First Sunday in Advent

When I was growing up, my family always made an Advent wreath, and then every night after dinner we would light the candles and read devotions together and anxiously look forward to Christmas Eve. Today is the First Sunday in Advent. Earlier this week I went down to the day market and bought a few little supplies so i could make my own little wreath and light my candle today.

For those of you who haven't experienced and Advent wreath.... This is a special way of marking the four weeks before Christmas, purpose??? to prepare your heart for the celebration of our Savior!!! How it works.... Everyday this week I will light the same ONE candle. Next Sunday I will light the First candle and a second candle, so two candles all week, then three then four and then Christmas Eve/day!!!

Now you can make your own, or purchase a lovely ready-made wreath. You can google Advent wreath and read all about them, there are different colors of candles to use, each candle has a special name, there are special devotions avaialble.

But the focus is this...... Jesus Is the reason for the season.

Join me in a childhood memory..... prepare Him room in your heart. Happy first day of Advent.

Pam

Why we are here

Modern day convenience !! This is a small portable machine outside the neighborhood grocery store. Inside the glass case are small buddha statues representing each day of the week (two for wednesday) In front of each statue is a small merit pot... pot with a cover on it and a coin slot. Now while on your way to shop, you can pause and slide some coins into the pot representing the day of week you were born. You no longer have to go to the neighborhood temple to make merit. Just visit the local store and use the portable statue machine. (those of you born on wednesday morning have a reclining buddha, which means life is easier, if you were born in the evening, your buddha staute is standing and life is more difficult) Making merit.... is earning your way by doing good deeds, in this case giving money.

this is the special buddha statue and when you drop coins into this merit pot, a circle of lights light up and a lovely sound comes out. It's kinda like a "vegas" slot machine. I watched young children put coin after coin in to light up the lights. This machine gives you something for your coin, a little entertainment! immediate gratification !

A Spirit House in my neighbor's garden. Most thai homes and businesses have a Spirit house somewhere on the property. And then daily they put water or soda pop or tea and fruit and candles and incense there to entice the Spirits to remain in this little house and away from their home or business. Animism (spirit worship/fear) is a major part of thai life and tradition.

As soon as the ground was broken to start building the Big C grocery store, the first thing built was a BIG Spirit House. Then construction on the rest of the property proceeded. Big C is sort of like a K Mart store only thai-style.

Father and daughter worshiping at a large temple on the mountain overlooking Chiang Mai.

Receiving a blessing from a monk

worshipping idols

Before coming to Thailand, worshipping idols was something that I read about in the Bible. In the USA we talk of people worshipping the idol of money or possessions. But coming here to SE Asia, one is reminded EVERYDAY why we have come to this land to love and reach out to a beautiful people who bow down to idols.... cold lifeless idols that can not hear them or help them.

Take a moment and really look at these photos and then KNOW why you are here.

Pam