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Day 12 of Advent: God is with us
Matthew tells us that the birth of Jesus fulfilled a prophecy given about seven centuries earlier by the prophet Isaiah: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” God is with us. I must admit that I am a Dr. Seuss lover…
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Day 11 of Advent: The Hidden (Joyous) Gift of Sadness
For many folks, the days before Christmas can be stressful, but still exciting and merry. For some of us, against the backdrop of our chaotic world, the confounding gift choices, commercials with warm family gatherings, and chords of Joy to the World may actually prompt us to feel inadequate, sad or lonely. I’m not talking…
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Day 10 of Advent: Inspiration from Dr. Seuss
“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” Dr. Seuss Time flies for us as we get older, well maybe it always did. Advent is the season before the…
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Day 9 of Advent: Recognize that Hope is All Around
As we move into the shortest days of the year, the tug of war between darkness and light is ever-present. And with the tragic events of the past few weeks and months, how do we have faith to find and resonate hope? Hope is all around us. At times like these, we just have to…
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Day 8 of Advent: Looking Upward
Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! Matthew 2:8-10 This fall, I have found myself…
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Day 7 of Advent: Gifts Teaching Grace
One Christmas the only thing I wanted was a Cabbage Patch Kid doll, I had wanted one for years, but this was going to be the year. Both my sister and I had asked for one and though they were expensive, we thought maybe, just maybe this year we would be so lucky. Well, Christmas…
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Day 6 of Advent: It Will Be Given: A Journey in Transformation
1 Peter 5: 6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. During one of my morning prayers, the Lord placed in my heart the words “It will be given.” In my thoughts I heard “Myrna…this…
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Day 5 of Advent: A Nudge to Inspire
So I’ve been asked to write for a blog; an advent blog to be more specific. I’m not sure I’m the right girl for the job. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I’m not sure I’ve ever written a blog post before my life! Blurbs, articles, grant proposals, a zillion journal entries and a…
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Day 4 of Advent: Advent and Gratitude
Advent – As Christians, we know it as the coming or second coming of Christ – our belief and Hope. Gratitude is defined as ‘the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness’. What do I see as relational between these two? I see the HOPE expressed by our waiting…
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Day 3 of Advent: Let It begin within Me
My entire life, words – be they in a book, a poem, sung or prayed – have always fed, sustained, calmed and emboldened me. And so, given the heartbreaking events of the last few weeks, I turn to words to inform and guide. Recently, I heard a Wise One share with a Student that if…