Let HOPE rise!

 

 

 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer

 

Romans 12:12 

 

 

 

That's all I am going to say today!

 

We all have trials.

 

But if we follow Romans 12:12 in the order listed...

We will be A-OK!

 

Have a great day!

 

HOPE IS RISING ANEW!

 

Blessings,

 

just darcy!

O Come

Lighting the First Candle - LONGING IN HOPE

 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined." Isaiah 9:2

What a rainy and dreary day here in Ohio as we light the first candle of advent preparation. 

In Zion's morning message we talked about the preparations the world would have us do for Christmas; spending money to buy whatever they tell us we need, putting up lights and decorations over every inch of living space and preparing every recipe that will create an festive apprearance.  All these things can BE OK, but only if we have done the preparations of the heart and can shop, decorate and cook out of the abundance of our joy.

The first preparation is to cut away the layers of add ons to get to the heart of the matter, our hearts to be exact.  I love this C.S. Lewis quote that I have paraphrased,

"Most people if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they DO WANT, and WANT ACUTELY, something that CANNOT BE HAD IN THIS WORLD.  There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give this to you, BUT NO THING OF THIS WORLD can really give you what you long for in your heart" 

The people of Israel, of whom the Old Testament prophets wrote, longed for deliverance from their strife, they hoped to see Messiah.  In our day and age, we realize Messiah came and established His Kingdom.  We now long for the day when He returns as righteousness to correct all the wrongs of the earthly kingdoms and bring eternity and community to end our exile in a world of sin.

So in the darkness, we long for light.  In our isolation, we hope for community.  I will keep walking in this theme this week.  But I encourage you in your own quiet times - To ask God to show you where HE is at in your darkness and CLING to HIM as He walks with you through the dark time, back into the light, LONGING IN HOPE FOR MORE OF HIM.

 "Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;

make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved"

Psalm 80:19

A Prayer: Lord as we look to the birth of Jesus, grant that the light of Your love for us will deepen our HOPE and help us to become Your true light in the lives of those around us. Prepare our hearts for the joy and gladness of your coming, for Jesus is our Hope of our longing. Amen.

Hiking to Bethlehem on the hike o' life

Greetings!

Many of you who are reading this followed my lenten daily blog last spring.  I had been toying with the idea of jumping in again at during the Advent season since there are so many wonderful topics to blog about and affirmation to do this came from my young friend Makenna as she excitedly shared with me what she was giving up for Advent the other evening.  As you read this, you might think, you don't give things up for Advent - that's Lent!   But actually she had it right.  Advent really is supposed to be more like Lent! 

If you are reading this, don't panic, but just come along with me for this hike  The early church orginally intended for Advent to be a time of spiritual preparation, of digging deep within your heart to see how you need to be ready for the birth (INCARNATION - a theological term to unpack on a different day!) of God who came to earth in living form for the purpose of OUR salvation.  (Lent is designed to prepare new believer's to join the church and to also remind us of Christ's preparations for His earthly ministry.)

Just ponder John 1:14 in the Message translation:

The Word became flesh and blood,
      and moved into the neighborhood.
   We saw the glory with our own eyes,
      the one-of-a-kind glory,
      like Father, like Son,
   Generous inside and out,
      true from start to finish.

So while we all nicely say we are "getting ready" for Christmas as we put up decorations, purchase gifts, send cards and bake cookies; we really are just piling all those things on the top or our hearts which, really, I can say this about my own heart, NEED A THOROUGH CLEANING OUT DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR! 

 I am NOT GOING TO FAST for ADVENT THOUGH, and I hope my friend Makenna and each of you don't either.  What I am going to do is spend time with God - before the outward preparations (which I also enjoy - IN MODERATION!) - to prepare my heart, my mind and my spirit for more of what God reveals and keeps revealing until He comes again.  Will you join me during this next month on this journey? 

As I begin this journey, as I did the Lenten one, I am not sure where it will lead.  I am  simply being obedient to begin the path.  I invite you to join me and seek God's call in your own life to make thing ready for His Coming ANEW deep within our being.

(I also begin a new journey in my ministry calling as I write this.  Tomorrow I will deliver the first message in a season of interim ministry at Zion United Church of Christ in Ragersville.  I seek your prayers for these messages and this congregation as we walk together to Bethlehem this year.)

A PRAYER -

Lord - Even as we linger at the abundant table from our thanksgiving feast, we pray that we begin to prepare and examine our lives, still giving thanks for everything we encounter, but allowing You to make us ready for the Coming of Your Son.  We remember the infant born in Bethlehem and the Bridegroom of your church who will come again just as You have said to begin our eternity with you.

The QUESTION MARKS OF MY LIFE

not sure if this is real stained glass window or a computer generation, but isn't it cool!

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.

I Corinthians 15:10a (NIV)


I just looked and this is my 50th blog posting since March 6th!  I only missed one day on this journey, I can't believe how quickly it went. 

But this is going to be the last posting for a bit!

I know that I am "called" to write and inspire as God leads me to.  I have many ideas brewing around.

Some have told me that I am ending this season of intense Lenten discipline a better writer.  I would like to think so, but I feel I still need to HARNESS my rambling thoughts and EDIT my writing a bit more.  But I do feel very positive about this experience.

What has your Lenten Journey shown you? 

What struggles have you encountered/overcome/fallen on?

Limiting the TV seemed hard to me at the time, but now that it's done, I don't miss it and don't really want to go back to it.

Please let me know your insights- you certainly have had to deal with mine!

Today, as briefly as possible I want to give you a quick update and seek your prayers over this season of transition in my life.

I still don't have a full time ministry job.  I am still actually waiting to hear the status of a situation that began well before the Lenten journey.  Not sure what that means, but it is what it is!

In the last two weeks - I have been led to two incredible opportunities to do ministry.

At a local funeral home, I will be available for those who do not have a church, but ask for a pastor for services/counseling.  It's a bit of  "pin" money, but more importantly a chance to share God's love and the light of His Gospel at a time when families need it most. 

Also I am increasing my volunteer involvement with the Circle of Friends ministry in organizing prayer support teams and prayer coverage as this incredible ministry keeps growing and connecting women with a "Place to Belong".  We are seeking those who love this ministry with a heart to pray over the events and leaders so contact me if you are stirred to do so.

My life verse that is cited above, keeps reminding me that this is not my trip, but God's!

He offered me salvation,

He called me to ministry and

He gets all the credit and in EVERY WAY provides for me. 

I want to be worried or ask for more (and I DO!?) but somehow it all works out.  (I am having one of those, I can't believe the provision of funds - just in the nick of time - again - moments!  THANK YOU LORD and those who hear HIM oh so clearly.)

Anyway - While I heard God clearly calling me to press into the writing and serving on this blog until Easter, I now sense it is time for intense pressing in prayer, listening and seeking increased counsel on the next step of call.

I am writing all of this to ask you to please crank up your prayers for me as you are led.

I am seriously considering a secular full time job, because as I go back to the LAST SURE THING I HEARD FROM GOD ON THIS

 - It was simply "return to the land of your fathers'".

There was no promise that it was a ministry job!  I have been led to place my name in certain ministry situations, but nothing has come of it.  I am also wondering if perhaps I am supposed to be a "local missionary" and work via a para church organization?  Many questions, but no answers yet.  Perhaps it is not yet God's timing, but I want to be poised and ready for what does happen next.

So I know I am to be fairly local to be with parents and my sister's family and be involved locally with the many ministry opportunities that keep coming before me.  It has been incredible to walk with my family through 3 surgeries (2 were my dad's, just one for Marcia {her most recent update is here http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Marciajourney/updates/3001823?client_code=default&ipc=mur}), some chemotherapy, a retirement party, musical concerts, and more football and baseball games that I can count.  I know that I was supposed to be stationed in the guest room of the folks house for a spell and my body is strong and ready to roll after the crazy year that was 2010 for me (if you didn't get my Christmas year in review it is here http://darcymiller-preachergirl.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html!  It has been an good season of healing and renewing our relationships,  BUT?

I truly enjoy much about my part-time job at Heini's Gourmet Market and know that God led me there last July as I look back and see some of the incredible things that have happened as I have worked there.  The people I have met are incredible and I have learned so much about the incredible products, foods as well as wines that come from small Ohio family companies, BUT?

So anyway - Mondays, beginning tomorrow/today are going to be a day of my pressing in, before and after work, and journaling and listening - for now until Pentecost in fifty short days. 

BUT - before I close - I know you have questions about your own life as well...

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Let's establish those things that we already know the answers to....

GOD LOVES EACH ONE OF US VERY MUCH!



GOD ALREADY HAS ANSWERED ALL OUR QUESTIONS!

I KNOW WHERE I AM SPENDING MY ETERNITY AND PRAY YOU TO DO!
if you don't we do need to talk  - call me!

I am taking a full week off the blog and hope to reformat some things as God guides. 

Praying for you  and just asking that you would pray for me too!

THE TOMB IS EMPTY!  HALLELUJAH!

I BELIEVE IN CHRIST'S RESURRECTION POWER!

AND I AM READY AND WAITING AND PREPARING TO GO WHERE HE SENDS ME NEXT

on the hike O' life!

THE MOST BLESSED DAY WE HAVE KNOWN IN ALL OF HISTORY

How blessed is this day, when earth and heaven are joined and humankind is reconciled to God!
May the light of Jesus shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find his light ever burning in our hearts—he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
-- adapted from the Book of Common Prayer -1979, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

 

A Prayer for Easter Morning
0 Lord Jesus Christ, who upon this day did conquer death and rise from the dead,
and who are alive for ever more, help us never to forget your Risen Presence forever with us.
Help us to remember,
That you are with us in every time of perplexity to guide and to direct;
That you are with us in every time of sorrow to comfort and console;
That you are with us in every time of temptation to strengthen and to inspire;
That you are with us in every time of loneliness to cheer and befriend;
That you are with us even in death to bring us to the glory of your side.
Make us to be certain that there is nothing in time or in eternity which can separate us from you,so that in your presence we may meet life with gallantry and death without fear.
You turn our darkness into light, in your light we shall see light.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Christ the Lord is risen today!
ALLELUIA
-- Adapted from ThisIsChurch.com

7 DAYS!

           So teach us to number our days,       
                That we may present to You
                    a heart of wisdom. 
                                                              Psalm 90:12

About two weeks ago, I posted a question on Face Book, in this blog and and to various friends as I was planning to study very closely what Jesus did in the last seven days of His ministry time as a man from Galilee.

I was and am still amazed at all that happened for Jesus in JUST 7 DAYS (and that is not even getting to the last supper, time in the garden to the cross, to the grave and overcoming death) all the teaching and people Jesus connected with before those events.

So the questions I posed was this:

If you discovered today,
 that you would only have 7 days days left on earth and could intentionally DO ANYTHING to fill those days that you chose, what would your top three priorities be?

  

I love the dog's caption, "the time is there, it is how you use it that counts!"

No one wanted to answer right away.

This is obviously something we all need to think about.

But then the answers starting flowing

and flowing.

Some folks wrote me several hundred words on what their week would look like!

In the end over 30 people responded.

of course this is not scientific at all.

But I feel that it is helpful to each person who responded.

So for those of us who want to want to know....

here goes!

Of the thirty respondents

ALL SAID that they spend much time with family and those they loved!  I particularly liked the folks that said they would go to their special places and invite all to come ( an mountain cabin for one, a house on the beach for another.)

(JESUS DID THIS IN HIS LAST SEVEN DAYS AS WELL)

Many mentioned working things that I would label legacy, writing letters, making videos to share love and prayers with those who will remain.

(JESUS DID THIS AS HE SPOKE AND SHARED and what did he say at the last supper - Luke 22:19 "this do in remembrance of me")

Only one person actually said what I feel is the most important thing here
 - and yes this did occur to me as well.
 To spent some deep heart to heart time with GOD
and see if there are any forgiveness, confessions or affirmations that GOD wants us to tackle before we move on the be with HIM always.

(YOU SEE JESUS DID THIS TOO!)

A couple of people put things on the list that actually amused me.  

Travels to places they had not yet been,

 one responded they would try skydiving!
  (Now actually this probably makes sense - if you wait til the 7th day to do this and it doesn't go well, no worries, right?)

 One, who I respect as such a great dad, commented that he would bake pies with his kids each night to make those incredible memories together.  

Another friend who loves the outdoors and horses would go riding to just appreciate all that is here and now as she anticipates what is to come.

Anyway - you can see that there are lot of ways to number our days!

Why did I do this?

I think that we need to do more than MARK OUR TIME.  Earth is not a giant waiting area as we hope for heaven.

We are on a journey of FAITH, and we need to be intentional about the things we are doing on this journey.

I pray that we all can follow the inspiration of JESUS
and we can

ADOPT HIS ATTITUDES OF LIFE and DEATH

BE DELIBERATE IN OUR DAILY ACTIONS and CHOICES

THAT WE WOULD SEEK TO PLEASE GOD in all WE DO!

and

WE WOULD TRY TO MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT for HIS SAKE!

I agree with the many commentators that state the Psalm above show us GOD has numbered our days

A) because He is God and He knows all things

and

B) because by numbering our days, they become important

and perhaps most importantly

C) the more we die to ourselves and face our own mortality in the flesh (SEE the APOSTLE PAUL)
the more we can truly and freely live in our spirits of a CHILD OF GOD!

EVERY DAY IS ONE THAT GOD CALLS YOU TO LIVE FOR HIM!

JESUS KNEW THIS -

some days are big deals

other days are quiet and simple

But all can be lived for GOD!

So that's it!

SEVEN DAYS -

None of us know when our last seven days on earth will be, so it might be wise to tackle some of these tasks and have them in the ready.

Tell those you love, how you love them.

If there are fences to mend, do your part to mend them, and then you can have peace, even if the other party doesn't receive it.

If you have a "bucket list" (things you would like to do before you kick that old bucket"
Make plans to DO IT!  If you don't have a bucket list - make one!  and then DO IT!

Write those letters and have them in a place that they will bless if they would come to be found.

And now - for _____________. 

What have you seen happening in your connection with them as you have prayed and reached out to them?

What changes are you feeling in your heart as you have adopted them for this Lenten Journey?

Do you feel called to keep praying for them after Easter?

I will have a testimony to share about my ___________next week.

I can't believe all that God has done, I had no idea why __________ was the one God put on my heart, but looking back at the events that have transpired.  GOD HAD A PLAN!

I would be eager to hear if others have stories about _______________ as well.

But that is quite enough for today!

Let's PRAY!

Lord it still is so hard to look at death - in our Christian walk we are picturing that Garden tomb.  It may be new, it may be in a pleasing place, but it is still a tomb.  We thank you for that work of CHRIST CARRYING OUR SINS, GOING TO THE DEPTHS AND CONQUERING DEATH. 

Fill our hearts with anticipation for the early morning discovery - of the EMPTY TOMB and the knowing that OUR REDEEMER LIVES.   LORD GUIDE us and bless ___________ on this day - an "numbered" day that YOU have given us to love and care for each other, AMEN!