Awaiting the Already - 3 and 4

Rejoice, it's Christmas! Our King has been born!

I love Christmas music. It just makes me happy. The new songs that praise the king and focus on Jesus, each with a different focus or melodious creation, force me to keep my eyes on Emmanuel.

Week 3 had us look at the songs of the nativity story. Luke records many. We discussed the fear of the shepherds, the faith of Mary and Zechariah even though they both questioned and received different responses. We pondered the shepherds and why they were chosen to receive the splendid serenade. They were humble and lowly. They were also out in the fields. They didn't have other distractions. Maybe we need to be available, humble and attentive to receive the splendor?

Which song resonates with you?

Week 4 brought us to John's illuminating words that mirror Genesis. Jesus is light. Period. He is here for a broken world, filled with hurting people. He is enough. In the festive season many of us feel left out because there isn't much to celebrate - family issues, illness, financial struggles, job loss.  As Christians we are called share the light of Christ with others. We are to tell the world about the redeemer who understands, comforts, loves and forgives. The one who spoke the cosmos into being is  here, for each of us because he loves us and wants to take us home.

Does the call to be light have the proper place in our lives? How do we share this with a hurting world that looks to worldly solutions?  Choose one or two Christmas songs that will be played throughout the year because of their message that speaks to you and keeps you focused on living for him.

May Christmas be a blessed day, celebrating the awesome glory and goodness of the triune God. May we sing his praises and listen for his song that calls us to be light with our families and neighbors.

Communion - more depth

Hi, ladies.  I ran across this article this morning and had to share! It's not really related to the overall study, but certainly adds an element to the communion discourse in lesson one.

http://gentlereformation.com/2016/12/03/he-didnt-choose-the-lamb/

In summary for this week, let's go forward each day with two goals -

• Look at people, really look at them, and love them in tangible ways
• Respond to God in faith like Joseph instead of Herod

Ok, I'm adding a third.  Enjoy the Christmas season preparing to be a vessel, and with that as your goal, enjoy the season as it works for you.

So glad we are doing this study together!

Here's a song that relates to this week's lesson.  I first heard it one night when it was God's perfect timing.  May it bless your heart, or be the perfect song to share with someone who needs the message of his love and hope, not the twinkling lights and shopping lists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTHE9c9qXV0

Steven Curtis Chapman - Christmas Card

Awaiting the Already - week 1

I've got my coffee and my cough.  Yuck. I may just sip Dayquil and Delsym all day.  I'll be on Governor's Parkway a few times, so you may want to avoid it.  Do you have a beverage and your book?

Awaiting the Already, although a light read, is definitely filled with great information that encourages us to explore how we view Advent. Four of us gathered on Monday to discuss it. So let's start!

P. 16 starts with bullet points about our hurried and impatient lives. The gospel of Mark doesn't mention the baby; Mark starts with John the Baptist. Don't you love learning about the different words used for our English words? Prepare.

We see two words for prepare - prepare something to be used. (p.18)  We are to make ourselves "ready to be the vessel through which God's love can enter into humanity."  And we are to prepare in anticipation for a big event.  P. 19 summarizes these  - change our lives and hearts to be ready for Jesus, and have a willingness to suffer fir hum and have a hope for the future. 

We hadn't thought about Advent in that way.  It has been a time to consider the power and majesty of God's love and crazy redemption plan, but certainly not this type of preparation. Mark then moves in to Communion. The words he uses are powerful. It's not an act of just remembering, but an act of almost feeling like we are there with Jesus at that last supper. It's a reminder to vividly recall that moment, but to also live in the blessed hope of his return.  He links advent, communion and baptism on p. 23.

Mark then gets to walking straight.  We all enjoyed this part and agreed that we cannot walk straight, and we hope we're never pulled over for DUI suspicion because we will fail.  Epic fails.  No backwards ABCs or walking straight lines.  But it's ok - we are self-controlled and don't have to worry about that! (see Corinthians lesson 5, day 5)  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus because we are prone to wander and cannot walk straight without our eyes on him.

We are to be double prepared.  Wow. We often associate repentance and introspection with Lent, not Advent. "It means setting our hearts straight and asking God to reveal to us everything that is wayward in our lives."

Whoa. Stop the decorations and gift-buying lists.  It's time to pray and get our paths straight. 



What else did you see in this lesson on Mark's perspective of the coming of the Christ child?

• P. 28, question 2 on top - How do you need to slow down? What are items on your to-do list that might get in the way of spiritual preparations?
• question 2, bottom - What other things that communion and baptism do you remember with such clarity that you feel like you're there again?
• question 3 - what paths need to be made straight in your heart today?
• Here's a group question, in addition to those above.  Read p. 26 3rd full paragraph. 

"It means living a sacrificial and sacramental life, in which we become the very bread that Jesus takes, blesses, breaks and gives out for the world, so that we can become the very incarnation of the Incarnate One among us."

Read this a few times and really think about what it's saying.  What do is this saying to you? I think this is the whole of advent, and really, how we are to live every day. Being like Jesus, but not just for our own salvation, but for the world. How do we make this a reality this Advent season? Let's talk about this and use it as a prayer focus for the upcoming week.

Awaiting the Already, an Advent study

It's that time of year. Well, almost. Christmas movies. Christmas parties. Christmas cookies. Christmas music. Christmas lights.

And Christmas studies. It's a delightfully busy time of year, so they say. I've found that taking deliberate time away from the activities of Christmas and spending time focusing on the activity of Christmas makes the season even more special.

The activity. God coming to Earth as a baby to rescue us. God sending angels to deliver messages to us. God setting the star in the sky to proclaim his big move. That's activity! I want to savor the unimaginable gift of the season.

This year, in addition to my daily devotions, some friends and I will be walking through this new study, Awaiting the Already  by Magrey deVega. Here's the publisher's summary:

The Christmas story we know so well is really a compilation of accounts found in each of the Gospels. Although the four books present the event somewhat differently, each of them leads us on the Advent journey of preparation for Christ’s coming. Awaiting the Already takes us on a tour through the Gospel narratives, showing us what parts of the Christmas story come from which Gospel, and helps us to recognize that each Gospel writer invites us to encounter a fresh experience of the birth of Christ. This thematic Bible study is designed to be used by individuals and small groups during Advent. Each chapter offers questions for reflection and discussion, a brief prayer, and a focus for the week.

We are going to try something new this year - we will take this journey in person and online.  You are welcome at my house on Mondays  - Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 and 19 - at 9:30 for hot drinks and something delicious to eat.  If you can't make that, follow this blog for the weekly update and we'll discuss the lessons through the comments section. We can trade insights, answer the questions and share how God is speaking to us this season. Here are two links for you to order your book.

https://www.amazon.com/Awaiting-Already-Journey-Through-Gospels/dp/1501800892

https://www.christianbook.com/awaiting-already-advent-journey-through-gospels/magrey-devega/9781501800894/pd/800894

Thank you for your pioneer spirit in trying this online discussion group. Now go order your book and get back to Thanksgiving prep. Remember, cleaning, cooking, playing games and enjoying Thanksgiving are all part of living for the Lord. (day four of lesson 5 in the 1 Corinthians study)

Have a cheerful heart, friends, and keep your eye on the timers!

A season for everything

I had just walked in the door after a lovely coffee visit with a friend.  Kids and Bible talk, along with fabulous pastries on a lovely spring morning.  Just what I needed after a rough couple of days.  I dropped my bag in the kitchen and glanced outside and noticed our trees.

Trees.  The amazing color of what I call spring green.  You know, that fresh, bright green of leaves that are starting to burst forth with the sunshine and warmer days. I scanned the yard and was struck by the various stages of the trees.

My eyes were drawn to the river birch tree.  We had just picked up under it the other day, and it was still fairly naked.  But today it is suddenly alive with leaves! It's the tree to the left, behind the grasses that need to be cut. Look how full it is!


But just up the hill is a maple. The maple has yet to gather its spring glory. My glance then darted to the dogwood that is spectacular with its white flowers.  I was thinking how pretty it would have been to have the white dogwood, the flowering cherry tree and the red bud all in their peak at the same time.  What a vision that would have been!

The reality is different. I get to enjoy the dogwood today. The red buds were regal in their purple splendor for a few weeks. And my flowering cherry was a fleeting blast of pink before that.

So why did this capture my heart today? After all, they are common visions. Trees. Where we live. Where we drive. Where we play.

God used today's trees to remind me of his timing.  We bloom in his timing, not our own or the timing that someone else thinks we should have.

By God's wonderful grace we keep watering and nurturing those around us.  God has a wonderful plan for their lives, even though we wish we could see it in bloom now.  His timing. We keep feeding our mind and soul with the word of the Lord, for we don't know how much he is planning for us to grow and spread our love and teaching to others. His timing.

The flowerless cherry behind the redbud

The world is filled with plants that bloom at different times of the year and in different conditions, just as each of us has our time of blooming for the Lord.

Let us not forget that the buds and flowers aren't the end game - they are the beginning of a new season that will end with a time of quiet growth so that the trees can bloom again.

It's an incredible cycle that God has created. Let us pray for the humility to trust his timing, the obedience to create conditions that will help people bloom even when we feel hopeless, and the joy of his peace in all circumstances.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

   a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
   a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
   a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
   a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
   a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
  a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
  a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Should I or shouldn't I have?

It was a letter.  Words on paper.  Signed by families who love the Lord.

But it had sweeping, strong repercussions.  See, this letter asked the church to consider standing for God's truth.  The purpose was to bring to the forefront an issue that was divisive and hard, with generations of families who saw this as a challenge to their status quo.


Months later, the letter is still stirring up hearts and making people examine their hearts and their beliefs about Jesus, the authority of scripture and how to best be a church that proclaims to be rooted in the gospel.  Many feeling have been hurt by unkind words. Others are hurt by truth that can heal, but they see only the pain. Actions that were brought in love, for Christ Jesus and for each other, are perceived to be power plays.  Instead of talking to the "instigators," those with questions talk behind them.

It is with all of this on my mind that I flipped my Bible to Esther and started a Bible study on virtues, with prudence being the first one of the four we will examine.  The Time Warp Wife was starting an online study, and I was drawn to it. (Love her beautiful study pages, by the way!)


When she bravely approached her husband the king with her presence, Queen Esther was offered up to half of his kingdom twice, and she declined both times.  Esther did not get distracted from her purpose, which was to save her people.  She didn't run scared at the potential loss of her life by going to the king as an uninvited audience.  She didn't balk at the task and take fabulous wealth instead of posing the humble, yet audacious request to save God's people.  Esther stayed focused and did the job at hand.



Mordecai, Esther's cousin who raised her, alerted her to the scheme to kill God's people. He said to her, " For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV


How many of us are in our current positions for such a time as this? We are to be a light, a city on a hill. We must speak truth in love, for that is our purpose. To save people from certain death and bring them into the loving arms of Jesus Christ, the savior and redeemer. We bear our cross and risk everything - comfort, status quo, friendships - when God calls us to a time as this.


With fasting and prayer, we move prudently yet boldly as we trust that nothing we hold on to is more valuable that the one who holds us.

Refresher needed

I'd look outside and feel distressed. The cushions on the deck furniture were faded, and I hadn't replaced them last year. Each morning their faded presence greeted me.

Should we buy new furniture, or would replacing the cushions suffice? The furniture has given us many years of service, but the faux wicker was starting to fray in a few places. And goodness, cushions aren't cheap!

So this debate went on, and nothing changed. My indecision was a decision for faded glory. This Easter came around and I was joyful. Just joyful, I tell ya, 'cause Jesus is risen! The whole weekend was a party in my heart. My joy carried onto the deck, and I ordered new cushions. We determined that we can get a few more years out of the furniture. That whole being a good steward is tricky - need v want. Need v. really a need. Ever feel  that tension?

My cushions arrived and I have no more faded joy! It's a small thing. Really a thing that doesn't feed anyone or tell of Jesus. But I relate this to faded joy in Jesus. Life comes along and takes away the brilliance of his power and glory. I must be intentional and make decisions to keep my joy in him beautiful and fresh, unfaded by the storms of life. 

Ta da!

So now I can smile at the fresh color on the deck that will soon be even a more colorful retreat when flowers bloom and family and friends are seated with me. And I smile at my reminder to intentionally focus on His love that never fades!

Scripture and the cross

On Good Friday we contemplate Jesus' suffering.  His dying for us.  The brutal beatings he endured, and the insults and disrespect he gracefully accepted break our hearts as we see that he did this for us.

For you.  For me.  And it makes me wonder, how can I best honor Jesus today? How do I respond to God's plan of redemption when it is so hard for me to understand? I would never have created a plan of salvation like this.

But after reading some devotionals and studying the scriptures, I found my offering. We are to become more Christlike as we mature in our relationship with the Lord, and Jesus models this for us on the cross.  

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? - Matthew 27:46
Jesus cries out to God from the cross, feeling the weight of the world's sin. But it's not just a cry. It's from Psalm 22:1. Jesus quotes scripture in his time of trial. He is crying out as a man who has had God's countenance temporarily removed as he pays the price for mankind.


Father, into your hands I commit my spirit - Luke 23:46
After being beaten and hanging on a cross for hours, Jesus finds the strength to loudly voice his last words. Jesus quotes Psalm 31:5 - I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God. Jesus words are slightly different, but we see the same relationship with the Father and a trust as he gives his eternal life to God.

On this Good Friday, these words of Jesus echo through the thin pages of the Bible.  Jesus quoted scripture when the devil tried to tempt him.  Throughout his ministry he referred to the Bible.  So why should we be surprised that his final words are those from the inspired word of God? After all, Jesus is the word. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Studying and memorizing scripture is studying and taking in my Lord.  When we pray scripture in good times and in hard times, we are in the Lord as our center.  May this offering of time and effort bring him all glory and honor.

Trail blazer needed

Something's got to change.  God has been working on my heart, and I am overwhelmed.  Pure and simple.  Overwhelmed.  Because the path I'm looking at it lonely and rocky.  See, it hasn't been forged and I'm struggling with if God is calling me to be a trailblazer in the church or if he wanting me to create a new path in my heart.

Quite the conundrum, isn't it? This means I need to spend more time in quiet prayer so I can hear God.  I need to look at opportunities through this lens. But my soul is restless and tired at the same time.  I'm being sparked to go hard, yet at the same time to be.

The American church isn't cutting it for me.  I need more. My soul needs more than Sunday morning busyness and committee meetings during the week.  I want a church that prays real, heartfelt prayers that we share in together in love. I want a church family that eats and plays together.  I need a church that longs to hear the word of the Lord and take it out to our neighbors here and yonder because it is the truth that changes lives.

Can you hear my desperation? I don't want to show up one more Sunday morning and sing a song, shake hands, listen to announcements, find the point of a sermon and then leave.  No.  I just don't want to do it any more.  No more up/down/up/down for an hour with my back to my family. No more formality. Just genuine words.  Passion. Excitement.  Fear.  Awe.  Overwhelmed.  I love my church family.  I just think we are missing the boat.  We are to take the message out to people.  We aren't to welcome Christ into our lives, making room for him in our schedules.  We are to become his and let him take over our lives.

Think about it.  What does the Bible say about gathering? What are God's plans for worship?  Read.  Study.  Pray. Maybe you'll be invited to be a trailblazer, too.

Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.