Dare to Dream: Your Burning Bush

    Rev. Mike Slaughter was known throughout his writing and ministry for several profound phrases that caught people's hearts, minds, and attention. Perhaps one of my favorites was when he proclaimed, “I don’t want to play at being church”.
    What did he mean by that? For me, when I look around and we make church about simply showing up on Sunday morning so that other people can see us or so we can check it off of our spiritual to-do lists, but fail to listen to God Monday - Saturday - we are playing church. Or if we will sit and listen to a sermon, but we won't serve God - we are playing church. Or if we hem and haw about new ministries to reach new people, but we won't take any action - we are playing church. 
    The truth is, we don't have time to play church. We don't have time to just be Sunday Christians or not seek out the will and call of God in our lives because the world is at stake. I serve churches in three zip codes where 70-80% of folks do not affiliate with any religion. That number is huge. The harvest is waiting. But when we play church, it just continues to sit there. 
    What would it look like if we sought out the call of God in our lives and in the lives of our churches? What would happen if we stopped playing church? How could this world be transformed for the Kingdom of God?

Dare to Dream: Your Burning Bush Devo

January 27th, 2019

Devotional

“Dare to Dream: Your Burning Bush” -

    Exodus 3: 1-15

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Burning Bush” - Exodus 3: 1-3

  Moses had been through a lot in his early years. He had been born in a time when he should have been slaughtered simply for being a Hebrew, male child. Yet his mother risked her life to save his. She wove a basket out of reeds and placed Moses in it, hoping and knowing that someone would rescue him and raise him. She gave up her most precious piece of herself in this world, her newborn baby, in order to save him and to give him the life that she wished for him. She had her daughter, watch over the basket to make sure no harm came to her son, until the daughter of the Pharaoh came and drew him out of the water. She named him, Moses, and cared for him as if he was her very own.

Moses knew that he was different, that he was a Hebrew who was revered as an Egyptian. But he still considered the Hebrews who worked around him to be his brothers. One day he saw one of Pharaoh’s men who was set to supervise the Hebrews work as salves, strike one of his Hebrew brothers. And Moses killed him and buried him in the sand.

Later Moses saw two Hebrew men scuffling, and one hit another. When Moses asked them why they were quarreling with one another, the one who struck the other verbally lashed out at Moses, asking if he was going to kill him as a Hebrew, the same way that he had killed the Egyptian. Moses’ murderous secret was out. It had even reached the ears of Pharaoh who sought to kill Moses, thinking that true blood ran deeper and thicker than those who were raised as family. So Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he married one of the priest of the area’s daughters and formed a life for his family there as a shepherd. While Moses started his life as a sojourner, the Pharaoh who sought to kill him died, and the hardships of the children of Israel increased under the new régime.

Which brings us to our point in the story today. Moses was tending to the flock of sheep owned by his father in law. He was alone in the wilderness, when a messenger from the Lord sent a flame onto a bush that burst out of the bush, but did not consume it. A sight never before experienced. Moses, realized that he was standing on holy ground, because of this unnatural occurrence. He turned his face away from the holy sight, and the voice of God called to him from the midst of this burning, but unconsumed bush, calling him by name. Moses responded by taking off his sandals, for his was standing on holy ground.

How does Moses past lead him to the burning bush?

How do you see the hand of God in your life, redeeming your moments?

Prayer: God, we thank you for that even when we screw up that you do not leave us nor forsake us. We ask, O Lord, to redeem our moments in order to shine forth your Kingdom. Make us attentive to your movement in our lives, so that we can follow you. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Holy Ground” - Exodus 3: 4-6

Holy ground is a place in time that is defined not only by the presence of our Holy God, but of a turning point - a time when we have been given a choice to either stay where we are in or to move forward, and that is exactly where the Israelites were in this story. Each day they had a choice to make - to continue to silently march around the city before returning to camp, or to do things there own way in their own timing. Each day they had a decision to make, and they made the right one - to glorify God. Like their forefather Moses, so long ago with the burning bush, they found themselves on holy ground marked by choice after choice. What are the holy ground moments in our lives today and what will we choose?

  What are some of the moments in your life when you found yourself standing on holy ground? How did you know? 

How can we prepare to choose God’s ways over our own? 

Prayer: Almighty God, you are the God of choices. You gave us free will so that we could choose your ways. Yet, O God, we confess that all too often we choose our own paths, missing the holy moments you have for us. Forgive us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “I Will Send You” - Exodus 3:7-10

God laid it all out for Moses saying, “I am the God of your father, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I have seen the affection of my children, my very people, in Egypt and I have heard their cries in the face of the salve drivers. I have known their suffering. So I came down here, into this moment in time, into this bush, to you, to rescue them and bring them up to a land beyond their wildest imaginations. So go! I am choosing you, I am sending you to Pharaoh, to bring my people out of Egypt.”

Why was Moses chosen?

What is something that you feel that God has chosen you for?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you fill our days with purpose - and not just any purpose, but with your purpose. Speak your call into our lives, O God, and do not give up on us. May we listen to your still small voice. Amen. 

Thursday: “Who Am I?” - Exodus 3: 11-12

  Moses did not exactly go at first. He recognized that he was hearing God. He turned away from the bush because he was afraid to see the face of God. He took off his sandals because he knew he was standing on holy ground. But he was afraid. He was afraid of the past, of what he had left behind in Egypt. He had worked so hard to shed the shell of who he once was, how he had defined himself, as a murder. Here this Holy being, had come to him and commanded him to strike out on the path of new beings. God had commanded him to leave behind the memories of his past that had consumed and defined him, and to leave behind his present safety for his family and himself, and move forward. God knew of Moses fear, even when all Moses could ask was “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? Who am I?”

God can redeem all moments for his glory. Sometimes we need the memories of the past to propel us into a new direction in the future. But other times those memories become toxic – the type of memories that help us define ourselves and our mission in human terms instead of God’s terms. But And human terms and definitions lead to messes. Moses realized this - can you imagine the guilt and fear that consumed him for years because he saw himself as one thing and one thing only – a murder. He saw himself, not as a kin of the holy, chosen people, but as one who was self-banished from them. Set apart from his family for his own self-flagellation. Inherent in Moses asking God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” is the bigger question, “Who am I that I am good enough to deserve to be spoken to by God? To be given a mission from God? To be allowed a new beginning?”

When is a time that you felt that you were not worthy of the call of God? How did you respond? How did God respond?

Prayer: Lord, all too often, we have responded to your call with excuses, especially excuses about why we do not feel that we are up to the task or worthy. Keep calling, O Lord. Remind us that on our own we are not worthy, but that you call us anyway because you are worthy. Remove any stumbling blocks we have placed and send us forth in your name. Amen.  

Friday: “I Am Who I Am” - Exodus 3: 13-15

  New beginnings are hard for us to understand sometimes, because we think that we need to forget whom we are or where we came from in order to start over. We think that we need to give up on the memories that have formed us – both the good and the bad – in order to choose the way of a new beginning, but this simply is not true. God’s name is defined in this passage of scripture to Moses, as “I will be there however I will be there.” Or in our English translations, “I am who I am.” Believe, brothers and sisters, that which is impossible for us to truly understand. God is not confined by our sense of time – of the past, present, and future. God simply is. Because of this incomprehensible truth, God simply asks us to sojourner the direction laid before us. And because God has given us free will, when we reach a fork in the road of our journey, we have a choice to make, will we continue to move forward into the unknown, or will we stay stuck?

How does the name and message of God empower Moses?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for not sending us out on our. Thank you for sending us out in your name and with your presence right beside us. Embolden us, we pray, all for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Dare to Dream: Losing Your ‘Buts’”- Jonah 1

Dare to Dream: Discovering Yours Birthrite

         While folks may claim that we need to know more about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, few would wonder think we need to discuss what it means to be the Church - who we are as the Body of Christ. Yet, we need to remember what it means to be the Church - remember the purpose and mission God has for us, so we do not become just another organization.

We talk about Church a lot, but how many people actually know what the Church is supposed to be? Let me ask you a question, if the Church is the tool that God uses to transform the world, how would our neighborhood be different if this church wasn’t present? Would our community even notice? Another way to phrase this question would be to ask why we need this specific Church? Adam Hamilton often speaks about the vital questions that we need to be able to answer as people of the Christian Faith. Two include - why do we need the Church universal and why do we need this specific church?
      But we also need to talk about each of our place in the body of Christ. Paul is pointing out in Eph 4 that we all have gifts we are supposed to be using to lift up the body and to proclaim the Gospel in the world. Are we really doing that? Do we even know what our gifts are and how we can best share them?
      There is an older contemporary worship song entitled the Heart of Worship that contains powerful lyrics that I often pray for the Church universal, may we make it “all about You Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, but its all about You.” May we remember that we exist because of Jesus Christ. And may we use our gifts to proclaim Christ's Kingdom!

Dare to Dream: Discovering Your Birthrite Devo

January 20th, 2019

Devotional

“Dare to Dream: Discovering Your Birthrite” -

    Eph 4: 1-16

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Life that is Worthy” - Eph 4: 1-3

To mature. Webster’s Dictionary defines maturing as the process of growing or developing. Full development of the body and mind. To become complete and perfect. Now there is a word that we don’t like very often do we - perfection. 

We’ve created an image of Christian perfection in our heads that few would even want to obtain –nonsensical, prudish, unimaginative, and perhaps even gruff. Someone who doesn’t smile or laugh or have fun. As a United Methodist, one of the tenants of our tradition is that we are moving on towards perfection, but if these characteristics mark perfection it is most certainly not who I want to be, nor is it who I wish to lead people to discover as their pastor.  

When I think about Jesus Christ, the one that we are invited to mature in the example of and through the power of, I don’t apply any of the words we fear around perfection - nonsensical, prudish, unimaginative. No Christ invites us into a much more Wesleyan understanding of perfection in this passage - becoming more deeply in love with God and your neighbor every single day. 

  What do you think it means to live a life that is worthy?

Prayer: Jesus, sometimes we don’t know what it looks like to live a life that is worthy of the calling, because we have not taken time to listen and respond to your calling. Open up our ears and hearts so we can respond to your calling. Amen. 

Tuesday: “One” - Eph 4: 4-6

  For the author of Ephesians, this deeper love expresses itself as unity. This is another word that seems to bother us from time to time, mostly because it is mis-understood. The author is calling for unity of the Church, or a coming together around Christ as the center of our faith. But unity is not uniformity. We all have different gifts and talents. We have lived out our faith in different ways. God is not looking for cookie cutter Christians. No. God wants us to use our uniqueness to bless the Lord every single day. However, we need to keep coming together around our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Unity is emphasized through peace. How many times have we seen Christians behaving badly - arguing over things that do not have eternal value? Rev. Lori Steffensen shared at the at a  Charge Conference about having churches that fought over who brought what covered dish to church events and the color of carpet. I wish I could say that this was abnormal, but I’ve seen some of the same fights in my time as a pastor as well. Do those things have eternal significance? No. Then let them go for the sake of unity through peace. Let them go for the sake of proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God. 

What unifies us in the body of Christ?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that at times we are hesitant to talk about our faith because we aren’t sure what we believe. We aren’t sure what are the most important things to share with others. So help us, O Lord, to find what is important and to uplift those things - those tenants of the faith that speak to who you are and how you love us. Thank you, O Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ Given Grace” - Eph 4: 7-10

This passage is talking about what it looks like to be the church and why it matters. One of the things I do my first year in a church is work my way through the directory visiting folks, so we can get to know one another in the body of Christ. But it can get quite awkward if the directory hasn’t been updated in a while and contains folks who have left the church. Then I hear heartbreaking stories of why folks have left the church, and often it is because they were not treated with gentleness, patience, and love. The author of Ephesians is reminding us that we need to do better - we need to be unified - because our ability to fruitfully share about the Kingdom of God is at stake. 

  As the Church, we have the most important and beautiful message to share that has ever been told - the story of Jesus Christ. The story of hope and faith. The story of God pursing us and making a way for us to be reconciled to a holy God, even when we were yet sinners. The story of the cross and the grace that is to be found there. But all too often all this other stuff gets in the way of us being able to share that message. And as a result we become a church that is better known for our fundraisers or our fights than sharing the love of Jesus Christ. 

What is the message of the Church according to this passage and how we are to proclaim it?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of grace. We know that we could never earn our way in heaven. We can never do enough or be good enough in order to earn grace. We are humbled by the love and grace shown to us on the cross. Thank you, Precious Lord! Amen. 

Thursday: “Gifts” - Eph 4: 11-13

Part of maturing in Christ is building up the body of Christ. This is not building up the select members of the body that we like. It’s encouraging everyone in the body to use their gifts and talents to live into the call God has for them and the call that God has for this local church. It's helping to carry one another’s burdens during tough times and celebrating during joyous times. We are to build up one another is all that we do. The local church is God’s greatest hope in the world for spreading the message of Jesus, but when we are dysfunctional we aren’t as effective in doing that.

  Think about your own body - growth depends on all of the parts of the body working properly together. When one part is out of wack, even from something as simple as a cold, the whole body suffers. So it is with the body of Christ, we all need to be working together and not against each other in order to be the most effective at reaching folks for Jesus Christ.

How is the Church like a body?

How are you sharing your gifts with the body?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding us that we need one another. Thank you that your Spirit gives us everything we need, when we come together, in order to serve Christ and make your name known. Use us, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Must Grow Up” - Eph 4: 14-16

Another part of maturing is making sure that Jesus is in the right place in your life - right at the center. Have you ever noticed that when Jesus isn’t the center of your attention and focus that you can often become side tracked by other things? That you are more prone to slip into the sins that can rip apart a church, like pride and gossip? When we don’t have Christ as our center, we often think that the Church is about us - meeting our needs instead of reaching out to those who don’t yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But when Christ is in that right place in our lives, all of our focus comes around serving God and glorifying the name of Jesus.

What do you think mature faith looks like?

Prayer: Lord, help us to mature in our faith. We know that at times it seems easier to act like children, focusing on our own wants and desires instead of focusing on you. Free us from our childish ways and lead us to be more like you. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Dare to Dream: Your Burning Bush” - Exodus 3: 4-6

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Eph 4: 1-16

From the Sermon:

Our God given dreams are meant to reach far beyond us and bless _____________.

Paul tells the followers in Ephesus that they are to live a life ________________________.

When we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we all end up having the same familial ____________ - we are children of God as part of the Boyd of Christ under the Lordship of our head, Jesus Christ. But we all have different __________ - or individual purposes.

Reflection Questions:

What are you passionate about? Or if you could do anything in the world what would it be?

What are your spiritual gifts?

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that sometimes we leave our spiritual gifts unexplored. We think about what we do as our job instead of what you have called us to be passionate about. We get stuck in the daily grind to the point where we don’t dream your dreams anymore. Open up our hearts to the passions and dreams you have put in us, both as individuals and as a community of faith, so that we can serve you everyday. Amen. 

Dare to Dream - Dreaming the Dream

    "Someday". Someday I'll start reading the Bible. Someday I'll start going to church again. Someday I'll take up that hobby I've thought about. Someday. When we think of terms of somedays, we are thinking down the line. So far down the line that we can't even put a concrete date or time to it. Its more of a wish than something we are actively pursing.
    The problem with somedays is we don't exactly know if it will come to pass. We don't know how many somedays we have in this world, we only have today. So the real question is what are we putting off for the Kingdom of God as a someday that we are being called to do today? What vision and dreams of God as we to put our feet and hands and hearts behind so we can proclaim God's Kingdom. How are you being called to live today as a disciple of Christ?

Dare to Dream: Dreaming the Dream Devo

January 13th, 2019

Devotional

“Dare to Dream: Dreaming the Dream” -

  Genesis 28: 10-17

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Promise to Your Fathers” - Genesis 28: 10-13

  Jacob has always been a character in the Hebrew Scriptures that I’m not quite sure what to do with. On one hand, he is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. On the other hand, he did some really awful things. In fact, he was perhaps one of the best known tricksters in scripture. 

Jacob, the one who stole the blessing of his dying father from his brother who was off doing what he was told. Jacob, the one who had to flee from his furious brother. Sent off to live his his mother’s brother, his Uncle Laban, in a distant country until his bother no longer wanted to kill him. Jacob, the one who even though he deceived his family, is still given caring advice from his father before he is sent away with another blessing. And yet, it is this same Jacob who received the powerful message from God, conveyed in a vision, that we hear about today. Hence why we aren’t quite sure what to do with Jacob in particular. 

But then God carried on the vision through Jacob. Through Jacob the trickster. Through Jacob that we aren’t quite sure what to do with. God came to Jacob, yes that Jacob, and said: I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.Your descendants will become like the dust of the earth; you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. Every family of earth will be blessed because of you and your descendants. Why Jacob? Why now? Why will he become the one to carry on the promise given to Abraham?

Why do you think God gave us a profound vision to Jacob, as flawed as he was?

Prayer: God, it is not lost on us that Jacob received this vision of the ancestral promise when he was running away from his own family. O Lord, if you can use someone as flawed as Jacob, may you use us as well. Speak to us today. Amen. 

Tuesday: “God’s Vision ” - Genesis 28: 13-15

I sometimes wonder if we have some of those same questions about ourselves. Who are we to be the one through whom God is going to reach out to this community? Who are we for God to call us to be partners in spreading the Gospel message? Why us? Why now? Especially in all of our flaws and brokenness and sin?

But then we look at people in scripture like Jacob and realize that if God can use them, then God can use us. God came to Jacob and gave him a vision that was so much bigger than anything he could imagine on his own and essentially said - I’m going to use you in this way. I know that its so big.  But trust and believe that I am going to be with you every where that you will go. 

Friends, are those the type of visions that we are praying for today? Visions of revival? Visions that are so big that we know that they have to from God? Because that’s what I see when I look at Biblical visions like this - they are so large that they challenge even the most fearful among us and call for us to trust God. 

What vision is God revealing to you about your life?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we pray for things that are too small. We ask, O Lord, that you light a passion in our hearts to pray bold prayers, prayers that can only be accomplished through your will and your might. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Holy Ground” - Genesis 28: 16-17

Do we have a vision of who God is calling us to be? Not just any vision, but a God-sized vision? A vision that we could never do on our own. One that we can only even begin to entertain because we trust that our God is able?

Sometimes, we dream too small as the people of God. We want to do things that make sense to us and that we know that we can do. And that is well and good and has a time and a purpose. But are we limiting ourselves by what we think we can do instead of dreaming of what God wants to do through us?

Jacob knew when he woke up that he was standing on holy ground. And that thought terrified him. He was struck by the fact that he was in the awesome presence of the Lord Almighty. So he made a monument, a sign of worship, and made a promise that the Lord would be his God. 

When is a time that you felt that you were standing on holy ground? What was that experience like for you?

Prayer: Lord, as Jacob awoke he proclaimed “how awesome is this place!” May you awaken us as well from the slumber in our spirits. Stir in us a sense of awe that sends us out into the world to tell of all that you have done. Amen. 

Thursday: “Visioning Together” - Genesis 28: 13-15

  One of the parts that we sometimes gloss over in this narrative is that while, yes, this is God speaking to Jacob, it is speaking of his part in the much bigger vision, a story of the people of God that started well before him and will continue well after him.

So it is with the church.  Now is the time for us to trust and believe in the Lord our God and to seek our place in the ongoing story of God’s people. How do we do that? First, we pray to the God of vision. We pray that God open up our hearts to be stirring with the Holy Spirit. We pray that God start to give us glimpses of vision in our hearts. 

Second, we need be out in the community that God has planted us in. You are not in this place by accident. Who are the people you are called to reach out in the community for the sake of the Kingdom Jesus Christ? In order to have a Kingdom mindset, we need to pray that God give us a vision for the people here, the people we are planted to serve. 

How are your prayer life and service connected?

Prayer: Lord, give us hearts for the people all around us who do not yet know you. Give us a prayer life that lifts them up before your throne of grace. Then send us out in your powerful name to love them, as you first loved us. Amen. 

Friday: “Woke” -Genesis 28: 16-17

  One of my favorite things to do is go to public places and just listen. To listen to the hum of people around me. Sometimes to overhear snippets of conversations that reveal the needs people have and the concerns on people’s hearts. Do we know the needs of people around us? Does our heart break for this community? Do we want people to come to know Jesus and what are we willing to do about it? If we don’t have a vision that connects with the people we are being called to reach, then we have missed the point. 

It is time for us to awake and seek to live into the vision of God?

How is God stirring in your heart this day? What do you think God is calling you to do?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we aren’t always attentive to your call. We aren’t always listening for you to speak. We ask, O Lord, that you forgive us and that you speak to us again. Unclog our hearts and ears so we can hear your cry in our hearts anew and respond with a willingness to chase after you. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Dare to Dream: Discovering Your Birthrite” - Eph 4: 11-13

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Genesis 28: 10-17

From the Sermon:

If we know that we are to be concerning ourselves with the things that are important to God, and we actively choose not to, that’s _________.

Sometimes in scripture, God does powerfully speak through __________.

Sometimes, as we set aside our ________ for God’s ___________, things change.

The way God is leading us to live into the __________ changes.

It’s not about the size of the congregation, it’s about whether our dreaming is too ________.

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it is when we push our restlessness aside that he are more open to the movement of God in our lives?

Prayer:

 Lord, let us set aside our excuses to not chase after you or listen to your call amongst us. Let us dream anew your dreams, those that are too big for us to even begin to imagine on our own. Open us today to the movement of your Spirit, that we may chase after you. Amen. 

The Women of Christmas: And All Eyes Shall See Him

       What was the longest period of time that you’ve ever been away from home? For some of us this question may mean – how long have you been away from your family? Your house? Your home town? Your friends? Away at school? Moved away for a job?

        We live in a world where travel is commonplace, if not expected. Rarely do we grow up in the same town as generations of our family from the past or only travel as far as we can go on foot for our entire lives. The world has been opened up to us by public transportation. 

         This was not the world of the wise man. The farthest people traveled was as far as they could ride an animal or walk. And this process was quite slow considering the baggage people brought with them. If you were lucky, you could find a relative or kind stranger to live with. If you weren’t so lucky you’d be camping out. 

      Furthermore, travel was dangerous. Think of the story of the Good Samaritan – it revolves around a man who is mugged simply between Judah and Samaria. The wise man traveled quite a bit farther then that. 

      So what would possess these men to make such a journey? The news of a King. A king that was foretold. A king that would change the course of history.

      Which leads me to ask, if the Wise Men were willing to travel so far for a King that wasn't even from their religion, but they were compelled to worship, what are we willing to do for our King Jesus today? As we start this New Year, let us reflect on what we want to offer to Christ for his Kingdom this year as we hear this story anew. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Matthew 2: 1-12

From the Sermon:

_______________ celebrates the journey of the Magi to the Christ. 

While Luke tells us that God announced the birth of the Christ child to the humble and lowly, the Shepherds, Matthew tells us that God announced Christ’ birth to ___________.

They came and presented ______ for kingship, _________ for the high priesthood, and ______ for burial of the dead (and in this case his resurrection).

The wise men were not __________.

The Magi were the first people who began taking the message of Christ to the______________, even before Jesus gave his disciples the great commission.

Reflection Questions:

How are we drawing people to Christ as individuals and as this Parish? What is our compelling sign that we extend to other people of Christ’s love?

How would you like to change in the coming year? How can you be open to Christ revealing himself to you over the coming year?

Prayer:

Lord, we pray that our lives shine brightly like the star that the Magi followed so long ago. May we be the light of Christ in the world, drawing people to know the love of our Savior. Amen. 

The Women of Christmas: Joy of Every Longing Heart

     Can you think of a time when you absolutely know that you were led by the Holy Spirit? A time when you had confidence that it was God working in and through you and not by your might alone? Simeon had that type of deep trust in the Lord. He had heard it said that he wouldn't die until he encountered the one who was the Messiah, the one that the prophets had spoken of. Anna had that type of trust in the Lord, to the point where after being widowed only a few years after being married, she moved into the temple in order to serve and praise God. It was the Holy Spirit that led their lives and it was the Holy Spirit that led them to proclaim that they had seen the Lord!
     I think it's hard to imagine at times having that type of trust, that type of faith. We look at Anna and Simeon and say "well that's them. Not me". But we believe that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior that the Holy Spirit lives within us. We all have that source of wisdom and strength within, if only we learn to trust its leading.
    What would it look like, as we enter this New Year, if we committed ourselves to seek out the Spirit? If we set aside time to truly listen to the Lord and respond? What could change in our life and the lives of those around us?