This weekend is 2nd Saturday. Bundle up and get some gift shopping done while saving.

2nd Sat Along the Avenue features a free Trolley Ride. And for 2nd Sat at The Workroom enjoy local art, live music and food trucks.

Tonight, enjoy Wichita Parks & Rec’s A Night with Santa from 6:30-8:30 at Century II. Visit with Santa, enjoy a cake walk, games, and even a chance to see a live reindeer. Admission is free but non-perishable foot item donations are encouraged for the Kansas Food Bank.

A Christmas Carol the Musical by Music Theatre for Young People will begin performances this weekend. See the show the 9th & 10th at 7:30 pm, and the 11th at 2:30 pm.

And indulge in healthy fare at Green Acres’ Holiday Extravaganza at West and Bradley Fair, both on Saturday the 10th from 11-2.

And tonight, December 8th, from 6-7, enjoy a Bike Walk Wichita Workshop at Whole Foods. Come learn how to maximize your off season workout times.

 

Library

The Friends of the Wichita Public Library Book Sale is on. All day today, December 8th, until 7 pm, and 10:30-5:00 tomorrow, the 9th, come shopping for the book lovers in your life.

See all upcoming library events here, including an iPhone and iPad workshop at Westlink.
Have a great weekend!

Full week, few pics

Celebrating new life

Celebrating free flowers

Glory

 

Your 7 Days?

Community – our family and friends – are so very important to us. But the other day I was thinking about a quiet Christmas hubs and I spent overseas. We later met up with teammates and shared the joy of The Day.

But the morning was quiet. I was still in the first trimester with our oldest and nothing tasted good. Dan videoed me making our Christmas pancakes. Our tree was maybe two feet tall, with only a scant amount of decorations we packed for our two-year time. I’m not even sure we exchanged gifts that year.

But it was oh so holy.

Even for two people who cherish community. And selecting and wrapping gifts. And laughing with those we love.

Because He came, The Day can be precious no matter how it is spent. I’m thinking of friends overseas, those recently relocated, those who have lost loved ones and are grieving this year.

The Day is precious. Through our grief and loneliness and waiting, It is precious because He is precious.

Much love to you and yours this Advent season.

He makes all things new.

“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.”

Nehemiah 1:1a

Well, here we are. Our two generations of exiles have committed to obedience and purity in worship by putting away their idols. In this case, marrying with those who do not worship Covenant Yahweh. The investigation is wrapped up in the year 457 B.C.

Now our narrative fast forwards 12 years to the words of a new leader: Nehemiah. Want to know what his name means?

“The LORD comforts.”

How we need His comfort. So much upheaval has gone on with our community of exiles. They are have been rebuilding Temple, coming upon much opposition. They have been encouraged through the words of Haggai and Zechariah. To return to their First Love with all their heart. To put God’s purposes of rebuilding His house above their own personal comfort. To trust His heart toward them in conflict, that He will be a Wall of Fire around them and the work will come not by force nor strength but by His Spirit.

They have been brought to an awareness of His heart behind the Law. How His people will be known as those whose kindness and mercy temper their mishpat: justice. They completed Temple and years later welcomed a second wave of exiles returning from Babylon, along with a new priest, Ezra. He was “firm in his will to seek God’s Law, to accomplish it, and to teach its boundaries, limits, and just verdicts to Israel.”

Not long after Ezra’s arrival, he is weeping in the Temple after learning of the people’s disobedience. Fresh from a long discipline of exile, God’s people immediately return to the sin that led them there. Ezra weeps and prays, thanking God for His unfailing, covenant love. His hesed.

Then he stands up and takes action. The grief has become communal and, as an act of unifying and purifying a set-apart people, Ezra has the offenders separate themselves from their foreign wives.

Yes, this is a group that could use a leader whose name means “The LORD comforts.”

And so are we. In a time when holiness and honor and hesed are not lifted high, we who represent the Most High will face much opposition. The need for us to return to our First Love and His ways is desperate.

We cannot wonder if we should love our enemies, serve our neighbor, humbly fight for mishpat or die to ourselves. We must.

We cannot wonder if favoring our comfort or political party or opinions is of ultimate importance. We must lay down our lives for His kingdom.

We cannot worry about how to defend ourselves in conflict or seek revenge or fret over issues that take our eyes off Him. We must daily remember the battle is spiritual and our fight is ultimately against powers and principalities. And can only be won by His Spirit.

We cannot wonder if our desire for mishpat should be tempered with His hesed. It must, otherwise we’re a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

And we cannot go anywhere, move forward with Him and each other, still clinging to our idols. What cannot save and does not satisfy.

Any pair of eyes who would read this would be guilty at some level of the above. I know I am. In the last 24 hours.

We can never measure up on our own. We were never supposed to. But together, as His Body represented in each local church He calls us to, we can move forward in His strength.

And His covenant loyalty as Prince of Peace is our comfort.

Happy December!

A new Stay Strong, Stay Healthy class is beginning with the Sedgwick County Extension Office. This exercise class geared at ages 60+ meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in January and February.

See Daymond John (of Shark Tank fame) at Watermark from 4-5 this evening for a signing of his book The Power of Broke. 

And purchase your ticket to see Young Adult author Kate DiCamillo Friday the 2nd at 6 pm.

Then on Sunday the 4th, don’t miss the Local Literary Festival at Watermark.

Friends of the Wichita Art Museum are holding their Holiday Open House on Sunday the 4th from 2-4. This free event includes a visit from Santa and musical performances.

The YMCA is hosting a free Healthy Cooking course Thursdays in December from 2-4.

Join the Great Plains Nature Center for Bringing in the Greens this Friday the 2nd from 6-8 pm. Enjoy a live owl program, cookie decorating and caroling.

Saturday’s Caffeinated Lab Class at Reverie will educate us on Water Quality in brewing. Grab your ticket here.

City Arts‘ annual Gifts in the Gallery will be opening tomorrow, December 2nd. Great way to shop local and support artists in the area.

And check out all the Upcoming Events at the Library here.

 

Happy Weekend!

Neighbor pups delighted this Thanksgiving

Cousin time beating The Claw

A little mall walking

A little mall stopping

Cousins too

Minions as well

Inviting in the Season

Glory

 

Your 7 Days?

I have heard and read plenty on the pull toward Advent this year. And how division and disillusionment in politics and government has people even more open to the Kingdom.

This is bittersweet.

We long for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done here on earth. We also know that is a limited desire until He makes all things new.

Still we do our part. We roll up our sleeves and get on our knees – both – to join Him in advancement. We do this because He came. Right into our division and disillusionment. And He’s still showing up in those very places.

Both my personal verses this morning and the ones I read with our boys referenced His words abiding. Remaining in Him, eyes locked on heaven, Words of Life in our minds and hearts and on our tongues yielding powerful prayers. Prayers that are guaranteed to move Heaven. Not because we can somehow manipulate Him to action, but because they are His very will. We are agreeing with Him, changing to be more like Him.

We know God longs for peace and dignity and joy and truth and justice and redemption and life to prevail. Let’s pray those things and live those things. Let’s celebrate and wait. Work and pray. Long and act.

Because He came once and He’s coming again.

These are the priests who had married pagan wives:

From the family of Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. They vowed to divorce their wives, and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt offering…

 These are the Levites who were guilty: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

This is the singer who was guilty: Eliashib.

These are the gatekeepers who were guilty: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

These are the other people of Israel who were guilty…

Each of these men had a pagan wife, and some even had children by these wives.

Ezra 10:18-19, 23-25, 44 NLT

We are at the end of Ezra. Of course, the original book in the Septuagint had Ezra and Nehemiah as one book. Our priest will still make his appearance in the next chapter for the exiles.

But there’s still something about ending this part of Ezra’s reform. And I’m not a fan of how each of the 110 men who were disobedient and married foreign wives are listed.

 

But we all could be, huh?

Every person’s name could be listed here. Starting with the leaders as Ezra did; those who have the most for which to be accountable.

 

This is the CEO who is guilty. These are the board members and managers and chair persons who are guilty. These are the national leaders, the local governing bodies, the parents, the pastors, the business owners, the principals.

 

And these are the other people who were guilty…

 

 

All of us. We are all guilty before a mighty and majestic and holy God.

Oh, but Advent is coming.

 

When we celebrate how God came down as a teeny Baby to live it all perfectly and then die instead of us. To write His Name over ours for all eternity.

 

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

 

To declare us not guilty.

 

Oh come let us adore Him.

Final Friday fun is on tomorrow night. Join in the monthly Art Crawl.

The Workroom will be featuring local art under $100 in time for your Christmas shopping.

November 26th is national Small Business Saturday. Support the little guys.

Join in the Small Biz Celebration at Watermark. Pictures, 10% off in cafe, and other great offers.

Love of Character has some fun deals going on for Small Business Saturday. College Hill shop for your paper goods and party supply needs.

Reverie is joining the fun too. Enjoy 40% off selected t-shirts and coffee bean discounts on Saturday.

You won’t want to miss the Christmas Concert benefiting Youth Horizons. Wonderful organization to support and exceptional performance on Monday night.

And Giving Tuesday is gaining more momentum every year. This is a global social media-driven collaboration highlighting different non-profits and charities in which to give lavishly at year end. Start at their website and keep your eyes open for different needs on Facebook and Twitter.

You will want to catch A Christmas Carol at Central Community Church beginning next weekend.

 

Wichita Art Museum is hosting Winter Art Mania again this year. Bring your family for free admission the 25th and 26th for art making activities and more.

Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides are on at Bradley Fair. Enjoy every Friday and Saturday night until Christmas.

 

Library:

The final NaNoWriMo event is this Tuesday, November 29th at Westlink. And if you’ve kept up the challenge: Congrats. That is no small thing.

See all upcoming events here.

 

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving and wonderful weekend!

Steak Salad – oh my

Fall beauty

Morning

Thanksgiving Concert (so great)

Brothers

Old School Barber Chair

Skipping rocks

Camping joy

Fire basics

Evening light

Layers

Interesting

Good rock

Aflame alone

The Cabin

 

Making breakfast

Hiking

Too much

Took my breath away

Glory

 

Your 7 Days?