The theme this week is peace. And the text is Luke 1:26-38.
This is the story of Gabriel telling Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God. It is not exactly a peaceful story. (Especially, if you are Mary!)
But, if we look deeper at this story, we find there is much to be learned. The fact that God chose Mary, says that the lowly and the forgotten people from small towns and forgotten places really are important. The story also emphasizes the fact that "all things are possible with God." Regardless of how strange and unsettling this announcement may have been to Mary, she accepts the news and the knowledge that ALL things are possible with God.
And really, if you think about it, there is something peaceful about knowing that God has a plan, and you are part of that plan. "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answers, "May it be to me as you have said." That is the statement of one whose trust fully rested on God. And with her trust firmly placed with God, she found peace.
I pray you may also find that peace.
Questions for reflection:
What about Christmas brings you peace?
Which character from the Christmas stories do you most identify with? How does that character(s) eventually find his/her/their place in God's plan?
How can we be witnesses to God's peace in this busy season?
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Where is your Joy?
This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent and the the theme is Joy. The candle is even pink to set it apart, and say "Be JOYful! And so, in thinking through what it means to be joyful I thought of an old VBS song that goes...
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. (Where?)
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart to stay.
It's a funny little repetitive song, that in spite of it's potentially annoying character, always seems to bring me joy as I sing it. It reminds me that in spite of all of my present circumstances, my happiness does not depend upon circumstances. Instead of relying on fickle happiness, I have JOY. I have a joy that comes from way down in my heart. AND it's down in my heart to STAY.
I don't think that it is good, fair, or right to expect Christians to be people who are happy all the time. But, I do think that when talking about joy, we can have a joy deep in our hearts to stay, because our joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. Our joy comes from the fact that God loves us and came to us.
Christmas brings us joy for more than just presents and decorations, and for more than just happy songs, and good food, and even for more than our families and friends. Christmas brings us joy because it reminds us that when we were a lost and broken people, God came to us, and lived among us, and through the Holy Spirit is with us today. That is the source of our Christmas joy, and it is a joy that is down in our hearts to stay!
The Scripture passages this week are:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Look at them and ask yourself:
Where do you see joy in these passages?
Where do you see joy in your daily life?
What verses or songs bring you joy?
How can we transform our perspectives so that our joy is the kind of joy that God gives, which is down in our heart to stay?
May God bring you joy during this Christmas season!
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. (Where?)
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart to stay.
It's a funny little repetitive song, that in spite of it's potentially annoying character, always seems to bring me joy as I sing it. It reminds me that in spite of all of my present circumstances, my happiness does not depend upon circumstances. Instead of relying on fickle happiness, I have JOY. I have a joy that comes from way down in my heart. AND it's down in my heart to STAY.
I don't think that it is good, fair, or right to expect Christians to be people who are happy all the time. But, I do think that when talking about joy, we can have a joy deep in our hearts to stay, because our joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. Our joy comes from the fact that God loves us and came to us.
Christmas brings us joy for more than just presents and decorations, and for more than just happy songs, and good food, and even for more than our families and friends. Christmas brings us joy because it reminds us that when we were a lost and broken people, God came to us, and lived among us, and through the Holy Spirit is with us today. That is the source of our Christmas joy, and it is a joy that is down in our hearts to stay!
The Scripture passages this week are:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Look at them and ask yourself:
Where do you see joy in these passages?
Where do you see joy in your daily life?
What verses or songs bring you joy?
How can we transform our perspectives so that our joy is the kind of joy that God gives, which is down in our heart to stay?
May God bring you joy during this Christmas season!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Finding our way
The sermon this coming Sunday focuses on the idea that Christ is the Way.
Surely all of you have been lost at one time or another. We know that getting lost and feeling lost happens not only in physical ways but also in emotional and spiritual ways.
The texts for this week are: Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8.
These texts both have the image of a "voice crying out: 'in the desert prepare the way of the Lord."
I guess it's a good thing that we already established Advent is like the waiting desert. So, the good news this week is that when you are lost in the desert, God can still bring guidance and help us find our way.
The birth of Christ did not happen completely out of the blue. It was something that the prophets had discussed. God had prepared the timing perfectly. Through Jesus' ministry on earth, we can see, understand, and know God's love. Jesus is fully God and fully human ("hail the incarnate deity"), and through his work on earth, we see the full extent of God's love for us.
When we are lost in the deserts of our life, Jesus helps us find our way, and makes our paths straight. May you find the Way to God this Advent season.
Surely all of you have been lost at one time or another. We know that getting lost and feeling lost happens not only in physical ways but also in emotional and spiritual ways.
The texts for this week are: Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8.
These texts both have the image of a "voice crying out: 'in the desert prepare the way of the Lord."
I guess it's a good thing that we already established Advent is like the waiting desert. So, the good news this week is that when you are lost in the desert, God can still bring guidance and help us find our way.
The birth of Christ did not happen completely out of the blue. It was something that the prophets had discussed. God had prepared the timing perfectly. Through Jesus' ministry on earth, we can see, understand, and know God's love. Jesus is fully God and fully human ("hail the incarnate deity"), and through his work on earth, we see the full extent of God's love for us.
When we are lost in the deserts of our life, Jesus helps us find our way, and makes our paths straight. May you find the Way to God this Advent season.
Finding Hope in the Desert
The sermon last sunday talked about how the dormant desert is a great picture for Advent. Advent is the season of waiting. We wait not only for Christmas to come, but we wait for Christ to return. Advent reminds us that we live in an "already/not yet" world. God has come to us as Jesus, and we are promised that some day Jesus will return and we will see the final fulfillment of all God's promises.
Sometimes we look at our lives and see only a dormant desolate desert:
But, even in the midst of the desert, we need not despair. First, we need to recognize t
here is much life even in the desert. And, second, we recognize that God brings color and beauty to the desert in the spring, and so God has promised to renew and restore our desert-like souls so that they shine with the color and light of Christ.
here is much life even in the desert. And, second, we recognize that God brings color and beauty to the desert in the spring, and so God has promised to renew and restore our desert-like souls so that they shine with the color and light of Christ.I also shared what I learned about the Saguaro Cactus. They grow very slowly. It takes 70 or more years for them to grow a single arm. They grow slowly, and like this picture, sometimes strangely. But, they are beautiful. Similarly, when we are faithful about our spiritual disciplines God grows us. We may not always see the growth right away, and it may seem like the growth is slow but it is happening. So, continue to be faithful to your prayers and your devotions. Remember that God is working, even in the desert.
Catching Up...
Sorry it's been so long since I've updated things. But, here's what's been happening here in the meantime:
The sermons this Advent are all titled "All I Want for Christmas Is ..." The blanks are filled in by the words "hope," "guidance," "joy," and "peace." Coinicidentally, those words also describe the meaning of the Advent candles for that week.
The idea behind this series is to move beyond the commercialism that so often plauges December, and focus on the things we really want for Christmas.
Even better, is the news that these deep and true qualities of hope, joy, peace, guidance, are all gifts that God gives to us. We can rejoice that we see these gifts in Jesus.
The sermons this Advent are all titled "All I Want for Christmas Is ..." The blanks are filled in by the words "hope," "guidance," "joy," and "peace." Coinicidentally, those words also describe the meaning of the Advent candles for that week.
The idea behind this series is to move beyond the commercialism that so often plauges December, and focus on the things we really want for Christmas.
Even better, is the news that these deep and true qualities of hope, joy, peace, guidance, are all gifts that God gives to us. We can rejoice that we see these gifts in Jesus.
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