A Candle is Burning

A Candle is Burning

sung to the tune of "Away in a Manger"

A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
A candle of HOPE in December's dark night
While angels sing blessings from heaven's starry sky,
Our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh

A candle is burning, a candle of PEACE,
A candle to signal that conflict must cease
For Jesus is coming to show us the way
A message of peace humbly laid in the hay

A candle is burning, a candle of JOY,
A candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy
Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow
As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow

A candle is burning, a candle of LOVE,
A candle to point us to heaven above
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth
ForJesus is bringing God's love to our earth.

We honor Messiah with Christ's candle flame
Our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim
O Come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night
As God comes among us, the Christian's true light.

 

 A Candle is Burning  Words are a song by Sandra Dean, a former Director of Music at Southminster United Church in Ottawa, Canada. It is used with her permission and blessing.  It was the inspiration for my Advent book by the same name.

Linus Understood the Light of Love

Sharing two entries from my Advent book, "A Candle is Burning."

The Light of Love

 Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, the week that represents Love. As we light the last purple candle, along with the other candles, the light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.  His birth brings light to the darkness of despair.

John 1:1-5

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

In the beginning, was God, and He sent His Son to became flesh, in other words, man. Jesus showed us how to put God’s love into practice, even dying to do so. God wants a relationship with you, just as you are.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 As we begin the last week of Advent, the waiting is almost over. Soon, we’ll celebrate the birth that changed everything, when God’s love arrived as a newborn.

When the candle of Love is lighted, remember God’s love for you and share it with others.

Linus Understood

 One of the most familiar Christmas traditions is the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It has been almost 50 years since it first aired in 1965. Charles Schultz insisted on using the voices of real children, which was a new idea. He also insisted on using average children, not professionals. The CBS executives had serious reservations about this. They were especially concerned about Linus quoting from the Bible on network television and almost refused!

50% of the television viewing audience watched it that night and it got wonderful reviews. They related to Charlie Brown’s question, “What is the real meaning of Christmas?” The children’s play, the overly-decorated doghouse, and search for the perfect tree represented the false emphasis of the holiday then, and still happens today.

 Luke 2:12-14

“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

When Linus quoted the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke, he touched the hearts of viewers. It is my favorite scene from any movie. You may want to share it with someone today..

Away in a Manger

  Luke 2:4-7 tells us, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."  

Away in a Manger

It may be called a manger, the nativity scene, or a crèche.  During the Middle Ages, people set up living crèches in Italian villages.  Whatever name you use, you probably have one.

The word Nativity has to do with birth, but this was not just any birth, but a birth that changed the world then and now.  The manger used by Jesus was most likely a food trough in a cave, as that is where they kept their animals. (Sometimes animals were kept in a cave during this time, other times, a lower level of a house, like a lean-to.)

Traditionally, most people have one under the tree.  I have several, close to 20 actually, yet rarely put there under the tree because I like branches to the floor.  Mine are set up around the house.  The more delicate ones are put up in a safe place but others are on tables to be enjoyed.

Our children were familiar with the nativity story and enjoyed “acting it out” using the mangers kept out for them.  Each had particular ways of arranging the manger, according to individual interpretation.

When she was about five, Elizabeth declared, “Who put all these animals in here?  I moved them outside where they belong.  You can’t have dirty animals with Baby Jesus!”

Andrew moved all the animals to one side and added Matchbox cars to the manger like a garage.  It was possible to identify which child had touched it last by the position of the pieces!  Occasionally, Fisher-Price animals managed to join “the regulars” as well.

I do not remember which son did it, but one day I noticed that Baby Jesus was missing!  I asked about it and he took Jesus out of a pocket.  Apparently, Baby Jesus had wanted to see the large Nativity scene at church so he showed him.

Why did I allow the kids to play with the Nativity scene?  I wanted it to be real to them.  After all, it IS a real story.  Young children love the story of the baby in the manger.  Reenacting the story gave them joy.

A prayer for today 

 Dear Lord, I want to keep the story of the Nativity real in my heart, just as a child.  Help me keep the love and wonder alive.  Remind me to show MY life to Jesus and include Him.  Amen.

sharing a reading  from my Advent 

devotional called,  "As We Wait" 

a book that looks at the symbols

 and customs of the Advent season, 

written for the entire family.

Joy and the Angels

Like many of you, the events in Newtown, CT just overwhelmed me. The idea of celebrating Christmas amidst such tragedy seems impossible. Yet, while I had so much to say.. at the same time, felt there was nothing I could say and the blog has been silent.  One thing I wrestled with is the complete lack of joy that will be possible there, while at the same time, being the third week of Advent, we remember the joy. 

      

There are tragedies surrounding the birth of Christ, yet we don't focus on them. For one, King Herod had all the male babies age 2 and under killed, just to try to remove the threat he felt from Jesus, who was born King of the Jews. What sorrow. But life does go on, and there is within me a search for normalcy. It will be a long time coming, if it ever arrives, in Newtown, but even they will be going through the motions for the children that survived.

 JOY AND THE ANGELS

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.

                             Luke 2:13-14

On the Third Sunday of Advent,  we light the pink candle, the candle that represents JOY.  Joy is an overwhelming sense of happiness.  One very special example of showing joy is of the angels that proclaimed that Jesus was born.  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men” they said.

Angels are God’s messengers.  They are used throughout the entire Bible to inform people of things.  An angel spoke to Zacharias and Elizabeth when she was to have a child.  An angel also spoke to Mary and Joseph.  They informed them of the upcoming birth and reassured them that it would be all right.

Once Jesus arrived, the angels were sent to tell the shepherds that were in the fields.  What an amazing sight!  No wonder the shepherds were frightened by the bright light at first!  It was certainly not something that had ever happened to them before.

A few years ago, the children and youth did a play called, “The Angel Alert” that presented a light-hearted look at what might have occurred the night Jesus was born.  They were “on alert” so that they would be ready to announce the birth.  They had practice drills and choir practice in order to be ready.

It was a fun play that reminded us of the excitement looking towards that important birth.  More importantly, it reminds us of the need to be ready to do whatever God leads us to do.  Sometimes, maybe it will be something as significant as the angels telling of Christ’s birth.  More often, it may be something much more routine, but still a part of God’s bigger plan.

A prayer for today

 O Lord, I want to be mindful that angels are not the only ones capable of telling of the good news of Jesus’ birth.  Give me the wisdom and courage to approach others, sharing with them the joy that I have found in Jesus Christ.  My heart grieves for those that have lost loved ones,  and for those that have seen things they will never forget.

Remind me, O Lord, that I too, should be ready for you.  Ready to listen to your insight, ready to follow your will, and ready when you return once again.

Amen

Deck the Halls

You've heard the expression, "His eyes are bigger than his stomach," when it comes to someone taking more food than they can eat. Well, when it comes to Christmas decorating, I have more "want to" than "can do" it seems. It's a common problem for many people. Part of my frustration, also like many, is that the "can do" is a smaller amount than in years past. 

It seems that I need to sit back and take some of my own advice. This weekend, I came across something I wrote many years ago, back when I had kids at home and was working full-time, but it rang true for me today. It's from my book, "As We Wait," an Advent book that shares about the symbols and customs of Advent, while at the same time, reminding the reader of the real reason for the season.

Deck the Halls 

There are many decorating traditions.  One of my absolute “must-do” traditions is the official “Hanging of the Greens” at church, marking the beginning of the Advent season for me as long as I can remember.

My mother’s rule was that decorations could not go up until December.  The boxes of decorations lined the downstairs hallway after Thanksgiving, but they were just waiting.  She was just as picky that it be put away by New Year’s Eve in order to start the year “fresh.”

 

She must have worked nonstop on December 1^st.  When we got home from school, the house would be totally transformed.  There would be wreaths on the front door, candles in the windows, the crèche was set up, stockings were hung, and Christmas music would be playing.  She even changed the curtains in the kitchen.  We had red curtains used only at Christmastime. 

 

Some families decorate their houses to look like magical fairylands.  Others have a calmer approach.  I liked putting up garland and red bows on our picket fence and a wreath on the door because most of my decorating was inside.  (It looked wonderful when it snowed!)

On Christmas Night, my mom would say, “Let’s go look at Christmas lights,” as if it were a new idea.  Since we did this every year, it was hardly a surprise.  My dad drove us around downtown Nashville to see the store windows with animated decorations.  I loved seeing the tall office buildings with messages spelled out with the darkened rooms.  Then we always drove around looking at decorated houses.  I tried doing this with my own children but it was harder to find as many decorated houses during the years people cut back on energy so we never developed that tradition.  More people do it now. 

The process of decorating is sometimes a part of the joy.  Others may dread that part but enjoy the result.  I have always enjoyed relaxing in a room lit only by the lights of the Christmas tree.  It is so pretty and peaceful.

In the centuries before Christ was born, it was common to decorate houses with evergreens, holly, and wreaths as a symbol of life.  To the ancient Romans, evergreens such as holly and fir trees represented peace and joy.  These were adopted by the early Christians to symbolize eternal life.  We still use these things today.

It does not matter what you do or do not do when it comes to decorating.  It may suit your lifestyle best to put a wreath on your door or lights on an existing ficus tree if anything.  Perhaps you know of someone that would like decorations but cannot put them up.  You would probably enjoy it as much as the other person would if you offered to help put them up.  (Return to put them away when the season ends.)

My parents had a real tree but only for a week.  My lifestyle is different.  I work full time, run all the errands, we traveled after Christmas, and we prefer to enjoy the decorations for a longer time.  For me, artificial trees are used and they may be up until Epiphany.  I wait until after December 1, but it may be days later.

The important thing is not to follow a tradition for the sake of following it.  Traditions offer a certain sense of order and stability, but if they are followed only because you always have and they have become a burden, it is time to consider alternatives and find your best fit.

A prayer for today

Lord, be in my heart this season in all that I see and do.  Help me remember that it is the spirit of the season that matters.  Thank you for Jesus who brings us such joy.

 

Beauty from Scraps

Sometimes, it seems that things just aren't working out the way we want, or that maybe, our prayers are being ignored. But we don't always know what is going to happen, and sometimes our prayers are answered in ways we'd never imagine.  God can take the bad and sad moments of our lives, our scraps of failures, and turn them into something remarkable. This selection is from my Advent book, A Candle is Burning.

 Beauty from Scraps

Quilts are wonderful. You can use them to sit on for a picnic on a warm summer day or take them to football games to ward off the chill. Snuggling under a warm quilt on a cold, stormy night brings peace as you are warm and safe under it.

Now, we often make quilts using brand new fabrics chosen just for that quilt. But back in pioneer days, quilts were made of scraps of fabric salvaged from worn out clothing. Women made them using interesting patterns, creating a beautiful new blanket from the old fabrics.

God takes our broken moments, our failures and shortcomings, and makes them into beautiful moments of joy. Our scraps become masterpieces with His touch. He took the barren couple, Elizabeth and Zacharias, and in them, created John, who would bring others to the glory of God.

Luke 1:14-16

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

Remember today, to take heart, that even as you struggle, God is using your problems in ways you may not even notice to create goodness. Praise Him and look for the glory in all things.

The Hanukkah Miracle

It's Hanukkah, a holiday celebration I've always liked. Since so few of my students had an understanding of the holiday, I taught them about it every year. Guess you could consider it my little contribution to the understanding of Kentuckians for someone else, a group different from themselves.

Yet a few days ago, I heard a national newscaster say, "It's almost Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday about the dedication of a temple." That was ALL she said. Well, yes, it is, but it's SO MUCH MORE than that! It's about the MIRACLE that happened! It's people standing up for their faith. It's the little guy's victory over the big government, and a story about people that did the best they could with what they had. Above all, it's a reminder that God is with us.... ALL of us.

Way back, around  150-200 years before Jesus Christ was born, life was hard if you were Jewish in many areas, as we know from reading the history in the Torah and the Old Testament. In Jerusalem, the Syrian Army had taken over the city, the Jewish temple was turned into a temple honoring Zeus. (Unlike the Jews, the Syrians were Pagans, meaning they were polytheistic, believing in more than one god. Most believed in the Greek gods you read about today as mythology.)  The Jews were forced into slavery and their religion was forbidden. For many years, they kept their faith alive underground.

Finally, in 165 B.C.the a group led by the Maccabee family, went to war against them. This small group managed to drive the Syrian army out of Jerusalem and reclaim their temple. But it'd been defiled and they wanted to re-rededicate it to God. The temple had a menorah, an "eternal" flame, which of course, had been extinguished by the pagans. As it turned out, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to light the flame for one day. It took eight days to get more oil, but they did it anyway.

The Jewish temples had gold menorahs, a candlestick with 7 lamps. Only the center one that was kept burning. The other 6, 3 on each side, were only burned at night or during holy times. This was a design given to Moses by God. (You can read about it in Exodus 25) Most of these golden menorahs, found only in temples, were taken by invading Armies because they're valuable.

But that one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days! It was a miracle! This is why Jewish families today celebrate Hanukkah, a word meaning dedication, to remember the miracle that happened, and to encourage them to remain faithful. A Hanukkah menorah has nine candles... one for each night, plus one in the middle that is simply used to light the others. (The traditional menorah was only allowed inside the temple, so they had to create a different one for use at home.) During Hanukkah, families light a menorah, for the 8 days of Hanukkah. The center candle is lit, then readings are shared as they light one candle the first night, two the second night, etc. It is a time for family celebrations, holiday foods, and gift giving, as they remember the miracle.

The date of Hanukkah is based on the Jewish calendar, so the date fluctuates between late November through December.  It's NOT a "Jewish Christmas" as some would say, but a noble remembrance that dates back long before the birth of Christ. Indeed, Jesus Christ himself, a Jewish boy, probably lit the Menorah, played the dreidel games, ate special foods, and participated in readings reminding him of his Jewish heritage.

While not Jewish, I've loved the story of Hanukkah for many years, ever since I found out what it was about. I have an appreciation for the God of the Jews, MY God as well, and am inspired by these faithful people that stood up for God, and the right to worship Him. The miracle of the light is a part of the Jewish heritage, a miracle we can all appreciate.

Expectations

As we near the end of the first week of Advent, the week of HOPE, I thought I'd share something from the first week of one of my favorite Advent books, He Shall Be Called Jesus.

Expectations

Matthew 1:22-23

“Hey! Something really awesome is coming soon. Get ready!” What would you think?  How would you prepare? You may believe it, but you might be cynical and say, “Oh sure, whatever.” Chances are, this has happened and it was different than expected. Maybe worse, maybe better, but different.

Yesterday, we talked about the prophecies. How would this Messiah save them? Where and when would this powerful King be born? Many speculated about him. Would he come with a big Army to overcome their oppressors? How would he overcome the wrongs? When? Somehow, a little baby born in an animal’s feed trough in an obscure little town just wasn’t quite what many wanted, or even imagined.

God works in mysterious ways. You have heard this many times. He provides in ways we can’t imagine at times. We might even argue! Yet we discover something, perhaps insight, or a new direction. He may inspire you to action. This change may be for your benefit or God could be using you for someone else. The challenge for you today is to be open to what God has in store for you, even things you never expected.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel" which means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:22-23

Blue, the Color of Mary's Cloak

This is from my book, Shades of Glory. In this Advent devotional, different parts of the Nativity Story were discussed, using the themes of colors, such as yellow straw and white sheep.

 Blue the Color of Mary's Cloak

    In the majority of the sculptures and paintings of Mary, she is shown wearing blue. Early artists showed her in blue covered by a red hood. Blue symbolizes the earth and the sky while red often symbolizes Divinity.

          Later artists dropped the red, but kept her in blue. Blue is also the color for loyalty and faith. She was a faithful woman or would not have been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ.

          In the Torah, the scriptures of the Israelites, they were instructed to put blue on the edge of their garments to remind them of the sky and heaven. They also used blue to cover holy items, so it was a special color. Whatever the reason, blue is the color associated with Mary.

          Some churches now use blue Advent candles rather than purple.  They claim this is to distinguish it from Lent that also uses purple. Just as Advent is the time before Christmas, Lent is the time before Easter, both a time of reflection. 

Mary did you know?

That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know? That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.

Thoughts on Advent

 It's Advent... to some, that really doesn't mean much, but it means a lot to me. Thinking of the calendar, Advent is the time before we celebrate the birth of Christ, the 4 weeks before Christmas. It's the beginning of the Christian Church Year.  To others, it's just "the time before Christmas" which seems to concentrate more on the craziness of the season than anything.

Don't get  me wrong - both of these are true. The time before Christmas is a magical, though somewhat stressful, period of time, especially when you have children. You're dealing with excitement surrounding Christmas, as well as the dozens of extra activities from concerts, to church events, to parties, and holiday travel.

But when I think of Advent, I think of more mystical thoughts I guess. I've always loved the season - perhaps because it appeals to my optimistic side - knowing that "it'll all be wonderful" while at the same time focusing on hope, peace, joy, and love... what's not to like? To me, the time preparing for Christmas, looking forward to seeing the kids open gifts, is better than Christmas Day itself. I love Christmas Day - I just like the whole "Adventish" aspect of preparing for it more.

Beginning with the Hanging of the Greens, the yearly renewal begins - it's the kick-off of the season for me. The idea of ancient people hearing the prophecies of Isaiah, looking forward to the birth of a Savior... and the angel sharing the news with Mary and Joseph... the scripture of the nativity....it's all very special to me.

It's possible, perhaps... some might even say definitely, that I got a little too carried away during Advent. Decorating a different tree in each room seemed a tad extreme to some. But while reality has forced me to cut back on a few things - primarily due to lack in independence mixed with reluctance to ask for help - I still love this time of year. I can put out dozens of nativities... and as I look at Mary cradling her newborn son, and see Joseph standing there protectively, I think of the scriptures and imagine what it must have been like.

My favorite songs of the season are "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "O Holy Night," but there are so many others I love as well. I've been listening to them for several weeks... yes, before Advent. Perhaps we could say the music was "the Advent of Advent?" No? Guess I'll just admit that I love the imagery of Advent and just wanted to enjoy it early!  :)

I've written several Advent devotional books, on various themes, so it's a topic I've thought about at great length. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of the things from these books. I haven't decided whether to share all from one book, from different books each week, how often to share, or to be completely mixed up. Who knows? Guess I'll figure it out as I go. Stay tuned.