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.

seriously..

Really? No new Grey's Anatomy OR Modern Family this week?! Ugh. So not cool. Those are my only two tv vices... I'm just going to go to bed haha. TOMORROW'S FRIDAY:) Peace.

pajama day.

Today, its rainy. I don't usually like rain, but I welcome it with open arms today. It's 2:10pm and I have yet to get a shower or do anything productive (and its the middle of the week..) Completely unheard of in my life. Loving itt:) Partly started this way due to the fact that I woke up not feelin so swift, then went back to sleep, and ventured downstairs to realize I had NO COFFEE. I was entirely depressed with that, and have since used it as an excuse all day to do absolutely nothing.

I think now I will change my whole layout I made though. I don't like it.

Over.

It's been a great (but much too hectic) several weeks- sister in town a couple weekends, best friend in for a week from Colorado, lots of preparations for special Holy Week services, spring break for the kids at work (which means more work and field trips!), etc, etc. Something just seemed to be going on every day and every night. But today, it's over. Thank God. I am tired. I am so excited that spring is finally here! I can't wait to be back to a normal schedule this week and enjoy it more at my own pace. I forgot what is was like to breathe. I do have quite a bit to do, but they're my own things and can be done in my own time and in the comfort of pajamas if I want! haha.

Ah, today is a gorgeous day!.. for so many reasons.

But I'm not in the mood to try and update this thing, or write something thought provoking. It's my Sabbath. I have a date with the Creator of the Universe. Catch ya later.


(p.s.) Here's a good song that's playing through my head today. Quite fitting. Enjoy.
"These Are The Days"

Sabbath

Sorry. Keeping up with this is still a habit I am developing. Been sooo busy!

Anyways- Happy sabbath:) Couldn't be a better one! This weather makes me (and I think everyone else!) a better person. It may be the season of lent, but the new life emerging around me in colors and sounds, smells and beauty has me feeling like today is Resurrection Sunday! I love Spring!!!

I wish I could sit and write something new, but my sister is in town and I'd rather spend some time with her! And because it is the sabbath today, I remembered something I wrote for a retreat this past fall. Still convicts me when I read it. Hope you enjoy it and that it leads you to a closeness with the Holy Spirit this day...

Silence. Rest. Sabbath.

Television. Facebook. Internet. Phone calls. Text messages. Email. Video Games. Magazines. Movies. School. Homework. Practice. Games. Family. Friends. Church. Babysitting. Work. Events. Chores. Sleep.

Our everyday is crowded, and at times can be overwhelming. Technology has now given us an extra dimension to the chaos of it all. We have the ability to be plugged in and connected to the world (or just our little world) within five seconds and in about sixty different ways. So now, if we’re not plugged in and communicating with the world at all times, it seems like such a waste of time. Our generation doesn’t look at social networking as a function but as how we define ourselves. As Christians, we should see a problem in that. We have been swept up into this culture without realizing that it goes against the Christian culture. By constantly being in tune with everyone and everything around us, we push God aside. We are putting God, the Creator of the Universe, in competition with television.

So we say we’re stressed out, stretched thin and split, and our hope is supposed to be that one day it will all be over and peaceful in heaven? I have to wait til I die? No. Our hope as followers of Christ is not that it will all be better one day, but that today is that day. Salvation isn’t a ticket to heaven. Jesus came to save us now: body, mind, soul, heart. (Luke 10:25-28) And that is why we have a Sabbath.

After we do work six days (jobs, events, school, responsibilities, etc) we are created to take a day off. We’re human. Not machines. Not gods. We come from the dust. We physically and spiritually need that literal Sabbath day. But that literal day doesn’t mean take a nap and vegetate. Sabbath is a state of mind everyday when we realize that we are not what everything is all about. Nothing is on our shoulders. But it’s also realizing that we are on a first name basis with the Creator, the Love, the Truth. And it gives us the time to work on our deepest feelings and thoughts, our problems. Sabbath is stopping and resting and being in silence.

Right now, I am sitting outside in the glory of God’s creation. The tops of the trees are glowing. The wind is moving the neighbors’ chimes. The water is sparkling as it trickles over the spillway. I can hear the rustling of every leaf as it moves in unison with the others. The birds are chirping lightly and soar by every few moments. It’s silent. I have a million things to do, but somehow, listening to the sounds of it all, I am at rest. Every breeze that blows by feels like a breath from God seeping into the deepest part of my soul. I can’t help but notice sounds and colors and smells without thinking how profoundly sad it must be for someone who is missing this. But then again, how many times have I missed this? And probably because I was running from one thing to the next, texting, talking, listening to music, all while grabbing a cup of coffee so I could do it even faster. We are created to work, but not to overwork, not to overschedule, overplan, or overcommunicate. Don’t let yourself be caught up in the world’s chaos when you have the Savior of the World even closer to you than your phone or computer. He is it. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is Love. Let Him be that to you. Let your soul find rest, find silence, find Sabbath.

GRACE

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

I admit, I haven't been a hymn fan the past several years, but they have come back into my life in the past 8 months. And although the musical style hasn't grown on me, I'm falling in love with the lyrics. They have a richness that I had forgotten about- and not only in the actual poetic words. Just think, this song (along with hundreds of others) has stood the test of time. A man penned these words in 1757, and since then, groups of believers have worshiped through them together, finding meaning and redemption. I too find meaning and redemption in those words. But I also feel a connection. It's as if I'm singing it along with them 200+ years ago. I know by those lyrics that I am not alone in my struggles and journey in this life.

And that last stanza is probably one of my favorite quotes of all time.

It focuses on what I have constantly been meditating on recently: grace.

I have always found that to be the most difficult aspect of my personal walk with Christ. We live in such a culture that is hounded by works and worthiness, pushing ourselves past our limits to strive for a far fetched goal. And it has (by no doubt in my mind and experience) translated into my faith. To quote another song, "When all the Love in the world is right here among us... I don't know what to do with a Love like that." Perfectly and beautifully honest isn't it? I can't comprehend the Spirit's unending stream of grace. I just can't. But I'll take it!

Right now, I'm actually sitting outside on my back porch by the lake. I've sat here since I was 13, and it's my favorite spot to spend time just thinking and reflecting. Again, I feel connected. This time, to my 13 year old self. I can feel it washing over me as I breathe in this moment. Only grace allows me to look at my life thus far and feel peace. Grace allows me to laugh, sing, love, cry, feel, think, learn, grow and dream.

Yet, I can't begin to name all the areas in my life that still need to be touched by grace. How painful it is to think that I forget the crux of it all too often.
But today I don't forget.
Today... I'm swimming in it.

Numero Uno.

Yeah, I started a blog. Time to join this century? Haha, I don’t know. It was completely on impulse one night when I made this! Then, by the time I was done just getting everything set up, I was too tired to begin to actually write. Which says a lot because I love writing. It’s as though I enter a whole other realm in my mind when I begin to write. I have all of these thoughts and feelings and ideas that seem disconnected and fuzzy. But then, give me a pen and paper (or blank computer screen), and everything floating around becomes grounded, organized, clear.

I guess I’ll use this as a means of simple expression of whatever is pressing at my heart at the moment. I presently have a lot going on (not that that is a change). But right now is a very important, even crucial time in my life, I believe. I have taken off January to August to really explore the deepest corners of my soul. To heal. To find purpose and direction, and then go with it. I admit that it’s already March and I have done a splendid job avoiding many things. But I needed to get a job and regular steady schedule, worry about the basic issues so I could go to the deeper ones. This is only my third week of routine, and I’m ready. It’s going to be quite a roller coaster journey, but heck, it’d be boring if it wasn’t!

So... Here’s to life. Here’s to refusing to stand by and let it pass any longer. Here’s to living, breathing, learning, experiencing, and loving it. I want to find beauty in every second. I desire so much to have the God of the universe reach down and touch my eyes, my heart, my mind and body, and save me. For that is what this Christian walk is about. It isn’t a ticket to heaven, or list of do’s and don’ts. It’s the freedom to truly live in tune with who we were intended to be. That’s my goal. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” (Luke 10:27, TNIV) It’s a verse we’ve heard a thousand times if we’ve grown up in the Church. But have we believed it for right now? Christ came to save EVERYTHING. When He came, everything changed. And when we choose to become His disciple, everything in our life should change. You name it- God has a holy plan for it. Everything is spiritual. In the time the New Testament was written, there was no differentiation in labeling parts of life “spiritual” and other parts “secular”. To Jesus and His disciples, it was all God’s. That is what I desire to live my life by. A radical surrender of everything, so that I can live in harmony with The One Thing that matters.

It will definitely take time. More than just these next 7 months. More than a lifetime on Earth. But starting now will make a world of difference. My encouragement to whoever is reading this, is to not wait. Not even to finish reading this sentence. Give into Freedom. Let the power of the Spirit enter every facet of your life. LIVE TODAY!

Well, I'm off to work! Happy Fridayyy:)

Spread the Love,
Emily