Like treasure hidden in a field

It's been a lovely day of Christmas fairs and shopping for presents, then our first Christmas party with my husband's colleagues- our first Christmas party in 2 years as we couldn't make any last year!
We queued for an extraordinarily long time with Faith at the local garden centre to meet Father Christmas- and what a Father Christmas he was! We all agreed he had to be the real one.
It's so lovely that at nearly 10 she still believes- to see the wonder in her eyes as she chatted with him. What a precious memory. I want to approach Christmas with the same wide eyed innocence- to cast off my cynicism and fully embrace the joy and wonderment- to come to Jesus with a child like faith and discover the treasure of his kingdom.

The righteous will shine like the sun

Very brief tonight as I'm falling asleep! I read a lot about Nelson Mandela today following the news of his death. He was a very great man but the articles I've read were very balanced and didn't gloss over the things he was criticised for or that are difficult to accept due to the mythology which has grown up around him.

The same can be said of Jesus- we think of him as the prince of peace, but some of what is written in the gospels is not so cuddly and nice, particularly Matthew where we find ourselves this Advent. Today's morning prayer reading concerned the weeds being thrown into the furnace- really glad not to be preaching on that one! To fully prepare for Jesus' birth I have to accept that he did not remain a helpless baby. He grew up to fulfil a ministry, which ultimately ended in his death. He upset people- a lot- otherwise they wouldn't have wanted him dead.
Yet, even with this knowledge, when I gaze into the stable I still see love, innocence and hope.

Revelling, drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness, quarreling and jealousy

The above might be your idea of a really good Christmas party! It's part of Paul's letter to the Romans where he says:

" Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy."

I jokingly made reference to it in my sermon last weekend- that if the soaps are to be believed that is exactly what we might think Christmas is about. The reading was repeated at this morning's communion service, and it struck me that with all those marvellous words I wasn't really thinking about the light and dark imagery.
Christmas is full of light and lights. We put lights on EVERYTHING! We light up all the dark spaces, and put tinsel on them too. At Christingle services we emphasise the candle in the orange representing Jesus, the light of the world. A lot of people can't accept that, and find it easier to fill up the dark spaces, and this dark time of year, with partying instead.
I do intend to party this Christmas (in my own chilled out kind of way), but it's because of the joy that celebrating Jesus' birth brings me- and I want to share that joy!

Let them sing out their joy for ever.

Psalm 5:12
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them sing out their joy for ever."

Taking Lucy for her walk tonight I realised that our road has turned into a Christmas wonderland of twinkling lights- they must think the Grinch lives in our dark little corner, not a family who fully embrace Christmas but are trying to spiritually prepare for it.
The truth is that with working, studying and trying to complete assignments I've not had a moment to think about decorations. I had a day of leave today just to try and catch up on the housework!

The children had their first choir rehearsal this evening, Jacob was a little lost in the technicalities but Faith loved it- seeing how all the different parts of the choir come together. It was a real eye opener for me to see the work and preparation involved to produce our beautiful musical Christmas services- and I felt so proud that my kids were part of that. Music is a massive part of my Advent. The Christmas CD gets it's first airing as soon as we leave church on Advent Sunday, the Christmas songs get loaded onto my ipod, Carols From Kings plays as we decorate the tree and The Lancashire Hotpots Christmas album has to be played on Christmas Day! Joyful music is a wonderful way to praise God- and what's more joyful than Christmas music?!

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

"...for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:37

The above, again, comes from this morning's new testament reading. Strong words from Jesus, reminding us that what we say is incredibly important. 

I was reminded yesterday (thanks Katie) that I swear a lot. It's a terrible habit but I'm a great believer that, sometimes, only a cuss word will do. I often swear for comic effect, or in frustration, but try to avoid it in anger, and I never swear at my hubby! The thing is, the most offensive and hurtful things we say are rarely swear words. It's the off hand comments, the things we haven't thought about before saying and often the things we never meant to say. Words are powerful, as are the ways we say things. 

If our words reflect what is in our hearts, maybe if we try and choose our words carefully what we say will in turn change what is in our hearts? This Advent I will try to think before I speak, in the hope that my words will justify (and not condemn) me. 

I desire mercy

Advent Day Two

One of the readings at Morning Prayer today was from Matthew 12, where Jesus echoes Hosea when saying:

But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”, you would not have condemned the guiltless.

It made me think about how I could maybe try and be more "merciful" through Advent. We're a very strange sort of people. If someone is off with us, or not as friendly as we'd expect, instead of thinking "are they ok?" We seem to jump to asking "what's their problem?!"
As joyful and joyous as Christmas can be it's also a season that can bring worry, loneliness, debt, stress and bad memories. One thing I will try to do this Advent is not jump to conclusions or take it personally if I encounter people who are grumpy or a bit off with me- none of us knows the problems and struggles of the people we casually meet each day. They may just be a grumpy toad, or they may be in need of a bit of compassion.

And With Fear And Trembling Stand

Well I threatened to blog all through Advent so here goes...
Today was a day of new beginnings in so many ways- the first day of December, the first day of Advent and a new year in the church calendar. It was also my first proper sermon, and I was terrified!
Luckily rescue remedy and lots of friendly faces peering back at me meant I got through it and people said very kind and lovely things afterwards.
But...after so much time preparing for the first day of Advent- I was leading Family Praise too this afternoon- how do I now get myself spiritually prepared for Christmas? I have my first assignment due in on the 18th, intercessions to write for the 15th, the children’s social events and one or two of my own. What time is there- with study, work and family- to get myself spiritually ready to receive Jesus? Today's gospel reading from Matthew reminded us that we must always be ready, and actually Jesus loves us just as we are, which in the circumstances is a good thing!