Sunday, December 20, 2015

Experiencing Advent: week 4 Peace

Peace...

How do we teach our children about Peace when we live in a world of chaos?
Our lives in the 21st century are go.go.go!
We have work, school, sports, dance, gym, church, playdates, family time, screen time...it never ends.

The word Peace is all around us and our children hear it constantly
"I need some peace and quiet"
"That was so peaceful"
"Love, Peace & Joy"
"Peace on Earth"

Christmas season can end up being one of the least peaceful seasons of the entire year, school programs, piano recitals, dance performances, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, Christmas lights, Christmas decorating, Christmas baking, Christmas wrapping, Santa visits, card mailing, the list is never ending.

Some people thrive on and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, others are exhausted just reading that list, and are counting down the days not for Christmas but for Christmas to be over!  They find no peace during this season.

I'm right in the middle, I love Christmas and everything that it includes.  I do it all and more!  I enjoy celebrating things and I enjoy being active.  I also enjoy a night at home in my jammies doing absolutely nothing.  And I happened to be married to a man that would prefer to spend the entire Christmas season doing absolutely nothing on the above list.

Our family's take on Peace during the Advent season, is to not do too much, which is different for everybody and every family.  We make the call on activities like this, is it something that we have made a commitment to {sports, music, dance performance, work, etc}, is it something that we will enjoy or that will add chaos to our life.  If the activity is not a commitment and/or its going to add more stress than enjoyment to our family we say, "No!"


Another way we choose peace is to choose NOT to make dinner some nights.

Yep, instead of "dinner" we will either make breakfast;
eggs & bacon
pancakes & fruit
a waffle bar {waffle recipe to follow*}


...making breakfast at breakfast time can be so involved, but for some reason breakfast at dinner seems like an easy throw down meal.

Or have leftover buffet, {clean out the fridge and eat all the leftovers}.

Or a Sunday night favorite in our home, popcorn for dinner...yep, we have popcorn for dinner!
Image result for bowl of popcorn
We have a huge bowl of popcorn with some sides of fruit and maybe some cheese, serve this on paper plates in the living room while watching a Christmas movie or an episode or two of Americas Funniest Home Videos.

However you choose to do it, whatever works for you family, please find away to embrace the advent season without ruining the Peace of the season.

Peace doesn't have to mean quietness, it's a feeling, the state of your heart.  If your house/life being filled with activities and noise is something that fills you with joy, then let that Peace fill your heart.  If the busy-ness is taking peace from your life, then that is not what Christ desires for you.  Peace is a condition of your heart, and peace looks different for every.single.person.

May the peace of Christ fill your lives, your heart, this Advent season.
Pastor Kiera


*Breakfast for Dinner Waffle Recipe
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups melted butter 
2 egg
3 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoon vanilla extract

Butter and syrup, for serving


In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Add the milk, melted butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla and mix well. Let the batter sit for 30 minutes.


Preheat a waffle iron. Do not use non-stick spray on the waffle iron; the butter in the batter will allow the waffle to release easily. Follow the directions on your waffle iron to cook the waffles. Serve warm topped with fruit and whipped cream or yogurt.



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