Scripture: John 1:1-14
“The Light has come into the darkness; and the darkness cannot put it out.”
We are once again, looking down, in awe at someone else’s baby. What do we see when we gaze at this child? To some, Jesus is about the past: A great historical figure whose life revolutionized religion, art, government, and social life… even commerce. For some he was an advocate of a humanistic philosophy, for others, an apocalyptic prophet, or a healer of body, mind, and spirit.
He and his legacy have been surrounded by harsh old saints, pious peasants, religious academics, zealous monks, in ascetic caves and in magnificent cathedrals. To some, Jesus is about the future: He is the Prince of Peace, that will come between Arabs & Israelis, Serbs and Croats, the privileged and the outcast. He is a changer of political systems and the bringer of a just economic world. To some, Jesus is nostalgia: recollections of a childhood Christmas, or belonging to the world of grandparents and great-grandparents. To many of his own time, both Jews and Gentiles – and to many today – Jesus was just another baby, nothing special at all, a poor child, born to a poor family, in a poor, occupied nation under the heel of a brutal dictatorship.
Those who lingered at the manger in Bethlehem saw something very different. In the mystery of the Incarnation, they saw hope and possibility, promise and fulfillment, light in the midst of the shadow of oppression, a light in the midst of what was, showing what can be. Come to the manger today. Hold the baby in heart and mind. Realize the light of God is with us, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
O God, who makes us glad at the yearly festival of the birth of Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence hold strong the faith that God is with us, the Word made flesh, Emmanuel; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Rev. Kevin Higgs
Friday, December 22, 2006
Silent Night Holy Night
Silent Night Holy Night
The soft gentle words of Silent Night, Holy Night were written by Joseph Mohr in 1818. He wrote the words to this famous Christmas poem and had a close friend, Franz Gruber, set them to music. It has often been called the most popular Christmas carol ever written and has been translated into hundreds of languages to be sung around the world. It was first sung and played to the guitar accompaniment.
“Silent Night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright,
“Round young virgin, mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.”
As you listen to those words written in the 1800’s let us remember the Christmas story. Luke 2 in the Bible will give all the details of the story, from start to finish. Read the story with imagination, going with Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem. Be with Mary as she gives birth to Jesus. Be with the shepherds and wise men as they travel to honor the new born king. In your imagination, let the Christmas story become a new story for you this Advent.
Prayer: Loving God, God of the whole world, help us to seek heavenly peace this Advent and pursue it the entire year so that your kingdom my come on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer Focus: Everyone who is seeking peace in their lives.
The soft gentle words of Silent Night, Holy Night were written by Joseph Mohr in 1818. He wrote the words to this famous Christmas poem and had a close friend, Franz Gruber, set them to music. It has often been called the most popular Christmas carol ever written and has been translated into hundreds of languages to be sung around the world. It was first sung and played to the guitar accompaniment.
“Silent Night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright,
“Round young virgin, mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.”
As you listen to those words written in the 1800’s let us remember the Christmas story. Luke 2 in the Bible will give all the details of the story, from start to finish. Read the story with imagination, going with Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem. Be with Mary as she gives birth to Jesus. Be with the shepherds and wise men as they travel to honor the new born king. In your imagination, let the Christmas story become a new story for you this Advent.
Prayer: Loving God, God of the whole world, help us to seek heavenly peace this Advent and pursue it the entire year so that your kingdom my come on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer Focus: Everyone who is seeking peace in their lives.
Joy to the World
Joy to the World
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her King,
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, and wonders of his love.”
Joy to the world! This beautiful Christmas song written by Isaac Watts in the 1800’s, rings out with happiness and excitement! Instead of being a slow carol, this song is written to be song with true joy at our Savior Jesus Christ’s birth.
Do you know the tune? Why don’t you sing it with me right now!
Wow! That was fun! Did you sing it from your very being? What a good thing it is to sing God’s praises!
Prayer: Loving God, Creator of the universe and creator of Jesus Christ our Savior, we worship you and pray for your truth and grace for all. Help us to sing, all of heaven and earth to sing your praises.
Though for the Day: Help the nations to prove the glories of your righteousness.
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her King,
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, and wonders of his love.”
Joy to the world! This beautiful Christmas song written by Isaac Watts in the 1800’s, rings out with happiness and excitement! Instead of being a slow carol, this song is written to be song with true joy at our Savior Jesus Christ’s birth.
Do you know the tune? Why don’t you sing it with me right now!
Wow! That was fun! Did you sing it from your very being? What a good thing it is to sing God’s praises!
Prayer: Loving God, Creator of the universe and creator of Jesus Christ our Savior, we worship you and pray for your truth and grace for all. Help us to sing, all of heaven and earth to sing your praises.
Though for the Day: Help the nations to prove the glories of your righteousness.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
God Calls to each of Us
Read Luke 3:1-6
“The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;”
-Luke 3:2a-3 (KJV)
I can imagine John with his wilderness clothes and hair walking up and down both sides of the Jordan River calling everyone to repentance. It reminds me of the strange men I used to see standing on street corners, holding signs that said “REPENT”. I would avoid them. That word “repent” made me feel guilty, sinful, and condemned.
I began to read, study, and meditate on The Word of God. Through The Word God calls us to Himself. I wanted to come to Him but I was not clean enough, holy enough. Sick of sin, guilt, trying and failing to be good, I called out to God to “Show me how to come to you through Jesus. I don’t know how.” I didn’t know I was “repenting” (turning towards God and away from sin).
Jesus came to me. He had been waiting for me. He welcomed me with open arms, full of grace and love. I touched His wounds and knew He had died even for me. I asked Him to forgive me. My tears and sobbing would not stop, but holy tears are a balm from God that heals, cleanses, and changes.
Sharon Parsons
PRAYER: O God, help us find a way out of the wilderness by turning to You and following Jesus. Thank You for never giving up on us. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When we turn to God, He will not leave us as we were. But we will never want to be the same again.
PRAYER FOCUS: Each of my brothers and sisters at Reconciler
“The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;”
-Luke 3:2a-3 (KJV)
I can imagine John with his wilderness clothes and hair walking up and down both sides of the Jordan River calling everyone to repentance. It reminds me of the strange men I used to see standing on street corners, holding signs that said “REPENT”. I would avoid them. That word “repent” made me feel guilty, sinful, and condemned.
I began to read, study, and meditate on The Word of God. Through The Word God calls us to Himself. I wanted to come to Him but I was not clean enough, holy enough. Sick of sin, guilt, trying and failing to be good, I called out to God to “Show me how to come to you through Jesus. I don’t know how.” I didn’t know I was “repenting” (turning towards God and away from sin).
Jesus came to me. He had been waiting for me. He welcomed me with open arms, full of grace and love. I touched His wounds and knew He had died even for me. I asked Him to forgive me. My tears and sobbing would not stop, but holy tears are a balm from God that heals, cleanses, and changes.
Sharon Parsons
PRAYER: O God, help us find a way out of the wilderness by turning to You and following Jesus. Thank You for never giving up on us. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When we turn to God, He will not leave us as we were. But we will never want to be the same again.
PRAYER FOCUS: Each of my brothers and sisters at Reconciler
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Rejoice
Philippians 4: 4-7
Philippians 4: 4 “Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!”(The Living Bible)
A smile is contagious! Try it and you will see for yourself. Walk down a street or through a mall and smile at others and you will usually receive a smile in return. Smile at a child, and the child will return that smile.
When I was teaching school, the students would ask me why I was always smiling. My reply to them was simple. 1. It takes less muscles and effort to smile than to frown, and 2. People like to be smiled at! They don’t like to be around people who are frowning and seem unhappy!
As a Christian, we have a lot to smile about, a lot to rejoice about. Think of what all God has done for you! John 3:16 says it this way, “For God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Living Bible) God raised Jesus from the grave for us to have eternal life. God cares!
Rejoice this day in all that you can do for others. Smile; share the good news of Jesus with your neighbors and friends! Rejoice and be happy! Be full of joy in the Lord.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for giving me joy that I can rejoice and praise your name.
Thought for the Day: Rejoice and be glad in all that you do.
Philippians 4: 4 “Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!”(The Living Bible)
A smile is contagious! Try it and you will see for yourself. Walk down a street or through a mall and smile at others and you will usually receive a smile in return. Smile at a child, and the child will return that smile.
When I was teaching school, the students would ask me why I was always smiling. My reply to them was simple. 1. It takes less muscles and effort to smile than to frown, and 2. People like to be smiled at! They don’t like to be around people who are frowning and seem unhappy!
As a Christian, we have a lot to smile about, a lot to rejoice about. Think of what all God has done for you! John 3:16 says it this way, “For God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Living Bible) God raised Jesus from the grave for us to have eternal life. God cares!
Rejoice this day in all that you can do for others. Smile; share the good news of Jesus with your neighbors and friends! Rejoice and be happy! Be full of joy in the Lord.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for giving me joy that I can rejoice and praise your name.
Thought for the Day: Rejoice and be glad in all that you do.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Singing God’s Wonders
Isaiah 12: 2-6
Isaiah 5: “Sing to the Lord for he has done wonderful things…” (The Living Bible)
Have you ever been to an “all day singing?” When Lawton and I and the children were living in North Georgia when Lawton was attending seminary at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, we had the privilege of being the pastor and family of a small mill village town called Shannon. There was a Burlington Mill factory there and everyone in the town worked at the mill. At 12:00 noon each day the whistle would blow, and everyone in the town would walk home to eat lunch, and then walk back to the mill for the afternoon shift.
Life was simple in this small town and one of the great joys of the people was singing the old gospel songs. On Sunday nights and on Wednesday nights we would call out the numbers we wanted to sing and Paula would play the piano and her dad, Ken, would lead the singing.
We would have all day singings at the church where different quartets would come and sing for the church and the community. Everyone would come to the church and enjoy the foot stomping, hand clapping music of these quartets.
The Shannon United Methodist Church had two quartets in it. One was called the Adorations and the other was called The Lamplighters Quartet. They made records and tapes (This was before CDs.) We still have some of those old 78 records and tapes of their songs.
As our scripture in Isaiah says, “Sing to the Lord for he has done wonderful things.” The fun we had at all day singings, the joy of listening to the music and being part of a community of believers was an exciting time. It is fun to sing of the wondrous things that God has done.
Prayer: God of wonder, God of might, let us rejoice in the wonderful things you have done for us. Show us how to love each other in the way you loved the whole world by sending your son to be our Savior. Amen
Thought for the Day: Help us to sing the wondrous songs of your love daily!
Isaiah 5: “Sing to the Lord for he has done wonderful things…” (The Living Bible)
Have you ever been to an “all day singing?” When Lawton and I and the children were living in North Georgia when Lawton was attending seminary at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, we had the privilege of being the pastor and family of a small mill village town called Shannon. There was a Burlington Mill factory there and everyone in the town worked at the mill. At 12:00 noon each day the whistle would blow, and everyone in the town would walk home to eat lunch, and then walk back to the mill for the afternoon shift.
Life was simple in this small town and one of the great joys of the people was singing the old gospel songs. On Sunday nights and on Wednesday nights we would call out the numbers we wanted to sing and Paula would play the piano and her dad, Ken, would lead the singing.
We would have all day singings at the church where different quartets would come and sing for the church and the community. Everyone would come to the church and enjoy the foot stomping, hand clapping music of these quartets.
The Shannon United Methodist Church had two quartets in it. One was called the Adorations and the other was called The Lamplighters Quartet. They made records and tapes (This was before CDs.) We still have some of those old 78 records and tapes of their songs.
As our scripture in Isaiah says, “Sing to the Lord for he has done wonderful things.” The fun we had at all day singings, the joy of listening to the music and being part of a community of believers was an exciting time. It is fun to sing of the wondrous things that God has done.
Prayer: God of wonder, God of might, let us rejoice in the wonderful things you have done for us. Show us how to love each other in the way you loved the whole world by sending your son to be our Savior. Amen
Thought for the Day: Help us to sing the wondrous songs of your love daily!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Fear, Guilt, and Healing
Read Zeph. 3:14-20
Verse 17 b: “He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love…”
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I immediately wondered if the cause of the cancer was something I had done. Did I neglect my health? Did I abuse my body? Was it caused by some stress that I lived under? Was I being punished for some sin I had committed?
Treatment was radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and prayer. Friends and relatives submitted my name to prayer groups. I was amazed to receive cards and letters from various prayer groups around the country in the mail with signatures of people I had never known and people I would not know. These people requested of God that I be healed.
Amazingly, surgery determined that the tumor had totally disappeared. Had it been shrunk to nothingness by radiation or totally dissolved by chemotherapy? Had it disappeared through the miracle of prayer? I do not know. Perhaps all of these are the avenues through which God heals us. The surgeon did say to me that it is a rare phenomena for the tumor to disappear before surgery. Isn’t that what a miracle is: phenomena?
Prayer: Lord, Quiet our minds when we are fearful. Forgive our sins when we are guilty and hear our words of rejoicing and gratitude when we are healed. Amen
Thought for the Day: The Lord your God will…delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Everything will be OK.
Prayer Focus: Encouragement to those who are fearful, who are guilty and who need to be healed.
Kay Phillips
Verse 17 b: “He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love…”
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I immediately wondered if the cause of the cancer was something I had done. Did I neglect my health? Did I abuse my body? Was it caused by some stress that I lived under? Was I being punished for some sin I had committed?
Treatment was radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and prayer. Friends and relatives submitted my name to prayer groups. I was amazed to receive cards and letters from various prayer groups around the country in the mail with signatures of people I had never known and people I would not know. These people requested of God that I be healed.
Amazingly, surgery determined that the tumor had totally disappeared. Had it been shrunk to nothingness by radiation or totally dissolved by chemotherapy? Had it disappeared through the miracle of prayer? I do not know. Perhaps all of these are the avenues through which God heals us. The surgeon did say to me that it is a rare phenomena for the tumor to disappear before surgery. Isn’t that what a miracle is: phenomena?
Prayer: Lord, Quiet our minds when we are fearful. Forgive our sins when we are guilty and hear our words of rejoicing and gratitude when we are healed. Amen
Thought for the Day: The Lord your God will…delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Everything will be OK.
Prayer Focus: Encouragement to those who are fearful, who are guilty and who need to be healed.
Kay Phillips
Friday, December 15, 2006
Away in a Manger
“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus, lay down his sweet head,
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes,
The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes,
I love the Lord Jesus look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is neigh.
Be near me Lord Jesus I ask thee to stay
Close by me for ever and love me I pray
Bless all all the dear children in they tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with you there.”
The song Away in a Manger, written anonymously in the 1800, is a song that brings back sweet memories of being in Sunday School and church as a child. This was a favorite song for children to be taught and to sing in the “White Christmas Pageant “ the Sunday night before Christmas at the Church. All the children were given a coin holder and asked to fill it up with dimes for the Methodist Children’s Home in Selma, Alabama. This was the home for children who were orphaned or who did not have a relative to take care of them. It was always an exciting time to get to bring your offering card full of dimes down to the front of the church.
Today, we often take up an offering for the Children’s Home, but more than likely the money is just sent in as a contribution from the Church. There are new ways of doing things, but sometimes the old ways are still good too!
At Advent time this year, let us remember the children that Jesus has in his care, the children of the whole world! Let us remember to share our dimes and dollars to help the poor.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us in your tender care. Keep us close to you this Advent season.
Thought for the Day: Bless the poor children of this world and the poor children right in our own congregation.
The little Lord Jesus, lay down his sweet head,
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes,
The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes,
I love the Lord Jesus look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is neigh.
Be near me Lord Jesus I ask thee to stay
Close by me for ever and love me I pray
Bless all all the dear children in they tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with you there.”
The song Away in a Manger, written anonymously in the 1800, is a song that brings back sweet memories of being in Sunday School and church as a child. This was a favorite song for children to be taught and to sing in the “White Christmas Pageant “ the Sunday night before Christmas at the Church. All the children were given a coin holder and asked to fill it up with dimes for the Methodist Children’s Home in Selma, Alabama. This was the home for children who were orphaned or who did not have a relative to take care of them. It was always an exciting time to get to bring your offering card full of dimes down to the front of the church.
Today, we often take up an offering for the Children’s Home, but more than likely the money is just sent in as a contribution from the Church. There are new ways of doing things, but sometimes the old ways are still good too!
At Advent time this year, let us remember the children that Jesus has in his care, the children of the whole world! Let us remember to share our dimes and dollars to help the poor.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us in your tender care. Keep us close to you this Advent season.
Thought for the Day: Bless the poor children of this world and the poor children right in our own congregation.
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
“Come, thou long expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in thee;
Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.”
“Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, Now thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to thy glorious throne.”
This Advent hymn was written by Charles Wesley, brother of the founder of the United Methodist tradition of the Christian faith, in the 1760’s. Charles wrote hundreds of hymns for our church. Many are song in our church services each Sunday.
As we think about the words of this hymn, let us think with Charles Wesley about the expectation of the Christ Child. Waiting with great urgency, the people of Israel wanted a king to set them free. They had no idea that it would be a different kind of king. They wanted a military ruler, for that is all they had known, but God had another idea. God had the idea of a king that would bring peace and love to the earth.
As we prepare for the coming of Christmas, let us find hope that God would rule in our hearts alone and that no other voices would keep us from loving each other and living in peace. Truly raise us to the glorious throne of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Thank you God, You are the joy of our longing heart! Be with us as we prepare for your coming into our lives this Advent.
Thought for the Day: Pray for those looking for rest in Jesus.
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in thee;
Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.”
“Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, Now thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to thy glorious throne.”
This Advent hymn was written by Charles Wesley, brother of the founder of the United Methodist tradition of the Christian faith, in the 1760’s. Charles wrote hundreds of hymns for our church. Many are song in our church services each Sunday.
As we think about the words of this hymn, let us think with Charles Wesley about the expectation of the Christ Child. Waiting with great urgency, the people of Israel wanted a king to set them free. They had no idea that it would be a different kind of king. They wanted a military ruler, for that is all they had known, but God had another idea. God had the idea of a king that would bring peace and love to the earth.
As we prepare for the coming of Christmas, let us find hope that God would rule in our hearts alone and that no other voices would keep us from loving each other and living in peace. Truly raise us to the glorious throne of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Thank you God, You are the joy of our longing heart! Be with us as we prepare for your coming into our lives this Advent.
Thought for the Day: Pray for those looking for rest in Jesus.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Rock of My Salvation
Luke 3: 1-6
John is preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sin. He is telling us to make a straight path for the Lord, for all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
After reading Luke, I remember going through some bad times. Sometime I would wonder why I’m going through all these ups and downs. At that time I really didn’t understand why and I didn’t know what to do. But one day I had a Dr.’s appointment and received some bad news. That day I cried because I still couldn’t understand why I was going through this. I honestly felt that my life was not worth any thing. I had no one to talk to or ask for advice. I felt lost, really lost.
Then I remembered something that has kept me going all these years. That was JESUS! I remembered praying Psalm 121. I remembered verses 5-8 and once again I started to cry, not because I was hurting, but because I was happy! I was happy knowing that I did have someone to talk to; someone who knew what I was going through. All I had to do was give it to him and let him take over. At that time, I saw the salvation of God. Like Luke said, “All flesh will see God’s salvation.” Every day I thank Jesus, thanking him for being the rock of my salvation.
Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful! You come when we need you the most. You show us love and understand our trouble. God, I just want to say thank you, thank you for being my rock and my guide. Amen.
Thought for the day: Jesus is our rock and our salvation. Thanks be to God.
Leewood Morgan
John is preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sin. He is telling us to make a straight path for the Lord, for all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
After reading Luke, I remember going through some bad times. Sometime I would wonder why I’m going through all these ups and downs. At that time I really didn’t understand why and I didn’t know what to do. But one day I had a Dr.’s appointment and received some bad news. That day I cried because I still couldn’t understand why I was going through this. I honestly felt that my life was not worth any thing. I had no one to talk to or ask for advice. I felt lost, really lost.
Then I remembered something that has kept me going all these years. That was JESUS! I remembered praying Psalm 121. I remembered verses 5-8 and once again I started to cry, not because I was hurting, but because I was happy! I was happy knowing that I did have someone to talk to; someone who knew what I was going through. All I had to do was give it to him and let him take over. At that time, I saw the salvation of God. Like Luke said, “All flesh will see God’s salvation.” Every day I thank Jesus, thanking him for being the rock of my salvation.
Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful! You come when we need you the most. You show us love and understand our trouble. God, I just want to say thank you, thank you for being my rock and my guide. Amen.
Thought for the day: Jesus is our rock and our salvation. Thanks be to God.
Leewood Morgan
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Love & Faith in Jesus Christ
Read Philemon 1: 3-11
"As you share your faith with others, I pray that they may come to know all the blessings of Jesus Christ has given to us."
Sitting in a jail cell in August 2004 because of drug and alcohol addictions, I called on God for help. I cried out to God in despair and told him this is not the way I want to live my life and that I was doing things I really did not want to be doing. I had a year of clean time and threw it all away to get high again and to go to jail again. This binge lasted six months until this arrest stopped me. I sat in jail many days and my hope began to sparkle as I began to read a Bible sent into the jail by a stranger. I simply believed God's word and believed deliverance from drugs and alcohol is God's will for me. I repented for all my sins and God changed me. I told God I would take Bible's back into jails upon my release. I simply believed God would make a way, and He has provided hundreds of Bibles to inmates. I am now a stranger who takes Bibles into jails.
How Great is Our God!
Prayer: My heart's desire and prayer to God for all is that they will be saved!
Thought for the Day: Once like Onesumes , I was useless as a servant, but now I rejoice in being a servant of Our Great God!
Jill Varney
Prayer Focus: Salvation For All
"As you share your faith with others, I pray that they may come to know all the blessings of Jesus Christ has given to us."
Sitting in a jail cell in August 2004 because of drug and alcohol addictions, I called on God for help. I cried out to God in despair and told him this is not the way I want to live my life and that I was doing things I really did not want to be doing. I had a year of clean time and threw it all away to get high again and to go to jail again. This binge lasted six months until this arrest stopped me. I sat in jail many days and my hope began to sparkle as I began to read a Bible sent into the jail by a stranger. I simply believed God's word and believed deliverance from drugs and alcohol is God's will for me. I repented for all my sins and God changed me. I told God I would take Bible's back into jails upon my release. I simply believed God would make a way, and He has provided hundreds of Bibles to inmates. I am now a stranger who takes Bibles into jails.
How Great is Our God!
Prayer: My heart's desire and prayer to God for all is that they will be saved!
Thought for the Day: Once like Onesumes , I was useless as a servant, but now I rejoice in being a servant of Our Great God!
Jill Varney
Prayer Focus: Salvation For All
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
God Has Raised Up a Mighty Savior for Us
God is able to transform and recreate our boring, broken and hopeless lives. This is not speculation, but the stuff of history.
Zachariah would not believe that God could work in his and Elizabeth’s lives to give birth to a son that would be a great prophet to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was left speechless. How strange this is for a priest, a religious professional in the Hebrew community. Surely Zach had taught and preached how Abraham and Sarah had given birth in their old age to Isaac. And how Elkanah and Hannah had given birth to Samuel by the operation of God in their lives. Zach’s hopeless response to Gabriel, “Do you expect me to believe this?” did not stop God, it just stopped Zach’s joy and his talk.Now Gabriel’s message had unfolded in Zach’s and Elizabeth’s lives. They had joined the unfolding experience of God in human life. John was born! Zach could speak and rejoice again. Please hear this radical message spoken by Zach with his restored joyful voice. Trust it unconditionally. This message will transform and recreate our life this Advent. It is not speculation, it is the stuff of history renewed. It is God’s unfolding story in our very human lives.
God “set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, …So we can worship God without a care in the world, …The offer of salvation to God’s people, the forgiveness of sins,Through the heartfelt mercies of our God. …Showing us the way, one step at a time, down the path of peace.
Luke 1: 68-79 (The Message)
R. Lawton Higgs, Sr.
Zachariah would not believe that God could work in his and Elizabeth’s lives to give birth to a son that would be a great prophet to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was left speechless. How strange this is for a priest, a religious professional in the Hebrew community. Surely Zach had taught and preached how Abraham and Sarah had given birth in their old age to Isaac. And how Elkanah and Hannah had given birth to Samuel by the operation of God in their lives. Zach’s hopeless response to Gabriel, “Do you expect me to believe this?” did not stop God, it just stopped Zach’s joy and his talk.Now Gabriel’s message had unfolded in Zach’s and Elizabeth’s lives. They had joined the unfolding experience of God in human life. John was born! Zach could speak and rejoice again. Please hear this radical message spoken by Zach with his restored joyful voice. Trust it unconditionally. This message will transform and recreate our life this Advent. It is not speculation, it is the stuff of history renewed. It is God’s unfolding story in our very human lives.
God “set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, …So we can worship God without a care in the world, …The offer of salvation to God’s people, the forgiveness of sins,Through the heartfelt mercies of our God. …Showing us the way, one step at a time, down the path of peace.
Luke 1: 68-79 (The Message)
R. Lawton Higgs, Sr.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Preparing the Way
Read Malachi 3: 1-4
"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. --Malachi 3:1 (NIV)
Recently, my family and I moved into our first home. Not long after, a friend and coworker visited from Ohio and, of course, wanted to see our new place. I was very excited, but I got a bit obsessive about the house being perfect when she showed. I cleaned for days. I repaired imperfections in the paint; I scrubbed and swept and mopped and washed the windows.
When my friend arrived, she “oohed and ahhed” over the house and settled in for a visit. I looked up, and just over her head hung a long cobweb! How could I have missed it! All my preparations, and all I could see was the imperfection of my home I should have been so proud of. I let my obsession over things that don’t really matter mar what should have been a joyful time with my friend.
Old Testament scripture tells of messengers sent to prepare the way of the Lord. Malachi speaks of someone who will come as a “refiner,” making us pure and clean. The focus is on preparing the people; there is no mention of preparing our homes or our clothes or any of the things we so often place as important.
God does not care if we have fine possessions. So how to we prepare the way for Christ to become a bigger part our lives? We must concentrate on the things Christ says are important: a clean heart, a kind spirit, a sense of righteousness and justice.
Prayer: O God, help us prepare the way for Christ to be effective in our lives. Amen
Thought for the Day
How can I prepare myself to become a better person?
Karla Higgs
"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. --Malachi 3:1 (NIV)
Recently, my family and I moved into our first home. Not long after, a friend and coworker visited from Ohio and, of course, wanted to see our new place. I was very excited, but I got a bit obsessive about the house being perfect when she showed. I cleaned for days. I repaired imperfections in the paint; I scrubbed and swept and mopped and washed the windows.
When my friend arrived, she “oohed and ahhed” over the house and settled in for a visit. I looked up, and just over her head hung a long cobweb! How could I have missed it! All my preparations, and all I could see was the imperfection of my home I should have been so proud of. I let my obsession over things that don’t really matter mar what should have been a joyful time with my friend.
Old Testament scripture tells of messengers sent to prepare the way of the Lord. Malachi speaks of someone who will come as a “refiner,” making us pure and clean. The focus is on preparing the people; there is no mention of preparing our homes or our clothes or any of the things we so often place as important.
God does not care if we have fine possessions. So how to we prepare the way for Christ to become a bigger part our lives? We must concentrate on the things Christ says are important: a clean heart, a kind spirit, a sense of righteousness and justice.
Prayer: O God, help us prepare the way for Christ to be effective in our lives. Amen
Thought for the Day
How can I prepare myself to become a better person?
Karla Higgs
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Sermon: December 10, 2006
Luke 3:1-16
I. JOHN:
John is the most unlikely Christmas character of all. We travel thirty years ahead, into the future of this story, to hear John’s message. And we find him out in the wilderness. Just look at him standing there with his messed up hair; a scraggly beard; dressed in his camel's hair coat. Mind you he’s not wearing Eddie Bauer or Tommy Hilfiger camel's hair. It's more like home made “whatever he could find” camel’s hair.
And look at his diet. It's not something you'd get at the local McDonald's. Locusts and wild honey? What kind of a McNugget meal would that make?
John just doesn't seem to fit into the general mold of Christmas, yet every year he shows up.
John the Baptist shows up to remind us that even though God speaks to us in the silence; sometimes God speaks to us in the thunder. Through John the Baptist, God uses thunder to get our attention.
John stands at the outskirts of Christmas, in the wilderness of our faith and thunders out his message of repentance to remind us of the true purpose and nature of Christmas.
II. HIS MESSAGE:
A. John intrudes to remind us that Christmas has little to do with all the materialism and commercialism that has taken it over.
B. John the Baptist Challenges us: All that we think religion is about is turned upside down.
C. Christmas Challenges us. That challenge is to totally shake up our world view. Most everything the world defines as important is pushed aside by this homeless, helpless child in a manger. Emmanuel, come to bring us closer to God, and in being close to God in Jesus Christ, to find new life and salvation.
John reminds us that there can be no salvation without judgment; There can be no salvation without judgment. Judgment is being honest before God.
It is very important that we are honest about what is wrong in our life. We must be honest in every area of our life: The personal, in our family, in our social relationships, on the street, in business, in government… in all parts of life… we must be honest about what is going wrong.
Because if we are not honest about it, we will never change. If we are not honest with God, we will never prepare ourselves to receive the wisdom and truth of God.
The ministry of John the Baptist was the task of getting people honest with themselves, and honest before God. John the Baptist ferociously attacked the religious leaders of his day. He called them self-righteous and foolish. He laughed and made fun of them because they were so cut off from the reality of their own arrogance.
“You think because you are the Children of Abraham that you are saved? God could make these stones children of Abraham!” These leaders pretended to be better than the Gentiles, better than the Samaritans, better than the so-called “sinners.” John laughed at them. John knew that Everyone: no matter who, no matter what, stands before God.
None of us can measure up. All of us must humble ourselves in honest reflection of the truth of who we are: sinners in need of redemption. There can be no salvation without judgment.
If you want to get closer to God, you need to get honest.
But, Thanks be to God that judgment is not the last word. John the Baptist was not just about judgment. John the Baptist was also about repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
With repentance comes forgiveness. With repentance and forgiveness comes New Life, reconciliation, and hope. When we get honest before God, we build a highway, made straight by the Spirit, for God to come into our life in a new way.
Are you preparing yourself for the coming of the Lord into your life?
Just as John the Baptist prepared the people for the Messiah with his DEMAND to get honest; the Holy Spirit is pulling at you, urging you to prepare yourself for the coming of Christ into your life. Get honest; get forgiveness; get new life in Jesus Christ.
What does John’s message of honesty and judgment mean for us today?
Our Government needs to hear the judgment, confess, and get honest before God about what’s really going on in Iraq. Corporate Empire. The immoral, unlawful war that has led to the deaths of a hundred thousand people. If we get honest, and change, then there will be new life and reconciliation.
Our State needs to hear the judgment, confess, and get honest before God about the tax system in Alabama: The most regressive tax system in America. Our City needs to hear the judgment, confess, and get honest before God about chronic homelessness in Birmingham. We need a Living wage; affordable housing; effective transportation.
--But it’s not just about that: We’ve got to deal with our own, personal issues as well.
We’ve got to get honest before God about our addictions: Crack Cocaine, Alcohol, Methamphetamines, whatever it may be…
The judgment is that these things will destroy us. The hope is that if you get honest before God, you can find redemption and salvation.
Prepare yourself for what God can do in your life. Prepare yourself. Open the door. Christ will come into your life, just as Jesus came to Mary, born in Bethlehem. Get Honest; Get forgiveness; Prepare the way IN YOUR LIFE for the coming of Christ, Emmanuel.
Kevin Higgs
I. JOHN:
John is the most unlikely Christmas character of all. We travel thirty years ahead, into the future of this story, to hear John’s message. And we find him out in the wilderness. Just look at him standing there with his messed up hair; a scraggly beard; dressed in his camel's hair coat. Mind you he’s not wearing Eddie Bauer or Tommy Hilfiger camel's hair. It's more like home made “whatever he could find” camel’s hair.
And look at his diet. It's not something you'd get at the local McDonald's. Locusts and wild honey? What kind of a McNugget meal would that make?
John just doesn't seem to fit into the general mold of Christmas, yet every year he shows up.
John the Baptist shows up to remind us that even though God speaks to us in the silence; sometimes God speaks to us in the thunder. Through John the Baptist, God uses thunder to get our attention.
John stands at the outskirts of Christmas, in the wilderness of our faith and thunders out his message of repentance to remind us of the true purpose and nature of Christmas.
II. HIS MESSAGE:
A. John intrudes to remind us that Christmas has little to do with all the materialism and commercialism that has taken it over.
B. John the Baptist Challenges us: All that we think religion is about is turned upside down.
C. Christmas Challenges us. That challenge is to totally shake up our world view. Most everything the world defines as important is pushed aside by this homeless, helpless child in a manger. Emmanuel, come to bring us closer to God, and in being close to God in Jesus Christ, to find new life and salvation.
John reminds us that there can be no salvation without judgment; There can be no salvation without judgment. Judgment is being honest before God.
It is very important that we are honest about what is wrong in our life. We must be honest in every area of our life: The personal, in our family, in our social relationships, on the street, in business, in government… in all parts of life… we must be honest about what is going wrong.
Because if we are not honest about it, we will never change. If we are not honest with God, we will never prepare ourselves to receive the wisdom and truth of God.
The ministry of John the Baptist was the task of getting people honest with themselves, and honest before God. John the Baptist ferociously attacked the religious leaders of his day. He called them self-righteous and foolish. He laughed and made fun of them because they were so cut off from the reality of their own arrogance.
“You think because you are the Children of Abraham that you are saved? God could make these stones children of Abraham!” These leaders pretended to be better than the Gentiles, better than the Samaritans, better than the so-called “sinners.” John laughed at them. John knew that Everyone: no matter who, no matter what, stands before God.
None of us can measure up. All of us must humble ourselves in honest reflection of the truth of who we are: sinners in need of redemption. There can be no salvation without judgment.
If you want to get closer to God, you need to get honest.
But, Thanks be to God that judgment is not the last word. John the Baptist was not just about judgment. John the Baptist was also about repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
With repentance comes forgiveness. With repentance and forgiveness comes New Life, reconciliation, and hope. When we get honest before God, we build a highway, made straight by the Spirit, for God to come into our life in a new way.
Are you preparing yourself for the coming of the Lord into your life?
Just as John the Baptist prepared the people for the Messiah with his DEMAND to get honest; the Holy Spirit is pulling at you, urging you to prepare yourself for the coming of Christ into your life. Get honest; get forgiveness; get new life in Jesus Christ.
What does John’s message of honesty and judgment mean for us today?
Our Government needs to hear the judgment, confess, and get honest before God about what’s really going on in Iraq. Corporate Empire. The immoral, unlawful war that has led to the deaths of a hundred thousand people. If we get honest, and change, then there will be new life and reconciliation.
Our State needs to hear the judgment, confess, and get honest before God about the tax system in Alabama: The most regressive tax system in America. Our City needs to hear the judgment, confess, and get honest before God about chronic homelessness in Birmingham. We need a Living wage; affordable housing; effective transportation.
--But it’s not just about that: We’ve got to deal with our own, personal issues as well.
We’ve got to get honest before God about our addictions: Crack Cocaine, Alcohol, Methamphetamines, whatever it may be…
The judgment is that these things will destroy us. The hope is that if you get honest before God, you can find redemption and salvation.
Prepare yourself for what God can do in your life. Prepare yourself. Open the door. Christ will come into your life, just as Jesus came to Mary, born in Bethlehem. Get Honest; Get forgiveness; Prepare the way IN YOUR LIFE for the coming of Christ, Emmanuel.
Kevin Higgs
Friday, December 08, 2006
Lo, How a Rose E‘er Blooming
I love winter. The air is cold and refreshing-not heavy and hot.
The landscape is stark and simple. I love to look out the frosty window and see the contrast of the dark, wet bark of the naked trees against the cold, blue sky. I also enjoy the rare discovery of a camellia bloom next to frosty leaves. This bloom is a small sign of hope of the spring to come. Winter is a time for nature to regenerate and rest. Not everyone shares my enjoyment of the season. Actually, many people laugh when I say that winter is my favorite time of the year. They say that winter is dark and can be gloomy. The days are short and the nights are cold and long. For many people, winter can be a depressing time when we feel cold and alone in the harshness of the world.
Advent is a time of reflection and waiting. It is the winter of the church year. We are waiting for and pondering the meaning of the birth of the Messiah. One of the hymns that we sing during Advent highlights this reflective mood-“Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming.” The words to this song were written in the 15th century in Germany. It has been sung for centuries in a hushed tone-whispering a message of hope from a dark and cold winter.
“Lo how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night!.”
Prayer: O Lord, Thank you for the stark beauty of winter and for the flower that blooms in the frost. Help us to find the beauty of Christmas in the harshness of winter and our lives.
Thought for the Day: “This flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us, and lightens every load.”
Beth Ann Higgs
The landscape is stark and simple. I love to look out the frosty window and see the contrast of the dark, wet bark of the naked trees against the cold, blue sky. I also enjoy the rare discovery of a camellia bloom next to frosty leaves. This bloom is a small sign of hope of the spring to come. Winter is a time for nature to regenerate and rest. Not everyone shares my enjoyment of the season. Actually, many people laugh when I say that winter is my favorite time of the year. They say that winter is dark and can be gloomy. The days are short and the nights are cold and long. For many people, winter can be a depressing time when we feel cold and alone in the harshness of the world.
Advent is a time of reflection and waiting. It is the winter of the church year. We are waiting for and pondering the meaning of the birth of the Messiah. One of the hymns that we sing during Advent highlights this reflective mood-“Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming.” The words to this song were written in the 15th century in Germany. It has been sung for centuries in a hushed tone-whispering a message of hope from a dark and cold winter.
“Lo how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night!.”
Prayer: O Lord, Thank you for the stark beauty of winter and for the flower that blooms in the frost. Help us to find the beauty of Christmas in the harshness of winter and our lives.
Thought for the Day: “This flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us, and lightens every load.”
Beth Ann Higgs
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Luke 21:25-36
"The sky and the earth won't last forever, but my words will. Don't spend time worrying about your life. Instead, be prepared for the final day."(Selected verses from Luke 21:25-36)
In the midst of joyful preparation for celebrating our Savior's birth, we have these cautious words from St. Luke. The passage is talking about the end times when we should prepare for Jesus' final coming. Varied interpretations and much speculation about these times can confuse us, so let's focus on the present and what we can learn about Jesus' first coming! We should not spend time worrying about earthly things but center our thoughts on how to appreciate and accept this beautiful gift and then to live our lives in gratitude.
The message for us in the Advent season is one of watchful waiting. How long the Jews awaited a Savior! What joy that now we know Him! History and our lives are not meaningless. The Christian concept is that Jesus Christ is, and eternally will be, Lord of all. As the magi watched the heavens and the shepherds heard the angels sing, let us watch and prepare to seek the Child and live in the shadow of eternity which begins when this amazing Son of God is born in our hearts.
Prayer: Precious Lord, as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, help us to use this time of waiting to more fully appreciate the gift of Jesus and to live our everyday lives in the light of eternity. Amen.
Thought for the day: Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.
Margaret Sherrill
In the midst of joyful preparation for celebrating our Savior's birth, we have these cautious words from St. Luke. The passage is talking about the end times when we should prepare for Jesus' final coming. Varied interpretations and much speculation about these times can confuse us, so let's focus on the present and what we can learn about Jesus' first coming! We should not spend time worrying about earthly things but center our thoughts on how to appreciate and accept this beautiful gift and then to live our lives in gratitude.
The message for us in the Advent season is one of watchful waiting. How long the Jews awaited a Savior! What joy that now we know Him! History and our lives are not meaningless. The Christian concept is that Jesus Christ is, and eternally will be, Lord of all. As the magi watched the heavens and the shepherds heard the angels sing, let us watch and prepare to seek the Child and live in the shadow of eternity which begins when this amazing Son of God is born in our hearts.
Prayer: Precious Lord, as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, help us to use this time of waiting to more fully appreciate the gift of Jesus and to live our everyday lives in the light of eternity. Amen.
Thought for the day: Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.
Margaret Sherrill
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Authentic Hopefulness
1 Thess. 3: 9-13
Authentic hopefulness is important to being fully alive. Authentic hopefulness is rooted deeply in the waters of the Great Underground River that no one can dam up and no man can stop. It flows through all that is and includes our lives. There are times when glimpsing authentic faith, hope and love in others is renewing to our own. In The Message, a paraphrase of the above scripture by Eugene L. Peterson, Paul says to fellow followers of the Way in Thessalonica, Knowing that your faith is alive keeps us alive. Paul was in the middle of trouble and hard times when he wrote this.
Individually, all of us experience trouble and hard times. Collectively as humans in the cosmic drama of our evolvement, we also experience trouble and hard times. There are times when our individual trouble and hard times are a result of our immature attitudes and/or actions or inactions. But trouble and hard times do not necessarily mean we are always the direct cause of our distress. We have to honestly assess this. Trouble and hard times may also be a threshold for growth and development, both individually and collectively. During any time of difficulty and distress, authentic hopefulness helps us to survive and to keep us genuinely alive.
The Winter Solstice is a specific time as well as a metaphorical time when hopefulness is essential to keeping us alive when in the midst ofseemingly unrelenting hardship and darkness beyond our control. During December we will experience the Winter Solstice, a cosmic event beyond our control. Our part is how we respond to what we cannot control. Our response effects whether we emerge with hopefulness or depression and despair. We always have influence even when we do not have control. There is challenge for me here and I often need renewal of authentic hopefulness.
There is a song "I Am the Solstice" which says things I tend to forget. The following are portions of that song.
"I watch with loving eyes, it is my season. I release all fear and nourish the Truth. I bring peace and the stillness which comes from deep within. I bring rest and the gentle white snow that heals. I am forgiveness and through me you will forgive the past. Believe in me, the peace you seek is here...Come dance in the light of your spirit Be grateful that you and I are one. Accept yourself in Love and Truth with Me. We'll transform all things. In our embrace comes spring, new birth and life again."
It is my conclusion that much of the trouble and hard times we experience have to do with our individual and collective immaturity and that we are in a time of unfolding need for collective change, change which may be difficult for us individually and collectively but finally easier thanthe way of our current paradigm (model of how to live).
Teilhard de Chardin, the outstanding French 20th century scientist, priest and mystic came to believe through his studies, prayers and meditations that the cosmos in which we live has a repetitive pattern of expanding diversity, consolidating synthesis, a build up of pressure and then a leap across a frontier in which something new, good and exciting emerges which was always present but unimaginable until it visibly emerged. And he concluded that up till now the creative energy of the universe (The Cosmic Christ) has brought this about without human involvement (we were not present when much of this was happening). But now, as the youngest member of the cosmic family, we humans must dare to learn how to cooperate with the Divine intention in order for the process to continue forward. A part of this means we must authentically learn to cooperate with, value, and trust one another and all other aspects of the cosmic family. This is our metaphorical Winter Solstice and we are in it now.
To me authentic faith has always been about authentic hopefulness in the face of both the individual and the collective challenges we face. May we embrace the Winter Solstice individually, collectively, and metaphorically in ways that are supportive of the emergence of the good that as yet we do not see or imagine but is poised to emerge, that we may be alive.
Prayer: May the Spirit of Christ so fill us with authentic hope that new hope may be born in this century through us as it was born 2000 years ago through our elder brother, Jesus of Nazareth. AMEN
Thought for Today: There are new attitudes, understandings and actions that can nurture authentic hopefulness for me and for those I live among. I will look for them.
Glenn Hand-Truitt
Authentic hopefulness is important to being fully alive. Authentic hopefulness is rooted deeply in the waters of the Great Underground River that no one can dam up and no man can stop. It flows through all that is and includes our lives. There are times when glimpsing authentic faith, hope and love in others is renewing to our own. In The Message, a paraphrase of the above scripture by Eugene L. Peterson, Paul says to fellow followers of the Way in Thessalonica, Knowing that your faith is alive keeps us alive. Paul was in the middle of trouble and hard times when he wrote this.
Individually, all of us experience trouble and hard times. Collectively as humans in the cosmic drama of our evolvement, we also experience trouble and hard times. There are times when our individual trouble and hard times are a result of our immature attitudes and/or actions or inactions. But trouble and hard times do not necessarily mean we are always the direct cause of our distress. We have to honestly assess this. Trouble and hard times may also be a threshold for growth and development, both individually and collectively. During any time of difficulty and distress, authentic hopefulness helps us to survive and to keep us genuinely alive.
The Winter Solstice is a specific time as well as a metaphorical time when hopefulness is essential to keeping us alive when in the midst ofseemingly unrelenting hardship and darkness beyond our control. During December we will experience the Winter Solstice, a cosmic event beyond our control. Our part is how we respond to what we cannot control. Our response effects whether we emerge with hopefulness or depression and despair. We always have influence even when we do not have control. There is challenge for me here and I often need renewal of authentic hopefulness.
There is a song "I Am the Solstice" which says things I tend to forget. The following are portions of that song.
"I watch with loving eyes, it is my season. I release all fear and nourish the Truth. I bring peace and the stillness which comes from deep within. I bring rest and the gentle white snow that heals. I am forgiveness and through me you will forgive the past. Believe in me, the peace you seek is here...Come dance in the light of your spirit Be grateful that you and I are one. Accept yourself in Love and Truth with Me. We'll transform all things. In our embrace comes spring, new birth and life again."
It is my conclusion that much of the trouble and hard times we experience have to do with our individual and collective immaturity and that we are in a time of unfolding need for collective change, change which may be difficult for us individually and collectively but finally easier thanthe way of our current paradigm (model of how to live).
Teilhard de Chardin, the outstanding French 20th century scientist, priest and mystic came to believe through his studies, prayers and meditations that the cosmos in which we live has a repetitive pattern of expanding diversity, consolidating synthesis, a build up of pressure and then a leap across a frontier in which something new, good and exciting emerges which was always present but unimaginable until it visibly emerged. And he concluded that up till now the creative energy of the universe (The Cosmic Christ) has brought this about without human involvement (we were not present when much of this was happening). But now, as the youngest member of the cosmic family, we humans must dare to learn how to cooperate with the Divine intention in order for the process to continue forward. A part of this means we must authentically learn to cooperate with, value, and trust one another and all other aspects of the cosmic family. This is our metaphorical Winter Solstice and we are in it now.
To me authentic faith has always been about authentic hopefulness in the face of both the individual and the collective challenges we face. May we embrace the Winter Solstice individually, collectively, and metaphorically in ways that are supportive of the emergence of the good that as yet we do not see or imagine but is poised to emerge, that we may be alive.
Prayer: May the Spirit of Christ so fill us with authentic hope that new hope may be born in this century through us as it was born 2000 years ago through our elder brother, Jesus of Nazareth. AMEN
Thought for Today: There are new attitudes, understandings and actions that can nurture authentic hopefulness for me and for those I live among. I will look for them.
Glenn Hand-Truitt
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
What is your Motto?
Jeremiah 33: 14-16
n that day the people of Judah and Jerusalem shall live in safety and their motto will be, “The Lord is our righteousness!” (The Living Bible)
What is your Motto ?
The Lord is our Righteousness will be the motto of the people of Judah and Jerusalem in the days of the Lord’s coming. That is a good motto to have! It means being right with the Lord, doing the things that are pleasing to God.
What might that be? You could start by loving your neighbor! You could treat others as you would like to be treated! You could become a servant to your fellow (man or woman) rather than trying to one-up them in every situation! Your priority in life would be to follow Jesus and do as he would have you to do. It would be to work for peace in your life and peace in the world!
In our commercial life of the 21st century we hear a lot of mottos tossed around. Coke is the “real thing.” “Things go better with Coke.” Every business has a motto that is catchy and one that hopefully you will remember Sometimes there is even a song that goes along with the words to refresh your memory.
In this Advent season we are praying for a renewal of our lives as we remember Jesus’ birth. What kind of motto will you remember during this holy time. One that I would recommend is, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It has been around a long time, but it is still relevant today. Sometimes we forget that the whole season of Advent and Christmas centers around one little baby, born to a poor, homeless couple who is the Savior of the world.
So, this Advent, let “Jesus is the reason for the season “ be your motto!
Prayer: Loving God, open up our minds to the motto of “Jesus is the reason for the season “ this year during Advent. Help us to live our motto in all that we say and do. Amen
Thought for the Day: Let our motto be “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
Nancy DeVore Higgs
n that day the people of Judah and Jerusalem shall live in safety and their motto will be, “The Lord is our righteousness!” (The Living Bible)
What is your Motto ?
The Lord is our Righteousness will be the motto of the people of Judah and Jerusalem in the days of the Lord’s coming. That is a good motto to have! It means being right with the Lord, doing the things that are pleasing to God.
What might that be? You could start by loving your neighbor! You could treat others as you would like to be treated! You could become a servant to your fellow (man or woman) rather than trying to one-up them in every situation! Your priority in life would be to follow Jesus and do as he would have you to do. It would be to work for peace in your life and peace in the world!
In our commercial life of the 21st century we hear a lot of mottos tossed around. Coke is the “real thing.” “Things go better with Coke.” Every business has a motto that is catchy and one that hopefully you will remember Sometimes there is even a song that goes along with the words to refresh your memory.
In this Advent season we are praying for a renewal of our lives as we remember Jesus’ birth. What kind of motto will you remember during this holy time. One that I would recommend is, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It has been around a long time, but it is still relevant today. Sometimes we forget that the whole season of Advent and Christmas centers around one little baby, born to a poor, homeless couple who is the Savior of the world.
So, this Advent, let “Jesus is the reason for the season “ be your motto!
Prayer: Loving God, open up our minds to the motto of “Jesus is the reason for the season “ this year during Advent. Help us to live our motto in all that we say and do. Amen
Thought for the Day: Let our motto be “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
Nancy DeVore Higgs
Monday, December 04, 2006
Advent, a Time of Hope
Psalm 25: 1-7 I offer you my heart, Lord God, and I trust you. Don’t make me ashamed or let enemies defeat me. Don’t disappoint any of your worshipers, but disappoint all deceitful liars. Show me your paths and teach me to follow; guide me by your truth and instruct me. You keep me safe, and I always trust you. Please, Lord, remember, you have always been patient and kind. Forget each wrong I did when I was young. Show how truly kind you are and remember me.
It is easy to open one’s heart to God when times are good. It is not hard to trust in God when all is well. But unfortunately, we all face difficult times. And whether our difficulties involve the enemy of addiction, a difficult neighbor or coworker, or a warring nation, it seems to be human nature to pray to God, as David did, that our enemies not defeat us.
What are we asking when we ask that our enemies not defeat us? What was David asking? The simplest answer is that, of course, we hope our enemies will fail and be defeated themselves. But perhaps David was asking instead for strength to prevail against his enemies, whatever may happen to them. Addiction can never truly be defeated, but many have, with God’s help, prevailed against it. Difficulties with neighbors or coworkers can be resolved. And even the longest war eventually ends, although it can be impossible to say who is the winner after years of death and destruction.
And once we have prevailed, our hearts are open. We trust in the goodness of God. But during the journey, how many of us can truly say we struggle through without doubt? When it seems that no one is on our side, when circumstances are at their most difficult, that is when it is most important to have hope, to trust in God that we will prevail. To believe that God will see us through.
When we have hope, we will not be disappointed. When we believe, we will see God’s paths and be guided by truth.
As we enter the season of Advent, it is appropriate to remember that it is the season of hope. Hope in a little child. Hope that a new life, which humbly begins in manger, will change the world.
Open your heart. Trust in God. Hang on to hope. Hope in recovery. Hope in others. Hope in peace.
Thought for the Day: What is your hope for your life in the coming year?
Prayer Focus: Those who feel they are alone and without hope.
Marti Slay
It is easy to open one’s heart to God when times are good. It is not hard to trust in God when all is well. But unfortunately, we all face difficult times. And whether our difficulties involve the enemy of addiction, a difficult neighbor or coworker, or a warring nation, it seems to be human nature to pray to God, as David did, that our enemies not defeat us.
What are we asking when we ask that our enemies not defeat us? What was David asking? The simplest answer is that, of course, we hope our enemies will fail and be defeated themselves. But perhaps David was asking instead for strength to prevail against his enemies, whatever may happen to them. Addiction can never truly be defeated, but many have, with God’s help, prevailed against it. Difficulties with neighbors or coworkers can be resolved. And even the longest war eventually ends, although it can be impossible to say who is the winner after years of death and destruction.
And once we have prevailed, our hearts are open. We trust in the goodness of God. But during the journey, how many of us can truly say we struggle through without doubt? When it seems that no one is on our side, when circumstances are at their most difficult, that is when it is most important to have hope, to trust in God that we will prevail. To believe that God will see us through.
When we have hope, we will not be disappointed. When we believe, we will see God’s paths and be guided by truth.
As we enter the season of Advent, it is appropriate to remember that it is the season of hope. Hope in a little child. Hope that a new life, which humbly begins in manger, will change the world.
Open your heart. Trust in God. Hang on to hope. Hope in recovery. Hope in others. Hope in peace.
Thought for the Day: What is your hope for your life in the coming year?
Prayer Focus: Those who feel they are alone and without hope.
Marti Slay
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