In this Advent season, the lamp post is a reminder of our welcome of Christ to our hearts and lives.
Christmas comes during the longest dark days of the year. How appropriate that Jesus is called The Light of the world. (John 8:12)
He shines the light of truth in a world dark with lies. He shines the light of hope in the darkness of fear. He shines the light of joy in the midst of sadness and grief.
May Jesus’ light shine in your heart and home this Christmas season.
This cluster of oak leaves have so many of the Fall colors in them. I can never get enough of these warm colors. Wanting to capture Fall colors on paper started my art practice. But I didn’t want just color, but also shape.
So besides color, I look for shapes. The greenish leaf and the darkest red one, seem to be hugging each other. Let’s reach out in any way we can to bless those around us. Spending time, sharing a meal, helping with a chore, or babysitting are just a few ways we can warm another’s heart.
Who can you reach out to today?
This was a giant Sycamore leaf I photographed on a walking trail. I fell in love with its color and form. One day I’ll do this in watercolor, but for now I delight in its form.
I know it is a dead leaf. It was probably crushed later that day by a walker who didn’t stop to look at it. Why should he stop and look at this one? It was only one of hundreds of leaves on the ground.
Our God keeps an eye on each one of us. We may feel like we are just one of hundreds and not worth special notice. But God loves and cares for those who love Him. As we spend time with God we will stand out from the crowd.
This morning on chat, Leslie mentioned a Gather Vocal Band song called, This is the Place. After chat Mike and I listened to it.
As we listened and watched the video, I began to tear up. At one point I started crying openly. By the time it ended I was crying hard. Why? It is a song telling what happens in church. Our dedications, weddings, funerals, etc. It is not a tear-jerker story or intended to stir strong emotions. It is an appeal to come, no matter what part of life we are in.
What pierced the balloon of isolation in my heart was the frequent reminder in the song of human touch and our desperate need for human contact at the pivotal points in our lives. We need to share other people’s important moments in life.
The church in Malaysia has been closed most of the time from March 18, 2020. Only now are they beginning to open churches, but only to the fully vaccinated. For more than a year and a half Malaysians have not been able to go to church, to see the faces of the members and visitors, to reach out and touch someone in obvious distress or joy, or to have others closely circle and pray for them. How many times in my life have I, without a word to anyone, had someone reach over and touch me tenderly and offer to pray with me? Not in this last very long season!
Anger welled to overflowing at the fear that has been peddled so freely that no one knows who they can confide in or if they are safe to be within a meter or without a mask. I remembered my friend and neighbor was obviously sad and lonely, but I could not touch her. In her fear, she wore 2 masks and a face guard and quickly thrust a sack at me.
At these memories, tears poured down my face!
Grief poured out for those whose special events could not happen or had to be shaved to tiny affairs or postponed indefinitely! Weddings, dedications, graduations. Grandchildren could not visit their elderly grandparents and many were buried without a funeral. Families separated by the causeway, dad working in Singapore and wife and children only seeing each other on video calls for more than a year and a half. Dad missed seeing his little ones growing up, wife went without her husband’s strong and tender touch!
How much damage was done! How many lives scarred! How sad!
We must be able to open our churches and meet and touch as the body of Christ!
These are they lyrics of This is the Place.
You may see the YouTube video at: https://youtu.be/h9iGNfPYRb
This Is the Place Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Come, my child, there is a place
When you’re lost, you will be found
You’ll be safe, and you’ll belong
You will hear the sweetest sound
[Chorus]
This is the place where we pray
This is the place where we cry
This is the place where we start
“‘Til death do us part”
Where we say “goodbye”
Here we leave all our pain
Find forgiveness and grace
Here we walk down the aisle
Dedicate every child
Here in this sacred place
[Verse 2]
Break some bread, come share the wine
At this table there is a place
Bring your fears, take His peace
Come and share this Holy space
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Holy Holy (Holy Holy)
Holy Holy
God almighty, Immanuel.
YouTube link: Gaither Vocal Band – This Is The Place (Lyric Video) – YouTube
This is the watercolor version of the Maple branch. It is not what I imagined, but it has a beauty of its own.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the last year or so learning to accurately paint details and being true to the reference photo. That is good and it is a style I’m comfortable with. But like my granddaughter’s art teacher wisely told her, she is really good in her own style, but she also needs to learn other styles as well.
I don’t want to get so stiff that I can’t stretch. In many areas of life, we can get too comfortable. If we stay in any comfortable spot for too long, we get stiff. I want to keep stretching and learning. Are you still stretching or are you getting stiff? Are you open to something new?