Showing posts with label Hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hope. Show all posts
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Out of the Darkness of Despair, Shines the Light of Hope
Family Advent Wreath - Nov 28, Week 1 - Hope
For more information on Advent, see my previous post on the Family Advent Wreath. These meditations are for the weekly lighting of the Advent Wreath candles, so allow for more time for discussion.
Nov. 28, 2010, First week of Advent
We begin the season with hope. Hope is what the promised coming of the Messiah gave to the children of Israel. They hoped for many things: peace, saving grace, relationship with God. How can we explain these things to children, especially when the children are very literal and many times what we hope for is conceptual?
We begin with the idea of hope. What are some things the children hope for? While it may be easy to start with their Santa Wish List, it confuses the message and they think of hope as wishing for things that are material. Hoping is not the same as wishing. Hope is belief that what you desire will actually happen. You might ask your child(ren) what they would pray for.
If they need some guidance you might be ready with some suggestions such as "God bless mommy and daddy." Help them understand that when they say "God bless mommy and daddy," what they are really asking for is for mommy and daddy to feel well (not be sick), for mommy and daddy to be happy, and for the family to have the things they need, and maybe a little extra. When we ask God to bless us in a general way, this is usually what we desire. The children may have been taught to pray, "God bless so-and-so" but not what asking for God's blessings really mean.
What we pray for is what we hope and desire. We may already have it, such as health and happiness, but we may hope it continues. On the other hand, if a child has been around a loved one who is sick or suffering from depression, then they will understand what it means to hope for something we don't have. If they have ever felt sick, they know what it is like to hope to feel better.
With experience we learn that bad times do not last forever, things will eventually get better, just like night will eventually become the day. Children do not have enough life experience to understand this very well. Sometimes when things aren't going so well, they feel like it is forever. To them that is a real feeling, even if we find their theatrics amusing. This can be magnified in teens who are already self-conscious. If your child has had any of these types of circumstances recently, that would be a good place to start with hopes. We have hope that our circumstances will improve, and believe that it will, we just may not know when or how. Hope is an act of faith. It is the belief, in spite of circumstances, that things can and will get better. This is faith, and is important to teach our children.
As far as the meditations for Advent will go, we will have a time for you to discuss as a family the topic of the week, such as hope, and this will set the stage for the meditation. It will be good to ask questions to get your children to participate in the discussion.
Then there will be a Scripture reading. The Scriptures printed for this post are from the NRSV translation. Maybe one of the children could read the scripture verse, the meditation, or the prayer.
Ask your child(ren) what does "hope" mean?
What does it mean to "hope for" something?
What are some things you hope for?
Scripture reading: Isaiah 60:2-3
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
The scripture tells us of people hoping for something. What do you think they were hoping for?
(Darkness is used here metaphorically. You might explain that to your children in a way they can understand. Talk about what it is like before the sun comes up. It is the coldest time of the night. We look for the sun to come up, and it is beautiful and brings warmth and light. This scripture is talking about God's light being the light that comes when our world is dark, like the sunrise coming up in the morning. The verse is talking about the prophecy of a Messiah or chosen one of God who would shed light and save the world from darkness.)
They were hoping for God to send someone to help them. God did send someone to help them. Who did God send? (The answer is, of course, Jesus. You may have to give the children a few hints if they don't get the answer right away.)
When do we hope that God will help us?
Sometimes if we are afraid of the dark, we like to have a light left on, just a small one, to make us more comfortable. To these people God's promise was like that night light, to bring comfort and get them through.
God gives us that same comfort.
Meditation:
Like when we wake up in the morning and can count on the sun rising to bring light and warmth to our world, we can also count on God to bring God's light and peace to our spirits in our time of need. God sent his light to the world in the form of a person so everyone could understand. Jesus brings that light to our lives and helps us to live in right relationship with God.
(Light the first purple or blue candle. Any of the purple or blue candles will do, but we light them in an order of purple, purple, pink, purple, white; so it is best to start with the candle opposite of the pink in the circle. If you are using a straight line, then you would set them up: purple, purple, white, pink, purple, and light from the ends; i.e., right outside purple, left outside purple, pink candle, purple inside, white. Please make sure there is adult supervision for any child using matches or a lighter to light the candle. Also, please supervise your child as long as the candle is lit.)
Prayer:
God, just as we see this light from a candle shining in our home, help us to see your light in our lives and in our world. Jesus thanks for bringing that light to shine in our darkness, and for showing us that God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. Amen.
(You may wish to leave the candle burning for a bit. If so, please ensure that children are not able to burn themselves or accidentally begin a fire. It is permissible to talk for a bit longer, maybe about what they hope for, and then blow it out when you are finished with the time of devotion.)
Nov. 28, 2010, First week of Advent
We begin the season with hope. Hope is what the promised coming of the Messiah gave to the children of Israel. They hoped for many things: peace, saving grace, relationship with God. How can we explain these things to children, especially when the children are very literal and many times what we hope for is conceptual?
If they need some guidance you might be ready with some suggestions such as "God bless mommy and daddy." Help them understand that when they say "God bless mommy and daddy," what they are really asking for is for mommy and daddy to feel well (not be sick), for mommy and daddy to be happy, and for the family to have the things they need, and maybe a little extra. When we ask God to bless us in a general way, this is usually what we desire. The children may have been taught to pray, "God bless so-and-so" but not what asking for God's blessings really mean.
What we pray for is what we hope and desire. We may already have it, such as health and happiness, but we may hope it continues. On the other hand, if a child has been around a loved one who is sick or suffering from depression, then they will understand what it means to hope for something we don't have. If they have ever felt sick, they know what it is like to hope to feel better.
With experience we learn that bad times do not last forever, things will eventually get better, just like night will eventually become the day. Children do not have enough life experience to understand this very well. Sometimes when things aren't going so well, they feel like it is forever. To them that is a real feeling, even if we find their theatrics amusing. This can be magnified in teens who are already self-conscious. If your child has had any of these types of circumstances recently, that would be a good place to start with hopes. We have hope that our circumstances will improve, and believe that it will, we just may not know when or how. Hope is an act of faith. It is the belief, in spite of circumstances, that things can and will get better. This is faith, and is important to teach our children.
As far as the meditations for Advent will go, we will have a time for you to discuss as a family the topic of the week, such as hope, and this will set the stage for the meditation. It will be good to ask questions to get your children to participate in the discussion.
Then there will be a Scripture reading. The Scriptures printed for this post are from the NRSV translation. Maybe one of the children could read the scripture verse, the meditation, or the prayer.
Ask your child(ren) what does "hope" mean?
What does it mean to "hope for" something?
What are some things you hope for?
Scripture reading: Isaiah 60:2-3
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
The scripture tells us of people hoping for something. What do you think they were hoping for?
(Darkness is used here metaphorically. You might explain that to your children in a way they can understand. Talk about what it is like before the sun comes up. It is the coldest time of the night. We look for the sun to come up, and it is beautiful and brings warmth and light. This scripture is talking about God's light being the light that comes when our world is dark, like the sunrise coming up in the morning. The verse is talking about the prophecy of a Messiah or chosen one of God who would shed light and save the world from darkness.)
They were hoping for God to send someone to help them. God did send someone to help them. Who did God send? (The answer is, of course, Jesus. You may have to give the children a few hints if they don't get the answer right away.)
When do we hope that God will help us?
Sometimes if we are afraid of the dark, we like to have a light left on, just a small one, to make us more comfortable. To these people God's promise was like that night light, to bring comfort and get them through.
God gives us that same comfort.
Meditation:
Like when we wake up in the morning and can count on the sun rising to bring light and warmth to our world, we can also count on God to bring God's light and peace to our spirits in our time of need. God sent his light to the world in the form of a person so everyone could understand. Jesus brings that light to our lives and helps us to live in right relationship with God.
(Light the first purple or blue candle. Any of the purple or blue candles will do, but we light them in an order of purple, purple, pink, purple, white; so it is best to start with the candle opposite of the pink in the circle. If you are using a straight line, then you would set them up: purple, purple, white, pink, purple, and light from the ends; i.e., right outside purple, left outside purple, pink candle, purple inside, white. Please make sure there is adult supervision for any child using matches or a lighter to light the candle. Also, please supervise your child as long as the candle is lit.)
Prayer:
God, just as we see this light from a candle shining in our home, help us to see your light in our lives and in our world. Jesus thanks for bringing that light to shine in our darkness, and for showing us that God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. Amen.
(You may wish to leave the candle burning for a bit. If so, please ensure that children are not able to burn themselves or accidentally begin a fire. It is permissible to talk for a bit longer, maybe about what they hope for, and then blow it out when you are finished with the time of devotion.)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Idol Worship
I heard last year as the young new presidential hopeful took the stage to accept the Democratic National Convention's endorsement of him as their candidate that he was like a "rock star." This of course was immediately used by other candidates to imply that he was in some way evil, encouraging followers to worship him; or if not evil, then greatly misleading people who were too gullible to know better. It seems that if you are too popular, then that is in some way bad. We must all maintain a certain amount of decorum; this is after all politics we are talking about.
I thought that it was grossly unfair that simply being popular would be viewed in such a way. Of course, this young candidate carried a Blackberry, sent email to encourage support, had a facebook group that many people were "fans" of (simply because this is a facebook term), and spoke to a generation of people in ways previous candidates had not. I thought at that time, that it was "sour grapes" from a group of people who would never dream of twittering their thoughts, would never consider keeping up with friends on facebook, and only use email if they absolutely have to, in other words, people who are out of touch with the technology and advances that are so prevalent in the world today and do not listen to the voice of the generations who rarely use “snail mail” for personal correspondence, pays bills online, and social networking groups are common. I realize now this is unfair. There are those who are not tech-savvy that do not see Obama's support to be inherently idol worship, and those who are tech-savvy who do.
I again have read a concern that the exuberance of the crowds yesterday was in some way another demonstration of "worshipping" Obama. I am concerned that there are those who might actually feel something akin to worship for Obama, but I am more concerned by those who would convey that attitude where it may not be deserved. I am surprised by the thought that Obama is in some way worshipped...any more than any other president of the United States has ever been. I remember people staunchly defending President G. W. Bush for his decisions and claiming that he was all but sent by God (some actually have claimed this). I have seen the videos, news reports, etc., that depict a nation in deep grief, as deep as a family member, over the assassination of JFK. These are but two examples (one for each party) of deep patriotism and love for a President. Love, not worship.
I don't know if I would consider Obama to be worshipped. I don't think what we saw yesterday was necessarily worship; I saw it more as an exercise of hope. For some he is a symbol of the hopes and dreams of many that those of their race lived and died to fight for. I can't fault them for that one. For others he is a symbol of a new day dawning on America, and all the hope that goes with that; hope that the economy will get better; hope that no more children and parents, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives will have to be sent overseas to fight a war that many in this country never backed, and many more are beginning to question; and for still others he represents hope that we can become more of the middle than the right or the left. All of these hopes, and I am sure others, were represented on that mall yesterday. You can't blame these people for rejoicing in their hopes, and it would be falsely accusing them of idol worship to say they were worshipping Obama. I know for many, their hope is in the Lord and see this change in leadership as an answer to as fervent a prayer as many prayed in the other direction.
It seems to me that Obama has encouraged and challenged all of us to work together, and I believe “all” to include the right, the left, and the middle. I know I am willing to work to be in conversation with others. I hope more feel like me.
I also read that we need to pray. But of course we do! The election of a young, black, Democratic president should not be any greater prompting of this need than simply looking in our own mirrors. We should humble ourselves before God and our neighbor, beg forgiveness for our prejudices and seek to live in peace with one another. I hope you will pray for this with me.
I thought that it was grossly unfair that simply being popular would be viewed in such a way. Of course, this young candidate carried a Blackberry, sent email to encourage support, had a facebook group that many people were "fans" of (simply because this is a facebook term), and spoke to a generation of people in ways previous candidates had not. I thought at that time, that it was "sour grapes" from a group of people who would never dream of twittering their thoughts, would never consider keeping up with friends on facebook, and only use email if they absolutely have to, in other words, people who are out of touch with the technology and advances that are so prevalent in the world today and do not listen to the voice of the generations who rarely use “snail mail” for personal correspondence, pays bills online, and social networking groups are common. I realize now this is unfair. There are those who are not tech-savvy that do not see Obama's support to be inherently idol worship, and those who are tech-savvy who do.
I again have read a concern that the exuberance of the crowds yesterday was in some way another demonstration of "worshipping" Obama. I am concerned that there are those who might actually feel something akin to worship for Obama, but I am more concerned by those who would convey that attitude where it may not be deserved. I am surprised by the thought that Obama is in some way worshipped...any more than any other president of the United States has ever been. I remember people staunchly defending President G. W. Bush for his decisions and claiming that he was all but sent by God (some actually have claimed this). I have seen the videos, news reports, etc., that depict a nation in deep grief, as deep as a family member, over the assassination of JFK. These are but two examples (one for each party) of deep patriotism and love for a President. Love, not worship.
I don't know if I would consider Obama to be worshipped. I don't think what we saw yesterday was necessarily worship; I saw it more as an exercise of hope. For some he is a symbol of the hopes and dreams of many that those of their race lived and died to fight for. I can't fault them for that one. For others he is a symbol of a new day dawning on America, and all the hope that goes with that; hope that the economy will get better; hope that no more children and parents, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives will have to be sent overseas to fight a war that many in this country never backed, and many more are beginning to question; and for still others he represents hope that we can become more of the middle than the right or the left. All of these hopes, and I am sure others, were represented on that mall yesterday. You can't blame these people for rejoicing in their hopes, and it would be falsely accusing them of idol worship to say they were worshipping Obama. I know for many, their hope is in the Lord and see this change in leadership as an answer to as fervent a prayer as many prayed in the other direction.
It seems to me that Obama has encouraged and challenged all of us to work together, and I believe “all” to include the right, the left, and the middle. I know I am willing to work to be in conversation with others. I hope more feel like me.
I also read that we need to pray. But of course we do! The election of a young, black, Democratic president should not be any greater prompting of this need than simply looking in our own mirrors. We should humble ourselves before God and our neighbor, beg forgiveness for our prejudices and seek to live in peace with one another. I hope you will pray for this with me.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Hats Off!
Last night the ladies from our church had a "hat party" for a friend who is going through chemotherapy treatment. I thought it was a fabulous idea! Some of them have been hitting me up about having a Sunday in which we all wear hats to church. I have been trying to go through my mind on ways this applies to scripture...probably in some way other than the "helmet of salvation," although that could work....
My girls and I thought surely there would be duplicates, but apparently God came through on the various shopping experiences. There were floppy sun hats, baseball caps, bucket hats, cozy snug beanies to keep her head warm, and even a beret. But my favorite hat came from Hats of Hope. Inside the bill of the hat is the word "h o p e." And on the inside are several sayings, my favorite being "Sigh. Sob. Scream. Laugh. Repeat." It just sounds like something I would do!
It was a time for us to come together, for a time, and laugh at the ugly things in life while we go about trying to prettify them. I was a little worried that it would become a morbid thing (and I think my daughter thought that as well, as she is asking if we were just going to sit there and look at her open all the packages), but it wasn't. The guest of honor handled it with grace, and it was really a lot of fun. I would recommend it if you know someone going through treatment.
My girls and I thought surely there would be duplicates, but apparently God came through on the various shopping experiences. There were floppy sun hats, baseball caps, bucket hats, cozy snug beanies to keep her head warm, and even a beret. But my favorite hat came from Hats of Hope. Inside the bill of the hat is the word "h o p e." And on the inside are several sayings, my favorite being "Sigh. Sob. Scream. Laugh. Repeat." It just sounds like something I would do!
It was a time for us to come together, for a time, and laugh at the ugly things in life while we go about trying to prettify them. I was a little worried that it would become a morbid thing (and I think my daughter thought that as well, as she is asking if we were just going to sit there and look at her open all the packages), but it wasn't. The guest of honor handled it with grace, and it was really a lot of fun. I would recommend it if you know someone going through treatment.
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