Advent 2016 - Day 29, 25th December

Advent Day 29

Of course, words taken from the Christmas Carol Joy to the World!
TFL and Merry CHRISTmas!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 28, 24th December

Advent Day 28

Words are taken from the Advent hymn When The Angel Came To Mary
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 27, 23rd December

Advent Day 27

Words are taken from the Advent hymn God Is Working His Purpose Out
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 26, 22nd December

Advent Day 26

Words are taken from the Advent hymn O Comfort My People.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 25, 21st December

Advent Day 25

Words taken from the Advent hymn Long Ago Prophets Knew
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 24, 20th December

Advent 2016 - 20th December, Day 24

These words are taken from the Advent hymn My Soul In Stillness Waits.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 23, 19th December

Advent Day 23

These words are taken from the Advent hymn The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns and, again, fitted nicely with my day's readings.

Mark 10:45: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 22 - 18th December

Advent Day 22
Words taken from the Advent hymn Now Watch For God's Coming and tied in nicely with my readings for today.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 21 - 17th December

Advent 2016 - 17th December, Day 21

Words taken from the Advent hymn Long Ago, Prophets Knew.

Made me think, did Mary have any thoughts about the kind of life she would have with the Son of God before He was born? Did she perceive He would be welcomed by the world, or that He would be so despised by some?
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 20, 16th December

Advent Day 20

These words were taken from the Advent hymn A Voice Cries Out.

I suppose with the heartbreaking words and scenes from Aleppo across all media, it was inevitable my artwork would be affected. All around the world, so many displaced, suffering; wars, utter disrespect for human life in so many places; so much evil and how many nations sit and watch as it all plays out? How many of those are selling arms to countries that use these weapons against their own citizens and those of other countries?

Never before have we had the means to hear directly from those in the heat of the battle, as fast and as accurately. But who is listening?

On our planet, there are so many without even the most basic of things - clean water. Let alone adequate food and shelter. yet there is sufficient money to send people to Mars, and for what purpose ultimately?

locally, young people, elderly, and those in between, sleeping on our streets, trying to keep out of the rain and cold...seeing every day, people under duvets; hearing of young people, even girls, homeless and being beaten up by men. As individuals we do what we can but where is the will of those elected to represent ALL of us to help and end these kinds of situation forever? We are in the 21st Century!

It's shameful that in our times, with so much technology and luxury on the planet, that so many lack food and water, shelter and human rights.Such intelligent humans in charge of Governments around the world and yet they are incapable of joined up thinking and of working together for the good of the human race as a whole.

We really cannot put our faith in human endeavour. There is no hope there. People hope for change in society, in organisations; hope to see women treated equally to men; hope to see an end to human trafficking, to child abuse. Yet the human race never fails to disappoint and fail.

The only hope I see is to have faith in God; in individual ways we are so blessed. I don't have answers as to how such things can happen, let alone in the 21st Century, but I know that mankind was given free will, and it is that free will that is causing all this tragedy and misery around the world.

Of course, there are people doing good around the world as well! Little rays of light in dark places and situations and they must not be forgotten and ignored. If we all tried to go the extra mile, to be a light in someone's day, it would build a less dark world day by day.

Thanks for bearing with lol, and TFL!
Bernie x

Digital & Hybrid Bible Journaling Facebook Group - Verse of the Week - 5th December 2016

Made for the Verse of the Week challenge in the Digital & Hybrid Bible Journaling Group, and using my own stash, which is offered as a freebie to group members! You can join us and find the freebie - as well as previous freebies - HERE!
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 19, 15th December

Advent Day 19

I wanted an image to reflect the glory of God, and a snowflake seemed apt and rather perfect! Quiet, unassuming, each one unique and yet together...

I loved these words which say it all really..."...the endless repetition of an ordinary miracle.” Orhan Pamuk.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 14th December, Day 18

Advent Day 18
Words taken from The Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79) by Bernadette Farrell.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 13th December, Day 17

Advent Day 17
Based on the Advent hymn Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 12th December, Day 16

Advent Day 16

Having had a glimpse recently of just how our Catholic Diocese of Southwark operates behind closed doors, thanks to the Data Protection Act, these words from the Advent Carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel seemed appropriate! Of course, also on a local, national and international level. This image, for me, best summed up how destructive humans can be, and how we long to escape from whatever 'sad division' is affecting us.

For some, if we close our eyes and pretend it doesn't exist that's enough. For others, covering our eyes temporarily, to gather strength, but then pressing forward to make happen the change we want to see is the way to go! If we only supported each other, communicated more, whatever our outlook and way of working, along our path through this life, that would be a good start, it seems to me, to building that peace we all wish for.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 11th December, Day 15

Advent Day 15

I wanted a brighter piece today to go with these lovely words from the Taize chant Wait For The Lord!
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 10th December, Day 14

Advent 2016, Day 14 - 10th December

I'm really loving the peace and solitude of getting up at 4.30am every day to create these Advent pieces! This one is based on Creator of The Stars of Night.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 9th December, Day 13

Advent Day 13

Again, these words linked nicely to the readings I had for today, and are taken from the Advent hymn The Voice of God.

Lots of thoughts tied up in this piece...refugees, so many suffering, weak, poor...a few sparkly lights all around...others celebrate Christmas in various ways but does it touch the weakest, the poorest?

Of course, the Light always shines over them; they are loved. But do we all share our love with these, the least of us, who are among us in all places?
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 8th December, Day 12

Advent Day 12

These words seemed to tie in nicely with my readings for today - amongst others, Isaiah 41:13-20. They're taken from the Advent hymn My Soul in Stillness Waits.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016, 7th December, Day 11

Advent Day 11

Today's piece is based on the Advent hymn Wake, Awake.
TFL!
Bernie x