Be Still

"Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

When I am overcome with so much to do and so little time left to get it done, I need to regroup, pause, take a deep breath and have some silence to refocus.  How many of us are caught in the treadmill of constant motion during the holiday time that we fail to recall why all this stuff happens?

Advent is a time for such refocus and silent reflection. It is sitting back and just letting the simple scene of a nativity overcome one’s thoughts and spirit. Activity like looking at the animals just grazing from a trough, or watching Mary and Joseph adore their newborn child, or the awe of a shepherd beholding the baby, or even the Magi bringing their gifts to a young Magi of the manger. Take time and look at the star above the crèche.

As one is watching what seems to be lifeless carvings or clay figures, realize how the breathing begins to ease and become slow and rested. Notice how the sheer silence of the moment is absent of distraction.  It is a brief moment indeed, but enough to pause and hear God assure one and all to “be still and know that I am God.”

Prayer:  Gracious God, still my anxious stress with the peace of Your presence and in the simplicity of awe.  Help me see the nativity of Your Son so that tired eyes, weary mind, and fast-beating heart can be quieted for just a moment. Then, I can imagine the calm of Your Word grace me with “Be still and know that I am God.”  In the name of Him for whom we await.  Amen.

John Duling (reprinted from 2016)

Advent Activity - Subtract 1

 

 

 

Subtract one thing from your day today – and use the extra quiet time to pray for better relationships between races in our country, our city, and our neighborhoods.

(reprinted from 2016)

Words for Advent

 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:10-20

This year, I have a nativity set in my church office that I received as a gift, which fits perfectly in the window near my phone. As I’m answering calls for the Food Pantry, or any phone call, I can see each character in the scene and consider his/her role. This seems to fit well with our word theme this Advent. The Advent study that my group did this season (Pauses for Advent by Trevor Hudson) explores a word a day as well.

Here’s what I mean:

Word for the day: Mary. In our Wednesday morning Advent study, the day that focuses on Mary looks at her willingness to bear God’s son. “Let it be with me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38). The study encourages us to find a quiet moment in our day and present ourselves to God and willingly offer our will as Mary did.

Word for the day: Angel. The study suggests we look for angels in our daily lives, remembering that as we offer hospitality, we may be “entertaining angels unaware” (Hebrews 13:2).

Word for the day: Joseph. The study points out that even though we hear no spoken words from Joseph’s mouth in gospel passage, his actions speak loudly. He follows God’s guidance and steps out in faith.

Word for the day: The Magi. The Magi “encourage us to be serious about our seeking”. “When we strive to seek and to surrender, the miracle of Christmas can happen every day.”

Word for the day: The Shepherds. We’re encouraged to take a closer look at those who are considered “outsiders”. Maybe YOU feel like an outsider. We all have those who may be considered outsiders in our midst. Ask God to help you notice them, and reach out to them.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be more aware this Advent season, and always. Help me remember that I am representing You to the world and help me be obedient to act accordingly. Thank you for sending Your son, Jesus. Amen.

Donna Gustafson (reprinted from 2017. Note: the nativity is in my window again this year!)

Community Christmas

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

On one of our many trips back to Colorado where Jane’s family lived, we visited the one room schoolhouse where Jane and her brothers attended grade school back in the ‘40s. The door wasn’t locked, so we went inside. Except for the dust, it looked pretty much like the students had just left for summer vacation. The coal/wood stove still sat at the front of the room. On the walls were pictures of Washington and Lincoln along with several maps which could be rolled up like window blinds. Chalk remained in the trough under the blackboard. While we took in the sight, Jane told us how the community celebrated Christmas. “When the community gathered for Christmas, it was standing room only. Each student had a part, with the oldest student reading the Christmas story from the Bible. Following this everyone joined in singing Christmas songs until no more were requested. Then Santa arrived and gave each person a sack of candy. The adults settled into quiet conversation while most of the kids went outside to have a snowball fight in the dark. No one worried about separation of church and state. We were drawn together by our need for community and our shared belief in a God who sent His Son to show us all how to live in “peace”.

Prayer: Remind us of the importance of community and through our common faith, empower us to be the body of Christ here on Earth. Amen.

Noel and Jane DeKalb (reprinted from 2016)

Joy

Sing Praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great is your midst in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 12:5-6 

I have a friend who does ornamental blacksmithing. Some time ago I asked him to make me an iron advent wreath that I could put the advent candles in. He did and it is wonderful. I have it on my dining room table during advent and the Christmas Season. I light the appropriate candle or candles each evening before supper. A Christ candle sits in the center of the wreath.

The candles represent hope, peace, joy and love. The joy candle is the rose colored one. The other three are purple.

If you haven't had an advent wreath give it a try. It can be as ornate or as simple as you choose. It's the symbolism that counts.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your gifts of hope, peace, joy and love to us through your Son Jesus the Christ. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Kathy Kuehn (reprinted from 2016)

In the Pause Comes Peace

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and your minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7  (NLT)

Trying to keep my focus on the One who's the “reason for the season” is difficult -He often gets shoved aside by the demands of a daunting to-do list. How can I possibly pause to reflect on the birth of Jesus, when there's SO much to do...and so little time to do it?! Besides, I can just wait until the Advent services, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to do all my reflecting...right? Wrong. This is the very reason the Christmas season has always been so stressful for me. To find the peace I so badly need, reflecting on--and conversing with - Jesus needs to happen daily!

In her devotion, “The Treasure of Thrown-Away Food”, Lysa TerKeurst says we can find “a powerful peace centered in the awareness of God's presence.” She suggests we start by “noticing something for which to be thankful - no matter the circumstance.”  If we remember to keep our eyes open, we can always find something. Also, she says we must “pause to acknowledge this something as a reminder of God's presence”. (Yes, pause!  The to-do list can wait.) In this pause, we then “choose to focus on God's presence until his powerful peace is unleashed.” Notice that the outcome of proclaiming thanksgiving is peace - just as the scripture from Philippians (above) reminds us. 

I believe when we “choose to focus on God's presence”, we willingly give Him our complete attention, patiently keep our eyes and ears open, and trust him with all our hearts. If we are “those whose minds are steadfast” (Isaiah 26:3), it's then that, in the midst of all the chaos and to-do lists, we can find His “perfect peace”.  A powerful peace that “exceeds anything we can understand”. A peace that will “guard our hearts and minds” this Christmas season.

Prayer: Prince of Peace, forgive us for being too busy and distracted to keep our focus on you.  Help us to remember each and every day to pause and approach you with thankful hearts and steadfast minds.  And thank you so much for the “powerful peace you unleash” in our hearts when we do.  Amen.

Sharon Irvin (reprinted from 2016)

Words from Psalm 100

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2