Advent Daily Devotional: WEEK of PEACE: DAY 11 – Wed, Dec 8
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. — John 14:27
You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways. — Job 22:28
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For today, allow the lighting of candles to be an act of naming the blessings in your life. Let it bring awareness of how you can contribute to peace in your own heart and also in your corner of the world.
As you light each of the candles, name one thing you appreciate. For what are your grateful? Gratitude fosters perspective, which leads to a sense of balance and peace. — Rev Gail
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We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. — Dalai Lama
No degree of worldly darkness can extinguish the glow of a soul’s inner light. — Wes Fesler
Advent Daily Devotional: WEEK of PEACE: DAY 10 -Tue, Dec 7
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
in peace because they trust in you. — Isaiah 26:3
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord
shall be your rear guard. — Isaiah 58:8
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When you light Advent candles or read and reflect, you are participating in a contemplative practice. Peace grows out of such habits.
Such practices strengthen the spiritual muscles upon which you draw. They create resilience and balance in your body, heart and mind. It can be a still and quiet experience: holding a yoga pose, maintaining a prayer position, or observing utter silence. Sometimes it involves movement of the body such as walking, dancing, or kinesthetic activities like knitting. Maybe it takes the form of unleashing a restless mind through journaling or creative expression. One way or another, set apart time and nurture your spiritual being.
By renewing your energy, you sustain radiance to share and nurture wellbeing to cradle the light within.— Rev Gail
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Sometimes you need to know that you have good people at your back when things go awry in your life.
Good relationships can bring peace of mind, not to mention longer life, companionship, health, happiness, and a host of other benefits. At bottom, we are social creatures who need each other. — Meg Selig
Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light
shining somewhere nearby. – Ruth Renkel
Advent Daily Devotional: WEEK of PEACE – Starts DAY 8 – Sun, Dec 5
The Peace of Wild Things — Wendell Barry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
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WEEK of PEACE: DAY 8
Sun, Dec 5
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace —
in peace because they trust in you. — Isaiah 26:3
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
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How do you cultivate peace through this practice of reading, reflecting, and lighting candles?
Perhaps the first truth is that by setting aside time to dive into any spiritual practice, you make a commitment to yourself and your loved ones. You honor yourself and others by setting apart time, space, and attention to be present to the inner, spiritual part of your life. You cultivate this aspect of wellbeing. You give it space and priority.
When you ignite the first and second candles, you focus on wellbeing in relationship to self and others. This simple act is one step in being present. Let the light of peace warm you. — Rev Gail
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No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us,
for ‘we’ are the only thinkers in our mind.
When we create peace and harmony and balance
in our minds, we will find it in our lives.
— Louise Hay
Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
— Kahlil Gibran
Advent Daily Devotional: WEEK of HOPE – DAY 7 – Sat, Dec 4
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord. — Psalm 31:24
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105
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The final day of its solo vigil, this candle sums up the week’s theme of hope. Alone it burns. Signals to you. Symbolizes everything you can imagine that hope might offer or promise. Dares to challenge its surroundings and add its small brightness to the world. Reminds you that your life, your heart, your mind, your choices, your voice, and your acts make an impact. — Rev Gail
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A lot of people have their big dreams and get knocked down and don’t have things go their way. And you never give up hope, and you really just hold on to it. Hard work and perseverance. You just keep getting up and getting up, and then you get that breakthrough. — Robert Kraft
In the right light, at the right time,
everything is extraordinary. – Aaron Rose
Advent Daily Devotional: WEEK of HOPE – DAY 6 – Fri, Dec 3
… hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem. — Psalm 130:7
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
— Psalm 43:3
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By now, the Advent candle has melted down and lost some height, especially if it is used every day. Yet its flame flares and rises upright: one small beacon.
‘Grounded hope’ requires a sense of empowerment and agency. In response to whatever is happening in your life, you develop confidence that you can exert some control over whatever comes next. Hope includes this proactive, reality-based troubleshooting approach to the issues in life.
Writing about resiliency for Option B, Kravetz observes,
‘We start by asking, “Given what’s happened to me, what am I going to do about it? How can I build a better life on top of it?” Then we set goals for ourselves and find sources of motivation to pursue those goals.’ Perhaps events occur that are beyond your control. Perhaps circumstances include situations that involve your own choices and actions.
Scientist and change-maker Jane Goodall reflects, in her book Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, “Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other.”
What plans might you make in response to whatever requires change in your life? Break your strategy into small do-able steps. Pace yourself. Set up the opportunity to succeed incrementally as you implement your strategy.
Look again at the candle. Focus on its capacity to change its surroundings and how it affects your perception of your world. Hope is achievable! — Rev Gail
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They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy
in this world: someone to love, something to do,
and something to hope for. – Tom Bodett
There’s a sorrow and pain in everyone’s life, but every now and then there’s a ray of light that melts the loneliness in your heart and brings comfort like hot soup and a soft bed.
– Hubert Selby, Jr.