Advent Martyrs and the persecuted

Advent is a time to refocus, to anticipate more than just presents, but the opportunity to better know the Babe who offers so much with such perfect simplicity. As a family we will begin this journey solemnly, remembering those who have given everything for their unyielding love of Christ just as He gave everything out of His unwavering love for us.

"A prison cell in which one waits, hopes...and is completely dependant upon the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer was an evangelist, a forward thinking Christian, a spy and member of the German resistance against the Nazi regime. He studied In Rome, Berlin and New York. He believed in a break from traditional religion which he called the "garment" of faith to a more personal relationship with Christ. That Heaven and Earth had been reconciled in the person or Christ and that revelation, through the Spirit, superseded religion. He was the sole voice for the church that was raised against the persecution of the Jew's stating that the church must not simply "bandage the victims under the wheel, but jam the spoke in the wheel itself."

Bonhoeffer was eventually arrested. He was imprisoned from April 6th 1943 - April 4th 1945. During that time he continued his work as an evangelist and secretly ministered to his fellow prisoners and guards as well as, through the favor his character and faith had garnered him, was able to send letters of Christian support and encouragement from the prison to those on the outside still fighting the good fight.

On April 8th he was condemned to death at Flossenburg concentration camp. He was executed on April 9th 1945, just 2 weeks before U.S. soldiers from the 90th and 97th Infantry divisions liberated the camp. His life is a testimony to the kind of life Christ desires for us all; one that is ever reaching towards Him, ever waiting on Him, ever ready to be with Him. When Bonhoeffer was taken for trial, directly after he preached his last Sunday service at the camp he was heard to say "This is the end — for me the beginning of life."

On our Advent journey, let us remember that this Gospel, this Truth, this Christ which we serve in faith, for some have died, and in so dying have claimed their gift of eternal life. Tonight we honor their completed race, their life, their faith as we look with anticipation towards the glorious future that God has planned for us through the opening of the prison doors of death and the grave and the freedom of our souls to dwell eternally with Him.

"A prison cell in which one waits, hopes...and is completely dependant upon the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Not to anticipate is already to moan" Leonardo DiVinci

In the Spirit by which Bonhoeffer submitted his life, let us become compassionately involved in the lives of those who still suffer religious persecution as the Jews of his time. Torture, imprisonment and death are still common in many places. Even if you cannot do everything, everyone can do something.

People may excite in themselves a glow of compassion, not by toasting their feet at the fire, and saying: “Lord, teach me compassion,” but by going and seeking an object that requires compassion. – Henry Ward Beecher

At the Voice of the Martyrs there are many ideas and opportunities for all of us to do SOMETHING to help those who still suffer for their faith. As we anticipate the coming Christ child lets participate in His ministry of great compassion.

http://www.persecution.com/

Advent snowflakes

The Awesomest thing about snowflakes is that no two are exactly alike. They all form independently. They are made of the same stuff, but they don't all come out the same way. It's like that with our Christianity. We all have the same faith in the same Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:4-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you^[a] all.

We all believe some basic truths, many of which are laid out in the Nicene creed.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

But even though we are all begun the same way when we enter into this new birth as a child of God, we don't always have the same understandings, the same passions, the same struggles. We are unique.

Our past experiences, our present circumstances and our future perceptions along with a whole gaggle of other peripherals become the clay with which the Spirit begins to form our lives. Who we are in Christ, who we are becoming, although one in the Spirit with all believers, is a unique and marvelous creation, precious to God, just as every tiny little snowflake has a wondrous beauty all it's own, crafted perfectly to flow and fit into this present time.

As Christians we all look forward to the celebration of our Saviors birth. Not just because we love Him and are glad He is alive, but also because we recognize how intimate a love His must be for His majesty to desire so greatly to dwell among us; His imperfect, unfaithful, often flawed humanity, that He would come, knowing what He would suffer at our hands. Oh what manner of love the Father has given unto us!

And now for some neeto-spedeeto snowflake ideas :)

Retro Ornaments

See larger photo

This is a fabulous idea! I love recycled ornaments, love interesting patterns and love that with a little spray glitter and pre planning this can be a perfect snowflake! :) If you paint the tubes ahead of time, inside and out then when they are all assembled use the glitter spray, wowzers! Very cool indeed :)

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These simple yet sophisticated decorations are made from cardboard tubes and pipe cleaners. Paint the outsides of the tubes before cutting them, if desired, or keep them unpainted for a natural look.

Materials

• Cardboard tubes
• Pipe cleaners
• Ruler
• Pencil

• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Thread or string

Instructions

1. For each ornament, flatten a 7 1/2-inch length of cardboard tube. Mark and cut it into 3/4-inch-wide rings; you'll need 10 for this project.
2. On each flattened ring, mark dots 3/4 inches in from each folded edge. With a hole punch, make holes at the dots.
3. Starting with the inner circle, string the rings onto a pipe cleaner. For the outer circle, twist two pipe cleaners together to make a double-long piece, then thread it through the outer holes in the cardboard rings. Twist the ends together and trim the excess. Hang with thread or string.

I like this one too :)

DLTK-Kids always has great simple stuff to do. One of the suggestions here was to use this craft for Christmas cards that can be used as gifts as well. Not a bad Idea. After the snowflake is done you could take a festive marker (a nice silver or gold one from the craft store) and write a short message right on the snowflake :)

http://dltk-holidays.com/winter/mstainedglass.htm