This is an actual thing
Youngest and I killed time between classes at Big Lots. Rarely go there, but was delighted by the Peanuts mug collection.
Hubs would love
This one made me smile
Urban Gardening
Baby love
I’m into Baby Love
I’m not sure what all it does, but I like it
So many signs of spring
Including $1 tulip bouquet mark-downs at Dillon’s
Lovely
Downtown Love
Mac & Cheese Spaghetti Squash. Winner recipe
School Fair: Becoming Batman
Skylanders battles
Your 7 Days?
It’s been 20 months.
Well, 20 months minus four weeks. Our friends accepted a four-week-old infant foster care placement nearly two years ago. It has been a ride for them as they navigate the system and learn from case workers and struggle through trusting a trustworthy God.
And now she is theirs. Officially, legally theirs.
This is a beautiful celebration for our community.
In the car on Saturday I chatted with the boys about what the day held. When I mentioned we had a party later for our little friend, they asked how old she was. I told them her age but reminded them we’re celebrating that she’s officially a [their last name] now.
One son innocently asked, “But how can she be? She doesn’t look like them.”
It has been so interesting learning from my friend as she navigates the waters of transracial adoption. People assuming she isn’t theirs. Asking mostly well-meaning, but occasionally not-well-meaning, questions. Figuring out how to respond in a Christlike way as a man holds open a store door for two white moms and their kids, then intentionally shuts it when he sees my friend coming with her kids.
So, yeah.
My friend doesn’t have the answers. She tries to turn things positive and instructive when she has the chance. But it’s not always her first response.
In our car ride scenario, I took the time to remind the boys we don’t look much like God. He is perfect and holy and pure love. On our own, we are not.
And yet He adopts us into His forever family.
I want a space for our children to learn and struggle and ask questions. To discover different cultures and family structures. To truly believe in the beauty of God’s creation and His delight in it.
If you haven’t seen this video, you need to watch it. And please don’t talk to me about peaceful protesting. This is not okay.
And pray for our nation.
Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. “What do you see now?” he asked.
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.”
Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?”
“Don’t you know?” the angel asked.
“No, my lord,” I replied.
Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”
Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”
(The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)
Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?”
“Don’t you know?” he asked.
“No, my lord,” I replied.
Then he said to me, “They represent the two anointed ones who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth.”
Zechariah 4:1-14 (NLT)
The angel rouses our prophet, Zechariah, again to show him another vision.
This time he sees two olive trees supplying oil to a lampstand. The trees represent the two offices of God’s ideal nation Israel: priestly and royal. Israel was to be a sovereign state with a Law that pointed to God, as well as provide a Temple and sacrificial system that sought that same God’s forgiveness when the law was transgressed.
The lampstand represents the Temple and community who would worship within it.
We know God’s people did not worship Him alone or adequately show a watching world what He is like. The reason they are rebuilding is due to the sin that led them into exile.
God makes sure to point out to Zechariah that, just as the oil for the lampstand comes from God-made olive trees and not men, His Spirit alone would be what enables leadership to complete the task.
It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Has He walked you through some in-the-trenches lessons, teaching you to let go of force or doing things in your own strength?
I know He has with me. Still is.
The work He does in and through us is a gift. That’s why verse 7 in the ESV says, “Grace! Grace to it!”
When the final Stone is placed – the True Cornerstone in the ultimate City with the Final Temple – we will have worked, yes, but in His power. The result in our own life and others’ will be pure grace from beginning to end.
That’s why we don’t need to despise these small beginnings.
The Lord rejoices to see the work begin.
No mountain stands in His way as He works in and through His people.
I learned from my friend on Instagram that you can rent art from the library. It’s true. See a librarian for details.
Photo from City Arts Gifts in the Gallery. You cannot rent this.
Speaking of the Library, have you been keeping up with the Tour de Wichita Reading Program? You only have a couple weeks left to finish the challenge.
Come experience the COrTen Building Ribbon Cutting ceremony today, March 3rd beginning at 11:00 am. This newly-renovated commercial space downtown is almost 100 percent full. Come and celebrate, then head across the way to the Pop-Up Urban Park for lunch with food trucks.
The Friends University Spring Ballet begins this Friday. Order your tickets here.
On Tuesday March 8th, Watermark Books is hosting students and parents from Hyde Elementary for a poetry celebration beginning at 5:00 pm.
Did you know the electric guitar originally launched from Wichita? Come to the Tallgrass Film Festival Guitar Fest this Sunday March 6th from 2-4 at the Sedgwick County Historical Museum. See films celebrating the instrument as well as Wichita’s role in its history.
Enjoy the WSU Jazz Series at Reverie Roasters every Wednesday through April 11th from 6-8 pm. Playing March 9th is Luke Young Group.
Library:
Preschool Picassos will be held at Rockwell on Friday the 4th from 10:30-11:15. Get your budding artist registered here.
Come make Beaded Windchimes Saturday the 5th at Central from 2:30-3:30. Family fun ages 5 and up.
Come to Rockwell to learn some basic photo editing skills on Monday the 7th from 2:30-4:00. Register here or call 688-9361.
And don’t forget to check out all the different Story Times available.
Have a great weekend!
Tried Espresso To Go Go (wonderful)
Plus: the tip jars
New favorite Girl Scout Cookie ad
When you have computer work + laundry to catch up on. He is one delightful companion for days like that.
Friends
Our nearby neighbors raise birds
Beautiful
Catching up with more friends
Black Bean and Butternut Squash Enchilada Casserole for Meatless Monday
Rock throwing
Glory
Your 7 Days?
Humility.
Can we agree who we are and Who we aren’t?
Can we think about the ocean and know we have nothing to do with controlling the tides?
Could we contemplate the galaxies and know nothing is missing – and it has nothing to do with our power?
Could we come together and realize an astounding Creator made us like we are – every color, all our stories?
I think humility – a right understanding of ourselves – could help us in this discussion.
What do you think?
Zechariah is having a busy night.
Fourth vision:
“Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”
Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by.
Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.
“Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.
“And on that day, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit with you peacefully under your own grapevine and fig tree.”
(Zechariah 3:1-10 NLT)
We were first introduced to Jeshua back in Ezra. We learned he is the son of the high priest Jehozadak and served as the priest for our exiles, offering sacrifices and intercession on behalf of the people. God shows Zechariah a vision of him being accused and in filthy clothes, as the nation was when in exile. But, because of His faithfulness, God is removing the filth and preparing his people to again worship in the Temple.
As with anything in the Old Covenant, we get to see how Jesus perfectly fulfilled it in the New.
Jesus is our Great High Priest. Any other priests were symbols of what was to come.
Only One Savior can make our scarlet stains white as snow.
Only One Branch can remove the sins of a land in a single day.
And only One Shepherd can give us peace in our hearts and with our neighbors.
It’s Final Friday time. See a list of participating venues and featured artwork here, and the trolley route map here.
Are you 18 or over and curious about what it would take to become a firefighter? The Citizens’ Fire Academy is coming up in April and you can register now for this free course. It is one class once a week from April 19 – June 28. See more info and register here.
There is one more Friday for you to bring a friend for free in February to the Wichita YMCA.
The Wichita Art Museum is having a Mini Used Book Sale this Saturday the 27th from 10 – 3.
You know Watermark is a Cafe as well, yes? If not, you should check out their menu.
We just got a gift card in the mail from our area ACE Hardware. Three cheers for local stores.
Library:
Several Academy Award Nominated Documentary Screenings coming up: Rockwell, Evergreen, and the 21st Street Warren Theater.
Come to Rockwell tonight from 6-7 to complete their Lego challenge.
Also tonight there is a Puppet Show at Westlink from 6:30 – 7:00.
Saturday at Central from 1-2:30, come learn how to develop your own business plan. (Registration required.)
Saturday from 2:30-3:30 enjoy Minion Madness at Angelou.
Saturday head to Westlink to discover ways to use an old t-shirt. Registration required for this one.
Do those cookies have you curious about Girl Scouts? Register here to come to Central on Saturday from 4:30-5:30 to learn more about joining.
Then Tuesday March 1st, come to Evergreen from 4-5:30 to learn how to use Overdrive, the library’s free digital e-book service. Register here.
And on Wednesday March 2nd, come to Evergreen any time from 2:00 – 5:00 to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and make a trufalla tree.
Have a great weekend!
Book Fair
Self Portrait
Color Scheming
Thinking Putty
When it’s 70 degrees in February
The moon, though
Glory
Your 7 Days?
Conversation.
I’m serious. It seems like what could be most useful in our real life communities is honest conversation. Mostly where the powerful majority is quiet and lets others be heard.
There are so many areas this applies, but since God seems to be taking me on this carefree stroll of racial reconciliation, we shall apply it here today.
What if the majority did that? If, when we recognize our privilege, we do something to hear the perspective of someone in our actual life that it affects? Without getting defensive?
That’s it. There are online resources for this if you need them. I think if you’re reading this and you fall into the majority camp, what we need is simply awareness.
Then to listen.
