington Press and written by Teer Hardy. The use of the pamphlet will be a guide as I do not have permission to copy or reproduce it’s material. Here’s a copy of the cover and they are available through amazon.com; christianbook.com and barnesandnoble.com. If you would like a copy please let me know and I will certainly try to get you a copy.

Advent: A Calendar of Devotions 2019. By Teer Hardy

First Sunday of Advent ~ December 1, 2019

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” ~Deuteronomy 6:4-5

The Advent season focuses on hope, peace, joy and love. Each week churches light specifics candles celebrating each word. The first is HOPE, the second is PEACE, the third is JOY and the forth is LOVE. Advent is described as a time or season of preparation and anticipation. Do you have any specific things you are prayerfully considering during this Advent season(?). I am seeking to reconnect with all four but most especially “PEACE.” Peace can come in many forms and I hope it comes with a broad brush stroke across many troubling things. I seek to be more accepting of others and to radically love others. Radical love is to meet people where they are, not where my expectations think they should be. I want to see radical inclusion for those on the fringe of society. I would like to help to eradicate hatred, promote peace through kindness and mutual trust and respect. I would like to see neighbors being neighborly with one another. I would like to see kids have the opportunities to be kids. See the extinction of greed and dominance.

So, it’s December 1st…are you still in the Christmas mood, (?) with the way things are marketed these days, Christmas has literally been on display since Halloween in most brick and mortar stores. It’s all about the hustle & bustle of buying this and that, making a list, checking the list, planning parties, attending parties, wrapping gift, receiving gifts, eating and cooking its mind boggling! Advent is the opposite of this, it’s personal and it’s contemplation. I shared this in a previous post of mine, what Advent is to me…When you think of Advent what kind of things come to mind? It is defined as a waiting period, in anticipation of the Christ child’s birth. As Christians, we celebrate this season every year, what is it that makes it so special and unique each year? The story doesn’t change, we have Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem each year, the inn is always full and they must seek shelter in a dark and damp stable…what then is there to be waiting in anticipation for… I cannot provide your answer but I can share mine. For me the beauty of the story is it is the same, it is me that is different each year. I’m thankful for the gift of salvation that came in the form of a baby, innocent and pure. I’m thankful for the grace that is extended to me and for the forgiveness of my sins. None of these things would be possible if that baby is never born. I love the firm foundation that the manger serves in my life. Every year it is new to me, no matter where my life has taken me over the past year, I have renewed hope through the birth of Jesus. Advent is reconnecting with the baby in the manger, a time of prayer, repentance and renewing of my faith. Stripping away all the cumbersome and pointless acts I’ve have placed upon myself that has separated me from Jesus…guilt, greed, punishment, neglect, fear, sin, competition, pride, pressure, things and many others can keep me from the love of Jesus. He’s there waiting for me, He’s never left me alone, even when I try to chase Him away, His love remains. I know I am loved, I just let the world cloud my judgement from time to time.

During this time of Advent, we will experience things as well as people competing for our attention and perhaps our resources. Stand firm in the faith and the promises of Jesus. Remember that there is one God, that the Lord our God came into the world as a child and that the hope, joy, love and peace God accompanied that Child.

Prayer: O God, you alone are God. During this season of anticipation, we look to the empty manger and wait. Remind us, by the power of your Spirit, that during this season of Advent, while others are competing for our attention, you alone reign over the Earth and we await Emmanuel with hope, joy, love, and peace. ~Amen.

~Peace~

References:

Advent Candles: hope, peace, joy, love