Streaming Toward God
Sunday, December 22
Micah 4:1-4
I have always been drawn to water. Living in the Gulf Coast this past year has reconnected me with the beauty of rivers, bayous, and the Gulf of Mexico. Water is a powerful force, and you learn to pay attention to where it is flowing.
The prophet Micah encourages the people of God to stream toward the place where God is found. During this season of Advent, we are all waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent isn’t about passively waiting. Rather, it is an invitation to stream toward God as our source of life and learn the ways of God. We are invited to practice the ways of abundant life—loving God and loving our neighbors as we drift ever closer to the presence of God. Micah tells the people of God that the result of this drift is peace—no more fighting, no more conflict. He paints a picture of people resting under the vines and fig trees planted. The hard work of learning to live a life oriented toward God results in true rest.
God of creation, as we await the celebration of the incarnation, may we find ourselves streaming toward you. Teach us to experience life as you intended, and guide us to work toward peace in our hearts, our families,
our communities, and our world. Amen.
Ooohs And Aaahs
Monday, December 23
Psalm 80:1-7
Our family has always taken one evening during the holidays to drive around and look at Christmas lights. When my kids were little, I would strap them into their car seats, give them a candy cane, and tell them to say, “Ooooh” and “Aaaah,” when we saw the lights. Now that they are teenagers, there is a sarcastic edge to their participation in this tradition, but occasionally they are still struck with wonder. During this season of short days and long nights, it is natural that we seek out the light.
The people of God also longed to see a glimmer of hope that things would get better. The psalmist cries out, “Let your face shine!” in longing
for the presence of God. In times of grief or despair, it can be all too easy
to miss the small sparkles that remind us of God’s presence in our lives. Take a moment to notice the glimmers of light that are easy to miss. When is the last time you noticed God’s presence and responded with an “oooh” or “aaah” of wonder?
God of light, catch our attention today. Remind us of your presence in our lives. Help us to notice you in unexpected places so we can know your saving presence. Amen.
Breaking News
Tuesday, December 24
Isaiah 52:7-10
Have you ever waited to hear news? Waiting to hear if your best friend had her baby. Waiting to hear if you got the job offer. Or waiting to hear that a loved one made it home safely. Those moments can last forever. Waiting is hard for even the most patient among us. God’s people had been waiting for a long time to see God moving. The prophet Isaiah reminds them to look down the road with expectation to see someone coming with breaking news. God wants the people to know that their God still reigns and is coming to comfort and redeem them. These tidings of comfort and joy would acknowledge the depth of their suffering and also remind them of their hope for the future. Isaiah tells us that the people who hear the good news break out singing.
Dear God, help us to understand that when it comes to serving you there is room for everyone. Amen.
The Beginning
Wednesday, December 25
John 1:1-14
No other scene has captured our imaginations more than that very first Christmas day. The smell of a newborn baby. The exhaustion of a young mom. A new father trying to wrap his head around all that he has seen. Heaven and nature bursting forth in song. Shepherds running. Wise men wandering. The goats and cows looking into the manger, only to find their hay has become a bed for a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Emmanuel—God with us from the beginning. John describes this tiny baby as the one from whom all life originates. It is difficult to imagine that the fullness of our Creator is held in a snuggly, eight-pound baby boy. The self-revelation of God is often surprising to the people of God. As you celebrate this Christmas Day, take a moment to notice the ways God has surprised you. Merry Christmas!
God of surprises, help us to find delight and wonder wrapped in the moments of today. Remind us of your presence in our lives, and help us to bear witness to your light. Amen.
I Can See Clearly Now
Thursday, December 26
Luke 1:46-55
After I gave birth, I was in survival mode. My husband changed diapers and washed dishes at rapid speed. My mom was there to help with the night shift. Frozen casseroles from the women at church sustained us. It was a beautiful and challenging couple of months.
After the birth of Jesus, Luke records the new mother Mary proclaiming a beautiful theological statement. Mary lays out a clear picture of the things that are important to God. God sees the people. God is full of mercy. God is strong and just. God feeds the hungry. God does not break promises. Theologian Tina Beattie says this about Mary’s song: “The Magnificat is about a change in our way of seeing, not about a change in the way things are.” How have you missed the ways that God is at work? How do you need to see God this season of Christmas?
God of mercy and justice, thank you for being faithful to who you are. Renew our vision and guide us to be more like you each day. Amen.
Shadows
Friday, December 27
Hebrews 10:1-4
In the dead of winter, I have always been fascinated with the way the shadows change with the angle of the sun. The shadow reveals the object but misses all the details and beautiful colors. The writer of Hebrews uses the metaphor of a shadow to describe the law. The law revealed the shape of God and, through the yearly sacrifices, served as a reminder of our brokenness before God. Through these rules and prohibitions, the people of God learned what it looked like to live in God’s ways, but the sacrifices could never fully repair the brokenness of humanity. Jesus, on the other hand, revealed to us the fullness of God. Through this self-revelation, God took on human form and transformed everything. The redemption of humanity was through the gift of God in Christ. The shadow of long lists of the law became a clear picture—love God and love your neighbor.
God of shadows and colorful light, we thank you for making yourself known to us and for saving us. Guide us to boldly love you and our neighbors. Amen.
Your Will Be Done
Saturday, December 28
Hebrews 10:5-10
A few decades after that first Christmas, Jesus would teach the people to pray and include the phrase “Your will be done.” The writer of Hebrews reminds readers of the faithful obedience of Jesus throughout the book. The entire life of Jesus was oriented around obedience to God. Jesus taught his followers to be obedient with their whole lives, just as he was. Through the obedience of Jesus, we now have the opportunity to experience life lived in communion with God—to live a life that reflects the goodness of God. We get to actively participate in the will of God happening on earth, as it is in heaven. The gift of Christmas results in a new way of life for all people that provides a pathway for the love of God to flow from our lives to the lives of others.
Pause to sit in silence and wait for the Lord. Try to sit in silence for fifteen minutes. What invitation does God have for you in this season? How is God calling you to share the goodness of God with the world around you? Amen.
