Lamps

My husband is Lighting Certified. He spends his work days designing lighting plans, creating images of how light will change a space. He likes to say that the purpose of lighting is to provide light - to illuminate the space for the work that needs to be done.

I think when we think of lighting, we expect the light to make it possible to see - not just right in front of us, but far from us. Lighting provides us with confidence that we know where we are going.

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 

What image does that verse create in your mind? I think of a well-lighted path, with the way for us to go visible for a long distance. I apply my expectation of lighting to it.  During Advent, I read Voices of Advent by Matthew L. Skinner. He says, "I used to work with an Old Testament scholar who once preached a memorable sermon on psalm 119:1-5. He explained that lamps in the ancient world were little wicks hanging out of shallow bowls of oil, with each one producing a tiny, flickering flame.  If God or Scripture lights our path like that...then we shouldn't expect to perceive what's ahead of us in the dead of night by more than a few inches. The psalm says we go one step at a time."

God is with us, and we go one step at a time.

Amy Grants song, Thy Word is a Lamp Unto my Feet offers new wisdom to  me in the "light" (haha) of this passage from Skinner.

When I feel afraid, 

think I've lost my way, 

Still You're there right beside me. 

And nothing will I fear 

as long as You are near; 

Please be near me to the end.

Book Review: Voices of Advent

Information about the book

Voices of Advent: The Bible's Insights for a Season of Hope by Matthew L. Skinner. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN. 2025. Cokesbury Amazon

Summary

From Amazon: In Voices of Advent, Matthew L. Skinner leads readers through biblical texts and explores how they shape our lives and Christmas celebrations. We listen as Jesus promises to return to us in the future, to John the Baptist as he prepares the way for the Messiah, to the faithful people and poets who anticipate the magnificence of Jesus’s birth, and to the angels and visionaries who praise God when Christmas dawns. Listen carefully to the Bible’s various perspectives that shape our preparations for Christmas; you’ll hear hope in all of them. Voices of Advent helps readers experience Advent not only as the start of the Christian Church Year, but also as the powerful overture that sets the tone for the incredible story of Jesus

Also available are a Leader Guide and DVD.

Impressions

The book contains an Introduction, four chapters (outlined above in the blurb from Amazon), and an Afterward. Each chapter explores at least two or three scriptures. The chapters begins with an introduction and then a focus on each passage.

I read this book because my church was using it as an Advent study. I couldn't attend the study, but decided to participate in my own way by reading the book. I found it to be insightful and well-written, and I would recommend it.

Posts about book

Skinner Voices

 

Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Theme and Scripture 

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19: God is a God of restoration and forgiveness. 

 

Call to Worship 

Leader: O God, our God, so much about our lives needs to be restored. Sometimes the darkness feels overwhelming. 

People: Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 

Leader: We come together today in worship, to sing our praise, to open our hearts. 

People: Restore us, O God; hear our praise, renew our hearts. 

Leader: We bring our offerings, we sing of the coming of the Lord. 

People: Restore us, O God; inhabit our worship and give us life. 

All: Restore us, O God. 

 

Prayer of Confession 

Heavenly creator, sustaining Lord, we fail to see the need of our neighbors or to hear their crying, to know their tears. Sometimes all they feel from us is our scorn or our indifference. We welcome Jesus into this sanctuary, and hope he will inhabit our lives. Help us to confess our sins. Forgive our indifference and our complacency. May your presence in our lives change our hearts. Give us life.  In your son's name, Amen. 

 

Offertory Prayer 

Loving God, may these gifts we offer today be gifts of restoration, shining your light into dark places. Accept these gifts and make them be for your children food, water, shelter, health, and signs of your love of them. Amen. 

Liturgy for the Third Sunday of Advent

Theme and Scripture

Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:5-10, Luke 1:46b-55, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11

God is at work in the world, and we are called to recognize God's presence and to follow God's lead, serving others.

Call to Worship

Leader: O God, our God, you are the God who opened a Holy Way for us, so that we can come into your presence.

People: Open our eyes, so that we can see you.

Leader: O God, you are the God who who made heaven and earth, who keeps faith forever.

People: Open our minds, so that we can follow you.

Leader: O God, Mary sung to you and magnified your name.

People: Open our ears, so that we can hear the singing.

Leader: O God, John asked if your son was the chosen one.

People: And Jesus answered, "Go tell John what you hear and see."

All: We come today to worship the God of all who have come before. Help us to hear and see what you have done.

A Modern Psalm (inspired by Psalm 146:5-10)

Blessed and joyful are we when we seek help from the Lord When we place our hope in God. God created all that is, all that was, all that will be. God keeps faith forever. God lifts up the oppressed, feeds the hungry, set the prisoners free. It is God who helps us to see, who lifts us up, who loves us. Thank God that God watches over the strangers, the outsiders, the orphans. Praise our God who surrounds the widows with love and encourages those who feel alone. The Lord will reign forever, for all generations. Thank God.

Offertory Prayer

Saving God, may the offerings we bring to you today help to make Mary's expectations come true. May these gifts fill the hungry, help the children, and shed mercy upon your world. Amen.

Benediction

Be patient, brothers and sisters, for the coming of the Lord. May your eyes be open to see the presence of God, and may your hearts be open to serve. Go from this place in expectation that God will walk with you and will lead you to the places you are needed.  Amen.

Advent in Scripture, Week 2

 On the Fridays in Advent, I'm posting an "Advent in Scripture" passage, looking at one or two of the Revised Common Lectionary passages for the coming Sunday, along with questions to consider and a couple of short prayers.  I pray you have a blessed Advent.  

Centering Prayer

O God, our God, my God, I have calmed and quieted myself. Open my spirit to hear your Word. Amen.  (Inspired by Psalm 131)

 

Please Read

Isaiah 11:6-10

The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.

They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

 

Matthew 3:1-3

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"

Questions to Consider

1. The kingdom described in Isaiah 6-10 sounds beautiful – the very description of peace. If  the Kingdom of God is now and not yet, do you believe the kingdom as described is possible?
2.  Slowly reread Isaiah 6-10 again. Imagine what is described. What gets in the way of this kind of peace?
3.  In Matthew, John the Baptist is calling for repentance. He says that the one coming is the one Isaiah described as the voice of one crying out to prepare the way of the Lord.” How can you prepare the way of the Lord so that the peace described in Isaiah 11 can come to be?

 

Closing Prayer

O God, it is hard for me to imagine peace. Forgive me when I am an obstacle to your work in the world, and help me to prepare a way for you. In your son’s name, Amen.

Lirturgy for the Second Sunday of Advent

Theme and Scripture

Isaiah 11:1-10 - In our world, we find dissention and hatred. It is hard for us to imagine peace.

Call to Worship

Leader: You seek to create a world where the cow and the bear graze together and the child can play with the asp.

People: Come among us and bring peace.

Leader: Your kingdom is a place where no one seeks to hurt or destroy others.

People: Come among us and bring peace.

Leader: Holy God, inhabit our worship today in a way that leads us in the way of your love.

People: Holy God, breathe your peace and love into our worship.

Prayer of Confession

God of peace, the world can be a place of darkness, and we confess that there are times when we fail to bring light. We are instigators instead of mediators, we argue for our point of view instead of listening, and we shower hate on those who disagree with us instead of approaching our neighbors with love. Help us to stand for justice rather than strike out. Help us to imagine a world where peace will reign.  In your son's name, Amen,

Offertory Prayer

Generous and loving God, accept these gifts from us, a people who want to bring peace but often add to the darkness. May these gifts bring light and justice to your world. Amen.

Advent in Scripture, Week 1

On the Fridays in Advent, I'll be posting an Advent in Scripture passage, looking at one or two of the Revised Common Lectionary passages for the coming Sunday, along with questions to consider and a couple of short prayers.  I pray you have a blessed Advent.  (PS - I know this is Wednesday, but Saturday is a special day this week for the life of the blog, so my third post for the week will be on the 29th).

Centering Prayer

O God, our God, my God, light a candle in my life to bring light. May the light illuminate the path you want me to see.  May the path lead to you.  Amen.

Please Read

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Romans 13:11-12

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…

Questions to Consider

1. The last verse of the Isaiah passage above says, “O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord!  We are  not part of the house of Jacob; what does this verse mean in your life?
2. The verse right before the last one, Isaiah 2:4, give an image of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Does this verse shine light on your own relationships? One relationships we have within our community?
3. What does it mean to you that salvation is closer than when we became believers?

Closing Prayer

O God, may we be bringers of peace and people who shine a light in the darkness.  Help us. Amen.

Book Review: All the Good

Information about the book

All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas by Laceye Warner, Amy Valdez Barker, Jung Choir, and Sangwoo Kim.  Abingdon Press. Nashville. 2021. (Amazon)

Summary

From Amazon:  "In All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas, a group of diverse Wesleyan scholars will take you on an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley’s means of grace. John Wesley’s emphasis upon practices of piety and mercy―or good works―drew from the larger Christian tradition. Such practices are often referred to as means of grace.

Each chapter guides participants through one of the four weeks of Advent by reflecting on biblical passages in light of an aspect of Wesleyan means of grace highlighted by illustrations and stories. Readers will look at preparing the way for God, the impact and significance of prayer, the substance of good works and caring for others, and sharing God’s mission to the world."

Impressions

This book works well as an Advent study. It is written well, and I imagine (although I have not seen them) that the accompanying leader guide and DVD would be helpful in planning a group study. Our church used this book this year as an Advent book resource, although I was not able to attend (the sessions were held while I was at work). I decided to pick up and book and read it on my own as the group at church was reading it.

Each chapter highlights an aspect of faith with a Wesleyan emphasis. These include preparing the way, prayer, acts of mercy, and outreach to the world. Each chapter is written by a different author and thus has a different style and "feel." I especially found the chapter on prayer to be not only well written but also illuminating.  There were lots of "ah ha" moments for me in the prayer chapter.  I found chapters 3 and 4 to be less engaging, although I did enjoy the personal stories and Wesleyan connections that were presented.

I would recommend the book (although it's not a the top of my Advent recommendations).

Posts about book

Posts I wrote about the book are tagged with Warner Good

Whose Kingdom

During Advent, I read Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent by Richard Rohr.  One of the meditation contains the sentence, "When people say piously, 'Thy kingdom come' out of one side of their mouth, they need also to say, 'My kingdom go!' out of the other side.  The kingdom of God supersedes and far surpasses all kingdoms of self and society or personal reward."

This sentence struck me because the day before I was asked to pray at the beginning of a Zoom meeting.  It was an extemporaneous prayer - and I'm not sure if this will make sense or not - but because I had not prepared for it, it was a prayer that I journeyed through while I was praying it.  Sometimes those go well, and sometimes they feel clunky and cliched.  This prayer journeyed to an ending of "may we do all of this for your glory and that your kingdom may come."  That's not a phrase I often use, so it was surprising to me that it was how I ended the prayer.

I think the idea that saying "my kingdom go" is why saying - if you really mean it - "thy kingdom come" is frightening.  It means losing control.  It means letting go of control, intentionally.  Do we have trust issues with God?

I taught a CLM class earlier this week.  One of our topics was discernment, and I share this quote with the class:

"St. Ignatius of Loyola notes that sin is unwillingness to trust that what God wants is our deepest happiness.  Until I am absolutely convinced of this, I will do everything I can to keep my hands on the controls of my life, because I think I know better than God what I need for my fulfillment” David Benner 

Do we trust God? Do we trust God more than we trust ourselves so that we can, without fear, let go of control, and say, "My kingdom go."

Book Review: Preparing for Christmas

Information about the book:  Richard Rohr, O.F.M.  Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent.  Franciscan Media. Cincinnati, Ohio. 2008.

Summary: (From Amazon) “Advent is not about a sentimental waiting for the Baby Jesus,” Richard Rohr asserts. Advent is a time to focus our expectations and anticipation on “the adult Christ, the Cosmic Christ,” who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender.

Whether you are seeking a moment of tranquility in the midst of a busy holiday season or searching for a deeper connection with your faith, Preparing of Christmas: Daily Mediations for Advent is the perfect compassion. Renowned author and spiritual teacher Richard Rohr provides profound insights and gentle guidance to inspire and uplift as you reflect on the birth of Jesus and the significance of this sacred time.

Impressions: It was the first Monday of Advent, and I was sitting at my desk.  I picked up the devotional book I was reading and realized I wanted something more focused on Advent for the season.  I browsed Amazon, and found this Richard Rohr book.  I downloaded it my kindle, and have been reading one day’s reading each day.  Rohr is profound.  Each day’s reading opened up revelations that could be thought about all day.

Each reading is short, but packed with wisdom.  The book is designed so that it would work for any arrangement of Advent, with extra days in the back to fill in for longer advents. 

This is a great advent devotional book - I would highly recommend it.

Posts about this book will be tagged with Rohr Preparing.

Could we dare dream of this?

Could we dare dream of this?

Darkness

Cold, silent loneliness.

We walk in darkness.

Above us, the stars are silent

In their wandering across the sky.

Unmindful of us.

The streets are dark,

With no echo of hope.

Of what do we dream?

What impossible thought walks with us?

We walk in a land of deep darkness

And we can barely believe our eyes

We are startled by the light,

Shining onto us.

Shining into us.

Shining through us.

In a small forgotten village

Among a people never forgotten by their God

Was born a savior.

A baby.

A child of man born to save the children of God.

How can it be?

Could we dare to dream of this?

We sleep, while angels watch

We doubt, while heavenly hosts praise the glory of the birth.

Even the stars sing of this holy appearance of hope.

We dare not hope,

And yet we pray,

That our sin would be removed.

That light would enter into our lives

As the baby was born into a stable.

For a child is born

Unto us, a people in darkness.

His son is given to us.

How can it be?

Could we ever dream of this?

We dare not speak his name,

And yet it whispers in our hearts,

And explodes from our mouths.

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace.

Tiny, tiny baby.

Savior of the world.

The light shines.

Born of Mary,

Born of God.

And with him peace is born

Peace beyond our understanding

Peace.

On his shoulders rides

Justice and righteousness

And we are brought into eternal light

By his love.

Could we ever have dreamed it?

Could we ever have imagined such a hope?

Come to us,

Abide with us

Our Lord, Emmanuel

Inspired by Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 and O Little Town of Bethlehem. 

An Extraordinary Moment

In Frederick Buechner's book, Beyond Words, as he describes Advent, he first uses three illustrations:

1. Imagine the moment before the conductor begins directing the orchestra - every instrument tuned and ready, the baton in the air. The room is silent in anticipation of the first note. 
2. Imagine midwinter dusk, and the anticipatory silence of the world. 
3. Imagine walking up to a front door and catching a whiff in the air of what is inside - maybe a crock pot cooking a roast, or a cake baking - but the only clue you have is the fragrance of anticipation.

Those moments are like Advent. Buechner writes, "The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.” 

Today is Christmas Eve. It is the extraordinary moment just before Christmas happens. It is as if the world is holding its breath in anticipation. In the rush of preparation, if we will be still and quiet, for just a moment, we can sense it. We can hear the wind blowing through the trees, whispering the coming of Christ. We can almost detect the coming of the ringing of church bells. In the glistening of the Christmas lights, we be feel the soft heat of the love of Christ, coming into the world. 

This evening, before you go to bed, take a moment to be still, and to anticipate. Christmas is coming. It is an extraordinary moment.              

Advent Matters

 Advent.

A time when we light candles,

Sing about Emmanuel.

Prepare our hearts and minds

For the coming of Christ.

 

What does it matter?

Is it only about candles, and song?

Only about preparing ourselves?

What does it matter?

 

It matters because

I make mistakes.

I sin.

Every. Single. Day.

Without fail,

my day is punctuated

with those things I do not plan to do

and yet do anyway.

Like Swiss cheese,

my day is full of the holes

where my good intentions have failed.

If it weren’t for advent,

if it weren’t for the coming of Christ,

I would live in the pain

of my faults, my mistakes, and my sin.

Without hope.

 

Advent matters.

 

It matters because

the world is divided.

We hurt each other

Every. Single. Day.

Without fail,

our days are riddled

with the hate we pour on each other.

With the blank stare of indifference

to the hunger and sickness of others.

Our world is filled with the noise

of arguments and judgment,

of the cries pain of the oppressed.

If it weren’t for Advent

if it weren’t for the coming of Christ,

we would live in the hatred

of our divided world.

Without love.

 

Advent matters

 

It matters because

death is inevitable.

People die

Every. Single. Day.

Without relief.

our lives are lived

with the knowledge that we are dust,

with the grief of loss,

with the aching heart

of missing those we love.

Our world is filled with mourning,

with the loss of family

and of ourselves.

If it weren’t for Advent

if it weren’t for the coming of Christ,

we would live in the darkness

of a casket in the cemetery.

Without life.

 

Advent matters.

 

Because Christ has come,

because Christ is coming,

we light candles of hope, love, and life.

We sing of Christ with us.

our hearts are filled.

our lives are changed.

our future is eternal.

 

Advent matters.

Drumbeat of Joy, Part 3

Continuing the sermon from yesterday

Listen to this scripture from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 46-55.  We call this passage the Magnificat – it is Mary’s song after she has a visit from an angel telling her of Jesus, and after her visit with Elizabeth, who is pregnant in her old age.

Think for a moment about the circumstances the Jewish people were living in.  They were under Roman occupation and living in a time of political uncertainty.  There were those who wanted to create a politically and religiously free Israel again, and the zealots were willing fight in order to achieve that.  King Herod was an extremely violent, power-hungry, and unpredictable ruler.   The people were heavily taxed and the money used to build monuments to the King.  Mary lived in these uncertain and dark times; she was poor, oppressed, young, and powerless.

And then the word of Mary comes in her song.  She is praising God – not just in hymns and prayers, but with her whole being.  With her entire soul.  She is magnifying God.  She is definitely in a “thin place” – close to God, visited by an angel.  Her cousin Elizabeth has just declared that Mary carries the Lord.  She is in relationship with God, and she sings of salvation.  She sings about a transformation of the world.  The poor will no longer be hungry.  The powerful will be brought down.  God is remembering his promises to God’s people. 

And if you look carefully at the words of the Magnificat, they are in presence tense.  Mary is not just singing of a future far away, but she is telling of her present time.  God was with them right at that moment, and would change the world. These are words of joy.  Can you hear the drumbeat of them?

Drumbeat of Joy, Part 2

Continuing from the sermon...

The first scripture I want us to read is from Isaiah 35:1-10.  As I read it, listen for the joy in it.  It is a poem written to provide hope to those in exile for their return to Jerusalem.  (Scripture can be found here)

Think for a moment to whom these words were written.  They are part of what scholars call Second Isaiah, and were written about 45 years after the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the people’s exile out of their land.  Consider their circumstances – they had been God’s people, and now they were doubting that.  They had lived in the land God had given them, and now they were away from that.  They had lived close to a powerful God who inhabited the Temple, and now the temple was gone, and they were doubting the power of God. They were far away from home, captive in another land, and they had been there a long time – 45 years means that many of them wouldn’t even remember what it was like to not be in exile.  It was a dark, hopeless time.  Had God forgotten them?

And then the Word of the prophet comes, speaking of hope and joy.  Remember, words of prophecy are often truth-telling, not necessarily fortune-telling.  Isaiah is telling them a truth they should know already.  The prophet speaks to them of the presence of God, so clear that even the earth knows the difference.  The prophet speaks to them of salvation.  We think about salvation as God bringing us forgiveness and eternal life – and it is, but there is more.  Amy Jill Levine, in her book Light of the World, says that “salvation means freedom or release from current circumstances: slavery, poverty, ill health, hunger, and thirst.”  Isaiah speaks of a Holy Way, along which even those whose sense of direction is terrible will not get lost. It will be a holy way to the Holy City of Jerusalem.  And it is not only a return to the place where God is, but also a return to relationship with God.  These are words of joy.  Can you hear the drumbeat of them?


A few years ago, Steve and I were youth counselors at our church.  With another couple, we had taken the youth to Spring Heights for a retreat.  At the end of the weekend, the vans were packed, and we were ready to leave, but we circled up in the field that is there and prayed together.  Steve led the prayer of thanksgiving for the weekend, and the as he did, the wind picked up and blew around us.  I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt like the holy spirit was blowing around and among us, circling us as we prayed together.  Have you ever had an experience where God was so close in the world around you, in the nature around you, that you just know it.  There is joy in that.  Isaiah was giving the exiled people – people in darkness who are doubting God’s love and power – doubting God’s presence with them - words to reassure them that God was there with them, and that God would lead them home. 

The Extraordinary Moment

In Buechner's book, Beyond Words, as he describes Advent, he first uses three illustrations:

1. Imagine the moment before the conductor begins directing the orchestra - every instrument tuned and ready, the baton in the air. The room is silent in anticipation of the first note.
2. Imagine midwinter dusk, and the anticipatory silence of the world.
3. Imagine walking up to a front door and catching a whiff in the air of what is inside - maybe a crock pot cooking a roast, or a cake baking - but the only clue you have is the fragrance of anticipation.

Those moments are like Advent.

Buechner writes, "The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment."

May you find God in the moment of Advent.

Bundled Up

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.  (1 Kings 19:11-13)

It struck me yesterday that the passage above is in some ways an Advent passage. It's not about the coming of Christ, of course, but it is about waiting and watching for God.  It's about patience and expectation.

Elijah (who is the character in the passage) has run away to the wilderness.  In these verses, he is told to stand and wait.  I read this morning that wait and hope have the same root word in Hebrew.  Elijah, like us, is waiting and hoping for God. 

In this busy time of year, we wait in anticipation to find God. There is much to be seen around us - distractions from what we are looking for.  

Frederick Buechner writes, "The Salvation Army Santa Claus clangs his bell. The sidewalks are so crowded you can hardly move. Exhaust fumes are the chief fragrance in the air, and everybody is as bundled up against any sense of what all the fuss is really about as they are bundled up against the wind chill factor."

Could it be that we are too focused on the wind, the earthquakes, and the fire - and maybe that is intentional?

Genesis and Joy

Read this from Genesis 3:17-18:

And to the man he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,

and have eaten of the tree

about which I commanded you,

‘You shall not eat of it,’

cursed is the ground because of you;

in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.

And now read this from Joy to the World:

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to makes His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found, 

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

I know, I should have seen that before, but I never have. In class last night, we started an Advent study, and Terry compared these two quotes. She was pointing out how the coming of Christ is the salvation of the world, and how the hymn illustrates how the incarnation is the response to the fall.

As we move through Advent, I thought this would be a great thought to carry with us.

Logos 35:1-7

Isaiah 35:1-7:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

And here we are again, in Isaiah, listening to the prophet proclaim water in the desert. Have you ever experienced a desert in life? Have you known times when your spiritual nature seems dried up? Have you ever wondered where God is, and why God isn't near you? Have you sat in worship and wondered why you were there at all?

This passage reminds us that dry times happen. I believe faith life - the experience of the presence of God in abundance - is cyclical. I don't mean that God is there sometimes and not at other times. I mean that our awareness of God's nearness - those times when the Holy Spirit seems to burst forth in our lives like the famous ever flowing stream - can ebb and wane. We will experience times of drought.

But these words remind us that crocuses can bloom in the desert. That during times of apparent drought, there can be rejoicing. "Be strong; do not fear. Here is your God."

Maybe that's part of Advent. Maybe remembering that God is present, even during times when we aren't aware of God, is part of preparing for the coming of Christ. Maybe having faith that God IS coming, even when we can't sense God, is part of preparing our hearts to receive God. The grace of faith prepares the way.

Hosea

Have you ever read the book of Hosea?  I have, and I confess that I didn't like it; however, last night, I may have changed my mind.

Our Bible study is using a curriculum by Rick Slaughter, called "A Different Kind of Christmas." The chapter we discussed last night is called Scandalous Love, and it was centered around parts of Hosea 2.

If you haven't read it, or if you don't remember it, Hosea was a prophet, and God told him to marry Gomer, who was a prostitute.  In effect, he married someone who he knew would be unfaithful, who more than likely didn't love him, and whose children might be his - or might be someone else's. Imagine that.

And yet, that is what God does for us.  He loves us, even when he knows we might not love him.  He knows we will be unfaithful, and yet he is a faithful God.  God enters the covenant with us knowing we will fail to hold up our end of the covenant.... that we will be unfaithful.  That we will worship other gods.  Imagine that.

Slaughter called it the "de-sanitized version of the Christmas story."  It might be the most profound Christmas story I'll hear all December.