Garden Sense: God

Showing posts with label God. Show all posts

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Easy Advent Wreath

An advent wreath helps our family
focus on the

reason we celebrate

Christmas.

Advent, meaning simply "the coming,"
marks the 4 Sundays
leading up to Christmas.

One candle is lit on the first Sunday,
another added each Sunday,
until the final center candle is also lit on Christmas.

"the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the
land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."
Matthew 4:16

We've had a traditional advent wreath for years.
The kids enjoyed lighting the candles,
and the ritual helped center our attention on
the One
who all the hoopla is about.

This year I wanted something a bit different.

A cake stand from my mother
provided the inspiration.
In itself, it evokes memories of and gratitude for
the special love
of a mother.

Fitting, then, that it should represent
a love so great that
God would choose to come
and live among us.

"The Word became flesh and
made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His glory,
the glory of the One and Only,
who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth."
John 1:14

Any plate or serving dish will do.
I've used a small crystal candle holder for the taper,
purchased for a couple of dollars at a craft store.
Cuttings from my Japanese Holly shrub come in handy at this time of year.
See more plants to use in Christmas decorations here.

Simply place the candles and some greenery,
add a personal touch or two....
and you've got a centerpiece that does more than just look pretty,
it helps keep Christ in Christmas.

With anticipation,
Chris
gardensenses.blogspot.com

PS
Keep all decorations clear of flames.
Never leave the room when candles are lit.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Like Grass

Life stretches out before us...

seemingly endlessly

So easy take for granted,

to forget that each day is a gift...

...that there are no guarantees

"As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more."

Psalm 102:15,16

Two funerals puncuated the truth this week

that earthly life comes to an end

One life lived long and full,

another snuffed out suddenly...

...far, far too soon

Even in the midst of deep tragedy,

I hold firm to my belief

that God is good...

"But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him"

Psalm 102: 17

I believe God's good goes far beyond what we see here on earth

"For my Father's will is that
everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in Him shall have eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:40

My hope is in the One who offers
living water to all who will receive it

"Jesus answered,
'Everyone who drinks of this [physical] water
will be thirsty again, but
whoever drinks the [spiritual] water I give him
will never thirst, indeed
the water I give him will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"
John 4:13,14