The Miracle on Main Street was a success.
Plans are all but set at the church.
In less than a week, the celebrations begin.
So, now, I head into my weekend. And I'll make this quote my prayer...
"May your soul breathe deep today, and may your home be a place to be. Not a place to be busy, or to be anxious, or to be contentious. May it not be a place of turmoil, or a place to worry what they are thinking. May it simply be a place of truth, of freedom, and togetherness. May it be restful, joyful, and safe."
- Chatting At the Sky Blog
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Day 432: Miracle on Main Street
"You are invited to our Christmas Show!"
Wendesday Night 6:30 at 2nd Pres!
Holiday dinner at 5:30.
Our kids have worked for months and months and it is a wonderful, wonderful production that we are excited to share!
So excited, so Christmas!
Day 431: CRPD Report at JLK...at
Tonight, I get to report at the General Membership meeting of the Junior League. Our Community Research and Project Development Committee is recommending that the League review 4 important community projects. It is not the msot exiting announcement in the world, but it will be at a fun location, the East Tennessee Historical Society. I have not yet gotten to enjoy all this musuem has to offer. So, I am looking forward to the evening!
Here's a little more about what this musuem has to offer:
Recognizing that East Tennessee’s history, heritage, and geography are distinct from the rest of the state, the East Tennessee History Center provides services uniquely tailored to the region. Visitors can attend workshops and conferences, enjoy a lecture, peruse exhibitions, research family history or a special historical subject, participate in student and teacher educational programs, as well as find a wide selection of books, crafts, and history-related items in the Museum Shop.
Source
Day 428: Nurturing Your Soul
Saturday morning, I got to enjoy a wonderful advent retreat hosted by my friend, Lainie Allen, a spiritual director. she and her husband Daniel have an important ministry here in Knoxville. Here is why, in their own words...
Many people sense that they want and "are" something more than the busyness of each day. They have a longing to step away from the pace of life, connect with God and nurture their soul.
To nurture one's soul is to become more aware of God and self through spiritual practices such as quiet, reflection and praise/thanksgiving. It is opening oneself to His love and peace, and finding rest. The early Fathers and Mothers of our faith shared the wisdom of these spiritual practices. Jesus, the wisest Teacher, pointed the way to a deeper spiritual life through these words...Get away with Me and you'll recover your life...Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.... Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
At Nurturing Your Soul, we walk alongside you to help you find the rhythms of grace by listening for God's voice... Knowing more of yourself and God.
Learn more at nurturingyoursoul.com->
Many people sense that they want and "are" something more than the busyness of each day. They have a longing to step away from the pace of life, connect with God and nurture their soul.
To nurture one's soul is to become more aware of God and self through spiritual practices such as quiet, reflection and praise/thanksgiving. It is opening oneself to His love and peace, and finding rest. The early Fathers and Mothers of our faith shared the wisdom of these spiritual practices. Jesus, the wisest Teacher, pointed the way to a deeper spiritual life through these words...Get away with Me and you'll recover your life...Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.... Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
At Nurturing Your Soul, we walk alongside you to help you find the rhythms of grace by listening for God's voice... Knowing more of yourself and God.
Learn more at nurturingyoursoul.com->
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Day 427: Pilgrim Walk
Friday, admist the fun of First Friday and the anniversary of our engagement, we made time to drop by a book signing at Cafe 4, for our friend, Suzanne Hassel. Suzanne leads Holy Paths ministries, which is all about guidance, companionship and rest. Brad has gotten to know her work with the Knoxville Fellows.
Now, her new book, Pilgrim Walk, contains meditations alongside breathtaking photography from her son. I can't wait to read it!
More at www.holypaths.org->
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Advent Week One: Hope
It is week one of advent and I am trying to set my ideas on the season at hand.
I have always heard that Christmas is the busiest season in church work. Yep, the seems to be true.
In the midst of the many events and ideas, I am a newlywed seeking to establish holiday traditions of our own and make it a memorable season in our lives.
Plus, my task-oriented self just wants to get things done. Christmas cards out on December 1. Tree and decorations perfectly and promptly displayed. Wonderful, meaningful gifts (purchased at a great price) for everyone on my list under the tree and looking like Martha stewart wrapper them herself.
But, meanwhile I pray, pray, pray that the center of my heart is on nothing but Christ, our Savior, who moved into my world to show His love for me and to eventually save me. I pray that my heart will be guarded from all other distractions. I pray that I will know new truths and learn more about him this season. And if Christ is the center of my heart, it will be easier to keep Him the center of our home, the center of all ministry, and even the center of my todo list.
So, this week, in keeping with the tradition's of the Advent season, I have been thinking about "Hope."
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13
I looked at this verse on Sunday, after the candles were lit by one of my favorite families during worship at 2nd.
So, I see that trust leads to peace and joy. Peace and joy lead to hope. And it's all from the Holy Spirit.
Okay.
Makes sense on paper.
But then, let's flash forward to Tuesday morning. This idea of hope is on my mind when I wake up still frustrated and confused about a conversation I had with a friend the previous day. Where is the hope in that; in waking up worried? Then, I talk and pray with a friend who is going through a divorce. I have a long conversation with another friend battling bulimia. I get an email from one of my most academically accomplished friends, who confesses overwhelming feelings of depression and may not be able to continue her academic pursuits. Then, a coworker tells me of the guilt she has for not seeing her grandmother on Thanksgiving, because this grandmother is now in hospice care. I get the news that a sweet Converse and YL family I have known and loved is loosing their father to cancer. Oh, and then there is a leak in my ceiling in my office.
Where is the hope in all of that?
And if we first have to trust God in order to have peace and joy and eventually hope, then how in the world do I tell a hurting world to trust in the midst of all this mess? In the middle of this brokenness?
I know certainly that my God is the source of joy, peace, hope, and trust. He Himself is the author and perfecter of my faith.
But is just blows me away to think, that the Lord of All, would choose to walk into this mess.
He choose to come to earth.
To come into all this hurt and brokenness.
To get His hands dirty.
To fix things.
To love the unlovable.
What wondrous love is this? Oh my soul!
I have always heard that Christmas is the busiest season in church work. Yep, the seems to be true.
In the midst of the many events and ideas, I am a newlywed seeking to establish holiday traditions of our own and make it a memorable season in our lives.
Plus, my task-oriented self just wants to get things done. Christmas cards out on December 1. Tree and decorations perfectly and promptly displayed. Wonderful, meaningful gifts (purchased at a great price) for everyone on my list under the tree and looking like Martha stewart wrapper them herself.
But, meanwhile I pray, pray, pray that the center of my heart is on nothing but Christ, our Savior, who moved into my world to show His love for me and to eventually save me. I pray that my heart will be guarded from all other distractions. I pray that I will know new truths and learn more about him this season. And if Christ is the center of my heart, it will be easier to keep Him the center of our home, the center of all ministry, and even the center of my todo list.
So, this week, in keeping with the tradition's of the Advent season, I have been thinking about "Hope."
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13
I looked at this verse on Sunday, after the candles were lit by one of my favorite families during worship at 2nd.
So, I see that trust leads to peace and joy. Peace and joy lead to hope. And it's all from the Holy Spirit.
Okay.
Makes sense on paper.
But then, let's flash forward to Tuesday morning. This idea of hope is on my mind when I wake up still frustrated and confused about a conversation I had with a friend the previous day. Where is the hope in that; in waking up worried? Then, I talk and pray with a friend who is going through a divorce. I have a long conversation with another friend battling bulimia. I get an email from one of my most academically accomplished friends, who confesses overwhelming feelings of depression and may not be able to continue her academic pursuits. Then, a coworker tells me of the guilt she has for not seeing her grandmother on Thanksgiving, because this grandmother is now in hospice care. I get the news that a sweet Converse and YL family I have known and loved is loosing their father to cancer. Oh, and then there is a leak in my ceiling in my office.
Where is the hope in all of that?
And if we first have to trust God in order to have peace and joy and eventually hope, then how in the world do I tell a hurting world to trust in the midst of all this mess? In the middle of this brokenness?
I know certainly that my God is the source of joy, peace, hope, and trust. He Himself is the author and perfecter of my faith.
But is just blows me away to think, that the Lord of All, would choose to walk into this mess.
He choose to come to earth.
To come into all this hurt and brokenness.
To get His hands dirty.
To fix things.
To love the unlovable.
What wondrous love is this? Oh my soul!
Day 425: Snow!!
The only thing I like about cold...is snow!
It's the fist snow fall of the season and definitely worth a blog post.
And the only things better than a snowy day as I am leaving the house...is getting to share the news of the snow with 25 preschools!
Love my life.
It's the fist snow fall of the season and definitely worth a blog post.
And the only things better than a snowy day as I am leaving the house...is getting to share the news of the snow with 25 preschools!
Love my life.
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