- 22
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 22, 2023
The Twentieth Day of Advent
Today, I did not wait until the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath, to step back in time, thinking, just thinking. The everyday matters which distract us, with finances, health, family issues, are always with us. And this occurs no matter who you are, even if you happen to be a man and a woman, following guidance from dreams and angels, even if you happen to be the doorway to Earth for Immanuel. So, I thought about that and remembered due to a governmental decree Joseph had to travel to the town of Bethlehem to register for a census when Mary’s time was near. Even when you are doing, as you are led, the things of the world continue. Wow! How could this be that the sacredness of their time of waiting was interrupted by the world of man? I have experienced times, especially when Michael and I were fully in the ministry of The Quiet Place, that the world would hand us a bill just when funds were low. Some of you have probably experienced something similar. The wonder of it all, the miracle of it all, is that you will have what you need to comply with the laws of the world, just because you have said “yes,” to The Ways of God.
On this twentieth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 2:1-5.
The Reading
December 22, 2023
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” Luke 2:1-5
- 22
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inDaily Message
There is a place to go when you are grieving for what might have been, grieving for that which was. That place is within. And once you make the sacred journey, traversing the corridors of your inner being, you will smile, without thinking, because you have found what you have been seeking. Do not hold the fabric of the material world so precious that you forget the eternal treasure, within.
And The Holy Spirit says:
You are first, spirit, taking on a robe of flesh, for a while. Your human being state is temporary. To elevate your earthly journey, see it as such. Your spirit has a mission, upon Earth. Use your physical body, and other material aspects of your present to aid your spirit as you make the earthly journey. See yourself as spirit, first, and the way you see everything, upon Earth, will alter, change, as you will see it as one, come from God, sacred in its form, sacred in its being.
- 21
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 21, 2023
The Nineteenth Day of Advent
Today was pretty much scattered with varying things to do. It was the last day of school, and an excited grandson expected household participation in the production, so we were up early and ready to attend. It was also a busy day for others with business meetings filling schedules, while the day-to-day routine, even in its repetitious nature, felt overcrowded. Finally, as darkness settled in, I closed the door to my little apartment and prepared to light the candles on the Advent wreath. There it was, that precious robe of peace. I did not have to lift an arm to slip it on. I was embraced with calm and peace before the second candle was even lit. I sat in candlelight, whispering the prayers, softly singing the songs. This simple act was the entrance to another thought of times long, long ago, to a man, we have come to know as Joseph. He was a carpenter, a worker. There must have been many days when he entered his home weary, seeking peace. We do not seem to spend much time talking about Joseph, even at this time of year, yet he did so much. And, just as Mary, and Elizabeth, he listened to the words of angels. He pushed aside the worries, about what others might think, to follow the calling of God. His was not a small decision, yet he followed the words of an angel to him in a dream and rose up to stand beside Mary. What a journey we are having. What a miraculous way to spend the last days of Advent, together, recalling the faith of a man named Joseph.
On this nineteenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Matthew 1:18-24.
The Reading
December 21, 2023
“18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Matthew 1:18-24
- 21
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inDaily Message
Do not let the ways of the world harden your heart. Saying this, I know it can be difficult to do, to stay calm when the world seems to be falling apart all around you. Yet, it is exactly what to do as you make your way along the path. The instant you surrender, and give way to feelings of anger, frustration, or retaliation, you will feel the mantle slip over you and come to weigh upon your shoulders. When this happens, rip the garment of dissention from you. Cast it from you, as if it were a serpent set on overpowering you. Just because the many scream, with anger and frustration, it is not incumbent upon you to follow suit. Be the stillness in the storm. Be the whisper in the din. Be the peace which dwells within. And My hand will move the obstacles, and you will know The Way. You will be the candle glowing in the night. You will be the sun which lights the day.
And The Holy Spirit says:
When all around you has turned to the ways of turmoil and destruction, be calm, within the howling. Be the light remaining warm. Be still. Be quiet. Be at peace.
- 20
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 20, 2023
The Eighteenth Day of Advent
As we draw nearer to the date we celebrate as Christmas, my body wants to be even more quiet, still. It seems, these days, my thoughts begin to travel back in time, with more frequency, with the passing of the days. Each of us, so often, seeks answers from family and friends, when we should first seek counsel from within. I say this because I am amazed how much spiritual communication was taking place before the birth of Jesus. Mary received a vision, and apparently, she had no issue doing what the angel asked of her, saying “yes,” to the messenger from God, and doing so without a bit of hesitation. We are told she went to visit her relative, Elizabeth, and here too, Elizabeth not only received Mary’s greeting, but knew, from within, what Mary had come to share with her. Believing, trusting, knowing, communicating with an angel, acting on what was revealed from within. This is how I want to live.
On this eighteenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 1:39-45.
The Reading
December 20, 2023
“39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-41
- 20
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inDaily Message
I set into motion the creation of the stars and all the heavenly bodies. And from the very second of creation all things began their journey into being, rivers, oceans, fishes of the sea, creatures of the land, seeds and roots began to awaken beneath the surface of the Earth just as she drew her first breath of life, taking it deep within her, to sustain and continue life. All of this, and more, I did create, love and care for. You are no less than any of this. You too came from Me. You too are of The Creator. You are My child. Look and see and know that all creation shows you that which I AM.
And The Holy Spirit says:
When you are tempted to think less of yourself, remember from whence you came. You are a child of God. Live as if you know this, and soon you will be living because you know it.
- 19
- Dec
- 2023
- Posted byThe Quiet Place
- inAdvent
December 19, 2023
The Seventeenth Day of Advent
There are so few days left in this sacred season of the year. And now, when I allow myself to be still, I go. I go back to that time, just before the birth. My thoughts are of those who were willing to listen to The Holy Spirit within, willing to follow the guidance of angels, willing to risk that which they knew, to say yes, and take the hand of that which was new. I think of Mary. I think of Joseph. I think of Mary’s family. Mostly, now, at this time of year, as I do today, I hold in wonder that which they were willing to do, as they were guided by angels, out of the mundane, into the divine.
On this seventeenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 1:26-31.
The Reading
December 19, 2023
“26 In the sixth month the angel xGabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named yNazareth, 27 zto a virgin betrothed1 to a man whose name was Joseph, aof the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, bO favored one, cthe Lord is with you!”2 29 But dshe was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for eyou have found favor with God. 31 And behold, fyou will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and gyou shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of hthe Most High. And the Lord God iwill give to him the throne of jhis father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob kforever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”3
35 And the angel answered her, l“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of hthe Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born4 will be called mholy—nthe Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her owho was called barren. 37 For pnothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant5 of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And qthe angel departed from her.” Luke 1:26-38