Hope

This week I listened to a Devotion about Advent Week. This was a pretty new concept to me since my church doesn't especially celebrate this. But I really like the ideas of focusing on hope, peace, joy, and love throughout December.

Hope is the first week of Advent. I hope you enjoy this short video clip about Hope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-pZYNv8pRQ&feature=related

Never alone

This is a picture from our summer trip to Vancouver. We had a great time experiencing nature in such an incredible environment. The verse is a great reminder that God is always with us, no matter if we journey through rivers or meadows.

Let Light Shine

TIme travel

Tonight we magically gain an hour! Though I am less than thrilled with the darker evenings, I am looking forward to a longer weekend.

If I determined to be responsible there are many things I could do with this extra hour:

• Exercise
• Write
• Finally organize my pile of mail/coupons/random paperwork I'm not ready to throw away
• Clean my tile floors

Of course, I could do these things within a regular day also. I could also enjoy shopping and this entertaining anime that my husband and I found on Netflix.

Here's to a productive and enjoyable time traveling weekend!

The End of an Era

When I hear this phrase, it often calls to mind the scene from Friends when Monica announced that she was moving out and would no longer be roommates with Rachel. "Its the end of an era!" They exclaim somewhat sadly for even though Monica was really happy about her decision, it's still hard to say goodbye to a good time period of life.

This weekend my church said goodbye to our senior pastor. After 20 some years of pastoring he is retiring from pastoral care and moving on to another opportunity which should allow more time with his family. It's a good thing for him. And as a church community we can be grateful for the many years that he spent with us. He's a great leader and someone I respect.

But when he walked off the stage for the last time as senior pastor, it was in a sense, the end of an era for us. A really great era. And I can't help but feel a sense of loss at its departure.

But when one era ends, another begins.

And you can learn from the past as you walk to the future.

So as we move forward, I appreciate one of the closing thoughts shared in the church bulletin by our pastor regarding one of his favorite texts John 10:10.

"The text says that the devil--'The thief' has come for no other purpose than to 'steal and kill and destroy.' But Jesus has come that we might 'have life and have it to the full.' In other words, God only wants the best for us. He wants the real thing. No counterfeits. No short-changing. No 'so-so.' No half-way measures. That's what I talked about in my first sermon here. And that's a theme I've tried to weave into all my preaching. The Christian faith is all about living he best life possible. Its about having the right values. A balanced perspective. A sense of certainty that God is not only good but also wants good for us. It's about being positive and upbeat. It's about seeking joy. It's about experiencing grace. It's about trying to make the world a better place because we're here." Jim Coffin

Happy Fall

Fall has finally come to Central Florida and its a welcome change in temperature. Crisp cool air is flooding our mornings and evenings and the afternoons are pleasant and breezy.

I wish our palm trees would turn red and orange like their northern counterparts, but I'm grateful for the beautiful weather despite a shortage of fall color.

I have already made apple cider, pumpkin soup, and pumpkin bread. Now I need some pecan pie!

Isn't it interesting how we associate different foods with different seasons. We think of watermelon, sweet tea, and corn on the cob for summer. Egg nog, peppermint and sugar cookies at Christmas. And in the fall we enjoy warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg in cider, and all things pumpkin.

Perhaps as the days grow shorter, time spent with loved ones will grow longer. Enjoy the food and traditions of the season, the beautiful weather, and the constant variety of the changing seasons.

Hope

Hope resides in the first rays of dawn

Erasing the dark, it's memories gone.

Hope falls sweet a gentle breeze

When the rain is gone, and the sun shines free

Hope breathes in a newborn child

Full of life, with her mother's smile

Hope is true, hope is strong

Hope inspires our hearts deep song

And sing we must, full of light

Until the day true hope is sight.

-Kristen Harmon