A Description of Advent

Bonjour blog world! I really will start writing again... it's just been one of those "seasons."

I've been thinking a lot recently about Advent (as it starts this Sunday - tomorrow!), and have read a lot on it. I have never really observed it (mainly because Baptists don't tend to give it too much focus). Though, the last three years I have participated in "Advent Conspiracy." It has completely turned over my view of what Christmas is- but Christmas is a day. Advent is a season- and a very important one at that. It is a season especially observed and created in the Christian calender. And over this past year and a half, I have truly begun to consider and see the importance in being a part of the Christian Calendar.... a story for another time though.

Below, I have posted the best description (short and sweet) of Advent that I have read. It is from Rev. Scott Herr, Senior Pastor of the American Church in Paris. Enjoy!!

Dear Members and Friends of the ACP,

I think it was during our youngest son
Matthew’s 5th year. Every night after
bedtime prayers, we would kiss and say
goodnight. I always said something like “I
love you, Matthew. Good night, Sweet
dreams…” to which Matthew would reply,
“I love you too... Dream about Christmas!”
I’m not kidding… he said that every night
for the entire year until Christmas Eve!! He
was definitely looking forward to
Christmas. He couldn’t wait, and he had it
in his mind every day (night!) as a part of
his dreams for the future!

The first Sunday of Advent is coming up
this month on the 28th of November. The
season of Advent in the Christian calendar
reminds us of the different ways that
Christ is “coming” to the world (Advent
literally means “coming”). Of course we
are preparing for Christmas, the holiday
celebrating the historical coming of Christ
as an infant almost 2,000 years ago. The
great mystery of the incarnation is still one
of my favorite parts of the good news:
“God came and dwelt among us, full of
grace and truth!”

I have a poster in my office, a portrait of
Jesus called “A magnificent Dream.” It is a
hand-painted drawing by a Korean named
Kwang-Hyuk Lee using the 63,000 letters
of St. Mark’s Gospel to create a portrait of
Christ. It reminds me every day that a
significant part of the gospel is how God
was personally involved in the message of
salvation. Jesus incarnated God’s word.
Jesus is the Word of God.

We also remember that Jesus comes to
us here and now in the Person of the Holy
Spirit. The Spirit comes to us as the
Advocate who comes along side and
reminds us of all that Jesus said, and who
will teach us everything. In this season of
Advent we also remember how the Spirit
sends the church as the Body of Christ
into the world with the proclamation in
word and deed of the love of God.

Finally, Advent is a season to remember
and reflect on the final coming of Christ at
the end of time, when the Lord will return
in all his glory. The final coming of Christ
is the dream that God has put into our
hearts when all will be put right again,
when the justice and righteousness of God
will be fully revealed and all of Creation
will be reconciled back to God. The whole
creation groans in travail for this dream to
become a reality, and we are to be
prepared. Jesus said, “You must be
ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
unexpected time” (Matthew 24.44).

In this month when we are enjoying the
end of the Toussaint holidays, celebrating
Christ the King Sunday (the end of the
Christian calendar on November 21st), and
for those of us from the United States
observing Thanksgiving Day on November
25th, we also will be entering into the
season of Advent, the New Year of the
Christian calendar. As we make ready for
new life, for the light of Christ to shine in
the darkness of this world and into our
lives and life together, perhaps the best
way to prepare ourselves for the coming
again of Christ is through prayer and
repentance. For if the dream of new life is
to become a reality it must begin with a
new us. Daily dreaming helps! We are
called as the Church to embody the reality
of faith, hope, love and peace for the
world. And even when we cannot realize
the entire dream here and now, we can
point to the One who promises to bring it
to completion in His good time.

Waiting and preparing with you (and with
Matthew, still dreaming about Christmas)
In Christ,
Scott

May the Season of Advent, the Coming of Christ, penetrate your own life this year. I'll join you. -Emily

today, is an important day.

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

All your works praise you, LORD;
your faithful people extol you.

They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.

The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.

The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Update

Alright, well it is day 7 of the 10 days that I took off. I was so looking forward to them! But right now, I feel more like it is day 100. I think I have forgotten how to leisure.... sad. I know.

Day 1 (last friday) started with a day trip to the beach! I didn't think I could really go wrong with that. But low and behold- it did. The weather was gorgeous! Blue skies, warm, salty breezy air, sand, crashing waves and FLIES!! Might I add- BITING flies :/ They were too many to count and relentless! I was cursing to myself by the third hour of it and decided I would just have to leave. I literally had to sit at the waters edge the whole time so that I would only have maybe 4-5 biting flies to deal with (instead of 12-15, no joke) But I did brave the fly filled dunes at one point to get some nice pics... could have done better, but thirty freaking flies biting you can kind of put a damper on things. Gosh I'm getting worked up thinking about it hahah

Moving on.... the next few days were good. Nothing real spectacular though. Sucked that the weather here has been cold and rainy until yesterday. Did not help my restlessness.

The reason I took off in the first place was to spend some time away from life for a while, because I didn't know how I would be emotionally and mentally for working with a bunch of crazy kids during this certain week in the year. I've been surprisingly relatively fine though! So thankful for that. Yesterday and last night was not too wonderful, but this morning I woke up with the sun shining, the lake sparkling and the birds singing. Not too bad of a wake up call if I do say so myself.

I am definitely restless though. I'll get hype about doing something for a little bit of the day, but then an hour or so goes by, and I'm done with it. And then have to try to think of something else to do. I do so many of my hobbies and personal activities on the whim of inspiration, that its been a little tricky when I realized this week that I am NOT inspired every second of every day haha.

It's all good though. I'll be glad to get to a more normal schedule of life next week! (although my work schedule has been switched.. not too jazzed about that) But it means I'll be closer to the river and can spend some more time there between breaks in my day.

So there is somewhat of an update blog entry. Maybe with my time left off I can do some more meaningful ones.... if inspired of course ;) I have a whole list of subjects I want to write on.

May your day bring peace, joy and the knowledge that you are loved. For everyday consists of struggles, but every struggle has no power compared to The Power above and within us.
Shalom my friends.

mornin'

I woke up desperately wanting to be there this morning....


((btw, if I could have a super power, it'd totally be teleporting. no doubt about it))

fav mag.

So there is one thing in the mail that I anticipate like crazy every two months: Relevant Magazine. I freaking love it. It's such and honest, inspiring, informative medium to my faith. I find so much to relate to and learn from in every issue! (guess that's why its called "relevant"...) I HIGHLY recommend it to absolutely anyone. Its cheap, yet I think I would pay quite a substantial amount of money for it even if that were not the case.
**shout-out to John Wagler for for introducing me to it. lol.

Anyways, this morning I did not wake up exactly how I would prefer to on a Saturday. My head is killing me, I can't breathe, I'm coughing non-stop. It's really quite a pleasant picture... But the one thing making me smile and not go back to sleep to waste away my day is this new issue, along with the fact that I'm still in my pajamas with a cup of coffee. I think I'm actually feeling better from reading it. (is that sad? haha)

Seriously. Go to the site... search around some articles... order it!
-click this to go straight to the new issue. this to go to the website.

(p.s. This is not a paid advertisement) haha

Happy Birthday

Bon Anniversaire Emily Dale Bowman.
Tu me manque et je t'aime toujours.
I promise we'll walk the streets of Paris together one day...

forever e^2

A prayer

Restoration-
the song of Your redeemed.
My song, here, now and forevermore.
God, I do not understand so many
of the hows and whys,
the hurt, pain and confusion,
but I know that You reign.
You, Oh Lord, are Light.
Your Spirit resides in me
and if I let it,
has the ability
to move immovable mountains
to illuminate the hidden corners of my heart
to bring me to shalom.
For You, Holy Father, are greater than all.
Have mercy on me, the moments I forget.
Have grace surround me, the moments I feel the weight of failure.
Your love is never ending.
In You I put my hope.
In You I find my strength.
For I have experienced the other end.
I remember the taste of ashes,
the poison I've swallowed.
How could I not chose Your love.
For it is a love sweeter than honey,
richer than all treasures of the earth.
You are worthy of all my praise, all my affections, my dreams and my soul.
Thank You, because You are the Restorer and Redeemer.
And You will continue the good work You have started in me...
I'll hold You to it.
In Your perfect and holy Spirit, I pray
amen.