New Traditions Begin...

I love traditions.  I love old stuff.  I love really old stuff. 

When I was about 4 years old, my mother made some lovely wee stuffed Christmas ornaments using coloring book pages as patterns.  I ADORE those ornaments.  She passed them down to me a few years ago and they are proudly displayed on a white feather tree on our kitchen island.  The wee tree is topped with the angel that sat atop our family tree the entire time I was a little girl.  Along the way her arms fell off.  Mother was going to throw her away because she was "disabled."  I was  having none of that.  Our wee disabled angel came to live at my house and now guards the feather tree full of those coloring book ornaments. 

Traditions comfort me.  They remind me who I am, what I'm about, and what to expect in the future.

Santa doesn't deliver individual gifts around the tree at our house.  Since the time my baby boys were quite small, our tradition has been for Santa to deliver a big Santa bag for each boy.  Some of my favorite memories are of the boys as they crawled inside those huge bags so that only their feet and little rear ends showed.  My boys are now 20 and 24.  Just a couple years ago, I suggested wrapping the presents like normal families do it.  They were appalled that  I would even suggest such a thing!  Apparently the Santa bag will continue to be the normal for us. 

When I was a girl, we always had Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Daddy would take me out to see the Christmas lights all around the neighborhood and magically Santa had always just left when we returned.  I kept this tradition with my own boys.  Our normal Christmas even since the boys were born is to have supper with my parents, open gifts with them and then come home to have Christmas with just the 4 of us.  That tradition has served us well. 

This year we are making a wee tweak.  Adam got engaged to Bekah last Friday night and so we now have a girl to celebrate with and also additional family schedules to consider. I have asked that our family be able to claim Christmas eve as our special Christmas time. 

Tonight my parents are coming to our house instead of us going to their house.  That way the kids can arrive as they can after working, clean up and let the festivities begin.  Mother is bringing her jambalaya and I'm making a big pot of potato soup.  We have Irish Coffee Pie, Cracker Candy, and Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert.  The plan is to make this a relaxing evening with no big dishes to prepare or clean up. 

Bekah will be joining our Christmas Eve celebration for the first time since she is now "official."  She will even have her very own stocking and Santa bag.  After 24 years in a house full of boys, we finally get a girl!!!  I'm super excited!  After presents and food, we will pop some popcorn and watch a movie together. 

In the morning my wee engaged boy will go celebrate with his future in-laws and then we will all gather together at Mom Smith's house for our traditional Smith family Christmas. 

I pray that you and your family will take a few minutes to reflect on the tiny King of the universe that arrived so many years ago on that first Christmas.  Whether it was actually in March, August or December, the point is that He came.  He lived.  He died for us and praise God, He is coming again.  Soon. 

May your Christmas traditions bring you joy and may you love those folks God gave you just a wee bit better in the coming year. 

Advent, December 14, Little Altar Boy

I am a life long fan of the Carpenters.  As a wee girl, I used my little red and white box record player to listen to Karen sing and learn the art of their lovely harmonies.  I've told many that Karen was my first vocal coach.

One of my favorite of their albums is "Christmas Portrait." Its full of classical music, contemporary and traditional carols sung by Karen and Richard.  Their tight harmonies and artful arrangements make for, in my opinion, perfect music.

One of the songs on this album is beautifully haunting.  "Little Altar Boy" is a plea to a child to pray for a sinner gone astray.  Our Lord asked us to be like little children.  If you have ever listened to a child's innocent prayers, you know they are unique, sacred, and precious.

Here are the lyrics of the song:

Little alter boy, I wonder could you pray for me?
Little alter boy, for I have gone astray
What must I do to be holy like you?
Little alter boy ,oh, let me hear you pray

Little alter boy, I wonder could you ask your Lord
Ask him, alter boy, to take my sins away
What must I do to be holy like you?
Little alter boy, oh, let me hear you pray

Lift up your voice and send a pray above
Help me rejoice and fill that prayer with love
Now I know my life has been all wrong
Lift my your voice and help a sinner be strong

Little alter boy, I wonder could you pray for me?
Could you tell our Lord I'm gonna change my ways today?
What must I do to be holy like you?
Little alter boy, oh, let me hear you pray
Little alter boy please let me hear you pray!

During this Advent season I encourage you to pray with your children, whatever their age.  We know without doubt that our Lord hears their tender voices, calling out to Jesus.  Their sweet words just might teach you a thing or two.  

Jesus, come quickly, 

Kelley

 

Advent, December 11, The Same Direction

Consider Jeremiah 17:5-8
Thus says the Lord,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord. 
 “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant. 
 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
“For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit. 

As we wait in this season of Advent, its important to notice who or what we wait on.  Jeremiah tells us what happens when we wait on the wrong thing or person.   And praise God, he also shares with us what happens when we wait on the proper person.  The Lord.  

Last night while thumbing through Facebook I noticed that someone I love just got a divorce.  I sat with that for a few minutes and then thought back over the year.  This has been the year of divorce apparently.  I counted 9 couples that I know who have gone through divorce in 2015.  My heart has broken for each one of these families.   

John and I have been through some knee deep piles of poo in our married life.  We've hated each other.  Not just the "I don't like you" kind of hate, but the, "If a car hits you I don't think I'd care" kind of hate. We have been terrible to each other.  We have acted in ways that have brought shame to ourselves, our boys, our parents, our extended family, and even our friends.  Most of all we brought shame to our God. Our hearts were "turned away from the Lord."  We lived in a  "stony waste in the wilderness."  

It took desperate measures to wake us up.  Those desperate measures were linked to holding on tight to the Lord.  That sounds corny I know, but its truth.  When we, as a couple, turned and faced Jesus together, things changed.  Life changed.  The barren, dry landscape where I waited each day for the next shoe to drop turned into a land full of life.  I won't lie.  It took a while.  A long, long while.  But together we chose to wait on the Lord together.  


During this season of Advent look to your spouse,  family, and friends and make a decision to wait upon the Lord together.  Its so much easier when we are all faced the same direction.  

Jesus, come quickly.  

Kelley

Advent, December 10, A Pin Prick of Light.

Consider Psalm 63:1-8 (NASB)

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your loving kindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches

For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.

My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

I read these Psalms for years and never understood them. They seemed far too deep for a simpleton like me.   

Then life took some severe turns in my forties.  My marriage fell apart.  I was diagnosed with an incurable illness.  My best friend of over 30 years was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer.  Then she died. I had read about "rock bottom."  I thought I knew what it was.  I did not.  

My experience at rock bottom nearly killed me.  Because of the disease I have, stress exacerbates all the symptoms. My heart was broken in so many jagged pieces I feared they would never be gathered together in one place again, much less put back together in their proper order.  My body was (and continues to be) in pain.  I had to close my photography business because my body simply would not cooperate. 

And then there was Angie.  Her illness and death sent me into a deep level of darkness.  Crying was my new normal.  I did not want to celebrate any part of life or holidays.  It seemed disrespectful to dare celebrate when she was gone. I clung to her memory so tight I almost squeezed all the joy out of it.  I was terrified of forgetting her. 

It was at the bottom of this pit I curled into a ball and wished for the end to come.  But one day,  I looked up and saw a small pin prick sized light far in the distance.  All else in my life was dark and sad.  I was not sure what the tiny light was, but it seemed good and right. I would sit and stare toward that tiny light.  Psalms would bubble up to my memory.  Taking out my bible I could relate to the manic nature of David in ways I had never experienced before.  

Each day as I meditated on that small light, it became bigger and the darkness became less frightening.  Instead of solid black, it began to lighten to a shade of gray.  These times of meditation and prayer are what saved me from succumbing to the sadness.  

During the quiet of Advent, look for that light.  No matter what is going on with your personal life or in this chaotic world, focus on the light.  Hold on tight, find comfort in his mighty right hand, and enjoy the shadow of His wings.  

Jesus, come quickly. 

Kelley     

Advent, Dec. 9, Who, Not What

I've always hated razor-edged focus directed on me.  I had dinner with some friends last evening and we discussed the horror at having "Happy Birthday" sung to us.  As one friend pointed out, "What are you supposed to do while they are singing?"  As I grew older, I learned to enjoy attention from time to time, but it has never felt great to me.  I suppose my life is a study in extremes.  Most people would assume I enjoy very social situations, when the truth is... I do not.  And I like it less as I get older.  

I still hate celebrating birthdays, not because I don't like growing older, but because I hate all the attention focused in my direction.  I'd prefer to let birthdays slip right past me with no bru-ha-ha.

I love to sing, but hate singing by myself in front of people with all the attention on me.  I like to sing in groups where I can pretend no one is looking at me. I love to have large groups at my house.  I love to watch other people having fun at my house.  Generally you'll find me in the kitchen working or moving from table to table making sure everyone has what they need.  I rarely even eat when people are at my house for a meal. I prefer to serve than be served.

In my 30s I absolutely adored big, over the top worship experiences filled with ridiculously talented, enviable singers, within well orchestrated services.  That spoke to me. (Notice what I just said there) I loved contemporary worship songs and styles that were brimming with high emotions. At the time I could convince myself that I was truly worshiping when all the "right elements" were involved.  Actually I now believe that I wasn't worshiping my Father at all.  I was just worshiping the experience.  It's easier to worship the experience than it is to get real and be with God.  It is incredibly easy to worship WHAT speaks to us, instead of  WHO speaks to us. 

You see, God isn't in the lights, the music, the well orchestrated service, the power point presentations, or the talent singers.   He is in the quiet, still atmosphere of the calm soul that longs for Him.

Consider I Kings 19:11-13 (NASB)

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Today, during this holy season of quiet waiting and anticipation, let the introvert side of your soul cry out to Jesus.  It will cry softly and tenderly.  It will be there waiting for you to be quiet enough for God to feed you and love you.  Don't settle for a worship service of WHAT.

Jesus, come quickly.

Kelley 

Advent, December 8

Today's Advent thoughts are quite short, but profound.  Let's consider Matthew 2:11 (NASB)

After coming into the house they (the Magi) saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
  
When confronted with the Christ child, the Magi reacted in the only responses worthy of such a child.  They fell to ground, worshiped Him, and brought gifts.  

Today, this very day, you are confronted with the Christ child.  He came to us as a baby and will return to us again as a King above all kings.  

How do you respond today?  This very minute.  Do you shun Him for a more convenient  time, or do you immediately worship Him and bring Him gifts.  The choice is yours.  

Jesus, come quickly.  

Kelley

 

Advent, December 7, Your Calling

Again, I must beg apologies for not posting yesterday.  My body has not been cooperating with me in the past few days.  I have been having a lot of pain issues and couldn't climb the stairs to the office yesterday afternoon.  If you have room on your prayer list, please pray for me and all those with Dysautonomia. 

On to Advent! 

December 7, 1941 will forever be known as Pearl Harbor Day.  "A day that will live in infamy." 

Several years ago, I was blessed to go to Hawaii with my husband.  He was working at Pearl Harbor and I was there for the glorious beauty of the island of Oahu. One morning we both headed to "Pearl" as they call it.  He went for work; I went for remembrance.  I wasn't prepared for the waves of emotions that flooded my soul. 

My little tour group loaded up in a boat and headed to the USS Arizona Memorial.  When we disembarked to the memorial, there were several elderly gentlemen waiting in the line with us.  As we approached the wall of names of those who died that day, I looked to my left and noticed an elderly gentlemen silently weeping.  He had taken off his military cap and held it over his heart.  A younger woman was standing next to him, her nose was shaped like his, so I assumed it was his daughter or granddaughter.  She was holding his hand and patting his arm.  He looked to have been the age to have served during that time.

I almost choked on the enormous lump that settled deep in my throat.  His anguish draped around him as the tears quietly flowed.  Looking out over the water, I noticed that oil still seeps out from the old ship, the under water tomb of so many young men.  God bless those young men.  Most never saw the attack coming.  Some lived for a long time waiting for a rescue that never came. 

Being called to serve is easy for some, but for others requires more of a commitment.  To serve in the military, one must be willing to give their life for their country.  During this season of my life, I feel called to write.  That calling doesn't bring any danger or risk.  My calling is easy. 

Let's consider Matthew 1:19-21 (NASB)

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The calling of Mary and Joseph is more than my mind can take in.  These two young people had to put every ounce of faith into the dreams they experienced, their love for one another, their confidence in each other, and most importantly their faith and confidence in the God they served.  This calling required their reputation to be questioned and even their sanity.  Can you just imagine?  Sure.  You are a virgin.  AND you are pregnant.  BUT the God of the universe is the Father.  Right.....

The soldiers of Pearl Harbor honored their calling to serve their country.  Mary and Joseph honored their calling to serve their God.  It's your turn now.  

What are you called to do?  Are you actively working in that calling?  What can you do to answer the call?  

Jesus, come quickly.

Kelley 

Advent, December 5, Shine a Light

My sincerest apologies for not posting in this Advent series yesterday.  I haven't felt well the past couple of days.  Yesterday I thought things were better so the hubs and I went out on a date.  To make a long story short, I wasn't better after all and I ended up in bed.  So my apologies.  If you would, please lift up a prayer for all of us who suffer with Dysautonomia.  It's a cranky, crazy disease that flares in odd and painful ways.

Enough about that.  Lets get on with Advent.

The United States of America has suffered a blow this past week.  Many are frustrated, scared, anxious and worried.  Families have lost their loved ones to hatred.  Our hearts hurt.  But among the distress I came across this article about a hero in the San Bernadino terror attacks.  It reminds me that there is always someone doing something good in the world.  We just seem to pay more attention to the evil.

Consider Matthew 9:35-10:1-8 (NASB)

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Isn't it magnificent that Jesus saw through to the people's hearts, realizing they were like wee sheep, wandering about without a shepherd?  Jesus taught the disciples to go out and do as He did.  That was a daunting task considering all that Jesus had done.  But the disciples did go and we should as well.  

"Freely you have received, freely give."  This lovely commission is not just for the disciples.  It is also for you.  In this chaotic world, people need Jesus.  We, as children of God, have received so much we need to give back.  How can we do that?  

Perhaps it is as simple as trying to find the good things in this world and draw attention to them.  Find the heroes in life and shine a light on them.  Lift people up.  Banish the negative and illuminate the positive.   

As we await Jesus' coming, freely give.  Let your light shine.

Jesus, come quickly.  

Kelley 

Advent, Day 5, Satan is Foolish

There was no way to know as I wrote yesterday's post about Advent that just a few hours later, our country would be under attack again.  In a time when we are trying to focus on silence and peace of anticipating Christ's coming, satan is throwing everything he can at us.  He might win some battles, but we already know he won't win the war.  That victory has already been claimed in the name of Jesus and there is nothing he can do about it.

The strangest, most perplexing part of this whole radical Islam and extremist Christian situation is that they claim to be doing this for God.  The God of the bible is harsh at times and jealous for our affection, but He is the God of love.  That is what is missing from the Islamic faith and the faith of those who call themselves Christians, but do unChristian-like works.  And yet they are still attracting followers every day.  Yes, satan is foolish and thinks he is accomplishing great things. He is unable to see the big God sized picture of the universe.

Let's consider Matthew 7:21-27 (NASB)

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Even as radical followers of Islam and extremist Christians kill in the name of a God, it is not THE God. They serve a man-made shell of an idea. They've missed it.  They have built their faith on a foundation that will never stand.  When the storms of life come, their faith will fail.  But a faith built on the love of Jesus, the mighty power of  the God of the universe, and the magnificent Spirit of God will always stand firm. 

My God is coming again in the form of Jesus to take us, the redeemed of Christ, home with Him forever and ever and ever. 

Jesus, please come quickly.  We are weary.  You alone are our refuge. 

Kelley

Advent, Day 4- Hangry

Most of us have never truly been physically hungry.  Oh, our stomachs growl a bit and we get a hunger headache every now and then, but most of us have never gone without food for an extended period of time.

You may have experienced being HANGRY.  You see it in toddlers.  Their wee stomachs emit a youthful growl and BOOM!  They are irritable, disagreeable, whiny....oh wait, are we still talking about toddlers?

We have a running joke at our house about the phrase, "I'm hungry."  John Smith, the man I chose to marry above all other available men in the world, has perfected the phrase, "I'm hungry."  I told him years ago that his whiny hungry voice reminds me of Rolly, one of the wee Dalmation puppies in the movie "101 Dalmations."


Bless it.

I suppose if we let Rolly go a bit longer professing his hunger, he may show his wee puppy teeth and slide right into HANGRY.  I know most of you have seen the TWIZ commercial set within the Brady Bunch house.  That is a case of serious HANGRY.

Have you ever crossed paths with an angry person.  I don't mean someone who is angry from time to time, I mean someone who lives in anger.  Everyone is against them; nothing ever goes right for them; everything is a major ordeal and reason to lash out; they never have a sweet word to share about anything.

These type personalities are hangry, but not for physical food.  They may not realize it, but they are in search of spiritual food.  It is up to us, the God loving people of the world, to direct them toward the spiritual nourishment that can lead to the cessation of their angry hunger.  They must first see in us a peaceful countenance that dwells in joyfullness, even when life is not so joyful.

Maybe you are spiritually hangry, even though you are a God fearing person.  Perhaps your spiritual journey and some of the pilgrims you've traveled with have left feeling hungry, thirst and empty. 


Matthew 15:29-37 (NASB)
²⁹ Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. ³¹ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
³² Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’³³ His disciples answered, ‘Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?’ ³⁴ ‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked.‘Seven,’ they replied, ‘and a few small fish.’
³⁵ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 

Jesus promises that those who come to Him will feel His compassion and receive enough nourishment to soothe their hangry souls.  Through Christ alone we shall be satisfied.  

Today, seek His nourishment as we await His coming.  

Jesus, come quickly.  

Kelley 

Advent, Day 3

In an effort to keep things real, let me tell you a wee story. 

I like for my writing to reflect a quiet, still mentality.  I strive for the word placement and imagery to relax my reader.  I like that, but lets be real for a minute.  Life is often NOT quiet or still.  

Today my house is chaos. Our house has become a revolving door home.  My eldest son, John David has moved back in for a bit.  My sweetly decorated guest room has turned into a boy room again.  He is working and about to start school again.  He was planning to move to Colorado, but that plan tanked due to reasons beyond his control.  So, he has moved on to plan B, which includes living back at home.  He is 24.  It's been an adjustment for all of us.  It really hasn't been bad, but keep in mind he has been on his own for quite some time.   Regardless, there are many ways this Momma loves having her boys under one roof again. 

Our youngest son (we have two boys), Adam is 20.  He is in his junior year of college.  He lives at home as well.  He is on the coaching staff at our local high school's football team, he is working at a sporting goods store, helps with the youth ministry at his church and is in school full time.  He is in the middle of finals week.  He is stressed. 

They come in, they eat, they study, and they go to bed.  Oh I forgot, they also mess up clothes. My laundry room has morphed into something akin to thrift shop decor. 

All the while I am trying to write, keep house, study, and today I'm scheduled to coordinate decorating the church Christmas tree. 

Everyone has places to be and stuff to do.  We are a crazy busy household.  We all have cars.  But in the past few days we've gotten 4 inches of rain in our neck of the woods.  Today when John David went to leave for work, his vehicle had sunk into the squishy ground and is currently stuck.  Adam is needed at the school for workouts.  I am needed to pick up last minute stuff for the tree decorating and now we are short one vehicle.  John is blissfully at work 45 minutes away.  Lucky him. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!  And its Advent season and I'm trying to focus.  Breathe in and breathe out. 

On to Advent, Day 3...Breathe in and breathe out. 



****

Rejoice is a verb that means to feel or express great joy or delight.
 
What causes you to rejoice?  A pay raise?  A new car?  Your car not being stuck in the mud?  Empty laundry  baskets?  A full cupboard?  The smile on your child's face?  The success of a family member?  The lovely noise of a family reunion?  A kiss from your spouse?  A win for your favorite team? 

Today in our Advent study, we await His second coming, remembering His first coming and consider what made Jesus rejoice.  Its an interesting question to ponder.  What might make the biological child of God Himself and a virgin girl rejoice? 

Thankfully we don't have to guess at the answer.  Luke 10:21-24 (NASB) gives it to us. 

²¹ At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. ²² All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
²³ Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, ²⁴ for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”

Have you glimpsed the Spirit and rejoiced in His presence?  Scripture tells us the Spirit dwells in us at the time of baptism, so He is always with me.  Even so, my mind is so loud at times I can't feel or hear Him.  

We can only imagine the blessing of the disciples' physical eyes seeing Jesus and His wonders.  I long for the day when my faith becomes sight.  Jesus reminds us in this passage that all the gifts and wonders come from the Father and are given to us through the Son by His Spirit.  THIS made Jesus rejoice.  He praised God for the path of this gift.  He praised Him that the gift didn't come to the complicated mind, for they would not welcome it.  The gift came to the simple and most vulnerable.  

Today as you ponder the coming King, consider rejoicing, even if the car is stuck.  Consider dwelling with the Holy Spirit, sent from the Father.  Consider.....

Jesus, please come quickly.  

Blessings and grace, 
Kelley

Day 2, St. Andrews Day

I have a deep love for my family's ancestral home of Scotland.  Today is a day celebrated with enthusiasm in this beloved land.  St. Andrews Day is the Scottish equivalent to St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.  The Scottish culture, foods, and traditions are celebrated, but most importantly it is a remembrance of St. Andrew.

In our Advent study, Andrew plays a important roll.  Consider the following scripture.

Matthew 4:18-22  (NASB)

¹⁸ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
¹⁹ And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
²⁰ And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
²¹ And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
²² And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

I love this passage.  Mostly I love verse 20.  "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."  Yesterday in our study, Jesus encouraged us all to not let worldly attachments and situations hinder us from considering his second coming.  In today's study we see this concept lived out.  Peter and Andrew didn't hesitate.  They "straightway" followed him.  Straightway means immediately.   

That begs the question, "Is there anything that is hindering you from following Jesus?" 

As you meditate on these verses, I pray that you will consider this question and perhaps use this prayer.  

"Jesus, show me what I need to leave behind in order to be a good disciple.  Do not let me fall far behind you and lose sight of you.  Keep me close.  Thank you for these times of prayer."   (From the "Sacred Space" book I mentioned yesterday.) 

I must confess something to you.  Even as I'm typing out this post, dirty clothes and dishes are calling out to me from downstairs.  The duties of my home are distracting me from this study.  It takes effort to move past the distractions.  I pray that God will help me look past the distractions until I have given this study the time HE deserves.  Only then it will be appropriate for me to take care of my worldly obligations.

During this busy time of year, it is easy to be distracted by the gift purchasing, the lists, the food preparations, the decorations, the Christmas cards, the family gatherings and parties......But all things should be taken care of AFTER we direct our daily course toward Jesus. 

May Day 2 of Advent find you considering your distractions and setting your sights on Jesus first, as we anticipate His coming.  

Blessings and grace,
Kelley

(Here is a short animated clip about St. Andrews Day)

What is Advent and should I participate?

I grew up in a church fellowship who decided it was best not to associate December 25th as anything other than the gathering of family and friends and the exchanging of gifts.  These good, God fearing people believe that celebrating the holiday season in association with the birth of Christ is wrong.  They believe that it goes against the teaching that we should not put any day above another. 

Consider Romans 14 (NASB)
1Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Here we see that it is up to each individual to determine what they believe deep within their heart and we are not to judge another person for seeing this a bit differently.  Salvation is not at risk here.  Judging would be harmful. 

As I child, I always felt sad that I was led by my church's leaders to avoid talking about the wee baby Jesus during the holiday season.  It felt as if everyone else was singing "Glory to God in the Highest", "Away in a Manager," and other Christmas music pieces, but I was made to feel this was wrong.  As I've grown in my own personal faith, I have come to the conclusion that when all God fearing children join together in unity over something, God is happy.  There are so many calls in scripture for us to be unified and not divided.  We are to be known as peace makers, not divisive and quarrelsome.  So in this spirit of unity and peace, I have decided to add my voice to all the other millions who sing "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" during this season of Christmas and I do it for the Lord. 

If you would like to use this time in our calendar to observe anticipation of the coming of our King, this might be useful to you.  I will share my thoughts on how you can do an individual study, praise and worship in your private life within your home.  I will post a blog each day to help lead you in your study. 

In some faiths there are candles and such, but in this study we will simply concentrate on what happens inside your own heart and mind and not what is going on outside your body. 

Advent simply means a time of anticipation.  I like that.  I anticipate all the family gatherings this time of year.  I anticipate eating my mother's cheese crispies.  I anticipate putting up the tree with my ornament collection on display.  But most importantly, I anticipate my Jesus coming to rescue me from this hateful world and so I often pray, "Jesus, come quickly."  That is what advent is all about.  We remember when He first came and we anticipate His glorious appearing when He comes again.  (Chill bumps and heart racing!)

Each Sunday before Christmas is marked as a week of Advent.  Today, November 29, 2015 is the first Sunday of Advent. 

Yesterday I spent a good deal of time getting myself organized and "pumped up" for the coming of Advent.  I gathered scriptures and devotional books.  I marked pages and highlighted my favorite lines.  I prepared my heart and mind to welcome a deeper study of Jesus. 

One book I am using is called "Sacred Space" and it's written by a group of Irish Jesuits.  There is a prayer listed in this book that cracked my heart open a bit yesterday as I anticipated anticipating :) 

"At this moment, Lord, I turn my thoughts to you.
I will leave aside my chores and preoccupations.
I will take rest and refreshment in your presence, Lord."  

Wow. 

So today, I began my personal Advent observance with this short, but powerful prayer. 

Then it's scripture time.  Let's look at Luke 21:25-36 (NASB)

 25“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27“Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. 28“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31“So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. 32“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. 33“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
34“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36“But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

In this scripture, Jesus is urging us to keep our hearts and bodies ready for His coming.  As we anticipate this coming, it is vital that our lives be a witness to Jesus' teachings and love.  He urges us to not be burdened by the world's attractions.  They mean nothing.  He means everything.  It's time to focus on Him.  

Meditate on these thoughts in silence.  Roll the words around in your mind, finding the nuggets of wisdom God wishes to bless you with upon this reading.  I find He always has something fresh for me to learn.  He always opens the door of my heart a little wider with each reading.

After meditating on this scripture, write down what you have learned and how you can apply it to the coming days.  Perhaps you need to talk with someone about the way you have been living.  Maybe you have been living in a way that your witness has become tarnished.  Confess that fault with someone you trust and join in prayer.  God will hear your confession and cleanse you from your iniquities.  You can begin Advent with a clean heart and fresh view of the coming days.  

I hope you will think on these things and join me again tomorrow. 

Blessings and grace,
Kelley

Unity and the Hard-Headed Race

In a time when people are divided by race, religion, gender, politics, (just to name a few) it appears that we've lost our call as Christians to be unified.  Instead, we quarrel with one another, among denominations, and between Protestants and Catholics.  We act as if fellow followers of Jesus are the enemy. 

Let me caution you.  Satan is the enemy.  Never forget that. 

Here are just a few scriptures to consider.  

Ephesians 4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Romans 12  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Philippians 2  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

The problem of divisiveness is nothing new.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, "So there is nothing new under the sun."   The human race has always been hard-headed. 

If we struggle with unity, perhaps it's because we are hard-headed in always feeling right.  One of the most beautiful signs of maturity is the ability to admit when you are wrong, or that you just might be wrong, or that you might entertain the notion of being wrong from time to time.  In my opinion, stubbornness is a sure sign of immaturity.  Feeling as if you are always right is also a sure way of turning people against you.  I desire a humbleness that reflects Jesus. 

My soul is a work in progress.  My knowledge of the scriptures today is deeper than it was just yesterday.  I also know that if the Lord allows me more years on this earth, I pray that I am wiser in the future than I have been in the past, or even now.

John and I ran into some serious marriage problems years ago.  During that time we just LOVED to focus on the things that we didn't like about one another.  We like to get in little jabs about the things on which we disagreed.  Our focus was always on the negative aspects of our relationship.  

In counseling we learned that until we focused on the things that unify us, not divide us, our marriage was doomed to fail.  We still disagree from time to time, but our focus is on what binds us together, not what pulls us apart.  

I wonder what our world would be like if Christians did the same?  

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland is a historical figure that plays a role in my upcoming novel series, "Echo in the Veil".  This Catholic Queen desired that believers in Scotland be able to worship their God without fear of the monarchy and rulers.  She disagreed with some of the Protestant beliefs, but instead of being divisive she chose to use a more Godly method....Love.  

History records that my beloved Mary was not successful in her endeavor of peace and she was eventually killed by the Protestant Queen of England, Elizabeth I.  Some within the Catholic and Protestant faith simply refused to go without shedding someone's blood over their differences.  They chose death over life.  They chose hate over love. 

There is a lot I do not know and do not understand.  When those things are revealed and I question what I should think or do, I always go back to what Jesus said was important.  Love God.  Love others.  Mark 12:30-31  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

There is no commandment greater than these.  Love is the filter that works every time, without fail.  When I can focus on love, everything falls into the gentle shadow of grace and PRAISE GOD it covers my enormous lack of knowledge.  

I Peter 4:8  Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

What filter will you use?  How will you choose to treat those with whom you disagree? 

Scriptures from New American Standard Bible

The Common Denominator In Drama

How I wish I had realized this years ago. I used to find myself immersed in drama. It revolved around other people's chaotic lives, but I was always the one drowning in a sea of drama and conflict. 

By the grace of God I looked back and realized the common denominator was me. I was choosing to participate. 

This albatross around my neck only released when I began the discipline of meditation and silent prayer. The vibration of my life changed. I was no longer wound tight, waiting on someone to pluck my emotional strings. I found peace. 

Very recently I was tempted to fall back into the old pattern. It seemed the right thing to do, but I stopped, prayed, meditated on His word, and became still again.  Peace returned. 

I know it will happen again. I will be tempted to join in the chaotic drama again. May God have mercy on me and guide me to be able to step back, be still, and know. 

It was a normal Tuesday and then it wasn't.

On Tuesdays I met with a group of friends-Susy, Leanna, Debra- for coffee, talk and prayer. After getting the kids to school,  I had taken a shower and was drying my hair, getting ready for my normal Tuesday routine.  The morning news was on in the living room and I could see it in the reflection of the bathroom mirror.  Something was on fire -odd I thought-but I didn't stop drying my hair.  The hum of the hair dryer drowned out the crew of "Good Morning America" giving updates on the fire.

Fourteen years ago, in September of 2001, John was a frequent traveler with this job on the commercial side of network engineering.  But on this Tuesday morning, he was at home.  He had gone over to visit my in-laws.  Finishing up my hair, I turned off the hair dryer and began putting on my makeup.

"If you are just joining us, a plane has hit the World Trade Center and the building is in flames."

A plane hit the towers?  That is crazy.  I put the makeup down and went to the living room and sat down to see what was going on.  John walked in the back door at about the same time.

"Isn't that crazy," he said.  We sat in stunned silence. 

No more than a few seconds could have passed....then another plane hit the towers, right there in front of our eyes.

I felt an icy chill shiver its way across my shoulders, up into my hair, and down my back.  Dear God....

Peter Jennings came on air.

The world as we knew it came to an end that day.  Our innocence died.  My children would never know a world without terrorism within our own borders.  My oldest child was in the 3rd grade and my youngest in Kindergarten. 

I sat on the ottoman in my living room with freshly washed hair, tears streaming down my makeup-free face   watching my country under attack.

I called my friends to let them know I wouldn't be meeting with them.  

From that point I only remember flashes of news reports, speculation, people jumping to their death from the towers, terror on the faces of people on the streets.  Dear God, have mercy on us.

It was only a short time later that we heard a plane hit the Pentagon and then a plane was down in Pennsylvania.  It seemed the daytime nightmare would never end.

The clear blue skies of fall were marred by smoke, flames and death. 

As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, I pray for this country.  I pray for those who hate us.

I just pray. 

I am not afraid to die.

In May of 2002 John and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas and Key West.  Everything was running smoothly until I ate a conch fritter during dinner and ended up in anaphylactic shock.  It was severe.  In fact, I almost died.  

In the belly of the gigantic ship, I was attended to by the cruise doctor and nurses and they were able to stop the reaction, but it was close.  Very close.  

I learned a lot about myself in those few minutes hovering between life and death.  Standing on the cliff of death, I could see the vastness just beyond the edge.  Confident I was struggling to take in my final breaths, I made a startling realization. I am not afraid to die.  In fact, death seemed a respite from the struggle to receive air.  

I was afraid for John and my boys.  In 2002 my boys were just 7 and 11.  John traveled a great deal for his job as a commercial network engineer.  My ability to work from home had kept our lives grounded while John was away.  All I could think was, "How in the world will John make this work when I die?  What will happen to John and the boys?"  

The quick thinking doctor was able to stop the reaction and I was soon able to breathe again.  I was on antihistamines for quite a while and the rest of the trip was spent in a Benadryl haze with an extremely swollen face and neck.  

Strangely, it was one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences of my life.  I never really knew what I thought about dying until that night in the belly of the ship.  I am not afraid to die, although I will admit I am not so crazy about the pain that is associated with dying.  

In my novel series "Echo in the Veil", I explore death and grief. These are subjects most people don't want to talk about out loud, but do ponder deep within.  Pondering is a lovely way to search out what is in the heart.  Luke 2:19 says,  "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."  

Because of the assurance of my salvation, I did not and do not dread death.  Jesus took away the sting of death for those dying in Him.  However I do dread the grief that comes from losing someone I deeply love.  That side of the sting of death remains and causes a reaction far worse than any anaphylaxis.  

If you knew you were dying today, within the next few minutes, what would you do?  What would you think?  What would you pray? 

Take some time today to ponder your mortality. 

A life well lived

Last weekend a beloved friend of our family passed away at the grand age of 94.  He was tall, lean and gave great hugs.  A Colonel in the United States Army, he lived a life full of success, but also tragedy.  He outlived his first wife and his only son, but found love again later in life with one of my mother-in-law's best friends.  Since neither had any living family, our Smith family adopted them, you might say.  All major holidays and family celebrations have been spent with Dot and Ed right beside us. 

Ed was one of the "Greatest Generation," rare jewels in the nation's crown.  As this generation of men and women pass on, we are losing national treasures.  My Grandmother Nettie once said to me, "We don't grow them like that anymore."  She was right.  We don't. 

Last Wednesday we said a final goodbye to Ed's exhausted body.  He lived every ounce of life available in his soul's shell.  As we drove through Maple Hill Cemetery to Ed's burial plot, we read the grave markers.  John said, "Look at all the different last names."  I watched as the gray stones slowly passed by my window and thought, "Look at all the different lives, stories and families." 

The late morning sun shone warm on the mid-August day.  It was blazing hot the previous week, but on this day God smiled on us with cooler temperatures and a slight summer breeze.  One by one Ed's elderly friends made their way to the graveside tent.  Some came with canes and some with walkers, even one with a little chair on wheels, but they came.  

TAPS drifted through the air as a military musician gave tribute to our friend.  Soldiers quietly and with dignity folded the American flag that had been draped on Ed's casket. One soldier bowed on one knee in front of Dot, gently placing the perfectly folded fag in her frail, pale hands.  Looking into her eyes he said, "On behalf of the President, the United States Army, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service." 

The lump in my throat grew large and the fat, juicy tears in my eyes balanced on my eyelashes making little prisms of colorful lights as as I tried to focus on Ed's gray metal casket.  

I had to keep my emotions under control because I was asked to sing solo and acapella  "God of our Fathers", our national hymn. The Pastor with his army haircut and black horned rimmed glasses said a few fitting words from the "Book of Common Worship".  He spoke of Ed's service and love of life.  We laughed a bit, cried a bit and felt a peaceful comfort settle all around the graveside.  The peace that passes all understanding is softer than any baby's blanket.    

At the end of the short service, I sang "Amazing Grace" and the Pastor said a prayer.  

Ed's life is over here on this earth. I am reminded of the statement my angel spoke to me in a dream after Angie slipped away from us.  "A life well lived is a sacred echo."  

Rest in peace, my friend.  We will enjoy your echo for many years to come.  

 

Expanding Soul Theory

When the sisters at Sacred Heart began teaching me the discipline of silence, I came to realize the process was simple, but the discipline was AWFUL! 

After months and moths of practice, I received an unexpected blessing from my discipline. Breathing in the silence allowed me to breath out my soul's noise.

Until that release, I had not realized how restricted my soul had become. Accustomed to the roar of my internal thoughts, I filtered everything else out. I heard, but did not hear.

Psalms 46:10 is a transformation scripture!  "Be still and know that I am God." has always been a favorite of mine, even before exploring what it actually meant.  Just reading the verse always brings a sense of calm to my mind.  
 

 "Be still" is pretty straight forward, but my soul had no clue what "and know" meant.
God never asks us to do something that will not benefit us.  He is a loving, caring God, therefore all His commands bring blessings to us. 

I call this post the "Expanding Soul Theory" because of what the silence has done for me. With the guidance of my Sisters, I looked at the call to be still as a pathway toward the blessings of knowing Him more fully.  With each deliberate attempt at silence, a blessing bubbles to the top of the silence.  With each new blessing, my soul's capacity to love, forgive, and extend grace expands!  God be praised! 

In the past, I have often found myself unable to forgive sins against me.  God will only extend me the amount of mercy that I extend to others, but this knowledge did not seem to get me where I needed to be.  I tend to be a difficult student. 

After months and months of intentionally being silent before the Lord, one day I realized I no longer held a grudge that I once held.  The internal noise of resentment gave way to the blessings of love, mercy, and forgiveness.  It was a miraculous revelation due to the amount of resentment I held.

I had not learned some new forgiveness trick.  No!  I became obedient to the call of being still and willingly allowed the silence to begin transforming me. 

Understand that He is not just asking you to be still for the sake of non-movement.  He is calling you to be still so that you can begin an internal release, allowing you to know Him more fully.  Breathing in silence ultimately grows you into a more Christ-like child of the King!  Your soul expands! 

Try going on a silent journey today.  Take just 5 minutes to be completely silent before the Lord.  Still your body and relax your mind, leaning in toward Him.  How?  Try this. 

Give God your intention to be still and silent by praying, "Lord I give you this 5 minutes to discipline my mind for silence." 

For 5 short minutes be still and silent.   Thoughts will come to you.  In the beginning of this journey, your mind may even fight this discipline.  Satan will say things to you such as, "You can't do this!  This is crazy!"  Our minds are noisy places and noisy places breed unGodly thoughts. 

Today, as a thought comes, acknowledge the thought and then let the thought pass through your mind, like the summer wind through an open window screen. 

Just breathe in the silence.  Let thoughts pass through your spiritual window screen.  Breathe. Relax. Repeat for at least five minutes. 

Again, the process is simple, but that does not make it easy.  Being still and quiet before the Lord is difficult, but the rewards are many. 

Give God 5 minutes a day for the rest of this week.  Don't give up, even though it is hard.   You will be rewarded. 

The Prayer Dominator

The Nunnery on the Island of Iona, Scotland

As a child, I received the blessing of a prayer habit.  It’s a gift I open often.   

I am an evangelical, church of Christ, daughter of the King, who is also an oblate* with the Catholic Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery. 

Why is a girl like me hanging out at a monastery? 

The answer is quite simple. 

I’m listening. 

Up until a few years ago, I did not fully pray.  I talked, thanked, and on occasion begged.  In my prayer life, I was the person most people hate. I never shut up so someone else could speak.  I was The Prayer Dominator.  

While that might sound like a super hero of sorts, it is instead a serious spiritual flaw.  

For many years I didn’t even know I should listen.  I was ignorantly fulfilled with my chatty prayers. 

As a life-long believer in Jehovah God, I was spiritually illiterate conversing with the Creator I claim devotion. 

I was missing out on the divine when I chatted with my God, said, “Amen” and then quickly moved on with my day.

I have a beloved friend who wins the "Most Difficult to Communicate With" award.  All of our circle of friends know this.  If it were not so sad,  it would be almost comical.  When we converse, he never looks me in the eyes, he is always thinking about what he is going to say next, and even worse, he is prone to walk off in the middle of the so called conversation. 

Watching the back of his head as he saunters off, I feel frustration, irritation, and worst of all, I feel disrespected. 

A few years ago, I realized I had spent my entire life disrespecting God in the same way.  

We will dig deeper into prayer in the next few posts.  I hope you'll come back and join me.  

* An oblate is a person who joins hands with a particular monastery to become a faithful prayer warrior with them and a lifelong student of prayer.  Quite simply, an oblate offers themselves as a prayer sacrifice.