Reaching Out/Remaining Focused

 12/2

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

I love the reaching out action of this snowman. The star is just ahead, leading, guiding, challenging. The faithfulness of God leads from ahead, and also pushes from behind! During these days of Advent, reach out to God, follow where the star leads. Be open to God's pushing, trusting in God's guidance.

We seek the mighty God

in the most unlikely places

as a child in a stable,

and in an empty tomb.

May God hear these prayers,

which come from the unlikely corners of our lives.

Give us ears to hear, O God,

and eyes to watch,

that we may know your presence in our midst

during this holy season of joy

as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen. 🌟 ☃️

12/3

I love this moose because it has a sense of nobleness, of calm, of confidence in the blizzard (really, when you shake this snow globe it has a ton of white stuff!). The moose is in it, but has focus.

So on a day like today, when I woke up at 4:00 knowing I had too much to do, when I am constantly in a hurry or late (I'm about to be late for a meeting!)... Not to mention Christmas planning for church during a pandemic (NOT taught in seminary), I can think of the stability God offers.

When you are rushed during Advent, how can you prepare for the Lord's coming?

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire. But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him" 2 Peter 3:8-15a.

Wait, and rest, with patience and confidence, in today's blizzard.