Justice

Advent Day 11 - December 9, 2015 - Justice 

This picture represents what most of us think justice is about. We so often think that justice is about consoling our pain and making people pay for the things they've done. But Jesus had a different view. During Advent we submit ourselves to Christ. Advent teaches us to wait for his justice - a justice that is about redemption and reconciliation and making things right in His eyes. In Matthew, Jesus calls us to his Way - "you have heard that it was said, I for I am tooth for tooth. But I tell you do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your father in heaven." #justice  #Adventphoto #alivenowmag

Free

Advent Day 10 - December 8, 2015 - Free

"Free at last, Free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last." Martin Luther King, Jr. During Advent, we called to consider the freedom we were given through Christ. The Truth sets us free and the Truth came to dwell among us! ‪#‎Adventphoto‬ ‪#‎alivenowmag‬ ‪#‎free‬

Listen

Advent Day 9 - December 7 - Listen

#Adventphoto word of the day is "Listen." With ears like these you'd think he was a great listener. But reality is Scotties despite their beautiful large ears are Notorious for not listening. Why? Because ultimately listening isn't done with our ears. Truly listening involves our heart and our mind. We must be willing to hear.  Jesus said "he who has ears to hear let him hear." during Advent, we tune our ears, our hearts and our minds to the soundtrack of Emmanuel, God with us. #alivenowmag  #listen

Peace

Advent Day 8 - December 6 - Peace 

Today's word of the day is PEACE! The Psalmist tell us to turn from evil, to do good. He also says not just to seek peace but to pursue it. In the season of Advent, we await the Prince of Peace. May we not just passively sit; but may we instead, fervently run towards Him, pursuing and seeking His peace. Peace doesn't just happen. It requires our participation. This evening begins the holy days of Hanukkah, which remind us to stand for what is right, to shine a light into a dark world, to seek and pursuit peace through justice and action. #Peace #alivenowmag #Adventphoto

Wisdom

Advent Day 7 - December 5 - Wisdom

A friend gave me this framed art recently. During Advent we seek wisdom from above. We lean into God and trust that his wisdom is better than ours. This season reveals to us things that we cannot fully comprehend about our world, people and life. We must allow ourselves to dream and to imagine. It makes trust come that much easier. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17 #Adventphoto #alivenowmag #wisdom

Comfort

Advent Day 6 - December 4 - Comfort

#Adventphoto word of the day is "comfort." The season of Advent should leave us uncomfortable. It should stretch us to the furthest limits because it is there that growth is mandatory. Every day as followers of Christ we should seek to uncomfortable. Our Western world is so comfortable. We have even become comfortable with things like death, murder, money, greed; but nothing about the gift that was born and given 2000 years ago was comfortable...a long trip 10 months pregnant, a dark stable full of animals, a town that was not home, a feeding trough for a bed, unknown visitors...why do we think we should be comfortable? #alivenowmag #comfort

Open

Advent Day 5 - December 3 - Open

In Acts, Lydia, a seller of purple fabrics and a worshiper of God was listening; and the Lord opened her heart... I was watching a show the other day about what it took to make these purple fabrics. Lydia was a busy woman and had quite a disgusting job; but yet she listened and God opened her heart. Just as a rose opens its heart to reveal to the world it's beauty, Advent is a season where we, even in our busyness, slow down and listen, allowing the Lord to open our heart to the beauty of His Kingdom. #open #alivenowmag #adventphoto

Journey

Advent Day 4 - December 2 - Journey

Advent invites us to journey towards God. Enjoy the journey! "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21 #journey #alivenowmag #adventphoto

Wait

Advent Day 3 - December 1 - Wait 

One of the hardest things to learn in life is to wait. The Season of Advent beckons us to longingly wait the arrival of a gift. It opens our hearts to prayer and anticipation. Advent teaches us to wait with grace.#wait #adventphoto #alivenowmag