Joy.

Christmas Blessings to you all!  It is finally cold here in Dallas and seems like a December day.  

If you have wondered at all why I haven't posted in awhile it's because I was busy doing this:

Or something like it - you can see a side by side translation at this website:

Jonah in English & Hebrew

I am finished with Hebrew (for this semester) and can say with JOY, I passed. 

I have completed my first semester of seminary at Columbia Theological Seminary (with flying colors) and am full of JOY.

Isn't JOY such a wonderful feeling?  This Christmas season is often the season of joy.  

There's a commercial for JC Penny saying the best thing to give is "joy".  

(Time Warner Cable has one as well...)

We sing songs of joy - "Joy to the World".

We think of children's faces full of joy from lights, laughs or gifts.

There's even the Christmas Joy Offering from PC (USA).  You can read more about it by clicking here.

What does joy mean to you? 

 While it was for me completing my semester at school and coming home at first, now I find moments of joy in rocking my sweet niece to sleep. 

 I find joy in my nephew's ridiculous cheesy grin and laugh that he so willingly shares. 

There is joy in sitting around a table with friends, family and good food. 

 There is joy in the mundane act of brushing my teeth with my little sister.  

There is joy in worshiping at my home church.  

Why, we even have joy on our front door at home.

I've got joy on my mind, and I pray it lasts beyond this holiday season.

Just so you know, joy is indeed an Old Testament theme.  Lots of feasting included joy. 

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

As you enjoy this season, I pray you remember the joy that comes in the everyday and how it can be our strength.  It sure is mine.

Prayer: Lord, the joy around us is contagious and encouraging.  As we anticipate the arrival of your son, our Savior, the light of the world, help us to be full of joy.  Lead us to share our joy with others as willingly as our young friends do. Help us to keep our eyes and hearts open to all the joy and light in this world even in the darkness.  In your holy name we pray, amen.

O Magnum Mysterium

I don't believe in coincidences...even if it is a fun word to say when you say it like this, coinkadink.  

I believe God puts all those puzzle pieces out there and sometimes, they just fit...sometimes too perfectly.

Yesterday was kind of one of those days.

I worshiped at a new church and was delighted when they sang, O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen.

It is an absolutely beautiful peace and for me, it was a wonderful time of meditation.

I then got to listen to it again that evening at the Moravian Love Feast - it was just as enjoyable as the first time and my time of prayer and meditation was even more meaningful.

And then, when relaxing and skimming facebook after three solid hours of Hebrew, a friend had posted a video of the same song performed by the Kings College Choir.

Third times the charm?

Who knows.

Is God trying to tell me something in this song?

Who knows.

I just know each time I listened to it yesterday, it led me to different prayers, different thoughts and yet still moved me.

Maybe God is reminding me of the power music holds for me in my spiritual life, and how I miss it.

Maybe God is just reminding me to listen, listen, and listen again.

Maybe God is just wanting me to be still so that I can better hear what is being said.

Who knows.

I would encourage you to take the time to listen to this song.

I would encourage you to even listen to it more than once.

I would encourage you to keep your mind and heart open to where this music moves you.

Here's the text in both Latin and English if you care to follow along:

Latin text

O magnum mysterium,

et admirabile sacramentum,

ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,

jacentem in praesepio!

Beata Virgo, cujus viscera

meruerunt portare

Dominum Christum.

Alleluia.

English translation

O great mystery,

and wonderful sacrament,

that animals should see the new-born Lord,

lying in a manger!

Blessed is the Virgin whose womb

was worthy to bear

Christ the Lord.

Alleluia!

Top Ten

With 2 finals down and 1 to go, I figured it was time for some blogging...and decided to go with the:

 Top 10 Things I've Learned in my First Semester in Seminary

(and yes, I know...I have one week until the semester is over...)

10. Just because you are in "graduate school" does not mean the food will be better... 

9. It's ok if you don't know all the books of the Bible...technically you have three years to get that down

8. Set aside time where you don't do anything Seminary related (such as a tv show or trivia or something else...)  It won't kill you, really.  It will help you stay sane and acceptable in society.

7. You should read every day.  And not People Magazine...ideally what you've been assigned.

6. That being said, when you have a break - read something not theologically sound...like...the Percy Jackson Series...or some other fun book

5. Learning a language is hard...especially if it is considered "ancient"

4. Professors who love what the teach are AMAZING.  (and at times, hilarious.)

3. Laugh.  At silly things.  It will help.  I promise.  

2. Conversations held at breakfast, lunch, or dinner might mean more than some class discussions.  And that is perfectly fine.

  

1. It is ALL about context.  Seriously.

If you've been to graduate school (especially seminary!), I would love to know something you learned in your time there...please comment and share! 

Gracious God, we thank you for a sense of humor; especially when we are at times, ever so serious.  Thank you for people who feel the call to teaching your word to others and for students who feel the call to help those teaching.  Thank you for times to laugh and celebrate even in times when we find it hard to take the time to celebrate. Help us to be gracious for all you do, even when we feel distant or not so thankful. It is in your holy name we pray, and give thanks.  Amen

Advent Prayer

Lord, this 

Advent

I come to you vulnerable yet open to your hope.

Comfort me.

Take my 

fears.

Give me hope.

Watching and waiting,    I pray.

Amen.

Can't Live A Day

The other night in Survey of Old Testament, we presented the book of Jonah in small groups to our fellow peers.  It was an absolutely delightful experience that I think we all enjoyed on various levels.

One of the groups did this amazing video of interviews where they asked questions to members in their group.  Maybe it was the questions they asked, or the honesty in the responses, and it might have been the music; regardless, it was powerful.

The questions they came up with in response to the story of Jonah were:

1. What is your own turning point?

2. What was a time of personal disobedience?

3. What is your Nineveh? 

They used a song I hadn't listened to in probably what seems like a million years or so, Avalon's Can't Live A Day.  

(Definitely worth 3.5 minutes of your life, I promise.)  I remember buying the CD (DOVE Nominees 2000) and listening to it on repeat...all. the. time. 

(Of course on my trusty Discman.  For those of you who know what that is...)

Anyways, back to the Avalon song.  It is so beautiful at painting an image of what we can do with God's love.  It speaks to all the worldly treasures we could have at our fingertips, but how they would mean nothing without the love of our God in our hearts.

I know I often say I "can't live without sugar free hazelnut lattes" (which I make myself of course...) or I "can't live without my yoga pants that have the tummy-sucker-in thing" (which by the way, are AMAZING!).

But I can live without all those things.

I can live without caffeine and pants.  I can live without lots of things.

What can't I live without?  My God. When everything else seems off or horrible, I have this faith in knowing I am a beloved child of God.  I can't truly live without fully embracing who I am created to be.  I was humbly reminded about that today in class.  I was challenged with the thought of if we are not living into our potential, is this against what God wishes for us?  (Or wants for us...?)

Isn't it a powerful thought to think God made you just as you and you are perfect in his eyes?  (yes, I do recognize we fall quite short of that, but you know what I mean.)

And isn't even more powerful of a thought to know that God sent his ONLY son (who did happen to be perfect) down here to DIE for our sins? 

I think this song for me so many years ago was a turning point; as a youth (specifically a Senior in High School), I think I was reminded about the hugeness of God's love and what that looks like in the context of our world.  For some it might mean being the smartest person in the world, or the richest person, or even the most beautiful.

For me, I think it means embracing who I am and loving what God has created and is creating within me.  

What about you?

Prayer is from the lyrics from Can't Live A Day ~ Avalon

I could live life alone

And never fill the longings of my heart

The healing warmth of someone's arms

And I could live without dreams

And never know the thrill of what could be

With every star so far and out of reach

I could live without many things

And I could carry on, but

I couldn't face my life tomorrow

Without Your hope in my heart I know

I can't live a day without You

Lord, there's no night and there's no morning

Without Your loving arms to hold me

You're the heartbeat of all I do

I can't live a day without You

I could travel the world

See all the wonders beautiful and new

They'd only make me think of You

And I could have all life offers

Riches that were far beyond compare

To grant my every wish without a care

Oh, I could do anything, oh yes

But if You weren't in it all

I couldn't face my life tomorrow

Without Your hope in my heart I know

I can't live a day without You

Lord, there's no night and there's no morning

Without Your loving arms to hold me

You're the heartbeat of all I do

I can't live a day without You

Amen.

Words

Words.

You might know a few.  (Yes, I say that tongue in cheek.)  

If there is something I have learned about in my life, it is how to use words.

Words have power. 

Words carry more than just one meaning.

Words can manipulate. 

Words can change the world. 

Words can hurt. 

Words can heal.

Lately, I have been thinking much on the use of words.  It might be that we are entering a season of political debates, ads, and speeches.  It could be because I am writing tons of words it seems for reviews, essays, and more. Maybe it is because in this season of Advent, I am being more aware of the words I speak.

You might have heard this before:

   

As a kid, this was sort of a mantra for me.  Whenever ill words were spoken to me, I would just remind myself of this. 

Ok.  I’ll be honest. Knowing the bossy know-it-all kind of kid I was, I most likely sing-song chanted this back in someone’s face.  (I’ll own it.)

As an adult and as someone who works with children and youth, I now highly disagree with this statement.

Words can hurt. 

Possibly even more than sticks or stones. 

In some ways, cruel words are worse – you can’t see the mark they leave on someone.

I recently FINALLY shared this story with my former youth group; I had never really explained it to anyone why I don’t wear red, but we’d been talking about speaking kindly to one another and this seemed a good time as any to share.

Why Katy Never Wears Red: A True Story

For over 12 years, I never wore the color red.  When I said red, I mean that bright cheery Christmas type of red.  The kind you can’t help but smile because it seems a color that is so contagiously happy.  I would wear maroon or darker red (such as the Austin College crimson…) but never pure red.

The only time this ever was really a problem was when Christmas or Valentine’s came around, and even then, one can get away with black. J

I’ve had many people “pester” me saying that I look good in red and should wear it more often.

But there is a reason why red has remained out of my wardrobe.

In 8^th grade I had a beloved bright, cheery red sweater I wore probably more than necessary. ( I can still remember how soft it was…I think it was a Texas Rangers pullover…)  In case you didn’t know this about me, I also happened to be an overweight youth.

One day at school, while wearing said sweater, a fellow student (a bully) told me I looked like a “great big fat tomato”.

Silly, I know.  But I hated tomatoes at that time.  And I was a bit self-conscious of being larger than all my peers. All that combined led me to avoid the color red.

The End.

So why do I share this silly little story?  Because of the impact four words had on my life. You might think, “Oh Katy, grow up!”  And I did…over twelve years. This story now serves as a reminder of what ill spoken words can mean to someone, even if they seem silly to us.

I feel blessed to claim more stories of kind words spoken to me than ill words.  But one conversation with mean words takes away all those stories.  (Think warm fuzzies and cold pricklies.)

 I think in today’s society where outlets to voice our opinions are endless, we at times seem encouraged to speak words without really thinking of how they will affect others.

We are called by Christ to speak kindly to others:

·       * Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  ~Ephesians 4:32 

·       * She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.                           ~ Proverbs 31:26 

·         * So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ... ~Philippians 2:1-30

So, we speak kindly.

Even when driving in the ATL.

Even when everyone else is being mean and ugly. 

Even when we don’t get the grade from the professor we feel we “deserve”.

Even when our sister leaves the toilet paper roll empty and you discover too late (long story…).

There is something to be said in speaking kind to each other, especially strangers.  It’s unexpected.  It’s not “normal” to not react negatively.

 So, let us try to speak kind words this week. Maybe it can be your Advent practice this week. 

I would challenge you to think a bit more about the words you might say before opening your mouth or typing them online. 

Words have power.

Words can change the world.

Words can heal.

Gracious God, thank you for the ability to speak kindly to one another.  We don’t know each other’s burdens so give us grace to share with others.  Just as Christ spoke to his followers in love, I pray so will we.  I pray we reflect on the meaning of this Advent; this is a season of waiting.  Let us wait with loving hearts and kindness to share with others, this day and all days.  In your most holy name, Amen.

(one more cheesy poster:)