Read: Luke 21: 25-36
When I was in Liberia this past February, our group talked constantly about the importance of being "fully present". What we meant was that in order to fully experience what was going on, our focus had to be the moment at hand. If we were worrying about what was going on at home, what would be happening the next day, or even what was going on later that same day, we ran the risk of missing something. More specifically, we ran the risk of missing something that God was doing at that moment in Liberia as a whole, or in the lives of the people with whom we were interacting. As I look back on that trip, there are times on the trip I wish I had been more "fully present". Don't get me wrong...it was an amazing experience; but I wonder if it would have been more amazing if I would have been fully there more often than I was.
We do not have to be in a foreign culture or anywhere away from home in order to be challenged to be fully present. Each moment of each day we live presents us with the opportunity to be fully present. I wonder how often we miss that opportunity. I wonder how often we miss what God is doing right now because we are busy planning for or worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow, next year, or after lunch today. Yesterday (in the post "This City") I wrote how God is ALWAYS at work, trying to establish new relationships, reestablish stale relationshps, and strengthen existing relationships with human beings. The ways God does this are infinite and amazing. God's work in this world, however, is not limited to the grand and spectacular; there are times when we can experience God's work through a simple conversation, a handshake, or the whisper of the wind. But how often do we take notice of what God is doing around us?
Jesus has a word to say about this. He encouraged his followers to "be alert" and "keep awake". We recieve these encouragements within the context of Jesus' discourse on his return to earth. I think Jesus is also encouraging us to take each moment as it comes--to quit worrying about when He is coming back, or to quit worrying about all that is going to happen or could happen. Instead, Jesus exhorts us to be fully present in each moment. Imagine that...we are invited to be present with God each moment of each day, not just those moments we have set aside for personal or communal worship. It is in this complete presence that we experience the true breadth and depth of God's grace and providence. It is in this complete presence that we can experience how completely God is present with each of us each and every moment of every day.
As you go about your day, consider how you might be able to be "fully present" in each moment, knowing that God is already there. Consider how you might be able to practice what Jean-Pierre de Caussade, an 18th century French priest, calls "the sacrament of the present moment" (sacrament meaning "gift"), because each moment is God's gift to us; another opportunity to experience first-hand the grace and greatness of God. It is in the present moment that God, through the Holy Spirit, seeks to reveal to each of us the grace of God; it is in the present moment that God wishes to fulfill the promise of Emmanuel, God with us. This Advent season, and beyond, I pray that each of us might be fully present in each moment, that we might experience life in communion with God.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
This City
Read: Jeremiah 33: 10-16
With each passing generation, it seems that our society becomes more and more secularized. A few generations ago, it was not uncommon, especially in rural town, for most folks to be a regular participant in the life of a church. Today, that is more the exception than the norm; more and more people are either distancing themselvs from the church, or find no reason or benefit to be a part of a church. As this trend continues, more and more of those who remain in the church, it seems, look around with a sense of hopelessness and helplessness for the God and the church they love so dearly. We ask ourselves why people would turn away from God or refuse to turn toward God. We wonder why people refuse to allow God to work in their life. We wonder why people turn away from the only One who can save us from all the ills of the world.
About this, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I don't have the answers to these questions. I am just as confused as the next person as to why someone would not want or allow the gosple of Jesus Christ in their life. The good news is that even when people turn their back on God, God doesn't turn God's back on them. The good news is that even when people want nothing to do with God, God still wants everything to do with them. Even when an entire town, nation, or world declares they are finished with God, God is not finished with them. Through the Holy Spirit, God is ALWAYS working in this world. God is ALWAYS working to convince people, God's very creation, to turn back to God and God's ways. Through Jeremiah, God declares that even a place that was considered desolate and a "waste" would once again echo with praises to God. God made a promise to our ancestors in faith that God would never forsake humans and leave us on our own, as orphans. Through Christ, that promise is fulfilled. Through Christ, God offers salvation to all of creation. This salvation isn't just the salvation from sin, but salvation from all the ills and wrongs of the world. It is a salvation from unholiness, injustice, fractured relationships, and anything else that goes against God's design and intention for human beings and our relationship with God, with ourselves, and with one another.
God is not finished with our church, our city, or our world. I think this song describes the situation perfectly. As you spend time with God today and observe your world...I challenge you to see those areas that could be considered "desolate wastes" and offer them to God. Where do we need saving? Where do we need or want to to see the Holy Spirit at work? Let us see those things, and offer them to God this Advent season. All so that, one day, all things in this city might echo the praises of God and declare the steadfast love of the Lord!
With each passing generation, it seems that our society becomes more and more secularized. A few generations ago, it was not uncommon, especially in rural town, for most folks to be a regular participant in the life of a church. Today, that is more the exception than the norm; more and more people are either distancing themselvs from the church, or find no reason or benefit to be a part of a church. As this trend continues, more and more of those who remain in the church, it seems, look around with a sense of hopelessness and helplessness for the God and the church they love so dearly. We ask ourselves why people would turn away from God or refuse to turn toward God. We wonder why people refuse to allow God to work in their life. We wonder why people turn away from the only One who can save us from all the ills of the world.
About this, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I don't have the answers to these questions. I am just as confused as the next person as to why someone would not want or allow the gosple of Jesus Christ in their life. The good news is that even when people turn their back on God, God doesn't turn God's back on them. The good news is that even when people want nothing to do with God, God still wants everything to do with them. Even when an entire town, nation, or world declares they are finished with God, God is not finished with them. Through the Holy Spirit, God is ALWAYS working in this world. God is ALWAYS working to convince people, God's very creation, to turn back to God and God's ways. Through Jeremiah, God declares that even a place that was considered desolate and a "waste" would once again echo with praises to God. God made a promise to our ancestors in faith that God would never forsake humans and leave us on our own, as orphans. Through Christ, that promise is fulfilled. Through Christ, God offers salvation to all of creation. This salvation isn't just the salvation from sin, but salvation from all the ills and wrongs of the world. It is a salvation from unholiness, injustice, fractured relationships, and anything else that goes against God's design and intention for human beings and our relationship with God, with ourselves, and with one another.
God is not finished with our church, our city, or our world. I think this song describes the situation perfectly. As you spend time with God today and observe your world...I challenge you to see those areas that could be considered "desolate wastes" and offer them to God. Where do we need saving? Where do we need or want to to see the Holy Spirit at work? Let us see those things, and offer them to God this Advent season. All so that, one day, all things in this city might echo the praises of God and declare the steadfast love of the Lord!
Monday, November 28, 2011
God's Messenger
Read...Malachi 3: 1-4
Historically, the seasons of Advent and Lent have been those times when Christians have dedicated or rededicated themselves to devotional practices, namely private prayer and focused study and reflection upon the Scriptures. The Church has encouraged these devotional practices as a way for persons to prepare themselves to celebrate fully the holy days of Christmas and Easter. I want to add my voice to those many who have encouraged such devotional practice among the faithful.
It must be said, though, that these devotional practices do far more than simply prepare us for the holy days. There is merit to the reasoning that devotional practices allow us "get closer" to God; they do, in fact draw us closer to God. I believe, however, that the devotional practices are not about us and what we are doing--these practices are a means whereby God can transform the human soul/mind/life into Christ's likeness. Engaging in these practices are our invitation for God to speak to us, to reavel a bit of God's self to us; they are our invitation to God to take us and to turn us upside down and to challenge us. At the same time, though, they are our submission to, acceptance of, and reliance upon God's grace, as we realize that we, by ourselves, cannot transform ourselves into Christ's likeness--no matter how hard we try. This transformation is accomplished only by the Holy Spirit, working in and through us; allowing us to see, hear, feel, and understand who God is and what God is about.
Before the Spirit begins that transformational work in us, though, the Spirit is already hard at work. It is the Spirit that speaks to our heart of our need to turn to God; it is the Spirit that places in our soul a longing to connect with God and to experience more fully God's grace and God's ways. As we read the words of Malachi today, we can recognize the Spirit as God's messenger that is being sent ahead of God. The message of the Spirit to our heart is this: the Lord is near. The Lord IS near. For the people of Malachi's day, the Lord was near in a very physical sense--Jesus' birth was not TOO far off. For us, the Lord is near to us spiritually--nearer to us than we might imagine. As we begin this Advent season, I want to challenge you right away, in two ways. The first challenge is this: think about ways and times in your life that the Holy Spirit has been God's messenger to you. The second challenge is this: choose a time and a space right now for daily devotions and time sent apart to be with God. It might through this forum or it might another way, however you choose. With whatever mode you choose, make room for the Holy Spirit to prepare you for Advent, for Christmas, and for life beyond the holy days. May God's rich blessings and peace be yours...today and throughout this Advent season!
Historically, the seasons of Advent and Lent have been those times when Christians have dedicated or rededicated themselves to devotional practices, namely private prayer and focused study and reflection upon the Scriptures. The Church has encouraged these devotional practices as a way for persons to prepare themselves to celebrate fully the holy days of Christmas and Easter. I want to add my voice to those many who have encouraged such devotional practice among the faithful.
It must be said, though, that these devotional practices do far more than simply prepare us for the holy days. There is merit to the reasoning that devotional practices allow us "get closer" to God; they do, in fact draw us closer to God. I believe, however, that the devotional practices are not about us and what we are doing--these practices are a means whereby God can transform the human soul/mind/life into Christ's likeness. Engaging in these practices are our invitation for God to speak to us, to reavel a bit of God's self to us; they are our invitation to God to take us and to turn us upside down and to challenge us. At the same time, though, they are our submission to, acceptance of, and reliance upon God's grace, as we realize that we, by ourselves, cannot transform ourselves into Christ's likeness--no matter how hard we try. This transformation is accomplished only by the Holy Spirit, working in and through us; allowing us to see, hear, feel, and understand who God is and what God is about.
Before the Spirit begins that transformational work in us, though, the Spirit is already hard at work. It is the Spirit that speaks to our heart of our need to turn to God; it is the Spirit that places in our soul a longing to connect with God and to experience more fully God's grace and God's ways. As we read the words of Malachi today, we can recognize the Spirit as God's messenger that is being sent ahead of God. The message of the Spirit to our heart is this: the Lord is near. The Lord IS near. For the people of Malachi's day, the Lord was near in a very physical sense--Jesus' birth was not TOO far off. For us, the Lord is near to us spiritually--nearer to us than we might imagine. As we begin this Advent season, I want to challenge you right away, in two ways. The first challenge is this: think about ways and times in your life that the Holy Spirit has been God's messenger to you. The second challenge is this: choose a time and a space right now for daily devotions and time sent apart to be with God. It might through this forum or it might another way, however you choose. With whatever mode you choose, make room for the Holy Spirit to prepare you for Advent, for Christmas, and for life beyond the holy days. May God's rich blessings and peace be yours...today and throughout this Advent season!
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