why have you treated us like this?

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I am tempted to allow my circumstances to determine how I see and interact with the world, please stop me.  Help me to never view my life and my relationship with you through the lenses of demandingness and entitlement, but help me, instead, to see all of life through the lenses of grace and gratitude.  I can do this only through you.  Lord, help me.  Amen.

Scripture: Luke 2:41-50

Journal: What does the question, “Why have you treated us this way?” do within you right now?  How have you asked Jesus that question lately?

Reflection: We are not so different, it seems, from Mary and Joseph.  For when we can’t seem to find Jesus—when he is not where we think he ought to be—we also tend to ask the questions: “Where are you?  Why have you treated us this way?”  As if our idea of where Jesus should be and what he should do were somehow more accurate than his own.

     But luckily Jesus doesn’t cater to us.  He doesn’t always behave quite the way we want him to.  He operates on a whole different wavelength.  He sees things from a larger, more eternal perspective, and he acts accordingly.  Therefore, he doesn’t always give us what we want, or what we think we need.  But he is always present; just maybe not in the ways we are demanding and expecting at the moment.  He is always right where he is supposed to be.  “Why were you looking all over for me?” he says.  “I’m right where I’m supposed to be, in my Father’s house.  I am also in my word and in my creation and even in your heart, as well as the hearts of those you are in community with.  So don’t run around anxiously looking for me, you know right where to find me.  I am, and always will be, Emmanuel, God with us.”

     So when we find ourselves asking Jesus, as Mary and Joseph did, “Why have you treated us this way?” we need to ask ourselves what is behind that question.  For there are two different ways of looking at it.  One way is through the lenses of demand and entitlement, as if saying, “Jesus, why are you not where I think you should be and why are you not doing what I think you should do?”  But the other way of seeing this question is much different, and much more life-giving.  It is looking at it through the lenses of grace and gratitude.  It is when we come to Jesus, not demanding that he show up in some preconceived way, but grateful that he has made us his own when he did not have to, and when we did not deserve it.  It is coming to him with a spirit that says, “God, I do not deserve you.  I do not deserve your grace and I do not deserve your blessings.  But even still, you, because of your great love, have made me your own.  You have blessed me with life and salvation and family and community that I do not deserve.  Thank you!”  The question is, what lenses will I choose to look through today?  How will I ask that question?  Because how I ask that question makes all the difference.

Pray

Closing Prayer: Why, Lord Jesus, would you choose to pour out your grace upon me?  Why in the world would you choose me and make me your own?  Allow your grace and your mercy to overwhelm me this day, and to fill me with a deep sense of joy and gratitude.  Thank you, Lord Jesus.  Thank you.

my soul in silence waits

Opening Prayer: For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV)

Scripture: Psalm 62:1-8

Journal: How are you waiting on God these days?  What does that look like?  What is it doing within you?  How might God be waiting on you?

Reflection: He works in tranquility and tranquility seldom goes in partnership with speed.  God breaks few records but he always arrives in the end.  One of the best things we can do for our souls is to wait and one of the worst things is to force the issue.  God lets the plant grow at its own pace. (The Fruits of the Spirit by Evelyn Underhill)

Prayer

Closing Prayer: For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:5-8, ESV)

simeon

Opening Prayer: “Lord, now you are letting your servant^[e] depart in peace, according to your word;  for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Scripture: Luke 2:22-35

Journal: What does the life of Simeon have to teach you today?  How is God calling you to be like him?

Reflection: We do not know exactly how old Simeon was, or how long it had been since the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ, but suffice it to say that it had probably been a while.  His “shift” standing on the wall, keeping watch more than a watchman waits for the morning, had most likely been a long one.  He was old and tired and eager for the day when the sun would finally come up again and he would see the coming of the King, so that he could finally leave his role as watchman of Israel and depart in peace and enter the eternal rest offer to all God’s people.  

     And on this particular day, his dreams finally came true.  You can hear it in his voice as Joseph and Mary bring the newborn King into the temple to present him to the Lord. “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”  

     Finally, O Lord, my work is done.  My long shift as watchman has come to an end.  For with my own eyes I have seen the Savior.  The One who has come to redeem his people.  For with the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption.  He will redeem Israel from all their sins.  Thanks be to God!  

     How easy it would have been not to notice.  I mean, hundreds, if not thousands, of babies had come through the temple during his time.  What made this one different?  How did this one stand out from the rest?  Or was it the subtle nudging of the Spirit that let him know, the quiet whisper of the voice of God?  It would surely have taken a keen eye and an attentive soul to spot the One who finally came to free the world from its slavery to sin and death.  And this was him.  This was the One they had all been waiting for.  So call out from the top of the wall, “He is here!  The King has arrived to save his people!  Everyone take note!  This is the One we have all been waiting for!”  After all, isn’t that what a watchman is supposed to do?

Prayer

Closing Prayer: God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)

christmas day 2018

Opening Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ,

     Thou Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, be born into our world.  Wherever there is war in this world, wherever there is pain, wherever there is loneliness, wherever there is no hope, come, thou long-expected one, with healing in thy wings.

     Holy Child, whom the shepherds and the kings and the dumb beasts adored, be born again.  Wherever there is boredom, wherever there is fear of failure, wherever there is temptation too strong to resist, wherever there is bitterness of heart, come, thou blessed one, with healing in thy wings.

     Saviour, be born in each of us who raises his face to thy face, not knowing fully who he is or who thou art, knowing only that thy love is beyond his knowing and that no other has the power to make him whole.  Come, Lord Jesus, to each who longs for thee even though he has forgotten thy name.  Come quickly.  Amen. —The Hungering Dark by Frederick Buechner

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Journal: What is being born in you during this season?  This day?  Are you making room for God to be born in you?

Reflection:

            make room

So she wrapped him in cloths 
and placed him in a manger, 
because there was no room 
for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

If you do not make room,
I will just have to come somewhere else.
My coming is not dependent on the room you make,
but your ability to witness and partake in that coming is.
So if you make no room for me,
I will find a manger somewhere.
And those watching and waiting,
those paying attention, will see my glory.
They will be immersed in angel-songs
so beautiful that they are simply beyond description.
They will be awestruck in wonder
and will be seized by the power of my great affection.
So please, make room for me to be born in you today.
The celebration just wouldn't be complete without you.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Almighty God, who came to us long ago in the birth of Jesus Christ, be born in us anew today by the power of your Holy Spirit.  We offer our lives as home to you and ask for grace and strength to live as your faithful, joyful children always.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants)

new

Opening Prayer: New every morning is your love, great God of Light, and all day long you are working for good in your world.  Stir up in us the desire to serve you and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior, Jesus.  We praise you with joy, loving God, because your grace is better than life itself.  Once again you have sustained us through the darkness and blessed us with light in this new day.  Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  In your tender compassion the morning sun has once again risen upon us, to shine on us in our darkness and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.  For this, and all of your mercies, we give you thanks.  Amen.

,

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9

Journal: Do you have any sense that something is being born anew within you these days?  Spend a little time in silence today asking God to announce it to you.  What do you sense he is saying?  How does this passage from Isaiah apply to your life right now?

Reflection: “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” (Isaiah 42:9)  Yes, the new will come; just you wait.  And when it does, it will be glorious.  So wait for it patiently and expectantly, it will not me much longer.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: The new is coming, O God, for you have promised that it is so.  Give us the grace and the courage and the patience to wait for it joyfully and expectantly.  Come, Lord Jesus!

joseph

Opening Prayer: Lord God, thank you that some of the best heroes from the Scriptures are also some of the most hidden.  We have so much to learn from these saints.  Help us to hear clearly what you are calling us to as a result of their lives.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-24

Journal: What does the life of Joseph teach you?  How is God calling you to be like him?

Reflection:

joseph

i often find myself wondering 

whenever i hear the Story 

if you somehow felt shortchanged 

through it all

yet that does not seem to fit 

your personality

it does not seem to

represent who you are 

so quiet and so hidden 

through it all

and yet so vital 

to it’s unfolding 

mary made space for God 

in an extraordinarily beautiful way 

but so did you 

hers was a making of space 

for God to grow in her womb 

and yours was a making of space 

in a completely different way 

you made space by

not occupying it all yourself 

you made space 

by stepping aside

by fading into the background

so that God 

could occupy center stage

for you fully realized

that the Story

was not about you

oh how i need

to learn to be

more like you

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Help me to realize, O God, that this life—this Story—is not about me, but about you.  Help me to always make it about you.  Amen.

prepare the way

Opening Prayer: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free.

He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant, Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets: Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand; Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he’d do, What he swore to our father Abraham—a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, made holy before him as long as we live. (Luke 1:67-75, The Message)

Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

Journal: How are you being asked to prepare the way for the Lord?  How is that going?

Reflection: What beautiful words Zechariah prays over his long-awaited son, John the Baptist.  They are words of mission and purpose and calling that tell him, far in advance, of the incredible privilege he has of preparing the way for the Lord.  It is a vital role in the coming of the King into his kingdom.  

     And they are words we should take to heart as well.  For our role is the same.  We too all are called to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord into the lives and hearts of those we come in contact with.  That is not at all meant to belittle the role John the Baptist played in the course of salvation history, but to remind us of the significance of our own.  Because since that day God has always been coming, and will come again.  We cannot control the how or the when of that, but we are given the privilege and responsibility, as was John, to prepare the way for that coming, in whatever way we can.  How will we do that today?

Prayer

Closing Prayer: And you, my child, “Prophet of the Highest,” will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins.

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. (Luke 1:76-79, The Message)