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.

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.

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.