Penny J. Johnson's Blog, page 136
December 18, 2012
Advent 2012: Joy
Today we reflect on joy.
Matthew 2:19-23: Return to Nazareth.
Poetic Reading: “His Mother’s Joy”
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Three: Tuesday
Daily Prompt: Hate to Love
Tell us about a guilty pleasure that you hate to love.
I hate that I love to push snooze. This foible foils my muse and shortens my fuse. Just a little more time. Another nine. Nine more. 36, 45, 54. I dream of nine lives as my alone time dies. Sigh!
Advent 2012: Joy
Today we reflect on joy.
Matthew 2:13-18: Out of Egypt.
Poetic Reading: No reading today.
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Three: Monday
December 17, 2012
Only One Copy Left of The Last Time We Were Children!
If you still need a Christmas gift for your favorite bookworm, consider my book,The Last Time We Were Children. Only one left at Amazon!
Or purchase my newest book While Bethlehem Sleeps available for Kindle. It recently received a five-star review!
Happy Reading!
December 15, 2012
Advent 2012: Holding Our Peace
Today we reflect on holding our peace.
Matthew 1:18-24: Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son.
Poetic Reading: Re-read the Peace poems
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Two: Saturday
In the above passage, we glimpse the turmoil in Joseph’s heart about his pending marriage to Mary. After angelic assurance, he fulfilled his commit to Mary. He also accepted the role of earthly father to the Son of God. He could have said, “No.” “Speak now for forever hold your peace” is a phrase heard on many wedding days inviting the objections to the joining of two people in marriage. Although this phrase would not be used until centuries later, Joseph had the right under Jewish law to object. Yet, he chose not to speak publicly or privately against his betrothed. Instead, he held his peace in the matter, knowing it was God’s will. A few months later, that obedience provided Joseph with a unique privilege. In a Bethlehem stable, Joseph held the Prince of Peace in his arms.
Daily Prompt: Me Time
What is your idea Saturday morning? Are you doing those things this morning? Why not?
An ideal Saturday morning begins with nothing on our schedule. I sit at the kitchen table, greeting my family of bleary-eyed bed-heads, while I sip my second cup of coffee. I read or email a weekly update to my family. Even though my mom is copied on the email, I call my parents and visit for an hour. I consider all the options for the day and settle on the ones that will give me the best head start for Monday.
Today was not that kind of Saturday.
I managed to have some coffee and a protein bar. I greeted the one child who was awake before I left the house at 8:30. Rain pattered on my windshield as I drove to our church for choir practice. We practiced for two and a half hours for our double service performance tomorrow. Then I braved the throng of Christmas shoppers and emerged without draining my bank account and with my purchasing goals. Once home, I ate lunch while mediating a sibling dispute. Within an hour, I was driving back to church to drop off one child for his program practice for tomorrow’s afternoon performance.
It sounds tiring as I recount the morning, but the paragraph above is just the list. Like the many lists of the season, it leaves out the joy of singing with my choir family, the love by praying and encouraging those with illnesses and injuries, the peace in finding the best gifts for the best price, and the hope that next week I will enjoy an ideal Saturday morning.
December 14, 2012
Advent 2012: Keeping the Peace
Today we reflect on keeping peace.
Luke 2:21-40: Jesus Presented at the Temple.
Poetic Reading: “The God-Wrestler”; “While Bethlehem Sleeps” (Old Simeon…); re-read “While Bethlehem Sleeps” (Anna…)
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Two: Friday
How do we keep peace, especially on days like today? I dedicate this post to the victims and their families in Newtown, Connecticut. May these words give you immeasurable peace.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
December 13, 2012
Advent 2012: Disturbing the Peace
Did you notice I did not post an Advent blog yesterday? Maybe, like me, you feel like the holiday season is the least peaceful time of your year. There are always places to go and people to see. Lists take longer than usual to complete. The events calendar is so filled, it appears black. Dark moods fill our cups of good cheer.
Herod had many dark moods. In the time of the Pax Romana, Herod’s paranoia became paramount. What did the star shining incessantly in the sky mean to him? His reaction to the Magi gives a glimpse. His actions shed light on his true character.
When compared to Herod, it is easy to feel wise. But, what about lacking personal peace in a season of desiring “peace on earth, goodwill to men.” What light does that shed on my character? “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all of Jerusalem with him.” The Magi saw the star and knew it meant a great king had been born. King Herod must have missed the star’s significance if he had to consult the chief priests about the Messiah’s birthplace.
I missed something yesterday: our family Advent reading. I was ordering Christmas cards and preparing for Christmas programs even as I was making dinner, getting kids here and there, helping them complete their schoolwork. But, missing this particular reading disturbs me.
Luke 2:1-20: The Birth of Jesus.
Poetic Reading: “Christmas Wonder,” “Stained Glass,” and “While Bethlehem Sleeps” (Shepherds…)
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Two: Wednesday and Thursday
Through our reading, God’s light illuminated His story anew for me. Did it disturb Joseph and Mary to lay Immanuel in a manger? Didn’t the angels disturb the shepherds’ peaceful watch? What was it they said?
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Glory to God, indeed, for His divine disturbance with His perfect peace!
Advent 2012: Making Peace
Today we reflect on making peace.
Luke 1:67-80: Zechariah’s Song.
Poetic Reading: “Trust” and “Cookie Days”
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Two: Tuesday
Did you notice I am two days late with this post? For those who did, I apologize. For those who did not, I suspect you had a day like mine! On “Cookie Days,” making peace can be difficult. Maybe you realize you do not have all the right ingredients for the perfect day. Worse, you did not discover that absent ingredient until you were well on your way to trouble.
For example, I left the house with plenty of time to get my son to his Tuesday morning appointment. The trek takes us from our home in one of the Twin Cities’ northwest suburbs to just shy of Wisconsin’s border. I know the route by heart. I anticipated the construction zones. I figured Sunday’s snow-covered roads were managed Monday. Afterall, I live in the land of snowplows. Imagine my surprise when the road felt like driving on rumble bumps, and rush hour–when no ones gets anywhere fast–extended well past 9:00 am. Apparently, MNDOT has a new recipe for snow removal. But, since this post is about making peace, I will do what I did on the near-impassable roads. I moved on. I called the doctor’s office to make sure a twenty-minute delay would not ruin everyone else’s schedule. With their willingness to adjust, I persevered. After a pleasant visit with my son’s doctor, we braved the roads home.
Later, we prepared to leave for guitar lessons. Now we understood how bad the roads would be. Imagine my concern with the tire pressure light illuminated. We turned around, and my husband did an expert pit crew job filling the tire. Then the fuel light turned on. A quick stop at the gas station delayed yet another on-time arrival.
When it was time for our Advent reading, I was exhausted. I anticipated the scripture passage, the first poem, the page for our story. But, even though I wrote the poetry book, I forgot the order. When “Cookie Days” appeared after “Trust,” I smiled. God used my own words to remind me He substituted all the non-peaceful ingredients of my day with His provision. He remade my day.
After our Advent reading, my sons and I finished reading Twice Freed, an excellent book from our family reading list. I thought about writing this blog post. But,making peace for Wednesday seemed a better idea, so I blissfully drifted off to sleep.
December 10, 2012
Advent 2012: Peace
Today we reflect on peace.
Luke 1:57-66: Zechariah ends the debate about his son’s name.
Poetic Reading: “While Bethlehem Sleeps” (“a king…)
Family Reading: Bartholomew’s Passage –Week Two: Monday
