Just Ask!

I have found myself doing a lot of asking lately. Asking for help, asking to switch dates, asking for donations and asking if someone would like to join me somehow. And I've discovered a few things: It's not that hard to ask. People genuinely like to help and give. It's not up to me to provide the answer, just to ask the question. And, it's contagious.

Here are just a few "asks":

I asked people to help me with many aspects of the Jingle Bell Blitz. They all pitched in.

Using Facebook, I invited many Facebook friends to come to the Jingle Bell Blitz. They in turn invited their friends until there were 175 invites.

I watched volunteers ask if shoppers wanted to shop for the Food Pantry. They grabbed a bag and filled it with food.

I was invited to join a friend and her mother to an art show. I accepted and then asked them to coffee.

Together with a friend, I invited another friend out for her birthday. We had a great time together.

I have been invited to many Christmas events, and I also have extended invitations to others. What a wonderful time of year to "ask"! I hope we all continue to look for opportunities to ask and invite in the new year too.

One Plus One...They are Growing!

What else does one do at 4:25 in the morning, but blog? I am obviously not sleeping and have found something to do that wont disturb my whole family. Someone has to be first so, why not me. I am going to make an attempt to remember as many invitations as I can that I have extended or received since the inception of our theme for WAVE this coming year. At this point I am not going to force the notion of listing them chronologically. Just remembering them will be a feet in itself. The invitation was extended to the women of Valley View to consider collecting their pennies to represent their invitations and place them in our jar. These will then be counted and added to our Alliance Women's global project in May. Each month our leadership team has been sharing their stories and adding their pennies diligently. An invitation was given to family and friends to serve at our community dinner. Over twenty accepted and since then two clients of our community dinner are now serving on a regular basis. That is so cool. I accepted a lunch invitation to reconnect with a young woman who is now a high school senior that I took care of for two years when she was just the precious age of two. What a beautiful princess she is, and she has such an amazing story for such a young thing. We extended an invitation to two couples to join us for American Thanksgiving. One couple was able to join us and it has been really special to connect with them since then. Three invitations were personally given to friends in our community to join us for our JBB. I personally handed out about 100 invitations to community shoppers to join us for the JBB. The invitation was given to fourteen of our youth to serve at the JBB and each one accepted. For three weeks I have been inviting others to purchase products that will help support the costs of our community free breakfast as a way of saying thank you for helping us fill the Newmarket Food pantry in one day! I have accepted an invitaion to join a group of women who have a desire to change the life of another one project at a time. Most recently four invitatoins have been personally given to friends to join us on Christmas Eve for the production of Uncle Phil's Christmas Diner. Well, hope this has inspired you to not only blog your invitations, but to keep extending and accepting invitations with a desire to see one ife changed, one inviation at a time. Who know's, maybe that life changed will be yours! Don't forget to collect and add your pennies to our jar...they are growing one penny at a time!

Craving the word of the lord

My life has become busy with day to day comings and goings. I have been praying and attending my small group but I realized that I have not been reading my bible. Not that I am very good about being faithful and reading my bible daily but I normally don't let so much time pass that I can't remember the last time I read my bible.

Well today on my way to work I started to crave reading Ephesians this was such a new and wonderful feeling for me. I am a huge reader so craving reading a book is not new but I have never craved the lords word before. So I came home tonight and picked up my bible to Ephesians and I felt like I was home being comforted by my family. I am so excited about this growth that I feel happening inside of me that even as I haven't been reading my bible I was still talking and praying to God.

I have always felt that praying and talking to God are two different things. Praying is like a child asking permission for something or confessing something. Talking is like a child telling about their day or just chatting about nothing really important just stuff.

I find myself talking to the lord about what I should make for supper, how am I ever going to tackle all the items on my to do list or just telling him about the latest book I read. I am so glad to have reached this stage in my christian walk.

Friendly Moose

My dad is a hunter and this year him and his neighbours have decided to hunt deer. Of course they have seen no deer so far but yesterday a female moose decided to take up the watch with them. They couldn't believe how close she was and she talked away to them and kept them company.

I reminded my dad that obviously the moose is very smart and knows that none of them can shoot her and that since the deer were not cooperating she should keep them company.

I have known my dad's neighbours for years and as he was telling me this story last night I felt like I was there in the bush with them looking and talking to this moose. You see my dad is an amazing story teller. He was so excited about his experience that he had to call me last night to share this amazing experience.

I am so blessed that my dad and I are so close that we call each other for these little things that I am sure seem silly to other people. So yesterday was a perfect day an awesome story from my dad and then an awesome date with my hubby.

More Precious Than Pearls....

Ever lost anything precious? Suddenly your whole being becomes consumed with trying to find this item. You search every nook & cranny of your house, your purse, your yard, who knows where!
Well, recently I did have the misfortune of losing something that held considerable significance to me, & not only was my mind consumed with trying to find this item, some of my friends were on the lookout as well.
You see, it was the pearl from my ring, a gift from my husband on the occasion of our 30th wedding anniversary. My mind raced back to that special day that he gave it to me, and it was so important to me.
Even though the area that I felt I had lost it had been searched as if with a fine tooth comb, I decided to take a walk outside early one morning, with the hope that it would suddenly, divinely appear! As I made my way up the hill with my head down, searching the trail, silently praying, a picture started to unfold. This picture was that of God's love for me. While looking at the picture, I could hear God reminding me that this pearl ring was just an earthly possession, " but you my child are far more precious to me than pearls. I created you in my image; I paid a big price for you; YOU are Mine!!"
That pearl is resting out there, somewhere, in God's beautiful creation, & even though I regret losing it, something memorable happened that morning. God used that moment to speak into my life, reminding me how valued I am to Him.

Thanksgiving

Ah, sweet summer we must say goodbye,
as winds blow cooler and fall arrives,
It's a time to give thanks for how we've been blessed,
For family and friends and the roof on our nest.

Each year we host a Thanksgiving meal,
There's a turkey to roast and potatoes to peel,
It's a grand celebration that loads of fun,
We play games, sing songs, and eat a ton!

Still Waters

I was enjoying a quiet morning at a friend’s trailer on a beautiful lake. I was not up before the sun, but I was up before the effect of the sun hit the area. Everything was still. The only sound was the long slow call of a few lonely birds. The surface of the lake was smooth as glass; so calm it felt intrusive to swim. My wake would surely interrupt the majesty of nature so serenely and perfectly reflecting itself to the sky. But I walked in, and as the coolness reached my breast, my arms began to play across the glassy surface like a bow on a violin. And the water responded to each wave of movement with a song! I had never noticed in the noise of the day what pristine notes ring out from the stirring of such deeply quiet water.

A little later I was sitting on the beach when all at once, like a switch being turned on, the trees woke up and started rustling in the breeze. The sun was heating up the air and everything was starting to move. As I watched, tiny ripples started racing back and forth across the surface of the water crashing in to one another in a mad dash that would not end until they fell again upon another shore. It was like that for the rest of the day. The birds started singing and foraging, the bugs came out to play and so did the humans. There was no more calmness, no reflection and no music. But I was permanently cheered by the thought that early next morn there would be another quiet sanctuary - whether I was around to enjoy it or not.

I thought that our lives are very much like that. Some mornings, especially if I've had a quiet time with the Lord, I am just like those still waters. Ready to make music for Him. And then the day gets moving and I find myself in the middle of a mad rush. But I have been working on the process of reminding myself, when I get lost in the busyness: closing my eyes and finding my way back to those precious still waters with Him.

Always an answer to prayer

A little over three years ago the lord directed me to get my license I argued with him and struggled with this for some time since I did not want my license nor did I need one in my opinon.

Once I finally got my license I continued to question why do I need this thing I did not like driving and we could not afford a second vehicle so I rarely got to drive. Well my husband just got a brand new job in Toronto so he takes transit and I drive. Had I not had my license this new job would not have been possible due to one of us has to be able to pick up our youngest from daycare. So it took almost three years but I finally got my answer and now I am loving driving and can't imagine how I survived without it.

A Eureka Moment

I have been having some personal struggles lately and for some reason did not see the need to pray about these issues or ask the lord for guidance.

This weekend the light bulb just went on that I need the lords guidance for this issue and when I am ready to listen and follow the lord the answers I have been seeking will come to me.

So I took the time to quiet my mind and heart today and the answer came to me that I am borrowing trouble and I should just be thankful for what I have. The things I have are an awesome family and amazing friends. The lord also pointed out that I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this time in my life. It was so refreshing and heart lifting to hear these words that my whole outlook changed in that one moment.

It always suprises me at how happy and content I am when my walk with the Lord is exactly where it should be. I am hoping that one of these days I will not have to learn these lessons the hard way

My Burden is Light

I was struck this morning by the image of what a laborer in the harvest field does. It's not really much of the job you know. God does all the work of taking the seed that was planted and making it into a blade of grass. Taking that blade of grass and causing it to develop into a head of wheat. Then taking that head of wheat and developing it into mature grain. We just have to watch for the time to bring it in.

Leaning on God for Small Things

I find that leaning on God or praying to him during the big things is easy. I have been learning lately that he is just as interested in the small things in my life. I have felt such a closeness because of this lesson being taught to me by God.

One example that comes quickly to mind is that we are teaching our youngest to go to bed by himself. I didn't want to leave this in the lord's hands since it is such a small thing. Last night as I listened to my little one tell me how he didn't like this new rule I quickly prayed for the lords guidance, the lord quickly told me to leave it in his hands. I left my little one's room and he stayed in there all night and all I could here was him singing sunday school songs.

Kids and Stress

I am not referring to the stress kids create for us as parents, but rather kids dealing with stress.
Recently my adult child was in somewhat of an emotional meltdown while working through many crunch hours while furiously trying to finish some heavy English assignments. We were out of town, but was contacted by cell phone at the heat of this particular melt down. I could feel their stress quickly being transferred into my own body as the voice on the other end was quite animated with panic, exhaustion and mass confusion. Then, the quilt. I began to feel quilty for abandoning them in such hours of great need. Once the ranting on the other end came to an abrupt silence, I took a deep breath, began to speak as calmly as possible with words of reassurance and what I hoped would be very helpful advice. They agreed to follow through with the advice and then continue to persevere and push on through. We shared words of affectiona and affirmation and said your goodbyes. I couldn't shake the quilt and began to question if we should pack up and head home to show parental support during the next 24 crunch hours. Then, I took the time to specifically pray certain things for and over them. I gave them and their entire situation to the Lord asking that this too would become an opportunity for me to give testimony of His amazing love for my child. I now felt at peace at remaining put and letting God do what He needed to do to help my child see how much He cared. About an hour later Ireceived a second call. This time the same voice was now much calmer and composed as an apology was given for the great drama that exploded over the phone an hour earlier. Forgiveness was quickly granted, but even more importantly the testimony of amazing answers to very specific prayers that I had lifted up to our Heavenly Father on their behalf. It was absolutely thrilling to share with my child just how much the Lord wants to be apart of their life, especially during their greatest moments of stress and anxiety. He truly is the greatest destressor I know!

God is always reminding us of his love

Last week sometime I got to thinking about my birth. I wanted to know how much I weighed and what time I was born. I knew I weighed 6 something....anyways it was just on my heart as I talked to God. Both my mom and dad have died, so I thought I guess I'll never know. I mean it doesn't really matter. So there I left it with God.

A couple of days ago, my son asked me for graph paper. I looked all over upstairs but couldn't find any. That lead me to the file cabinet in the basement. I thought I had a paper file in there. As I was flipping through the files, I came across my baby book. I picked it up, thinking about and wondering if my weight may be in there. It was mostly a catalog/magazine with the first page being a certificate type form. It told the time...but no weight. (I'm sure I've looked at this a long time ago) For some reason, I decided to flip it to the middle....to my surprise there was another form filled out....it actually had my birthweight...6lb 11oz. I praised and thanked God immediately....It was like he was saying "I love you"....He knows the desires of our hearts and longs to continually show his love for us. I still have tears of joy when I think on that moment.

Silver lining in every cloud

Today was one of the most up and down days emotionally that I have had in a long time. On top of that I am way past tired and no reserves to handle the curves that life throws at you.

First I get to work and my boss had a major meltdown directed at me. This was so bad that I was ready to quit but all day I could hear the lord reminding me that this is where I am supposed to be and the he never gives us more then we can handle. Even though I spent a good part of the day arguing this point with God I now realize that he has a purpose for me being in this current job.

Second I find out that one of my good friends nephew drowned over the weekend and again the lord reminded me that I can handle this.

Third my husband was stranded at the gas station tonight so as I was getting ready to call a cab one of the lovely WAVE Ladies offered me a ride to help him out. She was my silver lining. Thank you so much.

This little act made me realize that when our focus is on God and not on our troubles then life is survivable. I am reminded of a saying I grew up with lay your burdens at the lords feet and rest until someone needs you to help them.

WAVE International Gala

The Power of a Passport

Join us on Monday, April 26, 2010, 6:45 - 9:00 pm at Valley View Alliance Church for an evening filled with sights, sounds and tastes from around the world

• Explore and shop in the Market Square
• Be entertained at the World Culture Stage
• Enjoy dessert and coffee in the International Cafe
• Be inspired by the personal journeys of our Guest Speakers

Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Proceeds from the ticket sales and the Market Square will go to "Second Chances" in Quito, Ecuador.

Does Anyone Memorize Scripture?

This winter I had the opportunity to attend a quizzing competition at Bayview Glen church in Toronto. Groups of youth from across Ontario were particpating in a contest to see who had done the best job of memorizing an entire book of the bible. I was amazed with the discipline it must have taken for them to learn what they knew. I was amazed with the mental gymnastics they seemed to go through to recall what had been enscribed in their brains. But most of all I was amazed with the impact I knew it would have throughout their lives because they could not possibly have meditated on the scriptures that long without taking some of their meaning to heart. I immediately tried to recall a portion of scripture that I had memorized about 20 years ago when I first became a Christian and I was completely surprised to find that I still remembered most of it! I've started working on it again and I find it to be a very engaging way to meditate on God's Word when I have a quiet moment throughout the day. I was just wondering if anyone else has memorized scripture or if anyone else would like to try it. Maybe we could quiz one another and have some fun while learning more from God's Word.

Chatting With God

Did anyone notice the beautiful sunshine this morning? It is March 2 and with it came magnificent blue sky and bright sunshine. I was travelling down the highway, radio tuned into praise songs, mind full of many different thoughts, when all of a sudden I clued into this phenomenon; sunshine! "Wow God...what a beautiful morning!" Clicking the radio off, I began just thanking Him for the gift of sunshine. Sometimes we forget how much 'sunshine' lifts our spirits. From there my conversation went to thanking God for different people that have been placed in my life, asking Him to meet their needs this day. "Bless them with sunshine in their lives today Lord." As the concerns of my day started to envelop my mind, I was reminded of various promises from God's word. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path".
My 25 minute journey, with the beautiful sunshine pouring in through the windshield, was a wonderful opportunity to just 'chat with God'. An opportunity to praise Him for the gift of a sunny day; give thanks for my wonderful friends & family; lay my anxieties at His feet; listen to God himself, reminding me of promises from His word.
Try just chatting with God.....let the Son shine in!

Share a verse

Just recently when I was on a holiday I was introduced to a couple who had lost their son...he committed suicide almost 2 years ago. This couple, particularly the mother is still distraught and suffering from all the unanswered questions. Why did he do it? Could we have done something to help him? There are so many questions and really so few answers even from their son's widow. The couple are christians and they have had loving support from their church family and friends, but still the questions remain and they may never be answered this side of heaven. As I listened to their story, I silently prayed and asked God to help me give them a verse, any verse. What could I possibly say? My heart just breaks for their grief. How many times have I searched for a verse that would give me answers? Instead of explaining why things happen the way they do, God gives us PEACE in our hearts. He gives us assurance of His love, His grace, His strength and His soverienty over every situation that comes our way. The verse that sprang to my mind was Zephaniah 3:17 which states: The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Sometimes our words just miss the target, but God's word always brings peace and comfort to our soul.

What Confidence We Have

I was visiting my mother in law and we went to her church. For some reason the worship there usually makes me cry. They were sining an old hymn that not many people would know. I know that because I asked around afterwards what the hymn might be and no one knew it. Thank God for hymnlyrics.org because I found it with just a phrase I remembered. The last bit really hit me. No matter what anyone else thinks about me, and no matter what I think about myself, I can know that as long as Jesus is in heaven standing up for me, no one can ever tell me that I do not belong.

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is writen on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

God is wonderful and amazing

I am always amazed when God answers prayer requests regardless of the answer. This month I have been continually amazed that God is fixing problems I hadn't even prayed about yet and some I didn't even now I needed the solution until God provided it.

I am trying very hard in 2010 to walk closer to God and learn to listen to him even when I don't like what I am hearing. What I have found so far has shocked me to my core.

I am even finding that I am witnessing better then before just in my everyday life. I was out with my son's girlfriend on the weekend and I had the chance to be nice to my neighbour that I don't like but chose instead to be rude. I immediatley apologized to God when I realized what I did. My son's girlfriend wanted to know who I was talking to. When I told her God she was shocked that I would have such an informal conversation with God.

It is amazing to me how easy it is to have these casual conversations when we let go and let God be in charge of our lives.

Torch Bearer

Recently we ran into an old aquaintence that we hadn't seen in some years at a very large function. He was extremely delighted to see us and spent the next few moments bringing us up to date on his children. His face just glowed with pride as he spoke of his 19 year old daughter. She is studying full time at university, has become quite committted to training and running in marathons, but most recently was baptized. His biggest delight was sharing how she had the opportunity to be one of the 2010 Olympic Torch runners/bearers in Toronto. To my great astonishement he shared with amazing memory and details of how, when they were still new to Canada and eagerly desiring to learn and master Canadian winter sport activities like skating, I had spent a great deal of time with their daughter then five, helping her skate. He remembered how much fun we were having together giggling, laughing, and falling because we were laughing so much. He then began to profusely thank me for the times I had spent building into her young life, truly believing that it was those few minutes spent each time encouraging and being a positive example to her that has helped to shape her into a radiant, sold out, passionate young Christian woman. I was extremely humbled by his words and affirmatoin to me. It was a moment of profound humility as I was reminded that being a true torch bearer very seldom if ever takes place in the lime light and very often requires just a very simple act of love.

Sharing with Friends

Ever have a day or a week where emotionally you just feel like you are in a slump and your motivation and energy are at a significantly low level? I was having one of those days today and when I was talking to a friend this morning I decided to open up and share where I was at. Well, my friend listened and then shared some encouraging words with me. And I was surprised at how much her words helped boost me up! She shared how she knew exactly how I felt. And that it would pass. And that if it didn’t pass she wanted to know. And that she wanted to do whatever I thought she could do to help. I KNEW all of those things were true before she said them but the act of SHARING with her and then receiving her kind words really improved my ‘blue’ state. I know we all go through those days, so I thought I’d share with you all because sometimes we just need a reminder that someone is there for us. And sometimes it’s just the ‘sharing’ that we are missing. Things turned around when I made the decision to open up and share. So be brave and share where you are at with someone today. You might be surprised with the blessing that comes from sharing.

What I learned from Joseph this week

Joseph and Jesus

When we examine the lives of Jesus and Joseph, we see many similarities and learn at many important lessons for our lives. The story of Joseph takes place in the Old Testament. This story foreshadows the story of Jesus and salvation in the New Testament.

Joseph was hated by his brothers. They were jealous of the love he received from their father. Jesus was hated as well, not by his brothers, but by the Pharisees and other religious leaders. They were jealous of the love and attention he was receiving by the people. These leaders were also worried about losing the power that they had attained.

Joseph was beaten and thrown into a pit, then sold into slavery, even though he was innocent. Jesus, too, was beaten, and put into prison and also was innocent. Joseph, again, although an honest man, was put into prison, after being wrongly accused by Potiphor’s wife. He never lost hope in his God, but continued to pray and worship, even in prison. Jesus, was nailed on the cross, with the crowd cheering. He, instead of condemning them and thinking badly of them, declares to God, “Forgive them Lord, for they do not know what they have done.” Similarly, Joseph, when confronted by his evil brothers, who hurt him deeply, forgave them and said it was all part of God’s Plan.

Can you imagine how Joseph’s brothers must have felt? All those years living with the burden of guilt of hurting Joseph and the pain that they unthinkingly caused their father pain was almost too much to bear at times. Then, being confronted with their sin, by coming face to face with Joseph, they probably felt great joy knowing that Joseph was not dead, but also great shame at realizing that Joseph knew their sin. Knowing that they really deserved to die, or be punished, and receiving totally undeserved forgiveness and mercy from their brother must have been overwhelming. Wow. That is exactly how we feel when we come to the realization that we deserve to be punished because of our sin against God, yet, instead of death, Jesus, even after being put to death by man, forgives us and embraces us as his brother and God’s child. It is so overwhelming.

So in conclusion, we see how God has used the story of Joseph, to help us understand the power of forgiveness and love that only comes from Himself.

Valley View 3rd Annual "Tournament of Hearts" Bonspiel and Artisan's Fair

Be sure to sign up to "Curl with your Cutie" at our 3rd annual curling bonspiel.

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm

Location: York Curling Club, 220 Muriel Street, Newmarket

Tickets: $25 each for curlers, $5 each for spectators.

Visit the WAVE table in the church foyer for more information about the event, or to sign up for the Chili and Apple Crisp cook-off. Those who are especially gifted in the creative arts should speak to Denise Voth about setting up a table to display your work at the Artisan's Fair. Ten percent from all artisan sales and $5 from each curling/spectator ticket will go to support the Caspian Academy Library. Hurry Hard!

When we listen God answers

When my Uncle passed away on boxing day the lord answered my question about how I would be able to be with my dad during this time. My uncle lives almost 30 hours away and my dad is four hours away from me. When we found out that my uncle was ill and probably wouldn't see the spring my dad and I decided that I would not go with him due to the cost of taking a week off of work and flying to my uncles. The entire week of Christmas I kept praying to the lord to find a way for my dad to not be alone when the call came in about my uncle. Needless to say my dad was at my house when he got the call about his brother and I had the week between Christmas and New Year's already booked off work. So it worked out that I was able to go with my dad. Halfway to my uncles I realized that I was giving up my only week during the year that I get to have for myself but immediatley the lord answered this realization with that for family we make sacrifices. I have grown closer to my family and the lord since this happened.

Bitter Sweet

I had my eyes set on a picturesque herb and wildflower garden, with a comfy bench in the perfect shade spot where I could spend sometime meditating. Everything was mapped out, tools were gathered, starter plants and seeds all carefully selected. Three weeks previously my father in law had taken the rotatiller through and out of a labour of love had prepared this wild chosen plot ready for planting. Sleeves rolled up, I began to do the last minute grooming. I began to pull out what I thought were some quick growing, easy to pluck weeds. To my dismay within minutes I was up to my armpits deep underground trying to find the root ends of this hidden mass of entangled roots. It wasn't long before I realized that some previous hidden horseradish had managed to take over the entire plot with most of the ambush not visible to the casual onlooker. As my determination to rid my precious garden of this ruthless invader began to whane after an hour of blood, sweat and some tears, I took a few minutes to reagin some compsure and to capture a second breath. I lay back on the sunbaked earth, took in a couple of deep breaths and exhaled some major frustrations. It was in that moment that the epiphany struck. God had more than one reason to instruct his children to use horseradish as a bitter memory for Passover. Some roots of this destable plant were burried more than three feet underground, but the original source was no bigger than a small pea. Something so minute left unattended was threatening the life of everything else around it. What a powerful visual picture of the reality of how the tiniest resentment left unattended within my soul can silently choke out the light, life and spirit of Christ within me. It has become a sweet reminder that is now rooted and planted deep within my soul. pjsister

WAVE of Prayer Email Address

Please send short prayer requests to waveofprayer@rogers.com and you will receive a 'wave' of prayer in response from one of our 5 person prayer teams.

Dinner with God

My latest God Moment took place yesterday. I was helping out with the Community Dinner program. In the midst of the busyness I felt compelled to stand back and just watch. It was almost as if I wasn't there but watching a movie. There were the volunteers of all ages each doing their task, talking and laughing together. I felt as if God was saying This is what the Body of Christ looks like. Each person was doing their job in harmony. Each task was important. The dish washers were as important as the meat slicers, each job dependent on the other person doing their job. It was like watching a symphony As I watched my mind reflected on Christmas and the gift of Jesus. Each advent week we celebrated a facet of Christ and what his birth brought. Hope, Joy, Peace and Love. As I watched the preparations and the intermingling with the guests I saw Hope, Joy, Peace and Love, Yes God I said , this is what the Body looks like. Thank you for allowing me the gift of seeing it.