yes, day 1

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
"I belong to the Lord, body and soul," replied Mary, "let it happen as you say." (Luke 1:38 JBP)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 77

Scripture for the Day: Luke 1:5-25

Reading for Reflection:

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…Luke 1:35

 What exactly happened in that moment?  That wonder-filled moment when you said yes to God and the Holy Spirit came upon you?  That unspeakably intimate encounter when the Most High overshadowed you? What was it like? I have to know! Was it heavenly? Was it more wonderful than anything you ever dreamed of, or dared to imagine? God entered into you; he penetrated you to the core, more deeply than anyone ever thought possible. God, the Most High, entered into you, and that entering in created new life within. He left something of his life-giving-self deep inside; something beautiful beyond imagination was conceived in you. You were pregnant with God and had the unbelievable privilege of carrying him around inside of you; of nurturing his new life within you until time reached its fullness and he was ready to come forth, to show himself, to be born into this world. You, Mary, are the Theotokos—the God-bearer, because God entered into you. And because he entered into you, he can enter into us as well. May we, too, be come upon. May we, too, be overshadowed by the Most High.  May God enter into us, penetrate us to the core, and bring to life something of himself deep within our souls. May we, too, be pregnant with God; and nurture and care for his new life within us until it is ready to be born into our lives…born into our world.

                                                                                        ~Jim Branch

                                                                                       December 2011

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: 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

 

Joy to those who long to see thee

Dayspring from on high appear

Come thou promised rod of Jesse

Of thy birth we long to hear

O’er the hills the angels singing

News, glad tidings of a birth

Go to him your praises ringing

Christ the Lord has come to earth

 

Come to earth to taste our sadness

He whose glories knew no end

By his life he brings us gladness

Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend

Leaving riches without number

Born within a cattle stall

This the everlasting wonder

Christ was born the Lord of all

 

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.

 

 

Closing Prayer
I have heard your call, my Lord, and respond with a yes that arises from the depth of my being.  I know that if I follow close to you, nothing shall be able to separate me from your love. Amen. A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God by Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job)