This HOPE … this Advent
Posted on December 2, 2013By Judy DoddsArt Gifts, Artists, Greeting Cards, Inspire Us!, Media:Calligraphy, Media:Painting, Media:Prints
Finding HOPE is in Christ Jesus and who he is, what he offers and what he has done for us.
Consider the candle
I love having candles about our home — to enjoy …
• at the dinner table – leftovers are especially good in the ambiance of candle light.
• when I feel stressed – the light is calming
• the glow around the coffee table with friends – great.
• in daylight, but especially in dusk or darkness – the warm glow and dispelling of darkness is comforting
I don’t always think of candles … in this light … but now, preparing for Christmas …
in this Advent season … I think of Christ Jesus’ presence and the worshipful mood
of candlelight. I could think “Advent” and “Jesus is present” … and maybe have… an inner glow, outer glow, an Advent outlook every day!
We begin the first Sunday of this Advent season by lighting the candle of HOPE.
This HOPE invites us to prepare our hearts and wait expectantly for the coming of Christ Jesus.
This HOPE invites us to worship the Christ of CHRISTmas.
This HOPE makes every day an advent, the waiting for him, the inviting in to our heart and life … again… and waiting for his coming … again.
This HOPE shows us our God who came not to be served, but to serve, offering abundant life to all who say ‘yes’.
This HOPE gives us confidence to know we are very precious to him – loved so very much by him.
This HOPE shows us God and his Son Jesus, who came to show us that love so great, nothing can separate us from the love. When we feel pressed and despairing by the darkness around, looking to him gives courage and strength because we learn he shares our experience, walks with us, walks before us, walks behind us.
This HOPE calls us to be faith full knowing this hope does not disappoint us because,
out of his great love, he sent the Holy Spirit to help us.
This HOPE invites accepting! Know this Love that Came Down offering himself to each of us.
This HOPE says “Come!” Know our Lord Jesus, who is fully God and fully human. God showed his true greatness by sending his own Son
into the mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right – redeem, rescue, ransom.
May this HOPE illuminate your life and be cause for and source of much Advent anticipation!
Judy Dodds
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by Judy Dodds
My first memory of loving letters was as a fourth grade student in Houston, Texas – my first experience with my mothers dip pen and Speedball nib on a science project. My intentional study began in 1980 when I attended a Colleagues of Calligraphy meeting in St. Paul, MN and realized others also had the love of letters, letterforms, words and design. I began my full-time Penscriptions calligraphy studio in 1984. I have studied extensively, attended national conferences, taught and served in my local guild, Colleagues of Calligraphy. So,for years, I have made lots of letters with dip pens, worked with a variety of texts or quotes and blended, brushed and dabbed colors around on watercolor papers. I also love to play with our grandchildren, spend time with our family and friends, travel, hike, cook, be active in church and Bible study. I am learning every day. That includes discovering that computers, pictures, links, clicks, and blogging are lots of fun. to read more, go to http://pens.zenfolio.com/ and http://pens.zenfolio.com/welcome and http://pens.zenfolio.com/artist-statement and http://pens.zenfolio.com/resume.