preparing for new...

Today's the day to pack it up...
all the trappings of Christmas...

A day to prepare for new...

Preparing a heart to keep advent fresh...

all through the year...

daily waiting...

for Him...

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

For You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:5 NASB95

Lord... teach me... lead me... prepare me...

to wait for You... in the new year...

to keep afresh... the daily preparation...

to practice... advent... daily... 

lessons... from advent... part 2...

It started yesterday...
the explaining of the one big Advent lesson...
and continues today...

Advent is a state of heart...

The songs of Behold the Lamb of God...
specifically... A Labor of Love...
and the personal practice of daily communion...
brought me to this understanding of Advent...

The kind we do at Christmas...
just four-ish weeks out of the year...
preparing for a thing already done...
is no preparation at all...

The call to daily communion...
led to inviting those in my home to the table...

The few days around Christmas...
at times... found all five of us sharing the meal...
remembering Him...

In one of these times...
the invitation given...
my three children gathered...
the Word read...
bread blessed and passed...
the beautiful young woman...
the one I call Baby Girl...
she yawns... as she takes the bread to her mouth...

And that's when I saw it...
I wish I could've captured the moment...

I saw the early church...
the one described in Acts...
gathering daily...
for prayers...
lessons from the apostles...
fellowship...
and the meal...

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching

and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

...

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking

bread in their homes, they received their food with glad

and generous hearts, praising God...

Acts 2:42, 46-47 ESV

Daily they came...no matter how tired...
daily... to share... and remember...
daily... to gather as the church...

It came to me a few years ago...
every believing marriage... the basic building block of the church...
every believing family... a church in and of itself...

And here in my kitchen...
gathered around the island...
makings of dinner...
a single votive...
a single cracker...
a single glass of wine...
we remember Him...
we are the church...

I remember His life...
His death...
His resurrection...

I remember we are currently in a time of waiting...
a time of advent...

We are waiting for Him to return...

No one knew the date or time of His first coming...
No one knows the date or time of His second coming...

Like those who were prepared for His first arrival...
we are to prepare for His second...

To truly practice advent...
is to practice it in the everyday...
in the ordinary moments of life...

In the practice of weekly worship...
in daily communion...
in hopeful waiting...
in obedience...
in righteous living...
daily...
daily...
daily...
moment...
by...
moment...
remembering...
waiting...

Advent is a state of heart...

Father God... help me hold on to the lesson of Advent...

keep me looking forward not back...

keep my heart... in a state  of advent...

Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18

preparing...

On a morning of preparation... I'm reminded...
those who believe in Him... are the only light in the world...

And [Jesus] opened his mouth and taught them, saying...

"You are the light of the world. ..."

Matthew 5:2-14 ESV

He was speaking to those who followed Him...

yet... we can no longer physically follow Him...

So I'm wondering... How do I prepare...? to be light... the only light... in a very dark world...? today... and the days to come...?

He said...

"... As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John 9:5 ESV

His Gift... made the way for Him to continue to be present in the world... through those who believe...

I'm beginning to see... even greater than before... the importance... of the Gift of His Spirit... the importance of laying down my life... for His... the importance of knowing the love with which the Gift was given... to have the confidence... to let Him lead...

By learning to boldly listen and obey His Spirit... prepares one to be light in the dark...

Lord... prepare me to shine for You today... and every day...

Be light in me... light up my life...

"...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." ---Jesus
Matthew 5:16 ESV

what does it take... to prepare a sanctuary... for Him...?

What does it take... to prepare a sanctuary... for Him...?

He gave instructions... to Moses... for His dwelling place on earth... the tabernacle...

Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle,

and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:3 ESV

Three of the things... the people were called to contribute for its construction... caught my attention...

"You shall command the people of Israel that they bring

to you pure beaten olive oil for the light,

that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn.

Exodus 27:20 ESV

The first... to catch my eye... pure oil...

And I wonder... What is this a spiritual picture of...? this oil that burns...?

I believe... it's passion...

To prepare our hearts... as a sanctuary for Him... we need... pure passion... passion for His Word... for His people... for Him...

"They shall make an ark of acacia wood. ...

You shall overlay it with pure gold,

inside and outside shall you overlay it,

and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it.

Exodus 25:10-11 ESV

The second item required... pure gold...

Not only was the ark to be covered in gold... but all the utensils... lamp stands... and the table for the bread... were to be covered in pure gold...

So what is this gold covering about...? spiritually speaking...?

The thought came... The pure gold overly... represents our righteous actions...

Our presentation to the world... what people see... should be... pure righteousness...

Living a life of right relationships... being Christ-centered... rather than self-centered... a fountain of grace...

Then there's the incense...

And the incense that you shall make 

according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. 

It shall be for you holy to the Lord.

Exodus 30:37 ESV

This incense is to be unique... not used for any other purpose... other than for the Lord...

I believe... the incense... represents... our worship... 

He alone... is worthy of worship...

Worship comes in the form of praise... adoration... dependence... all expressed with a heart of prayer...

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Psalm 141:2 ESV

These are three of the requirements... three of the items needed... to prepare a heart as a sanctuary for Him...

Checking our hearts... for where we are with these... is the first step... in cleaning up our hearts...

Is our passion pure...? what are we passionate about...? Him...? or the things of this world...?

Our actions...? are they righteous...? full of grace...? or are they divisive...? prideful...? self-centered...?

What do we worship...? Him alone...? is He the One we count on to fulfill our lives...? provide for our needs...?

Hmmm...

Just some thoughts... about preparing a sanctuary... for Him...

despite distractions...

In the midst of a life... a world... filled with distractions... His Word says...

And whatever you do, in word or deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17 ESV

Whatever we do... word or deed... we are to do everything... in the name... in the character... of Jesus...

I know... this cannot be done on my own...

Only He can prepare me... to live... as Him...

Only I... can invite Him in... to live...

So today... my prayer...

Despite distractions... Lord...

prepare me... to be a sanctuary... for You...

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Will you consider... inviting Him in... to prepare you... to do everything... whatever... in His name...

"... Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and eat with him,

and he with me. ..." ---Jesus

Revelation 3:20 ESV

the joy... of heart preparation...

Finding joy... in preparing a heart for Him...

Worship...

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Psalm 100:2

Communion...

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,

and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you;

do this in remembrance of me."

Luke 22:19

Shining light...

In the same way, let your light shine before men,

that they my see your good deeds and praise

your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Fellowship...

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus, his Son,

purifies us from all sin.

1John 1:7

Consider Him...

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:3

A joy available each day... through active preparation... 

Making room for Him... in your heart...

May your Christmas be filled with joy... hope... peace... and love...

and continue throughout the year...

preparing...

A day spent making final preparations... on this Christmas Eve...

The carol... it says...

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room...

With tasks almost done...
grumpiness trying to creep in...
it's time... to prepare a heart... for joy...

Switching focus...

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:2

I praise You... O Most High... for stooping low...

Prepare my heart... to fully praise... Your Name...

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birth pangs... do you feel them...?

Only Mary experienced labor pains... the first time He came...

And very few prepared for His coming...
Mary and Joseph... of course...
Zechariah and Elizabeth... they knew...
Simeon and Anna... prophet and prophetess in the temple... they lived in a state of expectancy...
Then there were the Magi... they gathered gifts... and journeyed far...

But other than that... none knew of... prepared for... the imminent arrival of Jesus...

Currently... we're in the midst of our own Advent... waiting for... His second coming... His return...

The time He will come to fix the world... make it new... and fix everything in its place... the time for conversion... will be up...

Today's reading through... brings me to Matthew's record... of Jesus's words... regarding His return...

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars;

see that you are not frightened or troubled,

for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, 

and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place;

All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs

[of the intolerable anguish].

Matthew 24:6-8 Amp

When He comes again... the whole world... will experience  the birth pangs... the labor pains...

The question is... Will you recognize them... for what they are...?

Wars...

Rumors of wars...

Earthquakes...

Famines...

We have a few of those going on in the world today...

But... by faith... are we living with expectancy...? preparing for His return...?

Jesus says... He will return like a thunderstorm...

For just as the lighting flashes from the east and shines and

is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

...and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven

with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor].

Matthew 24:27, 30 Amp

As in the days of Noah...

No one had seen a storm before... and only Noah prepared...

Eight survived that storm...

How many will survive the next...?

And I wonder... Do I live in expectancy of His return...? in a state of preparation...?

Am I seeking Him...? wholeheartedly...? so I might be... light... in the coming storm...? bring comfort to others... in the midst of pain...?

Will others see...? and understand...? because of my preparation...? my faith...?

The signs are clear... His Word is true... He is coming...

Are you prepared...? for the One who says...?

Sky and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.

But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows,

not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Matthew 24:35-36 Amp

Related fare...

a desire... for more faith...

be prepared... in season... and out of season...

...be prepared in season and out of season...

2Timothy 4:2

There is no season... where we are not called to be prepared...

...in season... when conditions are favorable...

...out of season... when conditions are unfavorable...

It doesn't matter...

whether you feel like it...

if it's convenient...

or inconvenient...

it's always time...

to be prepared...

doing the work...

of cultivating a heart...

for Him...

His Word...

His presence...

Be prepared... in season... and out of season...
Amen...

preparing a heart...

Preparation of a heart for Him... requires work...

Sow for yourselves righteousness;

reap steadfast love;

break up your fallow ground,

for it is time to seek the Lord,

that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12 ESV

Sow... righteousness...

reap... love...

break up... hard ground...

it's time...

so He may come...

Sow righteousness... do what's right...

Break up the hard places in your heart... those attitudes... thoughts... emotions... keeping you from doing right...

pride...

resentment...

bitterness...

This is hard work...

painful work...

identifying sin...

acknowledging sin...

Break up your fallow ground,

and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:4 ESV

Break up... hard hearts...
sow not... among thorns...

Don't we know...? it's foolish to plant among thorns...? briers...?
Do we really need this instruction...?

When it comes to a spiritual planting... Jesus names those thorns...

"... As for what was sown among thorns,

this is the one who hears the word,

but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches

choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ..."

Matthew 13:22 ESV

Cares... worries... these are thorny places needing removal...

But in addition to worries... riches... choke out growth...

too much stuff...

too much to do...

too many distractions...

How often do we try to plant His Word...? in our brier filled hearts...?

Our world is full of worries... and riches...
both interfering in our relationship with Him...
One says... He doesn't care...
The other... He's not enough...

Planting His Word... is only fruitful... if we take time and energy... to prepare our hearts...

Ask Him... to show you the thorny patches... and hard places... in your heart...

It will be hard... painful... but well worth the work...

Lord... show me... where the thorns grow wild in my heart...

reveal the hard ground... that needs breaking...

bless me... with the strength... and desire... 

to prepare my heart... for more of You...

preparation...

Preparation...

The new word for the week... in the Advent Study...

preparation... noun... 1:  the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty 2: a state of being prepared: readiness 3: a preparatory act or measure 4: something that is prepared specifically: a medicinal substance made ready for use

Not one of my favorite words...

Preparation...

A word I associate with work... usually unpleasant...

But when asked...

When and how has preparation been significant in your relationship with God?

---Pamela C. Hawkins, Behold!

I see a place where I truly enjoy preparation...

The ministry He's called me to...
leading prayer...
teaching...
requires preparation...

The preparation... however... is time with Him... in His Word... in His presence...

Preparation is fun... when you do it with someone you love...

Preparation for ministry... leads me deeper into relationship with Him... encourages me to prepare spiritually... to stay connected to Him...

This evening's benediction... spoke to my heart...

A voice cries out in the wilderness:

"Prepare the way for the Lord:

soften your hearts;

heighten your hopes;

forge a way where there seems no way;

for Christ is coming to make all things new.

O people of God, prepare the way of the Lord!"

Amen

Yes... this prep I long to do...
make the way... for Him...
who is coming to make all things new...

Preparation...

A word I'll have to reconsider my feelings about...

be prepared... to stop...

The call to stop... and pray... intercede on behalf of others... has me thinking...

His Word... it says...

...be prepared in season and out of season...

2Timothy 4:2

...in season... when conditions are favorable...

... out of season... when conditions are unfavorable...

Be prepared... to... stop...

when it's convenient...

when it's not convenient...

when it fits easily into your plan...

when it seems completely unreasonable...

Be prepared... to stop... when He calls...

You don't know what the eternal impact might be...

I just heard of a man I know who died...

a possible suicide...

And I wonder... Did He call someone... to stop...? to intercede...? but the conditions weren't favorable...?

I don't know...

But I do know... it was not convenient for me to stop... to walk through a garden... and pray...

I know... I could have made excuses... justified not stopping... hardened my heart... and moved on... I actually tried to...

I'm glad He continued to press...

hold me to my desire... for my days to be His...

both in season...

and out of season...

You just don't know... what difference it may make...

So... give Him your days...

Be prepared... mentally... emotionally... spiritually... to stop...

in season... and out of season...

Father God... I give You this day...

let it be... Your day... Your way...

Hold me to my desire... to be prepared...

to stop... at Your call...

What steps... do you need to take... to be prepared... to stop...?

processing...

Preparing... leads to processing...

The first of two days of...
high level...
highly condensed...
leadership training...

Processing leads to questions...
What...?
How...?
When...?

Questions lead to listening... waiting... for Him to reveal... answers... direction... guidance...

But for you, O Lord, do I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

Psalm 38:15 ESV

preparing...

Preparing... whether it is the process of prudently preparing for bad news... or for a couple of days away... takes time... and intention...

Preparing... is the way we are to approach each day with Him...

He has prepared a way for us... into His presence...

...we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place

by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us

through the curtain, that is, his body...

Hebrews 10:19-20

He prepares a table for us... in the presence of the enemy...

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

Our appropriate response... prepare for the day... the journey... whatever may lie ahead...  with a sacrifice of thanks...

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,

and he prepares the way so that I may show him

the salvation of God...

Psalm 50:23

Through a preparation of thanksgiving... we prepare the way... so we may see the salvation of God... today...

How will you offer a sacrifice of thanks today...? how will I...?

it's been a journey...

Today... preparing for two weeks away... led me to review... where Jeremiah's Menu began... wondering how to approach the next two weeks.... in anticipation of iffy internet access...

Reading the earliest posts... after being called to blog six days a week... two and a half years ago... it strikes me...

It's been a journey...

Many of the first posts written... seem like they just happened... and I see transformation in me... and the writing... and wonder at the lessons remembered...

So for the next two weeks... I believe I'll re-post... some of the things I've learned along this journey...

A reminder... review... of His faithfulness... to me... along the way...

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings

I will sing for joy.

Psalm 63:5-7 ESV

(my emphasis)

Maybe you'll remember too... or read something you've never read before... any way... I hope you enjoy...

prepared...

...be prepared in season and out of season...

2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

I spent the last few weeks preparing... for a teaching... but it did not come about...

The season not quite right...

His timing perfect... and He wastes no preparation...

This time of preparation... in a busy season... stretched my faith... and revealed His faithfulness...

As I prepared... He blessed me with His Word... and His people... even when He knew it wouldn't come about...

A time of preparation... but not for what I thought...

He used the time... to further prepare me... for Him...

Lord... thank You for the weeks of preparation... 

the things learned... and Your encouragement... 

to be prepared... in season... and out...

hard hat required...

Prepare the way for the Lord,

make His beaten paths straight.

Every valley and ravine shall be filled up,

and every mountain and hill shall be leveled;

and the crooked places shall be made straight,

and the rough roads shall be made smooth...

Luke 3:4-5 Amp

Preparing the way of holiness... the paving of the journey... continues to come up in my readings...

And I think... about preparing my own way... I see a lot of work that needs to be done... heavy work... road construction...

How much work is involved to fill a valley... or a ravine...? That's a lot of shoveling...

Leveling mountains...? is this where we get the filler...?

Straightening crooked places... requires cutting new paths... forging a new way...

Smoothing rough roads... the detail work... may require continual maintenance...

The potential for landslides... and avalanches... is great...

And I see John... out in the wilderness... preparing the way... not only for himself (through his obedience to God's call)... but for others... preaching...

Some gratefully receive...

Some harangue and harass... 

Perhaps this road construction... preparing the way of hearts... requires a hard hat...

I think about Ezekiel... whom God blessed with a hard head... to go along with his call... to a rebellious people...

I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock!

Ezekiel 3:9 NLT

Speaking truth... is dangerous... risky... and may require a hard head.... but it cannot be done... with a hard heart...

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV

So if you're feeling called to speak truth... prepare the way for the Lord... in the life of a loved-one... family member... friend... co-worker... be sure to put on your hard hat... the helmet of salvation... or pray for a hard head... but be tenderhearted... kind... compassionate...

This is the Way... we all grow... as we journey together... making the way... for Him...

[Apologies... for having forgotten to include the readings for The Journey on yesterday's post... ]

This week's readings... for The Journey...

Monday             John 9

Tuesday             John 10

Wednesday        John 11:1-44

Thursday            John 11:45 - 12:26

Friday                John 12:27 - 13:20

approaching the new year... as a journey...

Already... I've received a word... for the new year...

JOURNEY

journey... an act or instance of traveling 

from one place to another...

The end of the year... spent preparing for the journey... into the next...

A time to take only what I've already been given...

His divine power has given us everything we need for life

and godliness through our knowledge of him

who has called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 3:3

A time to remember I am traveling... from this place to another...

Blessed are those who strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:5

A time to learn how to travel... journey... through this life...

And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness.

The unclean will not journey on it;

it will be for those who walk in that Way;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

Isaiah 35:8

Anticipating the new year... with joy... and trepidation... (given the recent thoughts on suffering...)

Trusting in all... that He is good... and has my best interest at heart...

What about you...?

Do you trust Him to give you a word for the year...? a focus... to guide... and direct... your journey through 2014...?

Would love to know if you are blessed with a word for the year... add it in the comment at the bottom of the post... [Click the post title to get to the comment box... scrolling to the bottom of the post... whether you receive by email or are viewing on Jeremiah's Menu...]

Note: Added a new Quote du Jour this week if you haven't visited the site... it's found just under the Receive Jeremiah's Menu by email box...

He comes quietly...

He came so quietly...
after more than 400 years of silence...

Until that day... the only assurance of His presence:
His Word... and the dawning of each new day...

I wonder... with all the prophetic Word...
How did so many miss Him...?

How do so many miss Him still...?
How often do I miss Him...? day to day...?
His presence...? His Word to me...?

A priest... and his wife...
a virgin... and her betrothed...
shepherds... with their sheep...
wise men... from the east...

These are the few... who received the Word... of His coming...
the ones... with hearts prepared...
to hear... and believe...
to see... and follow...

What does it mean... to prepare for Him today...?
To fully receive...? to worship rightly...?

In the days leading up to Christmas... how do you prepare...?

Are you prepared to hear...? believe...?
when He comes quietly...?

Most preparations... are those that are seen...
trees decorated... gifts wrapped...
candles prepared to light...
doors wreathed...

To date I've done a few... and yes more will come...
But... what about the unseen...? the heart...?

Preparing a heart... for His quiet coming...
to acknowledge His presence...
hear His voice...
over the noise of the Season...
that's the challenge...

The noise is not just external...
there is internal noise too...

How do you silence the noise of a stirred up heart...?
worry...
bitterness...
anger...
fear...
unforgiveness...
just to name a few...?

Remember... He comes quietly... at least for now...
How do you prepare to hear...? see...? receive...?

Make room for Him...
the One who comes quietly...
in the muted colors of a sunset...

Invite Him in...
the One who knocks...
trust His love... and grace...

I don't want to miss Him this year...
My desire is to point others to Him as well...

Lord... show me... teach me... prepare me...

to hear... see... receive... and follow...

when He comes quietly...

...and [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7

distractions...

Preparations... they lead to distractions... it's hard to hear when you're mind is preoccupied with the things of this world... rather than the things above...

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:1-2

Taking time to be intentional in worship is essential...
stop...
get low...
face down on the floor...
makes way for a heart to hear...

From such a position... He begins to share... the posts for the week... at least a few... the first few days... the rest... may just be rest...

So posts may be sparse... over the next couple of weeks... we'll see...

I wait eagerly for the Lord's help,

and in his word I trust.

Psalm 130:5