i wonder

what would it have been like to have the heavens open up and the sky be filled with angels. to be settled in for the evening, your sheep are secure and counted, your bellies are full and your be roll is laid out and all of a sudden there's a bright light..a voice is speaking to you and then the entire sky is lit up with angels singing! do you think the towns people were aware of the singing sky or was this a private showing for these shepards? what would have your reaction been? the angel tells them to fear not, i will admit that i think i would have had at least a moment of sheer terror to have such an experience. and what about how quickly it appears they were to follow the angels direction. everybody knows a good shepard stays with their sheep. do you think they debated if some of them should stay or did they all jump at the chance to see what they had been told about? do you think they realized that they were ther chosen as the first people to know about the coming of the Savior? i wonder if they were educated in hebrew history and knew of the prophecies that Jesus would be born in Bethleham. did they kneel down and worship? years later as old men did they realize that Jesus the Christ was the same man they had hurried off to see that night so many years before? did they understand that they needed to follow Him?

i light this candle

growing up we all looked forward to celebrating Advent. there are still scripture passages that when i come across them i automatically think of the corresponding prophecy or fulfilment. i asked mom for a copy of the "little red book" that we used for our Advent readings ever since i was a young girl and have enjoyed following it again this year. i haven't been very faithful but will do a couple of days readings at a time. there is nothing quite as exciting as the anticipation of Christmas and the coming of the Christ Child.

i believe it was on the

saturday after thanksgiving that all of the kids at church would make advent wreaths and bring home a little red book of readings. we would then begin on that sunday and have daily readings up until Christmas day. we would light one candle each day for a week and then on sunday we would light a second. it was always fun when sunday came because that meant another candle which also meant that Christmas was closer! on Christmas day before any presents were opened we would read the final passage...the birth of Chirst...and light the white candle. that was Jesus' candle, for He had come! mom has collected this nativity set for years and has a very extensive set of characters including simeon, elizabeth and king herod. each night one of us would tell the entire

Christmas story using the characters. this seemed a little silly when i was about 15 or 16 but now watching my nieces and nephews tell the story i am grateful for my parent's diligence. we also use this time to sing Christmas songs. my mom made these blue folders with around 25 Christmas songs that she hand wrote out years ago. each night we sing at least 3 of them! as you can guess i can sing just about every Christmas carol all the way through without having the words in front of me anymore. there are some that i really don't enjoy, like Gentle Mary Laid Her Child. that song makes me a little crazy but even Go Tell It On The Moutian is one that i enjoy singing now because it's such an amazing message. we should be singing and proclaiming the coming of Christ everywhere and to everyone. i think my favorite song is one that many people don't even know...

All Praise ToThee, Eternal Lord

All praise to Thee, Eternal Lord,
Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood;
Choosing a manger for Thy throne,
While worlds on worlds are Thine alone.

Once did the skies before Thee bow;
A virgin's arms contain Thee now,
While angels, who in Thee rejoice,
Now listen for Thine infant voice.

A little Child, Thou art our Guest,
That weary ones in Thee may rest;
Forlorn and lowly is Thy birth;
That we may rise to Heaven from earth.

Thou comest in the darksome night
To make us children of the light;
To make us, in the realms divine,
Like Thine own angels round Thee shine.

All this for us Thy love hath done;
By this to Thee our love is won;
For this we tune our cheerful lays,
And sing our thanks in ceaseless praise.

so today, i light these candles to remind me of the coming of Jesus.

head over heels

"everything comes alive in my life as i lift you up"

these are words of a song that we sing at church; and these words were very true tonight in the closing moments of service. we are in the middle of a series on the 3 main characters in the Christmas story. tonight's focus was on joseph and pastor brought out many interesting points and asked some hard questions, all things we can learn from the life of joseph. i took lots of notes and would love to share but thats not where my heart is right now. it was when the worship team returned to the platform and we began to sing a song about Jesus death and ressurection that i got swept off my feet!

at first my mind couldn't comprehend the change from Christmas to Easter and then i stood there with tears in my eyes as i gloried in the wonder of the cross. i stood with my arms outstretched, singing the words, "Christ is risen from the dead, overcoming death by death, come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the dead," worshiping this Child who came for the sole purpose of dying for MY sins. i thought of how He lay in that manger and knew what His purpose was.

i enjoyed a special time of communion following this awakening. my Jesus, who's birth the world is preparing to celebrate, willingly laid down His life for me and asked that we remember His death until He comes again. it was an honor to kneel in His presence and dine.

i have heard the Christmas story time and time again. in fact i am sure i could quote many parts of the story though i've never attempted to memorize it but tonight it came alive to me again.

blessed

my heart is overwhelmed by the goodness of my God! the emotions i am feeling are overwhemling. emotions of wonder, awe, repsect; of love, peace and thankfulness. these emotions are so intimate and personal that i dare not put the words into type. those who share this understanding need no further explanation.

Exodus 17:12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

making barrettes

they say that everything comes back into style or popularity and this recent trend of women and girls over the age of 5 or 6 of wearing bows and flowers in their hair has totally taken me back to the little kitchen at the house where i grew up in chesterfield.

it was there that andrette's was founded. once a week my mom and i would stay up late...maybe even til 9:30pm! (remember, i was about 6 years old when this started.) we would make barrettes to sell at craft shows.

some of our favorites were made out of eyelet lace and sewn into what we called "circlies". we would cut a 6" length of lace and sew a running stitch through the binding, pull the thread tight, and sew up the raw edges together. once the circlie was made we would either add a button or a small bow.

it's funny to me that 25 plus years later i still remember those specifics! mom tended to make the ones with flowers. they were really elaborate sometimes! we had specific flowers that we liked to use and always use babies breath as a filler.

these details may not mean all that much to you but it is fun to know that i still remember this. i keep thinking that i will collect some supplies and make some for myself and or friends...



peace and trust

tomorrow my brother goes into surgery to have his leg amputated. i sit here in wonder and awe at the reality of peace. there is no other word for it. God has promised and He has delivered great peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
i don't know when peace has been so evident in any situation. there is a level of trust that surpasses all things in human understanding. there have been so many passages that have carried joel, candice and the rest of our family but jeremiah 29:11 is one that has been most called upon:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

caution: under construction

isn't it great to know that we have been crafted uniquely by the hands of the Creator of the universe? it's actually pretty overwhelming and humbling. and best yet is that not only did God make us in His image (genesis 1:27) but He is still doing a work in each one of us that have surrendered our lives to the Potter's hands (jeremiah 18:6) and He will continue to work on us until we are completed (philippians 1:6) at the finish line of our race (2 timothy 4:73)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCYQqVYn2Ls

christmas packages and surprise blessings

i got the coolest package in the mail today! it held in it christmas gifts for 3 different people plus christmas cards and the best part....it was FREE!!!

add to that...my christmas letter is ready to get copied and mailed out...it's a good day to celebrate the season of christmas and the birth of the King of Kings!! i love finding ways to share the joy that came to earth all those many years ago that brought salvation and redemption. i tend to take if for granted because it is all i know but Christ's death and resurrection is offered to ALL and not just to the jewish people. what an amazing gift.

 

and added to this blessing someone just said they would buy all the clothes i have for sale! did you catch that? ALL of them!! God is so good.

christmas music and forgiveness plus a bonus

christmas music...isn't anything sacred anymore? i started out my morning yesterday enjoying some of the old christmas standards that i grew up on and their proclamation of the birth of the King and then while doing some shopping i was encountered by some rather annoying christmas tunes. if it was only that i was annoyed it would have been ok...i think. but the problem was that i felt that they were desecrating the songs and the words. one song proclaimed that what this christmas is about is a new heart for you and me...i don't even really know what that means! a couple of my facebook friends attempted to crack this code but i think i can speak for them as well when i say that i was left scratching my head on that one! then there was one song that went something like this, "sweet little baby Jesus boy..." unfortunately rather than making me think of the exciting birth of Christ i was thinking about taladega nights, ugh! then i begin to hear the opening strains of amazing grace played on some sort of bell...i had reached my limit! don't get me wrong i think that the birth of Jesus needs to be shouted and proclaimed loudly from the mountain tops but i wish that it was done more respectfully.

i have been a Christian for a long time but last night was the first time i ever encountered a women's bible study. not really sure how i've missed out on this all this time but...i was really touched by one of the ladies stories about forgiveness. she shared a heart wrenching story of sexual abuse and the journey of healing and forgiveness. she described the great honor of being used as a conduit for God's grace to flow. what an experience!

have you heard my friend jared sing? if you are one of my facebook friends you should at least have seen his links that i have posted. i thought i'd share his last video on here too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVQnpsPjvRU&feature=recentu

snow flurries and a host of angels

burrrrr! i ran across the block to the library like i do all the time but this time i actually considered running because it's so cold. i have a house full of warm clothes, boots, scarves and coats but i chose to throw on a hoodie and some flats and brave the cold....not my smartest decision lol! a couple of friends have reported seeing some snow flurries and i guess it's time to realize that winter is really here and buck up and locate my gloves.

on sunday pastor jerry mentioned as a side note a story that i had totally forgotten about. but something i pray for frequently
2 Kings 6: 15-18

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. 16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

it is wonderful to know that God is able to send a host of angels to protect us in the battle.

Invitation to the Thirsty

Isaiah 55

 ¹ “Come, all you who are thirsty,
   come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
   come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
   without money and without cost.
² Why spend money on what is not bread,
   and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
   and you will delight in the richest of fare.
³ Give ear and come to me;
   listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
   my faithful love promised to David.
⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
   a ruler and commander of the peoples.
⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not,
   and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel,
   for he has endowed you with splendor.”

 ⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found;
   call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
   and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
   and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
   will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
   will clap their hands.

¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
   and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
   for an everlasting sign,
   that will endure forever.”

flash mobs!

i think this is a great new phenomenon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

i've got something to say

sometimes it seems that i just have something that i want to say, something that i am sure is important to somebody...maybe.

i spent sunday afternoon with a couple of dear friends...sisters...it has been interesting as i have become closer to them and notice the differences between us. i am the oldest sister with 5 little brothers and 3 little sisters...both of these dear sisters are only children. even now at this stage in our lives the differences are definite and interesting. both of these ladies joined my families big thanksgiving get together. one with her husband and 2 kids and the other, like me is single. i am sure they were both a bit overwhelmed by the hugeness that is the hunt family...oh and 10 people were missing from our family! we had the greatest time playing games and chatting. on the way home my friends daughter said that even though she had just met my family that she already felt like they were more family than some of her extended family...that will melt aunt anje's heart for sure!

see, deep thoughts!

i was doing some bible searching last night and came across a couple of different passages that even though i knew they were there and could have found them if i was looking quite literally popped off the page! they were the perfect words to fill my heart.