- 12
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 12, 2023
The Tenth Day of Advent
I slipped from my bed, well before dawn, went into the sitting room, and turned on the lights of the Christmas tree. As I sat for morning prayer the beauty of the lights, in an otherwise dark room, gave me a gift of peace. In this sacred sanctuary I began morning prayer, eyes closed, as usual. When I opened my eyes. It was still so early that the only light, in the room, came from the tree. Then, once again, my eyes settled on the Advent wreath. No candles were lit. That would take place, as usual, at sunset. But I wanted to light the candles now, in the darkness, before the rising of the sun. At first, I resisted lighting the candles, insisting that it was not sunset, not even sunrise. The routine, the ritual, was to light the appropriate candles on the Advent wreath, at sunset every day, during the season of Advent; and I could not bring myself to break with tradition, at least our family tradition. Then a quiet voice, from within me, whispered. “There is not a set-in-stone rule about the time for an Advent ceremony.” I heard myself responding, out loud. “Well, I know that.” But did I? Was I being rigid, inflexible? I knew the answer was “yes.” So, in the predawn hush I began the song, The Light of the Dove, lit two candles, and thoroughly enjoyed my break with tradition. It felt good. By the time I blew out the candles, the first light of day was coming in through the windows. Wow, that was wonderful! With a semi-defiant stride, I went up to the family kitchen, turned on the oven to five hundred degrees, washed a huge baking potato, and placed it, center oven. Must admit I was smiling as I set the timer for one hour. Baked potato for breakfast! I am turning into an Advent rebel. I encourage each of you to do the same. Shake a few things up today. Have a baked potato for breakfast. Change the time of day you light the candles on the Advent wreath. Live on the edge.
On this ninth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 11:10.
The Reading
December 12, 2023
“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10
- 12
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inDaily Message
During your lifetime upon Earth, you might experience times of turmoil, times when everything seems to have been turned upside down. Even the garden of your lifetime will be scattered, flowers tossed aside, weeds left to grow. Do not put on the garment of despair, even then. Be still and quiet until chaos itself has been uprooted. Then set about restoring the garden, preparing the soil, planting flowers. Allow the forces of destruction to recede and pass; and when comes the sun, at last, do all you can to bring beauty and peace to a place once touched by the winds of ruin.
And The Holy Spirit says:
Resist the temptation to run from a challenge which appears to be insurmountable, for all things are possible. I shall whisper, from within you, and lead you, and that, which you are meant to do, shall be done.
- 11
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 11, 2023
The Ninth Day of Advent
Yesterday, while I was wrapping a few Christmas gifts, this thought came to me, like a mighty wave, washing over me, then lifting me upon its wake, carrying me to a place of solitude, transporting me to a sea of tranquility. And there I stayed, for a while. My eyes must have been closed. Strangely, I do not remember. What I do recall is a complete peace, surrounding me, holding me, suspending me from anything worldly. My mind seemed blank; the void interrupted by my one question. “What shall I bring Thee?” With that question asked, I was returned to the table next to the Christmas tree, tape still in hand, ribbons nearby. Throughout the day I repeated the question I heard myself ask at the sea of tranquility. The answer did not come until I lit the first and second candles on the Advent wreath, at sunset last night. My light. My light! I shall give you the gift of my light. I shall not let it dim or go out. Every day I will carry my light into the world. Kindness will be the ribbons, adorning the gift, and compassion will be the song of my light. I will carry my light all through the day, and into the night. What shall I bring Thee? I shall bring Thee my light.
On this ninth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 11:7-9.
The Reading
December 9, 2023
“The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea..” Isaiah 11:7-9
- 11
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inDaily Message
Be still. Be quiet. There is not one thing worthy of consuming you within the energies of fear, doubt, anxiety, loathing, or dread. But everything is worthy of bringing to Me. Sitting with Me whatever is causing you stress will be revealed in a new light, My light. It will no longer be stirred by your imagination, giving it even more life than it has already been given in its creation. That which you bring to Me will be resolved within the energy of My love for you. So, no longer stress or obsess with that which is plaguing thee, for the more you do so, the more it will grow. Come, together we will speak, and you will hear the truth, and in the knowing, you shall be set free, every time you sit with Me.
And The Holy Spirit says:
There is always a way out of the darkness. And it is made clear to thee when you walk in The Light of The Wisdom of God. I AM within thee to set you free by illuminating the truth. Come and sit with Me.
- 10
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 10, 2023
The Eighth Day of Advent
As I look forward to each day of Advent, I look forward to sharing with you. Because you have chosen to walk through the season of Advent with me, it has made a time, which was already special, a unique experience. And for that I say thank you, to each of you. I no longer allow the thoughts of each day to come and go, quickly moving on to the next thing at hand. When a thought pops into my head, I reach out to hold it for a while, wondering, is this something to share? Earlier today I was thinking about what it must have been like to live those thousands of years ago, waiting for a prophecy to unfold, waiting for a promised Messiah. You would certainly have to move through each day, doing whatever needed doing, but somewhere, in the back of your mind would be an ever-present thought, when will it happen? At that time, I would have been waiting for something and someone to come. At the same time, I would not have known how that “coming” would manifest. Then, it occurred to me to move into the present day, as I am now living, still celebrating a period of waiting. Then came the thought! It seemed to come out of nowhere, but I know where it came from. The thought came from The Holy Spirit, dwelling within me. And it was that, now the promise had been fulfilled, at this present piece of eternity, it was God, waiting for me, my coming into an illumination, revealing, opening, embracing my Advent. God is waiting for me to be all I am sent to be. God is waiting… for me.
On this eighth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 11:6.
The Reading
December 9, 2023
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6
- 10
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inDaily Message
It is never easy to experience, for an extended period of time, illness, or injury. But know this. It is not Me, casting you in such a role as punishment for anything. When your spirit chooses a body of flesh, and to dwell upon Earth, for a while, you are subject to all that accompanies that choice. What you can do is to stay close to Me. Listen and I will guide thee through all such trials of Earth, until you make it through, and continue your eternal journey. In that way, even while you are upon Earth, you shall dwell with Me, and I with thee.
And The Holy Spirit says:
Illness or injury is not a punishment sent from God. And even through such times, you can use the experience to draw nearer to Me. For I was sent to dwell within thee so you might continue to be taught by God, each of you, taught by God, in a personal way. When you cannot walk in the material world, you can soar into the spiritual, listening and speaking with Me.
- 09
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 9, 2023
The Seventh Day of Advent
Yesterday I took a short walk around the block, just me, no one in tow. The weather, for December 8, in Des Moines, was beyond pleasant. The sky was blue, and the sun was shining. This is a gift, I thought, as I ambled along, not one hurried step invaded my peaceful path. Then I noticed a pregnant woman, walking on the other side of the street. She too was taking her time, stopping now and then to notice a change in a neighbor’s yard. Immediately my thoughts went back, thousands of years ago, to a young woman, who was living an ordinary life, possibly ambling over a meadow, or down a dusty path. Her life was miraculously changed by a visitation of Archangel Gabriel. And even with this incredible revelation, she held it all on her heart, and continued her everyday life, in a small village. Such occasions probably happen to each of us, as we lead our ordinary lives. Something miraculous occurs to rock our world, but within a matter of days, things go back to normal. My intention is to ponder such visitations and revelations, to resist the temptation to move on as if nothing happened. I am sure there are many such happenings in each of our lives. I know such things have happened to me. Well… maybe not an announcement such as she received, but miraculous and life changing, still. I will not rest on what might be considered failure, in the past, but set my heart in the present, and look for that which comes to me, every day, in a most extraordinary way. As we make the Advent journey together, perhaps you might consider doing the same.
On this seventh day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 11:1.
The Reading
December 9, 2023
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1