Coen is writing the last words of his sermon for tonight. I finished my spread inspired by the Christmas Carol and
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Christmas needs planning. Cleaning, decorating, inviting people, or checking train-tables and shopping for presents and food. I overheard in our largest supermarket, Albert Heyn, that in the past two weeks people already have bought the things that your can put in the freezer and that stay fresh in a can or a box. On Monday the suppliers of the ( Read more... )

Since we are made in the image of God, we should be able to meet God in the people around us. This is the subject of today’s prayer. “Lord of life, help us to see your face in the people we live with, and the distressing disguise of the poor.” The question for my card was: "How can I see the face of God in the people I live with and in the ( Read more... )

I was thinking today -decorating the Christmas tree and caring for the Advent candles- that expecting Christmas is much more enjoyable than the actual days of Christmas. But probably these days did not mean anything to me, if I did not prepare for them. The prayer of today is about expecting.

The prayer is: “Make straight the crooked paths in our ( Read more... )

Today I have pulled a card inspired by a prayer for Advent. Jesus tells often that holiness is all around us, everyday. Although it is lovely to go to sacred places; the sacred is intertwined in all of our life.

The prayer is: "Lord, help me to look close at hand for your revelation."

The card I pulled as a response to this prayer is Four of Wands ( Read more... )

Stories were the subject of yesterdays’ prayer and since it is now after 12 o'clock, it was the subject of the day before yesterday. I started with an entry yesterday eveing, but stopped right in the middle of it, because I was too tired. Again I am tired, but I do not want to miss out on it.

As I said, stories were the subject of yesterday. When ( Read more... )

Today I have another question about “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Nicolas Poussin. Why would there be shepherds in the surroundings of Jesus? One view is that Jesus cares about them because of their status as outcasts. Another view is that Jesus is a shepherd himself; the shepherds being present in the stable right after his birth, sent by ( Read more... )

This painting by Poussin is called “Adoration of the Shepherds”.


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Advent is a period of expectation, we expect the arrival of Christ. This expectation of Advent does not mean waiting, but actively preparing for the coming of the Messiah. It is meant to make us active in changing our lives for the better.

One of the central characters of Advent, who shows this kind of expectation is John the Baptist. He announces ( Read more... )

The prayer of the day is inspired by Luke 10:21-24 in which Jesus thanks God for giving his revelations to children and hid them for the wise and understanding. Scripture is as always surprising. Most of my time, and possibly a great deal of the time of my readers as well, is spent on serious things. Would it not be wonderful to have more laughter ( Read more... )