My Heart of the Matter

A Time For Peace

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On the second week of Advent we light a candle for peace. This is referred to the Bethlehem candle.
Traditions
Nothing brings more joy to my heart than Christmas traditions. Advent is a time of great reflection. We must look deep within our souls and ask the Lord to show us what we need to get rid of.  No time is better than now to purify our hearts to welcome our beautiful New Born King Jesus. Welcome Him and allow Him to guide you through this beautiful season of Advent.
Waiting
In our hearts is a tiny beat that waits on what we are hoping for. Hope is a time set aside for prayer because what we hope for has not yet come to fruition. It’s a mysterious holding pattern that draws us closer to the Lord. We trust in Him to always answer our prayers. Although God knows the desires of our hearts, they’re not always aligned to the plan He has for us. Why does God make us wait? That’s the $64,000 question, and to those who understand how the Lord operates, we go deeper into prayer. To the impatient it’s the  reverse; they take the matter into their own hands and then wonder what went wrong. We must have a clear understanding of patience to trust God while we are hoping.
We all know that patience is a virtue, but do we put it into practice? I am the first to admit that patience does not come naturally for me. I move to the beat of my own drum, especially when something that I’m hoping for is taking too long. At times my impatience has caused me pain. This pain is brought on by my going ahead of what I was waiting for. A clear example of this is getting too involved in the lives of others.
Wait For God’s Direction
When I heard that someone was not following God’s direction, I wrote her a letter. This was an old-fashioned letter that needed a stamp for postage. The snail mail can’t be erased, and I know that it will be read over and over again. Though I prayed about it, I knew as soon as I placed the letter in the mailbox a great conviction came over me.
The Lord taught me a lesson on patience and to wait before I react. Regardless of the mishap, the person on the receiving end disconnected with me spiritually. Now I pray that as the dust settles, in some way this will all blow over and soon be forgotten. My hope is, God willing, that we can re-establish our spiritual bond.
 1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
Hope
You can feel the invisible force of the wind, but you can’t touch it. Hope is like this wind.  Without faith you cannot have hope and love; they are the three cords that are bound together.
We have all experienced an illness or watched one of our loved ones going through a horrific bout with cancer. The hope in their hearts is to get well and resume a normal life. The oncologists hope for a cure to mitigate the spread of the disease. While the patients wait, their hearts are filled with hope. We come alongside them in prayer, hoping for the best and believing God for their miracle. Through their trials comes great growth because within themselves all they can do is rely on God.
Relying On God
When we have no place to go in our afflictions, we can either get angry with God or we can call out to Him. Social Media has evolved and many who are suffering with cancer are sharing their journey on their posts. We can get attached to their heartfelt pleas for help, but we can also come to the realization that some of these people will live while others will not. In my experience of following a few of these cancer patients, the ones who have a clear connection with God have peace. Those who have not established a relationship with the Lord have hope but lack faith. I pray for all who come across my feed. My prayer is for them to draw closer to the Lord and to trust Him for all their needs.
Peace
If you have peace you can endure any stormy trial. Peace will guide your troubled heart to a place of rest. Peace can only be obtained through surrendering all your burdens to the Lord. Trust Him to see you through the darkness.
Dear Lord, through all the discouragement of this crazy world, may we, Your children, have hope in the future. To all those who have lost a loved one, please know that they are now resting in His arms. May those who are battling illness or cancer place their trust in You for a complete healing.  Lord, touch the hearts of those confused women who are contemplating an abortion.
Dear Jesus, touch our hearts to welcome You not only during Advent but always. May this Bethlehem candle bring you the peace we all hope for. Amen.
The Unwelcome Baby
In My Mother’s womb I knew all along,
That it was to the world that I belong.
I kicked and I stretched until it was time for my birth.
Soon the world would know the true meaning of My worth.
But it was not to be.
Not then, and still not now.
Who do you worship,
And to Whom do you bow?
I ask this of many, but few will comply.
They tell Me to wait, and I ask why?
It started with Me, and it continues today.
Will you open your hearts and allow Me to stay?
© Lynda Ciriza
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My Heart of the Matter

The Little Town Of Bethlehem

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My Holy Land tree

This is the first week of Advent. This lit candle, typically purple to signify royalty and penitence, symbolizes Christ’s coming, reminding us that the hope of salvation is the birth of our Lord.

Bethlehem

When we travel to Israel we always make sure to visit Bethlehem. Visiting Bethlehem has changed since the early 2000’s, when the wall that separates the West Bank was erected.  Many tourists do not cross the border due to  security issues. Believe it or not, some tourists visit Bethlehem because of the graffiti artwork on the wall. There are plenty of political messages because this wall, which is still under construction, is over 400 miles long.  

The most profound graffiti messages are found in larger cities like Bethlehem. The Walled Off  Hotel is now a popular tourist site. Its popularity is due to its location in front of the graffiti artwork of Banksy, an artist and political activist who also happens to own the hotel.

The Wall

Depending upon who you ask, the wall is either a hindrance or a blessing. I know for a fact that it has hurt the economy of the Palestinians and separated families. To the Jews it has almost completely stopped the suicide bombings. It’s a paradoxical situation, yet still no peace.

 

Bethlehem wall graffiti

The Security

At the security checkpoint, if our tour guide is Jewish, he/she can only bring us to the border. A Christian Palestinian guide must take over the tour in a different bus. Before we cross the border, we must  have our passports in hand because several Israeli soldiers with really huge rifles get on the bus to make sure we are who we say we are.

The Israeli Army

There is no shortage of the visible Israeli soldiers; they are at almost every point. Most of them are in their early twenties. Men serve for three years and young women are required to serve their country for two years. You will not see any Israeli police or Israeli army personnel in Bethlehem (unless it’s a raid), and as many times as I have been there, I have never witnessed any Jewish authorities in this area.

 

  • The young and beautiful Israeli army

The Little Town

We visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, because the Church of the Nativity is the home of the “Original Nativity.” This church was built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is one the oldest functioning Christian churches in the world. It is by far one of the most interesting sites, and a must see while visiting the Holy Land.

As you pass through the small opening to the main church, even I have to crouch to enter into this passage. This doorway was made small in order to prevent large animals from entering the church.

The Passage

  • The Door to The Church of The Nativity

There is always a long wait to go down the narrow marble steps to reach the star where Jesus was born. Usually you encounter rude foreigners who push their way through to get there sooner. I sometimes fall into this category  because one of my biggest pet peeves is someone cutting ahead of the  line. I stand by this principle; the only exception I make occurs when a person cutting ahead suffers from unbearable body odor.

The Church Of The Nativity

As a pilgrim, I experience the Church of the Nativity not only as holy, but with great reverence. Though we are only permitted to stay and pray a short period, we cherish these few minutes.  If you are blessed, there is an area where you can sit and pray to the left of the Star, but it is rarely available. The last time I visited, I sat on the only bench and prayed until we were asked to leave. 

The Exodus

 In 1950, Bethlehem, along with the surrounding villages, was 86% Christian. Now the population across the West Bank, Christians represent less than 12%. (According to an article from the National Catholic Register December 19, 2016)

The only passage to the star where Jesus was born

 

Saint Francis

St. Francis of Assisi was the first to introduce the Nativity scene to the world.

St. Francis had a special devotion to the Child Jesus. He was  inspired after visiting the Holy Land  and seeing the humble stable, a Bethlehem cave. On Christmas Eve in the year 1223, with permission from Pope Honorius III, St. Francis set up a manger in the village of Grecio, Italy, with hay and two live  animals. There St. Francis preached about “the Babe of Bethlehem.” St. Francis was so overwhelmed with emotion that he could not say “Jesus.” So the first Nativity did not have Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, or wise men either, just an ox and an ass.

Olive wood Nativity from Jerusalem

My Nativities

I love all Nativities, and in our home they are everywhere. I have some from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Spain, Bethlehem, and, of course, Costco.

As we gaze upon the Nativity let us be mindful of Christmas, so that we can draw closer to the real gifts God has set aside for us. We all have special gifts because we serve a benevolent Father. This Christmas, ask Him for your special gift.

My Prayer

May this Advent fill our hearts with great joy and anticipation in welcoming You. Lord, You are the Master of us all, bring us good tidings and peace. Lord, comfort the broken hearted and fill their hearts with hope. Amen.  

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